Celebrating the Leaders Shaping Asia’s ETF Ecosystem
The Asia-Pacific (Regional) Awards celebrate exceptional organisations and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership, and innovation on a regional scale.
While we highly value cross-border footprint and region-wide products, these awards also recognise firms whose exceptional achievement, scale, or dominance in a major Asia-Pacific market places them ahead of most regional peers. Whether you are a manager with a strong cross-border presence, or a firm with overwhelming domestic success that defines the industry’s regional standards, these awards recognise your Asia-wide impact.
Judges' Choice Grand Prize:
ETF of the Year
The Pinnacle of Excellence for 2026
This is the highest honour in the AAM ETF Awards programme. It recognises the single most outstanding ETF product or manager that has defined excellence in the Asia-Pacific region over the past year.
Note: This is a non-entry category. The winner is selected exclusively by the judging panel from the pool of winners of all paid categories.
How to Qualify: To be eligible for this Grand Prize, you must first submit and win in a standard category below. Every category win creates an automatic entry for the Grand Prize.
Eligibility
- Geographic Focus: Achievements must demonstrate Asia-Pacific impact. This can be through a strong cross-border footprint or exceptional dominance within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
- Eligible Funds: Funds must be available to Asia-Pacific investors.
- Performance Period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025 (or new fund launched in 2025 where applicable).
- Submission Deadline: January 30, 2026.
Categories
Submit entries for one or more of the following categories:
Leadership
Recognises the individuals and firms setting the standard for excellence and driving the ETF industry forward across the Asia-Pacific region. For all regional awards, firms and individuals whose exceptional achievement or scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market allows them to stand out significantly from their regional peers are eligible for consideration.
ETF Manager of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the leading ETF manager in the Asia-Pacific region demonstrating overall excellence.
Submission Guidelines
- Demonstrate regional market leadership, AUM growth, and net inflows across Asia-Pacific for the past year.
- The committee will consider firms that demonstrate exceptional market dominance or scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market as an indicator of regional leadership.
- Highlight a successful cross-border strategy and distribution footprint.
- Detail key strategic initiatives, product innovations, and contributions to the development of the regional ETF industry.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF CEO of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Recognises the outstanding CEO of an ETF provider in the Asia-Pacific region.
Submission Guidelines
- Explain how the firm, under your leadership, has navigated regional market conditions.
- Demonstrate strategic vision and successful implementation of key initiatives across Asia-Pacific.
- Provide supporting data on firm performance, regional AUM growth, and market share over the past year.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF CEO/Leader of the Decade
Honours an individual for their outstanding contribution, leadership, and impact on the Asia-Pacific ETF industry over the past decade.
Submission Guidelines
- Outline the nominee’s career achievements and significant contributions to the ETF industry in Asia-Pacific over the last 10 years.
- Demonstrate their influence on market development, innovation, and thought leadership.
- Provide evidence of long-term strategic vision and impact.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Rising Star in Asia-Pacific
Recognises an individual who has shown exceptional potential and achieved significant success in the Asia-Pacific ETF industry.
Submission Guidelines
- Outline the nominee’s significant achievements and contributions on a regional scale over the past 1 year.
- Showcase their role in driving innovation, strategic development, or cross-border business growth.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Personality of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours a high-profile individual who has had a significant positive influence on the ETF industry in the past year.
Submission Guidelines
- Explain the nominee’s contribution to the ETF industry in the past year (e.g. thought leadership, advocacy, market education).
- Provide examples of their public influence and impact.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
Innovation
Celebrates the most creative products, initiatives, and campaigns that are advancing the ETF industry and engaging investors across Asia-Pacific.
Most Innovative ETF of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours a new ETF (launched in 2025) that has shown significant innovation and impact across the region.
Submission Guidelines
- Describe the new fund, its strategy, and its launch date (must be in 2025.
- Explain what makes the product innovative for the regional market (e.g. unique cross-border access, new theme, innovative structure).
- Detail its success in attracting assets from multiple markets (if applicable).
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Launch of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Recognises the most successful new ETF launch in the Asia-Pacific region (launched in 2025).
Submission Guidelines
- Detail the fund launched in 2025.
- Provide supporting data on total AUM raised from across the Asia-Pacific region.
- Explain the success of the launch in terms of regional market impact, distribution strategy, and marketing.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
Most Innovative ETF Investor Education Initiative in Asia-Pacific
Recognises excellence in an investor education program with a regional reach.
Submission Guidelines
- Describe the initiative’s objectives and target audience(s) across Asia-Pacific.
- Detail the channels, content, and tools used (e.g. webinars, multi-lingual content, digital platforms).
- Provide metrics demonstrating the reach and impact of your efforts.
- Highlight innovative approaches to cross-border financial literacy.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Advertising Campaign of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the most creative and effective regional advertising campaign for an ETF or ETF provider.
Submission Guidelines
- Outline the campaign’s objectives, target audience, and key message.
- Provide examples of the creative (e.g. videos, digital ads).
- Present measurable results demonstrating the campaign’s impact (e.g. brand awareness, lead generation, AUM).
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
Best Innovative Index of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Recognises a groundbreaking index that captures emerging regional or global trends for Asian investors.
Submission Guidelines
- Describe the index methodology and the emerging opportunity it tracks.
- Explain its innovation and relevance to Asia-Pacific investors.
- Provide data on adoption by ETFs or other clients in the region.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
Asset Class & Strategy
Recognises top-performing funds on a regional level in key strategic categories.
Performance Template Requirement
Submissions for all categories listed in this section (e.g. Best Dividend ETF and Best Absolute Performing ETF) are judged primarily on quantitative data.
