Dr Li Xiaoli, Professor and Head of ISTD Pillar at SUTD, was invited to speak at a panel discussion titled “AI and GenAI in Finance: Unlocking Inclusion through Innovation”, part of the Digital Financial Inclusion Conference 2025 that was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on 30 October.

The session, moderated by Mr Shehryar Ali Shah, Senior Country Officer at the International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Bank Group), featured distinguished panellists:

• Dr Xiaoli Li, Professor & Head of Department, SUTD
• Mr Phil Wright, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Vietnam
• Mr Lars Jankowfsky, Founder & CEO, Gradion Vietnam
• Mr Santhosh Mahendiran, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Techcombank

The panel explored key questions shaping the future of inclusive finance — from the drivers of successful digital inclusion to the importance of responsible AI and balancing automation with human judgment. Discussions highlighted that AI for inclusion is not just about technology, but also about partnership, trust, and purpose.

During his visit, Dr Li also had the pleasure of meeting Mr Te Cheng Pang, Consul General of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City, to discuss potential collaborations in AI research and academic programs at SUTD.