SEAMEO RECFON successfully held the 14th Southeast Asian Nutrition Leadership Program (SEANLP) in August 2025. Returning after a hiatus since 2019, the program began with a Virtual Kick-off Training on 5 August via Zoom, followed by an In-Person Training on 12–15 August at Jakarta, Indonesia. SEANLP reaffirmed its role as a platform for strengthening leadership capacity among nutrition and health professionals in Southeast Asia.

The kick-off session gathered 59 participants, including SEANLP participants and their mentors from eight Southeast Asian countries. They represented diverse backgrounds such as academia, research, government institutions, and civil society organizations. In his opening remarks, SEAMEO RECFON Director, Dr. Herqutanto, MPH, MARS, Sp.KKLP, highlighted the program’s strategic mandate.

“SEANLP is not just a training program; it is a strategic investment to prepare the next generation of nutrition leaders,” he emphasized, underscoring the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and participant diversity.

The session continued with an introduction by Course Coordinator, Dr. Judhiastuty Februhartanty, followed by the Building Learning Commitment activity that marked the beginning of the participants’ learning journey. Two keynote speakers—Dr. Lawrence Haddad from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Dr. Elvina Karyadi from the World Bank—shared insights on multidimensional and transformational leadership in nutrition. Dr. Haddad outlined five dimensions of leadership: Inspiring, Exploring Opportunities, Influencing, Strategic Thinking, and Upholding Values. He stressed the need to unite the fragmented nutrition community, build cross-sectoral partnerships, and maximize limited resources to drive sustainable financing. Meanwhile, Dr. Elvina emphasized transformational leadership as a driver of public health improvement through Evidence-based Policies, Food System Reforms, and Capacity Development. She also highlighted the need to strengthen women’s leadership through education, mentorship, institutional support, and international networks.

 

 

 

In a special session, three participants—Fasty Arum Utami (Indonesia), Eow Shang Yen (Malaysia), and Ma Ngoc Yen (Vietnam)—presented their pre-training assignments on role models, personal development plans, and a five-year leadership roadmap. Their work received feedback from Dr. Haddad, Dr. Elvina, and Dr. Herqutanto, who praised their clear vision, focus on capacity building, and cross-sectoral leadership potential. They further emphasized communication skills, innovative thinking, decisiveness, and continuous learning as essential traits for effective leadership.

 

In Person Training

The In-person Training in Jakarta provided an intensive, collaborative, and hands-on experience. Activities included an Amazing Race: Mission Nutrition team-building exercise, reflection workshops, and thematic sessions on organizational leadership, change management, communication, negotiation, advocacy, and critical thinking. Participants also engaged in case studies and presented action plans. The program concluded with Cabaret and Graduation Night, a festive celebration where participants showcased their cultural talents and were awarded a Certificate of Completion along with a SEANLP pin, symbolising their successful graduation and induction into the SEANLP Alumni Network.

By blending conceptual knowledge, practical exercises, and cross-country networking, the 14th SEANLP strengthened SEAMEO RECFON’s commitment to nurturing visionary, collaborative, and impact-driven nutrition leaders. This growing network is expected to drive more effective and sustainable nutrition policies and programs across Southeast Asia, from local to global levels.