Day 1 | 4 September 2019
SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING: IS MANDATORY BETTER?

0800

Registration and Networking reception

OPENING PLENARY

0900

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Rajesh Chhabara, Managing Director, CSRWorks International

Keynote 1: Towards more and better reporting: the role of mandates

Tim Mohin, Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Keynote 2: The role of capital markets in driving ESG disclosure

Dr. Madelyn Antoncic, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)

Plenary Panel: How far can we go, how far should we go?

•  How far should mandatory disclosure go?
•  Many of the mandatory reporting frameworks are driven to meet the needs of investors. Is this good? Does this leave behind other stakeholders?
•  Should it include everything, should there be a menu for selection of disclosure allowing companies a certain choice?
•  Should only a certain set of disclosures be mandated?
•  Should large companies be treated differently than small/private companies?

Panellists:
1. Tim Mohin, Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
2. Dr. Madelyn Antoncic, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
3. Jonathan Labrey, Chief Strategy Officer, International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)
4. Edoardo Gai, Managing Director, Head of Sustainability Services, RobecoSAM (DJSI)

Moderator:
Rajesh Chhabara, Managing Director, CSRWorks International

1030

Networking Tea Break

SPOTLIGHT ON ASIA

1100

Keynote: The business case for making sustainability reporting mandatory

Yeo Lian Sim, Special Adviser Diversity, Singapore Exchange (SGX)

1115

Is mandatory better in Asia?
How are regulatory and voluntary frameworks changing the reporting landscape in Asia?

• Regulatory and voluntary frameworks in Asia: how are they changing? How are they overlapping?
• What is working and what is not?
• Have regulations achieved the desired goals?
• Is compliance driving transparency?
• What are the challenges for companies emerging from mandated reporting?
• What’s the road ahead?

Panellists:
1. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Secretary General, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
2. Win Myint Aung, Corporate Affairs Director, City Mart Holding Co. Ltd
3. Dr. Lawrence Loh, Director, CGIO, NUS Business School
4. Alia Lindasista, Investor Relations Manager, PT Pertamina (Persero)
5. Chien-Yu (Richard) Chen, Senior Manager, Strategy & Business Development, CSRone Reporting

Moderator:
Jessica Cheam, Managing Editor, Eco-Business

THE CSO PERSPECTIVE

1200

Self-regulation or mandatory?

• Has self-regulation achieved anything?
• Does mandatory reporting drive disclosure down to the minimum mandated level, leaving no incentive for companies to report more fully on overall impacts? 
• Does mandated reporting remove the differentiator of disclosure and leave the differentiator of performance to emerge? Is this a good thing?
• Will mandatory reporting catalyse performance to deliver the UN2030 Agenda and more? Is it a smokescreen? 

Panellists:
1. Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited
2. Janice Lao, Director, Group Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels
3. Anirban Ghosh, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra Group
4. Maria Yolanda C. Crisanto, Chief Sustainability Officer, Corp. Comms. Group Senior VP, Globe Telecom Inc.
5. TS Wu, Chief Sustainability Officer, ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

Moderator:
Elaine Cohen, Managing Director, Beyond Business, Co-Chair of Summit

1230

Networking Lunch

BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS (PARALLEL STREAMS)

1330

Workshop 1
Engaging the Board on ESG disclosures
ESG has become an important issue for investors, capital markets, regulators and stakeholders. Company Boards have a vital role to play in assessing the organisations’ ESG risks and opportunities. 

The questions are:

• How engaged are the Boards on ESG matters?
• How can the Board engagement influence the organisation’s ESG performance and reputation? 
• What can senior management do to engage the Boards?
• Should overseeing ESG issue become part of director’s fiduciary duty?
• What are the best practices in engaging the Boards?

