FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

The authority of an ACES Award begins with the credibility of its assessment.

Since 2014, ACES has developed into an authoritative regional recognition of responsible leadership, built on a rigorous evaluation process that examines far more than financial success, corporate reputation or a compelling account of achievement.

Through the ACES LEAD™ Evaluation Framework, nominees are challenged to substantiate their performance, explain the decisions behind their achievements and demonstrate the strength of their leadership, governance and organisational impact.

This depth of scrutiny gives ACES recognition its meaning. Every recipient must establish the merit of their achievements through assessment, and previous recognition offers no assurance of future success.

Beyond the evaluation itself, ACES brings together distinguished leaders and accomplished enterprises from across Asia, creating a community where the quality of the people, their experience and their perspectives is as significant as the recognition they receive.

ACES recognition carries authority because of what it takes to earn it, and what it continues to demand of those who receive it.

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Beyond Business reflects a more demanding definition of success.

Asia has no shortage of successful organisations and accomplished business leaders. ACES asks deeper questions:

What have you done with that success? Who became stronger because your organisation grew? What changed because you led? And what will remain because you were here?

These questions sit at the heart of responsible leadership.

Financial performance, growth and innovation remain important. ACES looks further, examining how leaders use their influence, how organisations strengthen their people and institutions, and whether their achievements create value that extends beyond commercial results.

The greatest measure of what we build is not only what it gives us, but what it makes possible for others.

The ACES assessment is intentionally demanding. Nominees are expected to do more than present their strongest achievements; they must demonstrate the substance behind them.

Through structured submissions, evidence review, assessment interviews and verification where applicable, evaluators examine the decisions, systems and measurable outcomes supporting each claim.

A nominee may be asked to explain how growth was achieved, what challenges or trade-offs arose, how leadership decisions affected employees and stakeholders, and whether stated initiatives delivered meaningful results.

Strong claims invite deeper examination. Where evidence is insufficient, further clarification may be required.

This process is designed to distinguish well-presented achievements from achievements that can withstand scrutiny.

The depth of the evaluation is not merely a step towards recognition. It is central to the value of the recognition itself.

Both, but ACES does not regard them as interchangeable.

Commercial success demonstrates an organisation's ability to compete, execute and create economic value. Responsible leadership examines how that success is achieved, governed and translated into lasting organisational and societal contributions.

A strong enterprise must demonstrate performance appropriate to its award category. An exceptional enterprise must also show the leadership, resilience, accountability and capabilities that underpin its achievements.

ACES evaluates these dimensions together, according to the nature and scope of each category.

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ACES welcomes nominations from eligible leaders and organisations across Asia, including established corporations, multinational enterprises, emerging businesses, entrepreneurs, senior executives, institutions and non-profit organisations.

The awards cover Individual Leadership, Enterprise, SMEs, Sector-Specific Excellence, Sustainability, Environment, Community and Workplace achievements, alongside distinguished Legacy honours.

Eligibility requirements vary by category. Nominees are assessed against criteria appropriate to their leadership responsibilities, organisational scale, maturity and scope of contribution.

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No. ACES recognises that excellence exists at different stages of enterprise development.

A multinational corporation may demonstrate excellence through its market influence, organisational resilience, governance and contributions at scale. An SME may demonstrate exceptional achievement through innovation, growth, leadership capability or meaningful industry impact.

Each category applies relevant benchmarks, including financial and operational considerations where appropriate.

ACES does not expect every organisation to operate at the same scale. It does, however, expect every recognised organisation to demonstrate excellence against the standards relevant to its category.

Invitations may arise from ACES Institute research, industry observations, ACES Council recommendations, referrals and the achievements of leaders or organisations identified through the ACES discovery process.

An invitation indicates that a candidate's record appears to warrant closer examination against the relevant ACES criteria.

It does not guarantee an award.

Every nominee must complete the applicable assessment and substantiate their achievements before a recognition decision can be made.

ACES categories distinguish different dimensions and levels of achievement.

The Secretariat considers the nominee's profile, operating scale, leadership responsibilities, track record and supporting evidence to recommend an appropriate category.

