The Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA) provides an international forum for sharing career development ideas and experiences in the Asia Pacific. The audience will consist of delegates from many Asian countries and regions as well as other parts of the world. The conference provides opportunities for networking, sharing among practitioners, and identifying new resources. Join us online or in-person to share and discover new ideas and visions of the future.
2026 Annual Conference will be hosted by the prestigious Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Late Registration Ends: April 27, 2026
Conference Audience
All presentations will be in English. The theme focuses on inclusion. We will examine the many diverse needs of clients and ways to effectively meet their needs. The first week will be totally virtual and will consist of breakout sessions (6 simultaneous sessions) which are recorded. The second week will be in-person. The mornings, including keynotes, panel discussions, and other activities, will be broadcast to our virtual attendees and recorded. The afternoons, including roundtables and presentations, will be available only to the in-person audience and not broadcast or recorded. Recorded presentations will be available for 3 months after the conference.
Keynote Speakers
Shaping a Sustainable and Inclusive Career Ecosystem: A Collective Call to Action
Dr. William E. Donald, Associate Professor of Sustainable Careers and Human Resource Management. University of Southampton, UK
Holistic Human Development
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Zabidi Abdul Razak, Dean, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya
Malaysia’s Social Protection Journey
Dr. Mohammed Azman Aziz, Group Chief Executive Officer, Social Security Organisation Malaysia
It Takes a Village: Bridging the Diversity Disconnect in Career Development
Dr. Roberta Borgen, President, Life Strategies Ltd., Canada
Caring and Equitable Society
Dr. Ahmad Shamsuri Muhamad, Head, Department of Educational Psychology & Counselling, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya.
Conference Location
As the oldest and most respected university in the country, Universiti Malaya is an ideal host for our hybrid conference, bringing together thought leaders, researchers, and practitioners in career development from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s vibrant capital city, the university provides a perfect backdrop for meaningful discussions, cultural exchange, and global collaboration. Known for its dynamic economy, multicultural society, and commitment to education, Kuala Lumpur seamlessly blends tradition with innovation—making it a truly inspiring venue.
Schedule (Malaysia Time Zone)
Networking, sharing among practitioners, and identifying new resources are important aspects of this conference.
April 20–24: 100% Virtual Schedule, 6 simultaneous sessions during each time period.
| Date | Time | Session Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Apr 20 | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm | Breakout sessions |
| Wed, Apr 22 | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm | Breakout sessions |
| Fri, Apr 24 | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm | Breakout sessions |
April 27–30: Hybrid & In-Person in Kuala Lumpur, Morning live-streamed to virtual attendees
| Date | Time | Mode | Session / Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Apr 27 | 9:00 am – Noon | Hybrid | Professional Development Institute (PDI) |
| 1:00 – 4:00 pm | In-person only | City Tour or Cyberjaya Tour | |
| 6:00 – 8:00 pm | In-person only | Meetup Dinner | |
| Tue, Apr 28 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | Hybrid | In-Person Opening Ceremony, Keynotes, and Awards Ceremony |
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm | In-person only | Lunch | |
| 2:00 – 5:00 pm | In-person only | In-person Roundtables | |
| 6:00 – 8:00 pm | In-person only | Reception and Cultural Gala | |
| Wed, Apr 29 | 9:00 am – 12:30 pm | Hybrid | Keynotes, Panel Discussion, and Virtual Closing Ceremony |
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm | In-person only | Lunch | |
| 2:00 – 5:00 pm | In-person only | In-person Presentations | |
| Thu, Apr 30 | 9:00 am – 8:00 pm | In-person only | Melaka Tour or Industry Tour |
The conference has been designed to provide you the flexibility and convenience of attending either in-person or virtually. Week one is virtual for all (April 20,22, 24). Live-streamed presentations and discussions allow all presenters and attendees to participate without leaving home.
In the second week, choose to join us in-person or continue to attend sessions virtually. The live content sessions in the mornings will be streamed to those who are remote and recorded. Afternoon events will only be available to those who attend in-person.
The PDI and Tours are not included in the registration fee.
All times use the Malaysia Time Zone.
Conference Registration
Virtual Registration Includes: 5 hours a day on April 20, April 22, April 24, of virtual breakout sessions (6 simultaneous presentations), plus 5 hours a day on April 28 and 29 of plenary sessions broadcast on Zoom.
In-person Registration includes: 5 hours a day on April 20, April 22, April 24, of virtual breakout sessions (6 simultaneous presentations), plus the Meet-up Dinner on April 27, 2 full days of in-person conference, including lunch, on April 28 and 29, and the Reception on April 28.
| Category | Through February | Through March | April | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-Person | Virtual | In-Person | Virtual | In-Person | Virtual | |
| Non-Member | $360 | $240 | $390 | $270 | $430 | $310 |
| Professional Member | $310 | $200 | $340 | $220 | $380 | $260 |
| Student / Retired Member | $230 | $150 | $250 | $170 | $290 | $210 |
| Vendor Table or Virtual Booth | $550 | $270 | $580 | $320 | $620 | $400 |
| Optional Professional Development Institute | $120 | $100 | $120 | $100 | $120 | $100 |
| Optional Cyberjaya Tour | $45 | N/A | $45 | N/A | $45 | N/A |
| Optional City Tour or Industry Tour | $60 | N/A | $60 | N/A | $60 | N/A |
| Optional Melaka Tour | $120 | N/A | $120 | N/A | $120 | N/A |
| Note: 1. All registration fees include both weeks and all sessions that are virtual or broadcast. 2. In-person registration also includes Lunches, Dinners, Tea breaks, and the “in-person only” sessions. | ||||||
Group Discounts
| Group Size | 3–9 | 10–19 | 20–49 | 50 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discount | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20% |
Optional Extras:
- Professional Development Institutes (PDI): The 3-hour PDI provides a more in-depth learning experience, where you will have the time to really learn the skills and content.
- Optional Tours: On Monday at 12:30, choose between the City Tour which includes lunch at the Autism Café and a bus tour of Kuala Lumpur, or the Cyberjava Tour which includes visiting Multimedia
University and two corporations. On Thursday, choose the Melaka Tour, which includes the SOCSO Rehabilitation Centre, and the old city plus a very special lunch. Or choose the Industry Tour, which includes a visit to Grab headquarters and to Air Asia, plus lunch. More information here.
CE Clock Hours Available: All content virtual or broadcast sessions at this 2-week conference will be recorded, so you may earn CE Hours by either attending a session or listening to a recorded session. You may earn up to 40 CE Clock Hours.
Refund policy: Registration opens in November. Registrations that are canceled at least 3 days prior to the event can be refunded. After that time, there are no refunds. Note: there are no processing fees for switching from In-person to Virtual, or reverse. No refunds 3 days or less prior to the event for switching from in-person to virtual attendance; Only the additional cost will be charged for switching from virtual to in-person attendance.