Panellists:
1. Anirban Ghosh, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra Group
2. Agnes C. de Jesus, Chief Sustainability Officer, First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH)
3. Dr. Lawrence Loh, Director, CGIO, NUS Business School
4. Alex Mavro, Senior Advisor, Sasin Management School, Chulalongkorn University

Moderator:
Kübra Koldemir, Sustainability Researcher, Argüden Governance Academy

Workshop 2
Integrated Reporting: Communicating your value creation story to investors

Facilitator:
Jonathan Labrey, Chief Strategy Officer, International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)

Workshop 3
Masterclass in implementing the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) recommendations
Almost 800 organisations have expressed their support for the TCFD recommendations, but the market has cited a need for practical guidance on how to implement them

Join this workshop to learn:

•  what good practice could look like through real-world examples of disclosures in annual reports;
•  how organisations in similar industries and sectors to yours are implementing the recommendations;
•  guidance to effectively implement the 11 recommended disclosures.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take a more sophisticated approach to reporting, you’ll leave this workshop with practical advice and helpful resources to take the next step in climate-related financial disclosure.

Facilitator:
Nadine Robinson, Technical Director, Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB)

Workshop 4
The Language of Sustainability

The Language of Sustainability is emerging and evolving alongside new paradigms for changing the business landscape. Learn how enterprises are coining new terms to create social value and advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Be part of a global effort to co-create and define the Language of Sustainability.

You will learn:

•  The cross-cutting language of the Sustainable Development Goals
•  How to make corporate reporting more inspiring and cutting edge
•  New ways of thinking, hiring, designing, and manufacturing

Facilitator:
Deborah Leipziger, Sustainability Consultant and Author

GRAND ROUNDTABLE

1430

What companies don't disclose?

A balanced disclosure of ESG performance against material impacts and risks is at the core of sustainability reporting. Are reporters transparent enough to meet stakeholder expectations? Or, are companies being selective in reporting to include only the good news? What are the issues that companies fail or avoid to disclose? In this Grand Roundtable, we debate these burning topics and much more.

Panellists:
1. Chia Boon Chong, Director, Group Sustainability, Singtel
2. Roshan Rajadurai, Managing Director, Hayleys Plantation Sector
3. Juliette Macresy, Head, Greater China and South East Asia Market, Vigeo Eiris
4. Kavickumar Muruganathan, Deputy Director, Sustainability, Heveaconnect
5. Cristina Gil, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Mexichem

Moderator:
Rajesh Chhabara, Managing Director, CSRWorks International

1530

Networking Tea Break

DRIVERS, BENEFITS AND RISKS OF MANDATED REPORTING

1600

The role of NGOs in driving ESG disclosure and transparency. 
NGOs played a vital role for over two decades demanding transparency and disclosures from companies. As investors, lenders and regulators put ESG disclosure on this agenda, what is next for NGOs? 

• Benchmark or name and shame or mandate? Which is more effective?
• What works best? Collaboration or confrontation?
• What is the place for NGOs in a mandated reporting environment?

Panellists:
1. Emily Kreps, Global Director, Investor Initiatives,CDP
2. Dr. Wu Huijuan, Assistant Director, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
3. Colin Hubo, Executive Director, Center for Social Responsibility, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P)
4. Lise Pretorius, Sustainable Finance Engagement Manager, WWF Singapore

Moderator:
Dr. Mohan V. Avvari, Associate Professor & Director of Research, Nottingham University Business School

1630

Can legal requirements lead to comparability?

• Does mandatory disclosure lead to improved comparability something that has always been lacking in the quality of disclosure? 
• Is comparability important?
• Does global one-size-fits-all approach work? 
• How do you enforce mandated disclosure?
• What regulatory support systems are needed to ensure all companies comply?
• What penalties should be in place for companies that do not comply?

Panellists:
1. Michael Tang, Head, Listing Policy & Product Admission, Singapore Exchange (SGX)
2. Bharti Bhambwani, Deputy Manager, Listing Business, Bombay Stock Exchange
3. Libby Bernick, Managing Director, S&P Global
4. Deborah Leipziger, Sustainability Consultant and Author
5. Prof. Dr. Guler Aras, Founding Chair, Integrated Reporting Network Turkey

Moderator:
Elaine Cohen, Managing Director, Beyond Business, Co-Chair of Summit

1715

ESG Disclosure: Are companies and investors on the same side?
ESG disclosures have become important for capital and financial markets, aiming to help investors make better investment decisions by incorporating ESG performance into company evaluations.

At the same time, companies publish ESG information in response to demands from broader groups of stakeholders whose lives are affected by their business in different ways. Where is the convergence of investor and corporate interest in sustainability terms?

