The idea of a regional society comprising the Asia Pacific region evolved from conversations that started at the following meetings:

• Beijing International Meeting on Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology (1994),
• Advisory Group in Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting of the Far East in Hong Kong (1995)
• The International Symposium on Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders in the Young (ISDEDY) and 4th Asian Symposium of Childhood and Juvenile Diabetes in Chiang Mai (1997)

Between 1996 and 2002, Prof. Martin Silink and Prof. Kaichi Kida initiated the Leadership Needs Assessment Workshops in the Western Pacific Region, creating a platform for professional and social interactions among senior paediatric endocrinologists in the region. Prof. Zvi Laron from Israel was also a prominent supporter of establishing APPES. Several key senior endocrinologists from the region were instrumental in founding APPES, including (listed in alphabetical order by country):

Graciously, Prof Kaichi Kida used his biennial Asia Pacific Youth Diabetes meetings to evolve into what would become the biennial APPES scientific meeting.

Following general agreement that a regional society was needed to support and progress paediatric endocrinology and diabetes, a further discussion as held in Sydney at the Asia Pacific Endocrinology Workshop (27 – 30 March 1996) held at the Manly Pacific Hotel to celebrate opening of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The final discussion on the formation of APPES took place at the ISDEDY meeting in Chiangmai in 1997 and, and it was delegated to Chris Cowell and Louis Low to work with the senior leaders across the region to develop a proposed structure and governance.

Subsequently APPES was incorporated using the New South Wales (Australia) small business/not for profit mode in 1998 and the first scientific meeting  was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1999.  The meeting was entitled:  Paediatic Endocrinology in the next millennium; Inaugural Scientific Meeting of the Asia Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society in Association with Asian Symposium on Childhood Diabetes). Prof Khalid bin Tan Sri Abdul Kadir, president of the Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society and Prof Loo Ling Wu were the local convenors. At the meeting Chris Cowell was acknowledged as the “Governor” for his work in establishing the society. Invited speakers at this first meeting included John Parks and Francis Glorieux who were wonderful guests, sharing knowledge and good humour. The meeting had many highlights, excellent talks and memorable moments. Among these, one frequently cited was the cultural evening where many attendees sang national songs (generally very well). The exception being the New Zealanders who performed a Haka (a Māori war dance), bare chested. This left an indelible impression on many who attended!

At the first annual general meeting held during this conference in 1999, a council was elected that included representation from many Asia Pacific countries and regions including Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. The first office bearers were Louis Low as president, Kaichi Kida as President Elect, Chris Cowell as Honorary Secretary and Geoff Ambler as Honorary Treasurer.

The scientific organising committee for this first meeting involved a number of endocrinologists who later became closely involved in APPES and included Louis Low, Chris Cowell, Kaichi Kida, Geoff Ambler, Meena Desai, Loo Ling Wu and Wayne Cutfield. Wayne Cutfield was the convenor of the scientific organising committee and continued in this role for the first 3 meetings.  (add in all names from book)

The first Fellows meeting was held just prior to the main scientific meeting in the Genting Highlands, Malaysia and was rated a huge success, both among the many fellows who attended and the faculty. Subsequent fellow schools have been held annually and are recognised internationally for the quality of the trainees and the program. Maria Craig, a fellow at the time of the first meeting, was involved closely in the first Fellows school and then continued as the convenor for nearly 20 years. Maria has been continuously involved with APPES for more than 25 years and became president in 2022.

APPES has succeeded because of the commitment to a regional approach by local societies in almost every country in the Asia Pacific region. This is particularly true in the early years with strong support from China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines and Australasia. Since its formation many more countries have supported and become involved in APPES. These have continued to grow and include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mongolia and Sri Lanka.

If you are an APPES Member, you can login to the members section to access photos from the very early meetings (and all subsequent ones).