RI Asia 2025
Viola Tang
Senior Vice President, Sustainability Office, GIC
Realising a Just Transition in Asia
Join the Responsible Investor Asia 2024 conference, the leading event for sustainability in public markets and fixed income. Connect with ESG, sustainable finance, and responsible investment professionals as sustainability moves from theory to action across Asia’s evolving taxonomies.
Hear from asset owners, fund managers, banks, and corporates on how they’re implementing sustainability, disclosure, and net-zero commitments. This event is co-located with the Responsible Investment Forum Asia, brining together sustainability leaders across private markets.
Asset owner attendees include:
2024 speakers include:
What to expect at the forum?
Valuable insights into sustainable finance
Gain key insights from industry leaders on the trends shaping investments today. High-level discussions will focus on strategies vital to advancing Asia’s future economy and sustainability goals.
Expand your network
Engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the ESG spectrum, from banks, pension funds, insurers, NGOs, think tanks, and financial regulators. Build relationships that can enhance your professional development.
Asia-focused content with a global view
Join local and international experts to explore how Asian business can thrive in a sustainability-focused world, with discussions on emerging trends, global practices, and innovative solutions for long-term growth.
Key event themes
- Scaling transition finance in ASEAN
- Protecting and restoring Asia’s biodiversity: the role and responsibility of investors
- ESG engagement in Asia: tools, tactics and timelines
- Corporate transition plans: a question of credibility
- ESG data in public markets: challenges and the next frontiers
- Physical risk, resilience, and climate adaptation
- ISSB, GRI, TNFD: the evolution and interoperability of reporting standards
- Transition investing & the fixed income market
- Deep dive into blended finance solutions
Part of the Sustainable Investor Summit Asia
The Sustainable Investor Summit Asia will convene thought leaders from both private and public markets across Asia and beyond, sparking dynamic discussions on the ongoing evolution of sustainability in Asian financial markets. This summit marks a pivotal moment for the ongoing evolution of sustainability in Asian financial markets.
The summit offers a unique opportunity to connect with 400+ professionals, gain cutting-edge insights, and explore the latest innovations shaping the future of sustainable finance. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation that’s transforming the investment landscape across Asia and globally.
Apply for a complimentary asset owner pass
A limited number of complimentary passes are available for eligible asset owners to join the event.
Complimentary investor passes are limited to foundations, endowments, trusts, insurance companies, single family offices, sovereign wealth funds and pension funds who are actively making fund commitments and do not engage in third-party fundraising activities or collect fees for advisory/consulting services.
Please register your interest and a member of our team will be in touch to confirm your eligibility.
Connect with investors & ESG professionals
Responsible Investor Asia provides an opportunity to make connections with an exclusive audience of ESG and sustainable finance decision makers.
Share your solutions, collaborate and network with senior-level executives through bespoke sponsorship packages to meet your 2024 business goals.
Be recognised as driving the future of sustainable finance to institutional investors in Asia
Sponsoring at Responsible Investor global events positions your company at the forefront of key decision-makers and ensures your profile gains a competitive advantage within the industry. Enquire about bespoke sponsorship packages to:
- Align your brand with Responsible Investor’s authoritative content-led event portfolio and be seen as a go-to solution provider for senior ESG and sustainable finance professionals.
- Stand tall amongst your competitors by positioning your company at Responsible Investor Asia and embed your brand as a major player to senior institutional investors.
- Raise your profile as a thought leader within the industry to overcome the key challenges within responsible investing.
- Showcase your institutional investor solutions, in-person to new global audiences and generate new business opportunities to achieve your targets.
2024 sponsors include:
Join leading Asian asset owners & industry professionals
Hiroshi Komori
Senior Director, Stewardship & ESG, GPIF
RI events around the world have been beneficial to catch up on ongoing ESG issues and network with great people.
Andrea Palmer
ESG Lead, PGGM
I appreciate the quality of the delegates and the conversations. It’s the go-to venue to gauge developments in ESG integration.
For more information on the agenda, please contact Boris Petrovic.
boris.p@pei.group | +44 (0)20 3307 2474
View agenda page
Agenda
RI Asia 2024 - Tuesday 29th
Day one
08:00 - 08:45
Networking breakfast and registration
08:45 - 08:55
PEI welcome
08:55 - 09:00
Chair’s opening remarks
Darian McBain
09:00 - 09:45
Back to reality: taking stock of sustainability efforts in Asian financial markets
Kamran Khan,
Sameer Khan,
Kian Min Low,
Jenn-Hui Tan ,
Yuki Yasui
- How are government net zero plans unfolding and what will it mean for investors?
