Further East

2-5 NOVEMBER 2026

SEMINYAK, BALI
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Monday 2 November 2026

13:00 – Late | Potato Head Beach Club

The Place To Be Inspired.

Open House, our annual ideas festival, launches Further East and welcomes our community to the shores of Seminyak.

In 2026, the day has been rebuilt for the best entrance to FE yet. We now have three pathways to take at Open House.

Each pushes you Further into The Inner Circle – whether you prefer to learn, bond over new experiences, or just attend our welcome ritual and evening networking drinks. This lets you get more out of the event, your way.

So, open the door, choose your pathway. Open your mind. Follow the sound of Asia-Pacific, amplified . . .

WHAT TO EXPECT

ENTER THE UNKNOWN

13:00-17:30, followed by Sunset Drinks

Leave your comfort zone and set the tone for collaboration with a day of immersive activities and discussion. We’ll tell you what to prepare – but the rest, you’ll have to discover on the day.

LISTEN, LEARN & WORKSHOP

15:00-17:30,  followed by Sunset Drinks

A more relaxed route towards fresh thinking. Enjoy a keynote talk on leadership in times of crisis, before joining a workshop designed to leave you with tangible insights and direction.

NETWORK INTO THE NIGHT

17:30-22:00

Turn up as the sun sets and the vibe steps up a notch – with music, drinks and a seaside setting, this is a chilled introduction to your fellow delegates and the Further East atmosphere.

WHO WERE THE 2025 SPEAKERS?

 

DISCOVER PAST SPEAKERS

Check out the names, faces and insider knowledge that have defined past editions of Open House.

Ronald Akili

CEO, Potato Head Family

Ronald Akili

CEO, Potato Head Family

Serial entrepreneur and founder of Seminyak Beach’s uber-cool Potato Head Beach Club, who has a reputation as an artistic visionary, industry disruptor and cult hero.

Good Times, Do Good: The Future Of Regenerative Hospitality

14:00

Ronald Akili, CEO & Founder, Potato Head, in conversation with Colin Nagy, Director & Columnist, Skift. Ronald Akili is an entrepreneur, innovator and change-maker who thrives on challenging the status quo in every industry he touches. In this conversation, he’ll reveal his journey from promoting sustainable Indonesian architecture to the creation and evolution of Potato Head, the first carbon-neutral company in the region. Ronald’s “Good Times, Do Good” motto encapsulates his belief that we can balance incredible experiences with actions that make the world a better place – and that we can not only serve guests but also inspire them. Learn more about how Ronald is investing in real change towards a regenerative future.

Neil Jacobs

Wild Origins Founder

Neil Jacobs

Wild Origins Founder

Neil’s visionary perspective is reshaping our industry. He was instrumental in building Six Senses into one of the world’s most respected luxury hotel brands, more than tripling their number of properties over 13 years. Since then, he’s put his versatility to work in new ways, running sites, financing new ventures, opening doors and closing deals. Under Wild Origins (a full-service creative advisory group) he’s providing deep strategic insights to Capella — particularly their Patina brand — while spotting growth opportunities for Desa Potato Head’s expansion. At the heart of it all remains his commitments to people, place and purpose, favouring impact over scale.

Amplify Stage: The Art Of Reinvention: Charging a Brand with Purpose

17:15 - 18:00

As the visionary behind Six Senses, Neil Jacobs helped define what modern luxury could be: conscious, experiential, and rooted in wellbeing. Now, as he steps into his next chapter, Neil brings a rare vantage point — one that spans both the deep roots of high-end hospitality and the frontier of what’s next. In this wide-ranging conversation, he and collaborator Lexie Rodriguez will explore what a world-class brand demands from day one. Expect reflections on innovation, leadership, and positioning yourself on the bleeding edge of travel — alongside a look at where hospitality must go next to stay relevant, bold and human.

Melita Koulmandas

Co-founder & CEO, Song Saa Private Island & Foundation

Melita Koulmandas

Co-founder & CEO, Song Saa Private Island & Foundation

Melita Koulmandas is a regenerative designer and living systems thinker working in the travel sector. She co-founded Song Saa Private Island & Foundation more than 10 years ago, where she now serves as CEO.  
In 2005, Melita arrived at the Song Saa islands, witnessing a landscape overwhelmed by ocean waste, its resources depleted, and its habitability fading. Applying the principles of regenerative design, she orchestrated a remarkable transformation. Today, the area boasts Cambodia’s largest Marine Park and community-driven initiatives spanning education, waste management, fisheries, and more.
Amidst global challenges, Melita remains resolute in her mission to advance regeneration in travel, fostering a new era of thoughtful and purposeful exploration.

