BORACAY, Philippines – October 1, 2026

FIA Member Clubs across Asia-Pacific are strengthening their role in road safety advocacy, with child helmet safety highlighted as a key area for collaboration, knowledge sharing and longer-term policy engagement at the FIA Asia-Pacific Congress 2026. Representing AIP Foundation, Sir Greig Craft, Mirjam Sidik, and Khe Nguyen participated in the Congress.

The Congress brought together Member Clubs from across the region to share practical approaches to motorcycle safety, visibility and the use of certified helmets, as well as updates on road safety projects supported through the FIA’s Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life program.

A key focus was the progress and lessons from Phase III of Heads Up!, a regional child helmet safety initiative implemented with five FIA Region II Clubs in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Vietnam. The initiative aimed to move beyond public awareness by strengthening Clubs’ capacity to engage governments, schools, police, technical institutions and other stakeholders on safer helmet systems.

Through communications, community and school activities, technical support, and stakeholder engagement, the five Clubs adapted a shared regional framework to their national contexts. This approach strengthened their capacity to advocate for improvements in helmet standards, testing, enforcement, education, affordability, and accessibility, while building relationships with key decision-makers.

Reflecting on the experience, Mirjam, Chief Executive Officer of AIP Foundation, emphasized the importance of combining communications with sustained advocacy. “The real value of Heads Up! is not simply the communications reach. It is the capacity and relationships being built behind those numbers,” said Mirjam. Her presentation highlighted the campaign’s achievements and lessons, including the importance of local ownership, evidence-based policy engagement, and long-term regional collaboration.

Mirjam Sidik, CEO of AIP Foundation, speaking at the FIA Asia-Pacific Congress 2026.

The initiative provides a foundation for continued regional cooperation on helmet safety. Clubs can build on the capacity, evidence and relationships developed through the initiative, while sharing approaches and lessons across countries and connecting with broader regional efforts such as the Safe Helmets for the Asia Pacific (SHAP) initiative.

The Congress highlighted the broader potential of FIA Member Clubs to turn road safety communications into sustained advocacy and practical action, helping build stronger partnerships and safer mobility systems across the Asia-Pacific region.