Arthur Tay

Chairman and CEO
SUTL Group of Companies

Desmond Lee

Ministry for National Development and
Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration

Jay Wade

Chairman and President
The International SeaKeepers Society

A healthy ocean can bring benefits to all. Yet many countries and communities that are dependent on ocean based industries are at risk. Accepting that the changing oceans need to be managed in more sustainable ways is a global priority. What does ocean sustainability really mean? Why do we need to keep ocean sustainability top of mind and what is its importance to the world as we know it. How can we conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development?

Fabien Cousteau

Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer, Environmental Advocate, Founder of the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre and Proteus Ocean Group

All trends show that the world is unlikely to meet the 1.5-degree Celsius warming target set by the Paris Agreement. One of the most vulnerable of all earth’s ecosystems – and clearest indicators of our progress to save the planet – is our coral reefs. As they provide shoreline protection to coastal communities, and food and economic security to billions of people, there is a real and urgent need to safeguard these coral reef ecosystems from potential collapse. In this session, we will discuss how climate change affects coastal communities and the economy in the Coral Triangle and dive into collective and individual actions that can form the basis of innovative approaches to address this issue.

Carol Phua

Global Coral Reef Initiative Leader, WWF Oceans Practice

Fabien Cousteau

Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer, Environmental Advocate, Founder of the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre and Proteus Ocean Group

Carol Phua

Global Coral Reef Initiative Leader, WWF Oceans Practice

In a world that grows increasingly warmer and more degraded due to human activities, the triple threats of climate change, biodiversity loss, and the decline of ocean health have reinforced each other in a downward spiral. Recognising that each of these issues is interconnected means that we can begin to pinpoint policy changes and governmental actions that treat these three problems as one. As a key driver in Singapore’s adoption of a proactive, balanced and forward-looking approach to coastal and marine environment-related policy, management, and research-direction issues, the Coastal and Marine Branch under National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) is committed towards conserving our native biodiversity and helping to protect the natural ecosystems in other parts of the world by working with partners and stakeholders. In this session, we will discuss ways to collaboratively address conservation challenges and long-term adaptation approaches for marine biodiversity conservation.

Dr Karenne Tun

Director of the Coastal and Marine and Terrestrial Branches, National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board (NParks)

From the loss of biodiversity to the degradation of coastal ecosystems, marine litter poses numerous environmental, economic, health, cultural and aesthetics threats. As a first step to formalize our actions as a nation to address this issue, Singapore released its first National Action Strategy on Marine Litter which outlines actions and measures to address 6 priority areas: Reduction of land-based sources of litter; Reduction of sea-based sources of litter; Circular economy approach; Research and development; Maintaining and strengthening outreach and stakeholder engagement; International engagement and collaboration. MSE will continue to work with our 3P partners – People, Public, Private – to co-create sustainable solutions to our environmental challenges. 

Hazri Hassan 

Divisional Director, International Policy Division, Ministry of Sustainability and Environment

Over half of all marine species are in danger of extinction and, as such, the aquatic environment should be a top priority in efforts to combat the global climate crisis. Education is the foundation of these efforts: it provides the human expertise for this arduous task and helps create general awareness for ground up initiatives to bring the public, governments and industry together. Over the last 7 years in Singapore, Republic Polytechnic has been running the Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture, now rebranded as Diploma in Environmental and Marine Science, to better integrate all the elements of environment protection and sustainability. By working closely with stakeholders, we hope to contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s Green Plan by equipping our youths with the knowledge and skillsets to tackle environmental issues in the years to come. 

Dr Steven Fong

Programme Chair, Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture, Republic Polytechnic

Panel

Dr Karenne Tun

Director of the Coastal and Marine and Terrestrial Branches, National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board (NParks)

Hazri Hassan

Divisional Director, International Policy Division, Ministry of Sustainability and Environment

Dr Steven Fong

Programme Chair, Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture, Republic Polytechnic

Moderator

Dr Zeehan Jaafar

Marine Biologist, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore

There will be no healthy planet without a healthy ocean. Coral reefs are home to 25% of the ocean’s biodiversity and support over a billion people worldwide, yet our reefs are on the frontline of climate change. Protecting the world’s reefs requires two strategies: tackling the root cause of climate change by reducing global emissions, and making coral reefs more resilient through the adaptation, restoration, and the protection of critical habitats. As collaboration is our pathway to scaling impact, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is partnering with First Nations and local communities to elevate nature-based solutions and working closely with industry, philanthropists, and governments to unlock investment and accelerate efforts, and connecting partners across our project design and delivery to ensure successful outcomes.

