BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Romel Cañete Chairman
Romel is the Vice-Chairman of Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq NMRK), a global real estate advisory firm. He is the head of the firm's Financial Services group, where he manages investment underwriting and quantitative evaluations of real estate transactions. He is also the developer and overseer of the proprietary structured financial product, Real Estate Index Linked Securities (REILS), a tax-efficient cross-border investment vehicle.
His career highlights include instrumental involvement in vast, large-scale projects such as the Hudson Yards urban development in New York, the city's largest master plan, and key transactions like the multi-billion dollar lease negotiations for the Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse US Headquarters. He is recognized for his contributions to affordable housing and urban development, including the first urban gentrification initiative in the Atlanta airport area.
Romel is a distinguished two-time recipient of the "The Most Ingenious Deal of the Year" award—the highest honor conferred by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). He also received the "Aaron Gural Award," a Newmark lifetime achievement award in 2023, and a Certificate of Recognition from New York City Mayor Eric Adams in 2024. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has past experience in Philippine public service as a Member of Parliament (1984) representing the Youth Sector.
Julinette Bayking President
Julie has extensive experience in transaction advisory, policy development, strategy, project structuring and implementation working across Asia Pacific with various governments to promote private sector participation in the infrastructure sector like energy and water. Over her career, she gained her international development experience in her job assignments with International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group), USAID, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and collaborations with donor agencies. A highly experienced leader with a proven track record in project origination, public private partnerships (PPPs), privatization, fund(capital) raising and project management in various sectors and diverse cultures. Her diverse work experience involves the private sector and public sector in the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea in power generation and distribution, rural electrification, renewable energy, water, wastewater, and agriculture.
Atty. Jesus Joel Mari Arzaga Treasurer
Atty. Arzaga is an established lawyer, academic, and advocacy leader with expertise spanning corporate law, energy, and legislative affairs. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Arzaga & Associates, he is engaged in private legal practice, having served previously as corporate legal counsel for private energy firms and a legal consultant to Local Government Units (LGUs). A Professor of Law and the Institute Secretary of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Law, he oversees academic administration and obtained both his Juris Doctor and Humanities degrees from the university. His international experience includes advocacy work as a Fellow of the World Youth Alliance for the United Nations in New York, where he participated in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and specialized study at the Moral Foundations of Law Program at the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton University. He is also a respected columnist and serves as the Vice-President for Legislative Affairs of the Alliance for the Family Foundation, Inc. (ALFI).
Oliver Butalid Charter Member
Oliver is a highly accomplished and transformative executive leader with extensive experience across the Philippine energy, mining, water infrastructure, and investment promotion sectors, spanning three decades in both the public and private sectors. As a strategic thinker and policy architect, he has a proven track record of organizational and institutional turnarounds. His public service highlights include leading the transformation of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) into a strategic niche player, steering the financial turnaround of the Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC), and drafting foundational rules for power sector reforms at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), including the establishment of the Wholesale Electric Spot Market (WESM). He is also noted for pioneering the country's first water utility privatization as General Manager of SubicWater and serving as a Governor at the Board of Investments (BOI), where he steered the national investment priority plans. He is an expert in leveraging good governance and strategic planning to deliver measurable results and drive developmental relevance.
𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 ‘𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐢’ 𝐑𝐨𝐱𝐚𝐬 Charter Member
Prof. Roxas has had 30 years of experience in the energy sector in the Philippines. As a former President of the National Power Corporation and an advisor to government, private sector, the academe, development agencies such as USAID, ADB and GTZ. He is credited for being one of the first planners of the power industry reorganization (EPIRA) and the privatization of the assets of the National Power Corporation. In 2025, his co-authored book - Everything You Wanted to Know About the Electric Power Industry: 24 Years After EPIRA, was released.
As an educator, Prof. Roxas taught Operations Management, Supply Chains, Systems Thinking, and other basic modules in the Degree and Executive Learning Programs of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), where he taught for 20 years. He published internationally in peer-reviewed journals on Sustainable Energy & Tourism.
Prof. Roxas obtained his master's degree in engineering geology from the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management. He obtained his Doctor of Business Administration with High Distinction from De La Salle University. He was also the Executive Director of the Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism where he developed training programs and research on Sustainable Tourism.
Carlo Antonio Co Charter Member
Mr. Co is a prominent leader in the Philippine hospitality and tourism sector, currently serving as a Board Member of the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA), where he contributes to high-level industry advocacy and global representation. Beyond his association roles, he is deeply involved in the management and strategic development of his family’s premier hotel properties in Boracay. As the Executive Vice President of Aqua Boracay, he was instrumental in the resort’s conceptualization and successful launch, collaborating with world-renowned designers to establish a new standard for modern luxury and youthful expression on the island.
