“Catalysing Sustainable Finance To Transform The World”

WHY WE ARE HERE

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’s goal is to catalyse transformational change and action.

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.

OUR CORE VALUES

Be Passionate

we are passionate about our mission and we are committed to it

Be Respectful

we respect each other and the diverse views of our stakeholders

Be Innovative

we will find a way to get things done and overcome challenges

Be Independent and have Integrity

we will remain independent in the way we conduct ourselves and always act with integrity

Be Realistic and Make A Difference

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.

SUPPORTED BY

RESOURCE PARTNER

Engage

High Impact

Solutions

OUR TEAM

EUGENE WONG
CEO
ESMOND CHOO LIONG GEE
Non-Executive Independent Director
RAYMOND TONG WEI MIN
Non-Executive Independent Director
DONOUGH FOLEY
Adviser

THE ASEAN TAXONOMY BOARD

The ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB) is set up under the auspices of the ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM) and is jointly driven by the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF), the ASEAN Insurance Regulators’ Meeting (AIRM), the ASEAN Senior Level Committee on Financial Integration (SLC) and ASEAN Working Committee on Capital Market Development (WC-CMD).

The ATB will develop, maintain and promote a multi-tiered ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (ASEAN Taxonomy) that will identify economic activities that are sustainable and help direct investment and funding towards a sustainable ASEAN.

The ASEAN Taxonomy will be the overarching guide for all ASEAN Member States (AMS), complementing their respective national sustainability initiatives and serving as ASEAN’s common language for sustainable finance. It will be designed to ensure that AMS have a framework that suits their economic and social structures that other frameworks may not be able to address.

Transition is a key element of ASEAN’s sustainability agenda and the ASEAN Taxonomy will incorporate an effective pathway to enable an orderly transition.

The members of the ATB comprise representatives of ACMF, AIRM, SLC and WC-CMD. The inaugural Board comprises eight (8) Members, as follows:

  • Chair: Mdm. Noorrafidah Sulaiman, Deputy Managing Director (Monetary Operations, Development and International), Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam
  • Vice-Chair: Mr. Daniel Wang, Executive Director (Insurance), Monetary Authority of Singapore
  • Ahmad Rifqi, Senior Executive Analyst, Financial Services Authority of Indonesia
  • Fraziali Ismail, Assistant Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia
  • Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin, Deputy Chief Executive, Securities Commission Malaysia
  • Dennis Funa, Commissioner, Philippines Insurance Commission
  • Gillian Tan, Assistant Managing Director (Development & International), Monetary Authority of Singapore
  • Nawaron Dejsuvan, Assistant Governor, Bank of Thailand


The ATB is overseen by the AFMGM with the Sustainable Finance Institute Asia (SFIA) providing administrative support as host of the ATB.

CONTACT US

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

contact@sfinstitute.asia

EUGENE WONG

CEO

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.

ESMOND CHOO LIONG GEE

Non-Executive Independent Director

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 WEI MIN

Non-Executive Independent Director

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.

Donough Foley

Adviser

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.