- Applicants must complete and upload the official AAM ETF Performance Template for each submission. *The template must be in Excel format and clearly show monthly returns (January – December 2025) and the total 1-year return for the period ending December 31, 2025. * An essay is not required for these categories. Note that a brief strategy explanation is required for the ‘Best Absolute Performing ETF’ award, as specified in its guidelines.
Please refer to the “Performance Data” section (page 20) for full formatting details.
Best Absolute Performing ETF in Asia-Pacific
Honours the single ETF (listed in Asia-Pacific) with the highest absolute (total) return over the past year.
Submission Guidelines
- Specify the eligible ETF (must be listed on an APAC exchange).
- Provide 1-year total return performance data ending Dec 31, 2025.
- Include fund AUM. (This award is primarily data-driven).
- Briefly explain the investment strategy, including underlying assets.
Best Dividend ETF in Asia-Pacific
Recognises the ETF (active or passive, listed in Asia-Pacific) that has demonstrated the most effective dividend-focused strategy.
Submission Guidelines
- Specify the eligible ETF and its dividend strategy.
- Provide 1-year performance data, yield metrics, and total return vs. benchmark.
- Demonstrate its appeal and success with investors across the region.
Ecosystem & Institutional
Honours the key regional partners and institutional investors whose scale and expertise underpin the entire Asia-Pacific ETF ecosystem.
Index Provider of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the leading index provider in the Asia-Pacific ETF market.
Submission Guidelines
- Demonstrate your firm’s regional footprint and support for the Asia-Pacific ETF ecosystem.
- Provide data on the total AUM tracking your indices in Asia-Pacific ETFs and growth over the past year.
- Highlight key client wins, innovative index launches, and regional research/thought leadership.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Custodian and Administrator of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Recognises the leading custodian and/or fund administrator servicing the regional ETF industry.
Submission Guidelines
- Demonstrate a strong regional presence and expertise in handling complex, cross-border ETF structures.
- Highlight new technology, service enhancements, and major client/market wins in Asia-Pacific in the past year.
- Provide data on regional ETF assets under custody/administration (AUC/AUA).
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Market Maker of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Recognises the leading market maker for providing robust liquidity across multiple Asia-Pacific ETF markets.
Submission Guidelines
- Demonstrate breadth and depth of coverage across regional exchanges and products.
- Provide evidence of high-quality service (e.g. tight spreads, reliability) in various market conditions.
- Highlight technology and strategies used to enhance regional ETF liquidity.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Exchange of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the Asia-Pacific stock exchange that has done the most to support and grow the ETF industry.
Submission Guidelines
- Demonstrate growth in the number of ETF listings, trading volumes, and AUM.
- Highlight new initiatives to improve market efficiency, cross-border connectivity, or investor access.
- Detail efforts in issuer support and investor education.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Exchange of the Year in ASEAN
Honours the ASEAN stock exchange that has done the most to support and grow the ETF industry.
Submission Guidelines
- Demonstrate growth in the number of ETF listings, trading volumes, and AUM.
- Highlight new initiatives to improve market efficiency, connectivity, or investor access within ASEAN.
- Detail efforts in issuer support and investor education.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Data Provider of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Recognises the firm providing the most comprehensive, accurate, and valuable data and analytics for the regional ETF market.
Submission Guidelines
- Describe the scope and quality of your ETF data (e.g. holdings, flows, analytics).
- Demonstrate how your data empowers investors, managers, and other market participants.
- Highlight new data products or platform enhancements in the past year.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Research and Consulting Firm of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the firm providing the most insightful research and strategic consulting for the Asia-Pacific ETF industry.
Submission Guidelines
- Demonstrate thought leadership through published research, analysis, and market commentary.
- Provide examples of strategic consulting projects and their impact.
- Highlight the team’s expertise and influence on the regional industry.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Advisor of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the leading advisory firm (e.g. wealth manager, private bank, robo-advisor) that demonstrates excellence in using ETFs for client portfolios.
Submission Guidelines
- Explain the firm’s philosophy and strategy for incorporating ETFs into client portfolios.
- Demonstrate innovation and best practices in portfolio construction, due diligence, and client education regarding ETFs.
- Provide (anonymised) data on the scale of ETF usage and client-centric outcomes.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Insurance Investor of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the insurance company in Asia-Pacific that has demonstrated the most effective and innovative use of ETFs.
Submission Guidelines
- Explain the firm’s regional strategy for using ETFs.
- Provide an overview of the scale and scope of ETF investments across Asia-Pacific.
- Highlight any innovative applications or leadership in the regional ETF ecosystem.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
ETF Sovereign Wealth Fund Investor of the Year in Asia-Pacific
Honours the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) in Asia-Pacific that has demonstrated leadership and best practices in its use of ETFs.
Submission Guidelines
- Explain the SWF’s strategy for using ETFs (e.g. strategic/tactical allocation, liquidity management, efficient market access).
- Provide an overview of the scale and scope of ETF investments.
- Highlight any leadership in promoting market standards or innovative use cases.
- Submissions should detail impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This can be demonstrated either through a successful cross-border strategy across multiple markets OR through exceptional market dominance and scale within a single major Asia-Pacific market.
Judging Criteria
Please see individual award details for specific judging criteria.
Submission Requirements
Payment
Ensure payment accompanies the submission.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be recognised among the industry’s best. Submit your entry today!
How to Submit
- Download Guidelines: Read the full judging criteria for the categories.
- Prepare Your Data:
- For Asset Class awards: Complete the AAM ETF Performance Template (Excel) showing monthly returns (Jan-Dec 2025).
- For Leadership/Innovation/Ecosystem awards: Prepare a written submission (max 700 words) addressing the category criteria.
- Submit Online: Create an account on our portal and upload your entry.