Southeast Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change, as a large proportion of the population and economic activity is concentrated along coastlines. There is a need for organizations to fight the impacts of climate change and transit into more sustainable means of operations. The Centre of Finance for Sustainable Bangkok (CFSB) aims to raise awareness, exchange and manage knowledge and drive the policy agenda and policy actions on finance for sustainability. It will also aim to create an enabling financial environment that supports the implementation of the NDCs and SDGs while unlocking private sector investments into climate change mitigation and adaptation. This session will officially launch the CFSB and further discuss the avenues in which collaboration can be sought toward sustainable green recovery.
Key Takeaways from the session are the following:
- To better understand the function and role of the CFSB in the SEA region
- To identify the challenges towards sustainable transition and accessible finance in the region and opportunities present in the region for sustainable finance and green recovery
- To connect key stakeholders and expand the network in the Centre of Financial for Sustainable
Please find here the presentation by Dr Corrado Topi on the objectives of the CFSB.
| MODERATOR |
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Niall O’ Connor
Director, Asia Stockholm Environment Institute
Niall O’Connor is Asia Director for Stockholm Environment Institute since 2016, with over 20 years leadership experience in environment and development, programme management and academic capacity. Niall worked across Africa in various senior management positions including Regional Representative of WWF Madagascar & West Indian Ocean, Director for the Performance and Development Africa, Regional Director for WWF Eastern and Southern Africa as well as Country Director in Gambia, Ghana and Senegal for Concern Universal. Niall holds a M.Sc. in Biodiversity Conservation from Imperial College London, a M.Sc. in Forestry from University College Dublin, and a BSc in Forestry, also from University College Dublin. |
| SPEAKERS |
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Ivy Wong Abdullah
Lead, Environment Yayasan Hasanah
Ivy Wong Abdullah is currently the Lead of Environment Pillar at Yayasan Hasanah, the Corporate Responsibility (CR) Foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad. Ivy provides leadership and technical input on Hasanah’s Environment work programme, targeted at building connectivity of critical ecological sites in the Central Forest Spine in Peninsular Malaysia, especially in the state of Perak, working together with civil society in collaboration with the private and public sector. Ivy also serves on several technical committees in the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KETSA) and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Prime Minister’s Department on Nature Conservation and Environment, including the Revision of the National Policy on Biological Diversity and the 12th Malaysia Plan Preparation. |
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Dieuwertje Nelissen
Head, Zero Waste Living Lab (SE Asia) Enviu
As an entrepreneurial idealist, Dieuwertje strongly believes idealistic goals and creating business value can be combined. She has a strong track record as an innovator, entrepreneur and program manager, with a focus on the circular economy. Currently Dieuwertje is leading Enviu’s Southeast Asia activities. Enviu is an impact-driven venture building studio, developing new businesses which are beneficial for society and the planet as well as commercially viable. For example, in Indonesia and Malaysia Enviu runs the Zero Waste Living Lab, building businesses with the aim to close the tap on plastic pollution and to put a halt to its negative environmental and social impact. |
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Cliff Prior
Chief Executive Officer, Global Steering Group for Impact Investment
Cliff Prior is the CEO of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment – the independent global steering group catalysing impact investment and enterprise to benefit all people and our planet, with a growing 33 country movement. In this time of covid19 pandemic, the GSG is focused on achieving a just and sustainable recovery, working through 8 action areas and collaborating with market building agencies to achieve maximum benefit. Previously Cliff was CEO of Big Society Capital, the UK’s wholesale social impact investor and market developer; CEO of UnLtd the UK foundation for social entrepreneurs; CEO of Rethink for people affected by severe mental ill health; and has also worked in healthcare, elder care, social housing and homelessness. Cliff has also participated as a government regulator and adviser across several social issue areas, and has co-founded social enterprises. He previously chaired working groups for the GSG on mission led business, impact investing wholesalers, and impact integrity. |
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Corrado Topi
Program Director, CFSB
Dr. Corrado Topi is an SEI Affiliated Researcher at SEI Asia. He has served as a co-leader of the work package on private finance in the initiative on climate finance of SEI. He is an expert in the role of finance and economics in policy making for sustainable resilient transition in private enterprises and cities. He was one of the lead authors of the Mini Stern Review on the Economics of Low Carbon Cities. Dr. Corrado also participated in several COP side events as an expert on green economy transition and at the G7 meeting on green finance for SMEs. |