This panel will address questions such as:

• Is the focus on ESG for investors counterproductive for sustainability, reducing it to measurable financial profit or loss, rather than social and environmental prosperity?
• Do investors’ ESG demands drive companies to disclose and improve what’s important to investors rather than for society as a whole?
• By focusing on a small number of ESG disclosures, are investors able to appreciate the true sustainability impacts of a corporation? 
• By making comparisons between companies, are investors using ESG as a weapon to attack corporations? Will this result in minimal disclosure to meet specific demands, giving an unbalanced picture of a corporation’s activities? 
• Should sustainable development really be all about investors? Shouldn’t we go back to basics and talk about impacts on society rather than investment value? 
• Is the ESG focus of investors causing corporations to do more or to do less in terms of sustainable development? 

Panellists:
1. Asthildur Hjaltadottir, Director Regions and Programs Implementation, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
2. Marion O’Donnell, Associate Director, ESG, Fidelity International
3. Koleen Davila Palaganas, Vice-President, Sustainability, SM Investments
4. Madhulika Sharma, Chief Corporate Sustainability, Tata Steel Limited
5. Kübra Koldemir, Sustainability Researcher, Argüden Governance Academy

Moderator:
Anand Ramachandran, Partner and Fund Manager, River Valley Asset Management

1800

Networking Cocktail and announcement of Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen 2019
Guest of Honour: TBC

End of Day 1

Day 2 | 5 September 2019
REPORTING IN PRACTICE

0830

Networking reception

OPENING PLENARY

0900

Opening Remarks

Rajesh Chhabara, Managing Director, CSRWorks International

0905

Opening Keynote: Mandatory Sustainability Reporting: How is Sweden Driving Corporate Transparency and Disclosure

Niclas Kvarnström, Ambassador of Sweden, Singapore

0920

Integrated Reporting: Where is it headed?

•  The multi capitals approach: why does it matter?
•  What is driving adoption of integrated reporting?
•  How do Investors and regulators view integrated reporting?
•  How do you engage the Board on integrated reporting?
•  How do you integrated the SDGs, TCFD and SBTi into integrated reporting?
•  What is the place of integrated reporting in a growing clutter of reporting frameworks? What lies ahead?
•  How can SMEs and government organisations benefit from integrated reporting?

Panellists:
1. Jonathan Labrey, Chief Strategy Officer, International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)
2. Jose Teodoro (TG) K. Limcaoco, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Chief Sustainability Officer, Ayala Corporation
3. Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Founder, Chairman, ARGE Consulting
4. Evi Afiatin, CFO, Managing Director, Finance & Risk Management, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan
5. Sinem Ozonur, Head of Integrated Reporting, Garanti BBVA

Moderator:
Janice Lao, Director, Group Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels

1000

Has ESG become a central issue for investors and lenders?

•  What is driving investors and lenders to consider ESG performance in their decision making?
•  What is more important? Risks or value creation?
•  Are reports meeting investors’ ESG data needs?
•  Is greenwashing a threat to the ESG momentum? What should be done?
•  How do investors use and compare ESG data to make investment decision?
•  How is ESG disclosure supporting green finance, green bonds and green loans?

Panellists:
1. Emily Kreps, Global Director, Investor Initiatives, CDP
2. Elaine Ng, Executive Director, Client Coverage, MSCI Inc.
3. Eugenia Koh, Head of Sustainable/Impact Investing & Engagement Strategy, Standard Chartered Bank
4. Herry Cho, Head, Sustainable Finance, Asia-Pacific, ING
5. Juliette Macresy, Head, Greater China and South East Asia Market, Vigeo Eiris

Moderator:
Nafis Alam, Associate Professor, University of Reading Malaysia

1030

Networking Tea Break

ASIA'S SUSTAINABILITY TIGERS

1100

Insights from Taiwan
Twenty one Taiwan companies have made it to the latest Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) including two companies as industry leaders. Companies from Taiwan have also performed exceptionally well in the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards. How have they become leaders in ESG reporting?