For example, enterprise categories consider organisational performance and maturity, while sustainability-related categories examine the relevant practices, outcomes and impact. Sector-specific categories apply standards suited to the nature and development of the industry.

The purpose of category selection is to ensure an appropriate and credible assessment, not to identify the easiest route to recognition.

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This depends on the achievement being presented.

An individual leadership nomination examines the person's leadership record, influence and contributions. An enterprise nomination evaluates organisational capabilities and performance. A subsidiary or business unit may be assessed independently where it has a sufficiently distinct operating record and satisfies the relevant criteria.

Separate nominations may be considered where the achievements and eligibility requirements support them.

ACES uses the proprietary ACES LEAD™ Evaluation Framework, developed to examine leadership, enterprise performance and sustainability impact through four interconnected dimensions:

•  Leadership & Vision: Strategic direction, innovation, influence and the ability to lead meaningful progress.

•  Enterprise & Performance: Growth, resilience, operational excellence and organisational capability.

•  Accountability & Ethics: Governance, integrity, responsible decision-making and institutional stewardship.

•  Development & Social Impact: Contributions to people, industry, communities and the wider environment.

The framework applies quantitative and qualitative parameters according to the relevant award category.

Nominations undergo screening, evidence-based assessment and applicable audit or interview processes, followed by evaluation review and final validation.

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The ACES evaluation journey generally follows six stages:

1.  Nomination Submission: Registration, category identification and submission of the required information.

2.  Preliminary Screening: Review of eligibility, organisational profile and alignment with the applicable criteria.

3.  Audit & Interview: Examination of supporting evidence, leadership decisions, achievements and impact through the applicable verification process.

4.  Council Evaluation: Review of assessment findings and recommendations against ACES standards.

5.  Decision & Notification: Final validation and formal communication of the evaluation outcome.

6.  Award Acceptance & Recognition: Successful nominees receive their award offer and may proceed with the applicable Awards Winners Programme (AWP).

The Secretariat provides procedural guidance, while ACES One Hub supports the submission and recognition journey.

Financial and operational evidence allows ACES to understand the scale, consistency and resilience of an organisation's achievements.

Revenue, growth, profitability, workforce development, operating performance and other relevant indicators help evaluators examine whether stated achievements are supported by measurable results.

These indicators are considered within the relevant category and alongside evidence of leadership, governance, innovation and wider impact.

ACES does not evaluate success solely through financial figures. It examines the quality and sustainability of the performance those figures represent.

ACES recognises that certain financial, strategic and operational information may be commercially confidential.

The Secretariat can discuss appropriate disclosure arrangements, restricted evidence or alternative verification methods, provided the information remains sufficient for credible evaluation.

Non-disclosure agreements may be arranged upon request.

Where evidence is essential to establishing a claim, confidentiality concerns do not remove the requirement for adequate verification.

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ACES conducts nominations and evaluations through scheduled waves, allowing leaders and organisations to enter the assessment process at different points during the awards cycle.

Every wave follows the same underlying evaluation standards. Earlier submission does not provide preferential treatment or improve the likelihood of selection.

Submitting early may allow more time for evidence clarification, verification and recognition planning following a successful decision.

Current nomination periods and deadlines are published on the ACES website.

Yes, subject to the stage of evaluation.

The Secretariat may recommend category adjustments where another category provides a more appropriate assessment benchmark. Nominees may also be asked to provide additional evidence or clarify information already submitted.

Once an assessment has reached its final decision stage, changes may be restricted.

Late submissions are considered only where the assessment schedule and available capacity permit.

Recognition is determined by the merit of nominations and their performance against the relevant evaluation standards.

ACES does not confer recognition simply to fill a category or meet a predetermined number of winners.

The final number of recipients depends on the quality of nominations and the outcomes of the assessment process.

The integrity of the benchmark takes precedence over the volume of recognition.

Nomination Fees

•  All Nominees: The first category is complimentary. Additional categories are USD 300 each.

•  ACES Laureates: Nomination fees are waived for up to two categories.