Regenerative Ripples: Change Beyond Your Brand

14:00

Prepare to be inspired and to gain the knowledge needed to begin your own transformative journey by adopting a regenerative mindset. This session is designed for those who are driven to create meaningful change and are intrigued by truly innovative systems of change-making. Melita will delve into how Song Saa Private Island & Foundation has continually generated a ripple effect of generational positive impact in its surroundings since adopting regenerative principles. She’ll discuss the learning curve in co-evolving and designing in harmony with nature, place, and people, and the shift from linear to integrated, holistic thinking. You’ll discover why embracing regenerative principles represents a crucial mindset shift for the travel industry, how working with “wholes” in business rather than parts can revolutionise your business strategies and create enduring change far beyond your brand, and the limitations of mechanical systems compared to a living systems perspective that fosters collaborative environments that regenerate nature. Overall, you’ll find out how regenerative design enables you to navigate complexity, creating more resilient and adaptable businesses in our rapidly changing world.

Gary Bencheghib

Co-Founder, Sungai Watch

Gary Bencheghib

Co-Founder, Sungai Watch

Gary Bencheghib is a filmmaker and environmental activist. He founded Sungai Watch in 2020 to combat environmental pollution in Indonesia. His initiatives include garbage-floating barriers and cleanups, alongside innovative recycling projects through Sungai Design. In 2022, he earned the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia's Nobel Prize, for his efforts against plastic pollution in Indonesia.

The Power Of Collective Action

17:00

Sungai Watch is an environmental organisation on a mission to stop plastic going into the ocean. Founded in 2020 by Gary, Kelly and Sam Bencheghib in Bali, Sungai Watch is now a team of 90 passionate river warriors, and is working with the government on a master plan to make all rivers in the Tabanan and Denpasar regions plastic-free. Gary will share challenges and learnings from his humble journey of environmental activism, including the power of social media to drive change, Sungai Watch’s creative techniques in documenting and analysing waste data, and its upcycling initiatives that transform trash into products that generate funds. Above all, he’ll emphasise the need for unified global efforts and the role of both individuals and communities in this collective responsibility.

Elora Hardy

Founder and Creative Director, IBUKU

Elora Hardy

Founder and Creative Director, IBUKU

Elora is the Founder and Creative Director of IBUKU. Born and raised in Bali, Elora then spent 14 years in the United States, where she designed prints for Donna Karan that walked the world’s runways. In 2010, Elora left her successful fashion career to carry on the incredible work of the design-build team that created the world-renowned Green School in Bali, founded by her father John Hardy. She reconnected with the culture and landscape that she loves – and today continues to work with Balinese artisans alongside innovative designers and architects, with the goal of making Bali a global centre for sustainable design.

The New Luxury: Harmony In Nature-Led Design

16:00 - 16:40

When architecture is imagined in harmony with the potential of nature, enchanting spaces that resonate on a different frequency arise. IBUKU is a sustainable design and architecture firm that offers travellers access to this harmony, creating a new luxury grounded in nature. With a portfolio that includes The Four Seasons and COMO Hotels, Elora rejoins us at Further East to explore the transformative power of IBUKU’s nature-infused design and its profound impact on our quest for authenticity in travel. Elora’s TED talk on the topic has over 5 million views and she’s shared her insights with emerging leaders at institutions including MIT, the World Government Summit, the US Green Building Council, and London Design Week. Now, learn about how to merge architecture, artisanal craftsmanship and human-made and natural spaces for yourself.

Colin Nagy

Columnist, Skift

Colin Nagy

Columnist, Skift

Colin Nagy leads global brand strategy and management for Instagram. He writes the long running Skift column on luxury, customer experience and innovation and contributes to Courier and  Monocle. Nagy holds a degree in Politics and History from New York University.

Good Times, Do Good: The Future Of Regenerative Hospitality

14:00

Ronald Akili, CEO & Founder, Potato Head, in conversation with Colin Nagy, Director & Columnist, Skift. Ronald Akili is an entrepreneur, innovator and changemaker who thrives on challenging the status quo in every industry he touches. In this conversation he’ll reveal his journey from promoting sustainable Indonesian architecture to the creation and evolution of Potato Head, today the first carbon-neutral company in the region. Ronald’s “Good Times, Do Good” motto encapsulates his belief that we can balance incredible experiences with actions that make the world a better place – and that we can not only serve guests, but also inspire them. From the launch of Katamama to the creative village of Desa Potato Head and partnerships with Green School Bali and the United Nations, hear how Ronaldi is investing in real change – and share your own action for a regenerative future.

 

MEET OUR VENUE

Where are we unlocking Open House this year? A place that suits grand ambitions — somewhere that’s been voted one of the world’s finest hotels. Desa Potato Head is a mini creative village and luxury paradise by the Bali ocean. Once you arrive, you’ll see so much of what makes our region special come alive.

WANT TO KNOW MORE

Every question is worth asking. Chat to us about Open House, or Further East more broadly. We're always happy to help!

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