The success of the Asia-Pacific region’s energy transition depends not only on infrastructure, policy, and technology but also on ensuring it is inclusive, just, and socially sustainable. Building a resilient energy future requires shifting from infrastructure-led approaches to people-centered transformation, embedding human capital into all aspects of energy policy—through education, reskilling, social protection, and inclusive workforce participation. This transition requires coordinated action among governments, industry, education systems, and regional partners, with a focus on cross-border skills development and labor mobility. The pathway “from policy to people” reflects the need for policies that empower individuals and communities, aligning economic transformation with workforce development and social inclusion. This paper reveals that the region must urgently invest in workforce reskilling, inclusive labor market institutions, and portable social protection to keep pace with rapid renewable expansion. Placing people at the center is not a secondary concern — it is the foundation of a resilient and equitable energy future.