- Which institutions are driving sustainability the most progress in terms of real-world impact?
- What is the role of public-private collaboration?
- Is the region ready for a 1.5- or 2.0-degree scenario in the coming decade?
09:45 - 10:05
Day one keynote: Beyond the search for alpha: the global economy and its destructive assault
Chandran Nair
10:05 - 10:45
Asia’s asset owners panel: sustainability’s role in portfolio construction
Debanik Basu,
Anubhuti Gupta,
Darian McBain ,
Hazman Hilmi Sallahuddin,
Wai-Seng Wong
- What role does ESG play as a protector of value from the viewpoint of asset owners?
- Has investing sustainably become more challenging for asset owners over the past two years?
- What is keeping senior leaders at asset owners up at night in 2024?
- How are investors prioritising their time and efforts on sustainability – is it really front and centre now?
10:45 - 11:15
Break
11:15 - 12:00
Asia regulators’ roundtable
Satoshi Ikeda,
Kamran Khan,
Abigail Ng,
Roel A. Refran
- What will the ESG regulatory environment in Asia look like in the coming years?
- How are different jurisdictions going about encouraging greater sustainability practices of corporates?
- Is there a connection between sustainability and global competitiveness in the mind of regulators and policy makers?
- In what respects are Asia’s regulators competing with, complementing or imitating other regions’ efforts?
Satoshi Ikeda
Chief Sustainable Finance Officer and Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, Financial Services Agency, Government of Japan
Read bioKamran Khan
Managing Director, Head of ESG for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Deutsche Bank Group
Read bioAbigail Ng
Executive Director, Markets Policy & Consumer Department, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), chair of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum's Working Group on Disclosure Standards, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Read bioRoel A. Refran
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, The Philippine Stock Exchange
Read bio
12:00 - 12:40
Scaling transition finance in ASEAN
Khalid Azizuddin,
Rachel Chia,
Trista Chen,
Laurent Poirot,
Heidi Yip
- What investable transition finance products are currently available for investors?
- How are Asian corporates looking to decarbonise?
- How are national net zero policies of Asia governments intersecting with investor decarbonisation efforts?
- To what extent are enabling legislation and subsidies needed to scale the transition in Asia (e.g. as the Inflation Reduction Act in the US)?
Trista Chen
Head of Investment Stewardship Asia (ex Japan), Legal & General Investment Management
Read bio
12:40 - 13:20
Protecting and restoring Asia’s biodiversity: the role and responsibility of investors
Paul Chandler,
James Griffin MP,
Lucita Jasmin,
Greg Munford,
Juan Salazar
- Can investors achieve biodiversity impact?
- Is there sufficient investor demand for biodiversity credits?
- How is TNFD being received by Asia corporates and investors?
- What are the challenges when it comes to biodiversity data?
Greg Munford
Senior Investment Strategist – Sustainable Investment, New Zealand Superannuation Fund
Read bio
13:20 - 14:15
Lunch
14:15 - 15:00
ISSB, GRI, TNFD: the evolution and interoperability of reporting standards
Allinnettes Adigue,
Alvin Chew,
Emily Kreps,
Indrie Tjahjadi
- How are investor and corporate reporting norms changing in Asia?
- To what extent are new reporting frameworks compatible and interoperable from the viewpoint of investors?
- How are investors adopting the ISSB standard?
- Is reporting being done for its own sake?
15:00 - 15:40
Corporate transition plans: a question of credibility
Liza Jansen,
Bing Yi Lee,
Carlin Naidoo,
Mervyn Tang ,
Viola Tang
- What are the ingredients in a robust transition plan?
- Are investors providing consistent messaging to companies with their voting?
- How are local Asian, vs global, investors scrutinising transition plans?
- Is voting against directors likely to be a phenomenon we see in Asia?
15:40 - 16:00
Coffee & Networking
16:00 - 16:40
ESG data in public markets: challenges and the next frontiers
Khalid Azizuddin,
Sylvia Chen,
Charles Nguyen,
David Smith,
Raphaël Soffer
- How is the lack of data and uniformity of standards affecting the robustness of ESG efforts?
- What ESG data do the different types of investors need to make informed investment decisions?
- What are the data challenges in Asia and other emerging economies?
- How are the financial data providers reacting to this emerging non-financial data challenge/opportunity?