•  What is driving Taiwan companies to become world-class in ESG reporting?
•  The role of the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) in driving the quality of reporting.
•  How are the companies integrating ESG into their business?
•  Challenges faced and lesson learnt
•  How have companies benefited from high-quality ESG reporting?

Panellists:
1. Pony Bo-Li Huang, Senior Vice President, Corporate Governance Dept, Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE)
2. TS Wu, Chief Sustainability Officer, ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
3. Chien-Yu (Richard) Chen, Senior Manager, Strategy & Business Development,CSRone Reporting
4. Dan-Ni (Nico) Chen, Executive Manager, CSO Office, Sinyi Realty
5. Edoardo Gai, Managing Director, Head of Sustainability Services, RobecoSAM (DJSI)

Moderator:
Rajesh Chhabara, Managing Director, CSRWorks International

1145

Insights from Thailand
Twenty Thailand companies have made it to the latest Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) including six companies as industry leaders. Companies from Thailand have also performed exceptionally well in the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards. How have they become leaders in ESG reporting?

•  What is driving Thailand companies to become world-class in ESG reporting?
•  The role of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in driving the quality of reporting.
•  How are the companies integrating ESG into their business?
•  Challenges faced and lesson learnt
•  How have companies benefited from high-quality ESG reporting?

Panellists:
1. Nareerat Santhayati, Deputy VP, Sustainable Development Department, The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)
2. Kiatchai Maitriwong, Senior EVP, Corp. Strategic Planning and Sustainability Dev., Bangchak Corporation
3. Somjettana Passakanon, Director, Sustainability, Good Governance and Corporate Communication Office, Charoen Pokphand Group
4. Alex Mavro, Senior Advisor, Sasin Management School, Chulalongkorn University
5. Edoardo Gai, Managing Director, Head of Sustainability Services, RobecoSAM (DJSI)

Moderator:
Candice Low, Corporations & Supply Chains Manager, CDP

1230

Networking Lunch

BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS (PARALLEL STREAMS)

1330

Workshop 1
Managing risks and opportunities with a sustainable and transparent supply chain

With increased regulation, public scrutiny and stakeholder expectations, the way businesses manage supply chain risk is changing. Setting up policy is no longer enough and procurement teams need more reliable indicators of suppliers’ sustainability performance, actions is urgently in need. In this session, join us to discuss why now is the time to go beyond Code of Conduct and the “tick-the-box” exercise to drive a more sustainable, innovative and resilient supply chain. 

•  Is sustainable procurement part of your strategy? Are you collaborating with your suppliers to achieve these goals?
•  How are you managing supplier risk today? Do you have enough transparency and visibility on your suppliers’ practice? How are you collecting your information? What has and has not worked for you?
•  How do drive continuous improvement and more innovation for a more robust and sustainable supply chain?

Facilitators:
1. Aaron Leonard, Account Executive, APAC, EcoVadis
2. Yeh Di Harn, Account Executive, EcoVadis

Workshop 2
Uncovering the value of ESG in business

ESG is becoming mainstream for investors around the world and is no longer limited to investment boutiques. Asset managers and owners engage dedicated ESG professionals to assess companies sustainability performance. Investor Relations leaders need to proactively include ESG in the business context in their company’s IR narrative. Often times, companies are not able to make the financial link between their sustainability issues and business strategy.

Learn the importance of:

•  Understanding the financial materiality of ESG from an investor perspective
•  Establishing a business case for sustainability so that investors see value in it?
•  Proving to ESG focused investors that sustainability is embedded in your corporate strategy

Facilitator:
Edoardo Gai, Managing Director, Head of Sustainability Services, RobecoSAM (DJSI)

Workshop 3
What’s a Sustainability Report without Targets?

In the changing sustainability landscape, it is not enough to report what you have done; stakeholders expect you to commit to doing more in the future, and to report transparently against your commitments. Companies that deliver sustainability reports without targets are only telling half the story. Join this breakout session to hear the other half.