His work in the tourism industry is defined by a commitment to sustainability and community-driven hospitality. He has played a key role in integrating eco-friendly practices within their resorts, ensuring that business growth aligns with the environmental preservation of Boracay. Through his leadership in various hotel chains, Mr. Co has significantly contributed to enhancing the island's reputation as a world-class destination, focusing on delivering authentic Filipino warmth and innovative guest experiences that support the local economy and the broader Philippine tourism landscape.
Dr. Rene Catan Charter Member
Dr. Catan (MD, MBAH) is a highly experienced Orthopedic Surgeon and Health Systems Executive with a dual focus on clinical practice and public sector management. He possesses a sub-specialization in adult reconstructive surgery and knee implant design, including the co-development of 3D printing technology for orthopedics. His extensive experience in government service includes leadership roles as Provincial Health Officer of Cebu and Consultant for Health Systems Development in Misamis Occidental, where he managed, restructured, and achieved financial sustainability for public hospitals in line with the Universal Health Care Law. He also currently serves as President of UHC Doctors, Inc., developing strategies to align private practitioners with national health initiatives.
Dr. Catan has a strong academic background, serving as a tenured Professor at Southwestern University School of Medicine (2002-2024), teaching Gross Anatomy and facilitating discussions on public health and clinical practice. He was recognized for his contributions, receiving the Outstanding Alumnus Award in Medicine in 2017. Furthermore, he was the Founder and President (2010–2019) of the Philippine Osteoarthritis Research Society (POARS), advocating for public awareness and providing free clinical services.
Julio climaco Jr. Charter Member
Mr Climaco has more than 40 years of work experience in banking, strategic planning, management consulting and economic research. He retired from Land Bank of the Philippines in September 2022, where his last position was Executive Vice President of the Branch Banking Sector. He also worked with Price Waterhouse Coopers, HSBC Manila and Center for Research and Communication (now UA&P).
He is an Independent Director of Pryce Corporation. He also served as a director of Producers Savings Bank, UCPB, LBP Securities Inc, LBP Leasing Corporation and National Food Authority.
Ronald Daniel Mascariñas Charter Member
Mr. Mascariñas is a visionary business leader and the former President and General Manager of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI), the company behind the dominant rotisserie chain Chooks-to-Go. Under his leadership since 2002, BAVI transitioned from a traditional poultry integrator into the Philippines' largest cooked chicken retailer, pioneering innovations such as "no-sauce" roasted chicken and antibiotic-free poultry. His strategic pivot during industry shifts and the pandemic helped establish BAVI as a market leader with over 2,000 stores nationwide.
Beyond his business success, Mr. Mascariñas is a prominent advocate for Philippine sports, particularly basketball. He has been a key supporter of the Gilas Pilipinas national team and a driving force behind the development of 3x3 basketball in the country through the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league. His commitment to national pride and sportsmanship has earned him numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award in Entrepreneurship from the University of the Philippines and the Communications and Leadership Award from Toastmasters International.
An alumnus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños with a degree in Agriculture and a holder of a Master in Management from the Asian Institute of Management, Mr. Mascariñas’ career is defined by a "people-first" philosophy. He invests heavily in employee development and corporate social responsibility, fostering a culture of "malasakit" (genuine concern) that has empowered thousands of employees and supported various community-driven initiatives across the archipelago.
TEAM
Atty. John Norbert Sangalang Corporate Secretary
Atty. Sangalang is an astute Associate at Arzaga & Associates, focusing on both corporate and litigation practice, including corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and both transactional and litigation matters. His expertise extends to contract drafting, negotiation, and dispute resolution across criminal, civil, and family law. Admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2025, Atty. Sangalang is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Rizal Chapter (RSM). He holds a Juris Doctor from Arellano University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the University of Asia and the Pacific. His multidisciplinary training allows him to apply analytical rigor and practical insight to complex legal challenges.
Jenny Mae Ordinario Research Associate
Jenny is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman, School of Economics, where she developed a rigorous foundation in business and economic theory. Currently, she serves as a Paralegal at Arzaga and Associates , where she excels in managing legal documentation, handling stakeholder communications, and ensuring operational efficiency.
Her professional background includes significant exposure to key industrial sectors. She also currently serves as a Research Associate for PACOMINCO in the mining industry and previously completed an internship with the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) in the energy sector.
Jenny is an active member of the Philippine Economic Society (PES) and the Young Economists Honor Society (YEHS), remaining deeply engaged in the country’s economic and professional communities.