Benilde is set to host BAGCON 2025, the stylized edition of the annual Br. Andrew Gonzalez Academia-Industry Conference, on November 12-13 at SPACE, One Ayala. With the theme “New Imaginings: Designing Future Societies,” the event brings together educators, creatives, researchers, and industry partners to explore how design, media, and innovation can shape more inclusive and resilient communities.

Pushing boundaries in future-facing education and practice, this year’s agenda is shaped by four academic pillars: Benilde’s School of Environment and Design, School of Arts, Culture and Performance, School of New Media Arts, and SMIT’s Game Design and Development program. These schools anchor the College’s leadership in creative industries and interdisciplinary learning, backed by recognitions that shape how Benilde teaches, collaborates, and builds futures. As an Apple Distinguished School, Benilde fosters a tech-integrated learning culture where creativity and critical thinking thrive. Its designation as the first Adobe Campus in the Philippines ensures students across disciplines work with professional-grade design tools, building campaign-ready outputs from day one. And as a ToonBoom Partner and Center of Excellence, Benilde trains animators using the same software and workflows found in top studios worldwide, bridging classroom practice with industry reality.

This is the kind of environment BAGCON participants will step into: a campus where creative tools are standard, inclusive teaching is built into the culture, and industry readiness is part of how students learn and collaborate.

This year’s keynote lineup brings together voices from speculative design, cultural policy, creative tech, and inclusive development. Each speaker offers a distinct lens, from planetary storytelling and citizen engagement to game design futures and radical pedagogy. Featured speakers include:

• Prof. Mona Nasser, PhD, The MetaFuturism Lab, Director of Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research, Univeristy of Plymouth
• Liam Young, MS Fiction and Entertainment Coordinator, Southern California Institute of Architecture
• Julien Merceron, Wordlwide Chief Technology Officer, BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.
• Ashok Mathur, Vice-President Research and Dean of School of Graduate Studies, OCAD University
• Audrey Wong, Programme Leader, MA Arts and Cultural Leadership, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore
• Dr. Ching-Ju Cheng, Supervisor, Taiwan Association of Cultural Policy Studies
• Howie Severino, Award-Winning Journalist, Co-Founder of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and Former Vice President, GMA Network
• Jos Ortega, Chairman and CEO, HAVAS Ortega
• Maria Rita Matute, Executive Director, Design Center of the Philippines
• Rica Estrada Uson, Officer-In-Charge, Visual Arts and Museum Division, Cultural Center of the Philippines

BAGCON has long served as a platform for shared insight between academia and industry. This year’s objectives focus on collaboration, inclusive development, and actionable solutions. Last year’s edition, hosted by the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM), explored hospitality and service innovation. The shift toward creative industries reflects Benilde’s evolving role in shaping regional conversations.

Benilde’s leadership in convening regional dialogue grew even stronger last September, when the College hosted Workability Asia 2025. The three-day event brought together over 300 delegates from across Asia to exchange ideas and strategies on inclusive employment for persons with disabilities. 

Early bird registration for BAGCON 2025 is open until October 15. To secure your slot or inquire about sponsorship, reach out through any of the following channels:

• Email: designartsconference2025@benilde.edu.ph
• Website: bagcon.org
• Facebook: BAGCONOfficial
• Instagram: BAGCONOfficial