Awards Winners Programme (AWP)

Following independent assessment, successful nominees may participate through two pathways:

•  Digital Pathway ( from USD 2,250): Offers award recognition, branding rights and digital media visibility without attending the Awards Ceremony.

•  In-Attendance Pathway  (from USD 12,000): Offers the full ACES Awards experience, including the Awards Ceremony, media and editorial features, and opportunities to engage with distinguished leaders across Asia.

Programme fees vary according to the selected benefits, with full details provided upon selection.

No. ACES Awards are conferred on merit following independent evaluation against established criteria.

Neither nomination nor programme fees influence assessment outcomes or guarantee an award.

Following successful selection, recipients participate through their chosen AWP.

The assessment determines who merits recognition; the selected programme determines how that recognition is presented and amplified.

This distinction is fundamental to preserving the integrity of ACES and the standing of those recognised under it.

Evaluation and recognition delivery serve different purposes.

The assessment establishes whether a nominee has earned recognition. The Awards Winners Programme provides the professional production, official recognition, branding rights, editorial development, media visibility and ceremonial arrangements through which that achievement is communicated.

Depending on the selected pathway, these may include branding rights, winner profiles, interviews, media features, ceremony participation and associated activities.

Programme fees support these deliverables and do not influence the assessment decision.

No. ACES provides two pathways to accommodate different organisational priorities and circumstances.

The Digital Pathway allows selected recipients to receive formal recognition and the applicable media benefits without attending the physical ceremony.

The In-Attendance Pathway includes the Awards Celebration and opportunities to participate in the wider ACES gathering.

Both pathways recognise achievements established through the applicable assessment. The distinction lies in the recognition experience and associated deliverables.

An ACES Award acknowledges an achievement. Being present places that achievement among the leaders and organisations shaping the region's business landscape.

The ACES Summit and Awards Celebration bring together accomplished entrepreneurs, senior executives, distinguished industry leaders and influential enterprises from across Asia.

The value extends beyond ceremony and visibility. It is an opportunity to encounter peers facing comparable responsibilities, exchange perspectives on complex business challenges and establish relationships founded on professional respect.

For many leaders, the most meaningful conversations are those that challenge their thinking or introduce them to perspectives they would not otherwise encounter.

The quality of recognition establishes the standing of the gathering. The calibre of those gathered gives the experience its enduring value.

Successful nominees receive a formal award offer setting out the applicable acceptance and participation arrangements.

If a nominee chooses not to proceed, the recognition will not be activated for public use, and the associated title rights, official branding permissions, publicity and recognition deliverables will not be granted.

The applicable terms and timelines are provided with the award offer.

Recipients may announce their recognition and use the applicable award title and official branding once award acceptance, authorisation and any applicable announcement conditions have been completed.

The Secretariat will communicate approved branding assets, announcement guidelines and any relevant embargoes.

These procedures help preserve the consistency and integrity of ACES recognition across participating markets.

The ACES Circle is a regional community connecting leaders and organisations recognised through the ACES platform.

It extends engagement beyond the annual Awards Ceremony through opportunities for leadership exchange, learning and professional collaboration.

Activities include CEO roundtables, regional masterclasses, leadership dialogues and selected gatherings addressing the strategic challenges confronting Asian enterprises.

The value of the Circle lies in the quality of its members and their willingness to contribute experience, judgement and perspective.

It is intended to create relationships of substance, not simply expand professional contact lists.

Yes. ACES welcomes returning leaders and organisations that continue to demonstrate exceptional achievements.

However, previous recognition is not evidence of present excellence.

Each new nomination must stand on its own merit, supported by current achievements and evaluated against the applicable standards of that assessment cycle.

A returning nominee should be able to explain what has developed since its earlier recognition: stronger capabilities, more mature governance, meaningful innovation, improved performance or contributions of greater depth and reach.

As industries advance, the benchmark also evolves. What was once exceptional may eventually become expected practice.

This is why continued recognition must be earned anew.

The ACES Laureate Programme recognises leaders and organisations that have demonstrated sustained excellence through repeated, independently assessed achievements.