Anna Marsden

Manager Director, Great Barrier Reef Foundation

To have healthy and abundant oceans, we need to complement ocean preservation efforts with a sustainable blue economy, which seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion and improvement of livelihoods while ensuring environmental sustainability of the marine ecosystem. This is particularly relevant to the ASEAN region, due to its geographical composition. Both private and public capital is needed to drive this initiative, presenting exciting opportunities for investors, including access to fast-growing technologies and innovations such as sustainable aquaculture, marine transport, water treatment and management, and plastic alternatives. 

Harlin Singh

Global Head of Sustainable Investing, Citi Global Wealth

The waste currently polluting the oceans and ruining its biodiversity is the single biggest threat facing our planet, and plastic waste has to be dealt with first and foremost. The current reformation resulting from a multitude of global crises, coupled with incoming global legislations and demand for sustainable urgency, have brought recycled plastic on par with virgin plastics in terms of economic and business valuations. As a group of sustainable material engineering companies on a mission to eliminate virgin plastics and empower a global circular economy, Archwey believes that the opportunities recycled plastics, or rPlastics, offer in global decarbonisation efforts have yet to be fully realised. In his keynote, Mr Fauser will share case studies successfully accomplishing this across multiple industries.

Alen Lim

Global Sales Director, Archwey

Sea Communities is an enterprise that works with the village community in Les, north Bali, to demonstrate that conservation of the environment can lead to better, sustainable livelihoods. Sea Communities creates tourism and educational programs that revolve around pro-active environmental and social action. Starting with the rehabilitation of cyanide-poisoned reefs with the fisherfolk who reformed from cyanide fishing, to teaching English in schools and adult classes, computer literacy and the building of school infrastructure, to creating higher value salt farming and immersive internships for overseas universities, Sea Communities today is a model of conscious tourism, that creates new and better income opportunities for subsistence farmers, fisherfolk and women.

Elaine Kwee

Co-Founder, Sea Communities

There is increasing realisation that biodiversity loss is as much a systemic risk as climate change. Using the double materiality approach, this session discusses how corporates should embrace biodiversity as a material topic and maps how biodiversity loss can impact businesses. Equally, it is crucial that investors assess both the risks and opportunities as well as the impacts of their own investments on biodiversity.

Tabitha Hui

Sustainability Manager, SDAX

As our generation embarks on building a circular, sustainable economy, a sustainable approach toward marine life is important, and how we live on land can create a big impact on our fragile marine ecosystem. From the extracting of resources and transportation to growing input and energy consumption, the way we consume and utilise our land resources can greatly affect our ocean health. As such, let’s look at how innovative solutions can enable us to live a regenerative lifestyle for sustainable growth. 

Matthew Edward Loh

Chief Sustainability Officer, VE Capital and Company

SailGP is the world’s most exciting racing on water, featuring national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. Arriving in Singapore for the Singapore Sail Grand Prix on January 14-15 2023, the high-tech, high-speed action showcases sailing’s best athletes racing in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h. The league uses its global platform to champion a better world powered by nature, with a focus on accelerating the transition to clean energy. SailGP is the first sport to integrate positive impact into its global league with the ground-breaking Impact League – a second leaderboard which runs alongside the Season Championship and rewards teams for the positive actions they take to reduce their overall carbon footprint and accelerate inclusivity. 

Erica Kerner

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, SailGP

“Sustainability” has evolved from simple acts of doing good and conducting charitable events into a concept that encompasses three factors – Environment, Social and Governance – and particularly climate-change related considerations for strategic decision-making to ensure long term sustainability of a business. Leaders are expected to integrate ESG considerations into their businesses and chart a feasible and achievable strategic roadmap for their business to embark on, which is no easy feat due to a lack of specialised talents and the complexity of contextualising sustainability goals into businesses. Thankfully, leaders are supported by an ecosystem to develop sustainable goals and continuously improve and integrate ESG into their businesses – let’s explore this.  

Sovann Giang

Senior Director, RSM Singapore

Fabien Cousteau

Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer, Environmental Advocate, Founder of the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre and Proteus Ocean Group

Fabien Cousteau

Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer, Environmental Advocate, Founder of the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre and Proteus Ocean Group

Julian Chang

President, International SeaKeepers Society, Asia