16:40 - 17:15
A new dawn for carbon markets in Asia?
Tobias Davis,
Mark Glossoti ,
Nuomin Han,
Christina Ng
- How successful has carbon trading in Asia been to date?
- Who are the key investors in jumpstarting international carbon markets?
- What are views of the suppliers of carbon credits, and buyers of carbon offsets?
- Are carbon credits a poor excuse for genuine climate action?
17:15 - 18:15
Cocktail & Networking Reception
Agenda
RI Asia 2024 - Wednesday 30th
Day two
08:30 - 09:00
Registration & Networking
09:00 - 09:40
ESG engagement in Asia: tools, tactics and timelines
Felix Lam,
Lucy Martin,
William Ng,
David Smith,
Weixiang Wang
- What are the limits of corporate engagement?
- How do investors achieve impact in engagement?
- What does engagement success look like?
- What are the carrots and sticks of in the engagement toolbox?
09:40 - 10:15
Case study: sustainability in the chemical industry value chain
Cai Rong Lim,
Benjamin McCarron,
Jeanie Tham
- What are the most significant sustainability challenges (in terms of social and environmental externalities) facing the chemical industry?
- What are the key implementation hurdles and how can value chain collaboration address these challenges?
- How can investors and regulators support the effective transition of the chemical industry to a sustainable future?
- How are European companies operating in a diverse and fragmented market in Asia Pacific?
10:15 - 10:30
Day two keynote: SSFA – reflections on year gone, priorities for 2025 and opportunities for collaboration
Kavitha Menon
The Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA) is an industry body established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) along with the financial industry in January 2024.
Building on the successful work of the Green Finance Industry Taskforce (GFIT), SSFA is established to collaborate across the financial institutions, real economy corporates, policymakers, academia, and other ecosystem enablers to support the growth of Singapore as a trusted, vibrant, and inclusive sustainable finance centre.
This session we’ll hear from the director of the SSFA on the impetus for the formation of SSFA, key objectives, the overall approach taken by SSFA in organising FIs and real-economy players, identified priority areas, and the expected deliverables and collaborations.
10:30 - 11:15
Deep dive into blended finance solutions
Nicholas Gandolfo,
Kavitha Menon,
Yash Mishra,
Kalpana Seethepalli
- How are blended finance solutions faring in enticing private capital?
- Why isn’t blended finance a bigger thing?
- Originating in emerging market investing, how can the blended finance structure be applied to transition investing?
- Where is innovation still needed in blended finance products and how can they be scaled?
11:15 - 11:45
Coffee & Networking
11:45 - 12:20
A question of impact and scale: analysing the landscape of different financial products
Natasha Garcha,
Ayako Kageyama,
Alexandra Tracy,
Kazuhiko Yoshimatsu
- What is the potential of different transition products, whether blended finance, impact funds, ESG index funds, green & transition bonds, to affect change in the real economy?
- To what extent is climate mitigation and decarbonisation progress reliant on the availability of financing of solutions (as compared to technology or a favourable policy environment)?
- Which transition finance models have the most pragmatic theories of change?
- What is the investor appetite for these different ‘sustainable’ financial products?
Natasha Garcha
Senior Director, Innovative Finance and Gender-Lens Investing Specialist, Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)
Read bioAyako Kageyama
Senior Expert, Sustainable Investments, Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Program (Singapore)
Read bioKazuhiko Yoshimatsu
General Manager & Chief Representative, Singapore Branch, Tokyo Stock Exchange
Read bio
12:20 - 13:00
Transition investing & the fixed income market
Hazel Ilango,
Jason Mortimer,
Christina Ng,
Ricco Zhang
- How can investors help scale a credible sustainability-linked bond market in Asia?
- Does the transition bond market have a future outside of China and Japan?
- What opportunities for growth are there in the green bond market?
- How can investors navigate differing standards and guidelines across countries?
Jason Mortimer
Head of Sustainable Investment – Fixed Income and Senior Portfolio Manager, Nomura Asset Management
Read bio
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
13:20 - 14:00
Invite only Workshop: Can impact investing truly generate alpha?
Adam Johnson ,
Juan Salazar
Please note: this sponsored 40-min session is invite-only, and will take place during the lunch break.
- How can investors in Asia take part of in transition to a more sustainable future?
- Can investors drive real impact in public markets?
- Does investing for impact come at the cost of returns?
- How does impact investment fit within a portfolio, and what are the implications of tracking error?
