The inaugural Asia Forum on Nicotine (AFN) will take place, in an online format, on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, beginning at 1300 Singapore Time (SGT). This high-impact event will convene global and regional leaders in science, public health, and lived experience to address the urgent challenges and transformative opportunities in tobacco harm reduction across the Asia-Pacific region.
With smoking rates still stubbornly high in many Asian countries and millions of lives at stake, AFN 2025 provides a vital platform for dialogue on pragmatic, evidence-based approaches to reducing the burden of tobacco-related disease. The forum will explore regulatory innovation, the evolving science of nicotine, and the role of alternative products in harm minimisation.
AFN is coming at a critical time, as regional governments weigh restrictive policies against emerging scientific evidence and the voices of consumers seeking safer alternatives. The forum will foster open, constructive dialogue to advance health equity and regulatory balance in one of the world’s most diverse geographical regions.
Leading the speaker line-up is Professor Tikki Pang, Senior Global Health Consultant at the Centre for Healthcare Policy and Reform Studies in Jakarta. A globally respected expert in public health, infectious disease research, and health systems development, Professor Pang will offer reflections on the 20th anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and assess its effectiveness in supporting — or hindering — harm reduction strategies in Asia.
Additional speakers include:
- Samsul Kamal Ariffin – President of the Malaysian Organization of Vape Entity (MOVE), a leading advocate for evidence-based regulation and consumer access to safer nicotine alternatives.
- Professor Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh – Chair of the Malaysian Society of Harm Reduction and expert in health economics, public policy, and non-communicable disease management.
- Asa Saligupta – Director of ECST Thailand, who brings a powerful personal perspective on quitting smoking through vaping despite a restrictive legal environment.
- Dr. Rohan Sequeira – Cardiologist and specialist in diabetes and obesity management with over 25 years of clinical experience. He will explore the integration of harm reduction into chronic disease prevention strategies.
- Dr. Alex Wodak – Founding President of the International Harm Reduction Association and global pioneer in drug policy reform. Dr. Wodak will address the moral and scientific imperatives of harm reduction in tobacco control.
The forum will be moderated by Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).
With smoking prevalence still high across Asia-Pacific, this forum presents an urgent opportunity to align policy, science, and lived experience in support of pragmatic and humane approaches to tobacco control. Participants will gain valuable insight into the region’s shifting regulatory landscape and the potential for reduced-risk products to save lives. The session includes live Q&A segments and interactive networking opportunities, enabling attendees to engage directly with experts and peers from across the region.
Registration for AFN 2025 is free and open to all. Further details, including the full programme are available at www.afn.asia
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Nancy Loucas,
Executive Coordinator CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates)
Mobile: +64272348643
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://caphraorg.net/