You will learn:

•  Why targets are critical for the credibility for your sustainability reporting
•  Characteristics of relevant and meaningful targets
•  Dilemmas in target-setting and reporting and how to address them
•  Best practice examples of target reporting in Sustainability Reports
•  What not to do when disclosing targets and performance against targets

Facilitators:
1. Elaine Cohen, Managing Director, Beyond Business, Co-Chair of Summit
2. Cristina Gil, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Mexichem

Workshop 4
SASB Workshop: Connecting businesses and investors on the financial impacts of sustainability

Facilitator:
Sten White, External Communications Manager, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)

MY REPORT

1430

Keynote: Challenges of conducting a materiality analysis in a highly diversified company

Cristina Gil, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Mexichem

1445

Sinyi Realty, Taiwan

Dan-Ni (Nico) Chen, Executive Manager, CSO Office, Sinyi Realty

Singtel, Singapore

Chia Boon Chong, Director, Group Sustainability, Singtel

Hair O'right International Corp, Taiwan

Steven Ko, Chairman, Hair O'right International Corp

Phu Nhuan Jewelry, Vietnam

Cao Thi Ngoc Dung, Chairwoman, Phu Nhuan Jewelry

1530

Networking Tea Break

CARBON DISCLOSURE

1600

Is reporting keeping pace with the Paris Agreement target?

•  How do you measure climate impact?
•  Are companies reporting the actual impact and targets?
•  What are the challenges in adopting climate disclosure standards and what can be done?
•  What are the best practices in climate disclosure?
•  How can carbon disclosure help transition to low carbon economy?
•  Should climate disclosure become mandatory? what role can the government play?

Panellists:
1. Emily Kreps, Global Director, Investor Initiatives, CDP
2. Nadine Robinson, Technical Director, Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB)
3. Camilla Fenning, Director, SEA Climate & Energy Network, British High Commission, Singapore
4. Liza B. Silerio, Vice President, Corporate Compliance, SM Supermalls

Moderator:
Marion O’Donnell, Associate Director, ESG, Fidelity International

THE FUTURE OF REPORTING

1630

Keynote: The future of reporting: Blockchain analytics

Girish Ramachandran, President, Tata Consultancy Services, Asia Pacific

1645

Keynote: Strategic Sustainability Reporting: Integrating global goals

Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited

1700

Emerging Topics in Sustainability Reporting
As our world evolves, and sustainability reporting advances, so reporting must keep pace with new sustainability topics and challenges that companies face.
Not all emerging topics are reflected in new regulation. Therefore, reporters must keep their ear to the ground and stay abreast of emerging topics that can help them gain positive reputation and mitigate risk through early disclosure. 

Current emerging topics on our radar include:

•  Employee mental health
•  Diversity beyond male-female gender
•  Gender pay-gap reporting
•  Tax disclosure

Join this session for a discussion of the state of these topics in reporting and other possible topics that you won’t want to overlook in your next report!

Panellists:
1. Asthildur Hjaltadottir, Director Regions and Programs Implementation, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
2. Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Founder, Chairman, ARGE Consulting
3. Agnes C. de Jesus, Chief Sustainability Officer, First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH)
4. Ibrahim N. Al-Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Holding
5. Lovish Ahuja, Group Head of Sustainability, GHCL Ltd

Moderator:
Juniati Gunawan, Lecturer and Director, Trisakti Sustainability Center, Trisakti University

REPORTING EXCELLENCE

1730

AWARD-WINNING REPORTS - HEAR FROM ASRA JUDGES
Accomplished judges volunteer many hours of their time to select the winning reports by category and overall in the annual Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA). 
The result is a combination of analysis, using a proprietary judging framework, as well as experienced judgment. Winning reports always stand out from the crowd!

•  What makes an exceptional report stand out for our ASRA judges?
•  What do ASRA judges look for in a winning report? 
•  What do ASRA judges look for in a winning report? 
•  Reporting strategies used by award-winning reporters
•  What elements of your report are most compelling for ASRA Judges?
•  And what elements are simply frustrating?
•  Best practice examples

Panellists:
1. Elaine Cohen, Managing Director, Beyond Business
2. Alex Mavro, Senior Advisor, Sasin Management School, Chulalongkorn University
3. Dr. Mohan V. Avvari, Associate Professor & Director of Research, Nottingham University Business School

Moderator:
Rajesh Chhabara, Managing Director, CSRWorks International

1800

LUCKY DRAW

End of Asia Sustainability Reporting Summit 2019