14:00 - 14:40
Physical risk, resilience, and climate adaptation
Tim Chan,
Tomomi Shimada,
Anjali Viswamohanan ,
Stephen Vogado
- What are the main Asia-specific climate risks?
- Who is leading work in understanding climate risk (e.g. from the insurance companies) and how can this be applied to investment decisions?
- What new innovations are insurers and reinsurers bringing to market?
- How is the market for climate adaptation solutions, what is being done in the real economy to build resilience?
Tomomi Shimada
Executive Director, APAC Head of Sustainable Investing Client Solutions, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Read bio
14:40 - 15:20
Food security, climate change and agricultural sustainability in Asia
Kate Blaszak,
Mirte Gosker,
Beverley Postma,
Erlend Dahl Trebbi,
Yi-Chen Chiang
- How are food supply chains to Asia likely to be impacted by climate changes in the coming decade?
- How can finance support a just transition in agriculture?
- How can investors engage food companies on sustainable agriculture?
- What opportunities does food system transformation present to investors?
Yi-Chen Chiang
Director, Sustainable Investment, Asia, Public Markets, Manulife Investment Management
Read bio
15:20 - 15:45
Closing remarks
15:45 - 15:45
Closing of conference
Pre-Event Resources
Network at Asia's leading responsible investment event
Build lasting relationships and compare best practices with your peers.
The RI Asia conference returns this October to unite ESG, sustainable finance, and responsible investment professionals for two days of networking at this must-attend event to learn, share, and debate ESG opportunities and challenges.
Building relationships at RI Asia isn’t just about exchanging business cards; it’s about finding common ground and shared goals. Collaborations forged here can be the cornerstone of future projects and initiatives.
Your networking experience
Expand your professional network
Connect with stakeholders in all aspects of the sustainable finance spectrum, from banks, pension funds, insurers, NGOs, think tanks, and financial regulators. Build your network to advance your professional horizons.
Meet with local and global practitioners
With a well-established network of sustainable finance practitioners at our London, New York, Tokyo, Toronto events, the Responsible Investor brand provide the best platform to engage with local practitioners and as well as investors from across Asia, Europe and North America to meet.
Get involved and speak your mind
At Responsible Investor we structure our event to allow for maximum interactivity and for attendees to join in the conversation. Get involved with networking and interactive sessions such as the roundtables and workshop on the programme.
Join leading Asian asset owners & industry professionals
Asset owners at RI Asia 2024
The Responsible Investor Asia provides an unrivalled platform for asset owners investing in ESG and sustainable finance.
A limited number of complimentary passes for the event are available for asset owners. Check out the benefits of joining the conference and learn who among your peers attends. Apply for a complimentary pass for you or your team now.
What to expect?
Network with your peers
Enrich your network, build lasting relationships, and exchange valuable perspectives with your investor peers through investor-only breakfasts, networking breaks, lunches and much more.
Gain expert insights
Hear from our industry-leading speaker line-up, discover the latest trends and stay aligned with future innovations in the market.
Stay aligned to developments and opportunities
Discover remarkable investment opportunities and leverage ESG expertise focused on regulation, human rights, biodiversity, net zero and more.
Meet with the best and brightest funds
Connect and arrange one-to-one meetings with the biggest and best ESG managers in the market.
Connect with active investors
Apply for a complimentary asset owner pass
A limited number of complimentary passes are available for eligible asset owners to join the event.
Complimentary investor passes are limited to foundations, endowments, trusts, insurance companies, single family offices, sovereign wealth funds and pension funds who are actively making fund commitments and do not engage in third-party fundraising activities or collect fees for advisory/consulting services.
Please register your interest and a member of our team will be in touch to confirm your eligibility.
Viola Tang
Senior Vice President, Sustainability Office, GIC
Viola leads a team on sustainable investment strategy and integration for GIC, a leading global investment firm. Her research areas include climate solutions, decarbonisation pathways, transition finance and carbon markets. She began her career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley where she covered power, utilities and infrastructure and completed over USD 80Bn of M&A and capital markets transactions. Subsequently Viola was an Investment Analyst at Victoire, a multi strategy hedge fund, managing its Emerging Asia Small- and Mid-cap strategy. Prior to GIC, Viola focused on energy transition fund strategy, corporate M&A and new market expansion at Fullerton Fund Management.
Viola holds dual Bachelors in Business Administration and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a PhD candidate in Sustainable Finance at Oxford University. In her spare time she can be found playing netball, gardening or spending time with her dog Wonton.