A single ACES Award acknowledges excellence at a particular point in time. The Laureate journey examines whether that excellence has endured, developed and remained relevant as circumstances and standards change.

It establishes a continuing institutional record of achievement rather than treating successive recognitions as unrelated events.

The question is no longer simply whether a leader or enterprise has been successful.

It is whether their record demonstrates the ability to keep advancing.

Laureate progression is determined through qualifying recognitions within an eligible award pillar or domain, validated against the recipient's ACES history.

The principal milestones are:

•  Visionary Laureate — 3 Recognitions: Establishing a record of sustained excellence.

•  Maestro Laureate — 5 Recognitions: Demonstrating continued advancement and depth of achievement.

•  Virtuoso Laureate — 7 Recognitions: Recognising an enduring record of distinguished leadership and influence.

•  Imperium Laureate — 9 Recognitions: The highest milestone for sustained recognition, reflecting exceptional longevity and achievement.

A separate Imperium route may apply to qualifying Legacy distinctions, subject to ACES Council criteria.

Recognition across unrelated pillars does not automatically combine towards the same Laureate milestone.

Every qualifying award must be earned through the applicable evaluation process. Laureate progression is not an automatic reward for repeated participation.

The Laureate experience is designed to give sustained excellence an appropriate level of institutional acknowledgement.

Depending on the relevant milestone and annual programme, privileges may include:

•  ACES Council Citation of Progress: A formal acknowledgement of the recipient's continuing achievements and development across successive assessment periods.

•  Laureate Record: A permanent record of qualifying recognitions, progression milestones and documented achievements.

•  Distinctive Ceremonial Recognition: Dedicated Laureate visual presentation, milestone honours and official portrait opportunities.

•  Laureate Council Reception: Opportunities for closer engagement with fellow Laureates, Council members and distinguished regional guests.

•  Leadership Dialogues: Selected participation in smaller, substantive discussions involving experienced leaders and industry peers.

•  Laureate Portraits & Perspectives: Consideration for editorial profiles, interviews and ACES Institute thought-leadership contributions.

•  Distinguished Addresses: Selected opportunities for advanced Laureates to reflect on their leadership journey at the ACES Summit or Awards Ceremony.

Certain privileges are milestone-specific or extended by Council invitation.

The intention is to give leaders with sustained records of excellence a more meaningful place within the ACES community.

The Laureate distinction recognises not how often someone has returned, but what they have continued to demonstrate.

ACES regards recognition as a responsibility as well as an achievement.

Recipients are encouraged to uphold responsible business practices, strengthen their organisations and continue advancing the standards of leadership, governance and impact within their sphere of influence.

The ACES Sustainability Pledge reflects this commitment to responsible business and continuous progress.

Recognition should not be regarded as the conclusion of an achievement. It should provide a foundation for further development.

At ACES, the trophy is the beginning.

The ACES Institute provides a research and knowledge-development foundation for the wider ACES platform.

Its work examines leadership, enterprise performance, sustainability and the practices shaping responsible business across Asia.

Through research, benchmarking, case studies and industry engagement, the Institute seeks to translate observed achievements and organisational experience into insights that can inform wider practice.

This reflects an important ACES principle: recognising strong institutions is valuable, but the knowledge gained should also contribute to making other institutions stronger.

Yes. Selected recipients may be invited to contribute their experience and expertise to ACES Institute research, industry dialogues, case studies, editorial features and collaborative publications.

Such opportunities are considered according to the relevance of the contributor's experience, the Institute's research priorities and applicable editorial or methodological standards.

Participation in research initiatives is separate from award evaluation and does not influence recognition decisions.

ACES handles nomination information in accordance with its confidentiality procedures and applicable data protection requirements.

Information submitted for assessment is made available to authorised personnel and evaluators according to their responsibilities.

Commercially sensitive information is not intended for public disclosure through the evaluation process. Public profiles, media features and identifiable research contributions are managed according to the relevant permissions and consent arrangements.

Non-disclosure agreements may be arranged where additional confidentiality assurances are required.

For further information, nominees should refer to the ACES Privacy Policy or contact the Secretariat.