2023 Judging Panel

Chitra Venkatesh Deputy Director, Knowledge and Strategic Initiatives	Chitra Venkatesh leads Knowledge Management, Youth Programmes and Strategic Initiatives at UN Global Compact Network Singapore. Her expertise lies in Science Communication, Strategic Partnerships, Education and Outreach. She is an Executive Member of Climate Action Singapore Alliance (CASA) that builds on the narrative of climate change to translate public awareness into action. She works with NGOs and Foundations, Government Ministries and their Agencies, the Private Sector, Community and Youth Organisations. In the past, she led Education and Outreach, one of 5 conservation delivery units at WWF-Singapore, and was an elected Global Education Leader for the WWF International Network and had global strategic oversight on education, outreach and youth programmes. She was Country Manager, Singapore for Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). As an environmental education consultant to World Organisation Scouts Movement (WOSM), she was instrumental in the launch of Scouts for SDGs and Earth Tribe in 2018 and the relaunch of the Panda Badge in 2019 - 45 years after its initial launch. She did a short stint with the ArtScience Museum as the Director of Programmes in 2022. She is also a fully certified Early Childhood Educator and Lecturer who specialises in Curriculum Design, Behavioural Economics and User Experience Design.
Esther An Chief Sustainability Officer City Developments Limited (CDL)	A pioneering green building and sustainability advocate for over two decades, Esther has been instrumental in establishing CDL’s leadership in sustainability. It is ranked top real estate company on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World since 2020. It became the first real estate conglomerate in Southeast Asia to sign the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings in February 2021. Named by Reuters as one of 25 trailblazing women leaders in climate 2023, Esther’s pioneering ESG initiatives include publishing the first sustainability report in Singapore in 2008 and issuing the first green bond by a Singaporean company in 2017. The chairperson of the Sustainability Report Advisory Committee in Singapore, she also sits on board the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Supervisory Board, GRESB Foundation Board, and UN PRI Real Estate Advisory Committee. She chairs the World Green Building Council’s Corporate Advisory Board; the Asia Pacific Real Estate Association’s ESG Committee; and co-chairs the Urban Land Institute Singapore’s Sustainability Product Council. A forerunner in embracing the UN SDGs, Esther was conferred 2018 SDG Pioneer for Green Infrastructure and A Low Carbon Economy by the UN Global Compact. A G20 Empower Advocate in 2022, Esther recognizes that youth engagement and female empowerment is crucial for sustainable development. She founded the Women4Green network in 2017 and the Youth4Climate initiative in 2018.
Michael Tang Head, Listing Policy & Product Admission and Head, Sustainable Development Office, Singapore Exchange Regulation	Michael is the head of Listing Policy & Product Admission at Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo), a subsidiary of Singapore Exchange (SGX Group) that undertakes frontline regulatory functions. He also heads the Sustainable Development Office at SGX RegCo. In his two roles Mr Tang oversees listing policy and rules development, administers the admission of securities products, coordinates sustainability-related issues on the regulatory front as well as leads efforts to promote sustainability across stakeholder groups. Michael graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Bachelor of Laws degree and is admitted to the Singapore bar. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the NUS Business School’s Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS), a Management Committee member of UN Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) and a member of the Environmental, Social and Governance Committee of the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID).
Ong Kah Kuang Executive Director Youth Corps Singapore, National Youth Council	Ong Kah Kuang is the Executive Director (ED) of Youth Corps Singapore, which was set up in June 2014 to champion youth volunteerism and develop youth leaders as a rallying force to serve the community. Prior to joining Youth Corps, Kah Kuang was in the Army for 24 years. Kah Kuang is a firm believer that you gain more than you give when you volunteer. In his time as ED of Youth Corps, he has learnt much and been inspired by the passion of the many youths who are actively serving the community, and making a difference to the lives of others.
Sunil Puri Senior Vice President Research & Engagement Stewardship Asia Centre	Sunil leads the Research and Engagement team and be responsible for the research and design of education programmes, publications, thought leadership events, books, toolkits, frameworks, and work closely with the Strategic Partnerships & Delivery team to execute the programmes. Prior to joining SAC, Mr Puri was a Senior Director, Research, Innovation and Product Development with Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) in Singapore and India, where he led the development of new products (events, programs, tools) based on research, partner with clients as a leadership subject-matter expert and develop annual research agenda with global stakeholders to execute research initiatives. Between 2014 and 2016, he was the Head of Research & Insights with Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI), where he led Pan-Asia research initiatives on “Asian leader development”, facilitate programs for senior business and HR leaders. He also worked as an Independent Consultant in India for a few years and was with CEB India (now Gartner) in India and USA for 8 years. Mr Puri graduated with a Master of Technology in Energy Studies from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. He also has an Executive MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He has also authored several research studies and wrote articles for Economic Times, The Business Times and Harvard Business Review.
Shai Ganu Managing Director; Global Leader of Executive Compensation & Board Advisory business at WTW Governing Council Member at Singapore Institute of Directors Global Governing Board Member of Climate Governance Initiative Independent Non-Executive Director	Shai is WTW’s Global Leader for Executive Compensation & Board Advisory business. He leads a team of over 500 exceptional consultants, across 40 countries, who are trusted advisors to clients on issues related to board and executive compensation, performance management and incentives, board effectiveness, organisation transformation, future of work, and human-capital governance. Based in Singapore, he has extensive experience working closely with the Boards and management teams of some of the largest companies in the world. He is a trusted advisor to more than 100 Boards, Remuneration Committees, Nomination Committees, and Sustainability Committees. He specialises in banking, insurance, real estate, and telecommunications industries, and works extensively with sovereign wealth funds, private equity, and family businesses. Mr Ganu is also an associate university lecturer, faculty member at director associations in the region – and teaches courses related on Remuneration, Nomination, Talent Management, and Sustainability (ESG) matters. He serves on Boards and HR Committees of leading companies and not-for-profit organisations in the region. He is a Fellow and Governing Council member of the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID), chairs its Partnerships Committee and is also a member of its ESG Committee. He is also a member of the global Governing Board of Climate Governance Initiative (CGI), a founding member of the ASEAN Climate Governance Network, and a Steering Committee member of Climate Governance Singapore. An avid researcher and writer, Mr Ganu regularly contributes his thought-leadership to business media such as World Economic Forum, Harvard Business Review, The Business Times in Singapore and other. He was the lead author for the Remuneration Committee Guidebook for the SID and as well as the Board Diversity Index studies in Malaysia and Singapore. He was also the sponsor and engagement leader for recent collaboration with World Economic Forum and CGI on the Executive Compensation Guidebook for Climate Transition. Some of his articles, thought leadership and publications can be found here: Linkedin
Yuan Sherng Tay Senior Deputy Director, Climate Mitigation Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment	Mr Tay Yuan Sherng is the Senior Deputy Director for Climate Mitigation at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. He leads the policy team that develop and implement programmes and regulations to achieve Singapore’s climate ambitions. Yuan Sherng is experienced in driving climate mitigation efforts across a wide range of sectors. Prior to his current appointment, he served in the National Environment Agency, as well as the National Climate Change Secretariat.