The Sustainable Finance Institute Asia (“SFIA”) is an independent institute established to catalyse ideas on Sustainable Finance at the policy level, as well as propel action in support of those policy ideas in Asia, particularly in ASEAN. It aims to provide thought leadership and act as a one stop centre for Sustainable Finance in ASEAN through collaborations with governments, regulators, central banks, multilateral development banks, industry, academia and non-governmental organisations.
SFIA a neutral platform for Sustainable Finance that provides unbiased and credible policy recommendations and implementation support to countries in the region, particularly ASEAN countries;
We adopt an open architecture approach where both financial and resource partners will be encouraged to work with, and through, the Institute while keeping the actions and the outputs of the Institute unbiased and credible.
SFIA will provide a space for governments, research and academia, civil society and industry to identify issues, exchange ideas, develop strategies and implement solutions on Sustainable Finance.
SFIA’s open architecture model allows the participation of other subject matter experts to enable it to provide informed and enlightened policy ideas.
we are passionate about our mission and we are committed to it
we respect each other and the diverse views of our stakeholders
we will find a way to get things done and overcome challenges
we will remain independent in the way we conduct ourselves and always act with integrity
we don’t wait for the perfect opportunity, but instead make every opportunity count.
SFIA drives its Sustainable Finance efforts through two inter-related and synergistic tracks – Green Finance and SDG Finance. Both these tracks will be integrated at the strategic level are executed through addressing policy and enabling action.
Singapore
140, Paya Lebar Road
#09-24, AZ @ Paya Lebar
Singapore 409015
Kuala Lumpur
Level 18.02 KPMG Tower
8 First Avenue
Bandar Utama
47800 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Malaysia
Mr. Esmond Choo holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree from the University of Melbourne and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. He is currently the Executive Director of UOB-Kay Hian Holdings Limited and also the Chairman of UOB Kay Hian Securities (M) Sdn Bhd.
Esmond has accumulated substantial experience in the finance and insurance sectors since 1986. He has served in various industry committees and was the past Chairman of the Stockbrokers Association of Singapore from 2009 to 2012. In recognition of his contribution to the Securities and Futures industry, Esmond was conferred the title Institute of Banking and Finance Distinguished Fellow in 2014.
Esmond serves as a member of the Asian Advisory Board of the University of Melbourne and Finance Committee Chairman of the SJI International School in Singapore.
Raymond Tong is a partner of Rajah & Tann in Singapore. He was recently the partner in the capital markets team of Clifford Chance in Singapore. Raymond is widely regarded as one of Singapore’s leading capital markets lawyers. He was admitted as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore and is also a solicitor in England and Wales.
Raymond advises on both domestic and international matters and has worked on some of the most high-profile ECM deals across Southeast Asia in recent years.
Raymond is a board member of Asia Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), a member of the Audit Committee of the Methodist Welfare Society, the Corporate Practice Committee of the Law Society of Singapore and the Disciplinary Committee of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants.
Eugene Wong is the Chief Executive Officer of SFIA, an independent institute established to catalyse ideas on Sustainable Finance at the policy level in Asia, particularly in ASEAN, as well as propel action in support of those policy ideas.
Eugene was previously the Managing Director, Corporate Finance & Investments of the Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”). He oversaw the SC’s ASEAN related initiatives and was a Chair of the Deputies of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (“ACMF”), the Co-Chair of its Sustainable Finance Working Group (“SFWG”) and a Co-Chair of the ASEAN Working Committee on Capital Market Development. At the SC, he also oversaw matters related to accounting for capital markets and served as a member of the Audit Oversight Board and an Adviser to the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board.
Eugene represents SFIA as an observer to the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles, Sustainability Bond Guidelines and Sustainability-linked Loans Guidelines Group. He is also a member of Climate Bonds Initiative’s International Advisory Panel and an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Asia School of Business.
Prior to joining the SC, Eugene held positions in a merchant bank, a stockbroking company and in the corporate finance division of an international accounting firm.
Eugene is a Fellow of CPA Australia, Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Chartered Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. He has an Advanced Diploma in Corporate Finance from The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and holds a B. Comm. from the University of Melbourne.
Mr Donough Foley is a former Managing Director of Government & Public Affairs for Moody’s Investors Service in Asia Pacific. Donough has worked in Asia for over 30 years. Prior to joining Moody’s, he was Head of Government & Regulatory Affairs for Qantas Airways and has also worked as a Vice President of Government for Philips Electronics, and as a Vice President of Corporate Communications/Public Affairs & Branding at Lucent Technologies. Donough was also part of the team that helped build Burson-Marsteller’s business in China.
Donough holds a BA in Economics and Politics from the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Kathlyn is a Director of family office Rumah Group and its philanthropic arm, Rumah Foundation, where she leads the family’s environmental portfolio; and Communications & Sustainability Director at Singapore-listed real estate developer GYP Properties. Having developed a deep love and respect for the ocean and marine life over years of scuba diving and freediving, she is passionate about business sustainability and ocean protection. In the non-profit sector, Kathlyn serves as a Board Trustee of Conservation International Singapore, Board Director of The Good Food Institute Singapore, and Co-Founder of Coastal Natives, a Rumah Foundation project. The daughter of a humanitarian, she grew up providing volunteer support for needs assessments and community development efforts in the field.
Rachel is the Head of Futures Unit in the Economics & Investment Strategy Department of GIC. The unit looks at long-term trends that have a material impact on GIC’s total portfolio, and the team leads the firm’s investment research on climate change, including climate scenarios, carbon risk analysis and physical risk assessments. She is a member of GIC’s Sustainability Committee, which oversees the firm’s sustainability policies and implementation. Rachel is also a member of the working group advising the Monetary Authority of Singapore on the Singapore Green Taxonomy.
ASEAN Capital Markets Forum and International Sustainability Standards Board Joint Conference and Technical Training on the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
27-28 June 2023, Singapore
The Webinar on Version 2 of the ASEAN Taxonomy will be held on 9 June 2023 from 10.00am – 12.00pm (GMT+8). The event will discuss the recently published ASEAN Taxonomy Version 2 and feature a panel discussing efforts to transition in ASEAN, with a focus on the Energy sector