The Sri Lanka Brand Forum (SLBF) has announced the launch of the Sri Lanka Brand Conclave, introducing what it describes as the country's first integrated branding ecosystem dedicated to advancing branding, marketing and innovation. The initiative, which was designed as a long-t…
The Sri Lanka Brand Forum (SLBF) has announced the launch of the Sri Lanka Brand Conclave, introducing what it describes as the country's first integrated branding ecosystem dedicated to advancing branding, marketing and innovation. The initiative, which was designed as a long-term national platform rather than a stand-alone conference, brings together academia, industry leaders, global experts, and emerging talent to boost Sri Lanka's long-term economic competitiveness and develop the country's brand-building capabilities. Beyond the annual Conclave, the ecosystem offers year-round learning, collaboration, and professional development opportunities for Sri Lanka's marketing and business community through initiatives like the Brand Academy, Quarterly Marketers Meet, LinkedIn Community, and Digital Knowledge Book, and Student Brand Challenge. The Sri Lanka Brand Conclave aims to offer useful insights from internationally renowned experts along with successful local case studies as businesses navigate accelerating digital transformation, artificial intelligence and changing customer expectations. The platform's goal is to provide business leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and strategies needed to build stronger, more competitive brands. It will also explore how artificial intelligence, purpose-driven branding, creativity and digital communities are reshaping how organisations build trust, engage consumers and compete in global markets. The inaugural Conclave will bring together leading practitioners and experts from around the world to discuss branding and marketing's future, giving Sri Lankan businesses practical strategies for competing in a market that is becoming increasingly dynamic. Featured speakers include Dr. Prem Shamdasani of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, Thomas Barta of the Marketing Leadership Institute, Tay Guan Hin of The One Club for Creativity, together with speakers from TikTok South Asia, Kantar, Cannes Lions and leading Sri Lankan organisations. Brand Academy and the Quarterly Marketers Meet will provide professionals with continuous learning opportunities throughout the year, while the Student Brand Challenge will connect university students with real-world branding challenges, recognising that future competitiveness also depends on developing the next generation of marketers. The LinkedIn Community and Digital Knowledge Book will further extend access to industry knowledge and encourage ongoing collaboration between business leaders, academics and practitioners. Collectively, these initiatives are designed to establish an ongoing stream of knowledge, collaboration, and talent development, ensuring that Sri Lanka's capability for brand-building is strengthened much beyond a single annual event. Speaking on the launch, Mr. Rohan Somawansa, Co-Founder of the Sri Lanka Brand Forum, said: "Countries that compete successfully on the global stage are supported by strong brands, innovative businesses and talented marketers. Sri Lanka has all three ingredients, but we need stronger platforms that continuously combine industry, academia and international expertise. The Sri Lanka Brand Conclave has been created to build that foundation, not for a single event, but as a year-round ecosystem that equips businesses, marketers and future leaders to build brands that contribute to sustainable national growth." The launch represents the Sri Lanka Brand Forum's wider commitment to developing platforms that advance branding excellence, encourage knowledge sharing, and support innovation throughout Sri Lanka's business landscape. It also builds on the success of the Forum's inaugural industry event. As Sri Lanka seeks new pathways for sustainable economic growth, the Sri Lanka Brand Forum believes stronger brands will be an essential competitive advantage, not only for individual businesses, but for the country as a whole.