Business leader, campaigner, co-author of “Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take”, a Financial Times Business Book of the Year. #3 Thinkers50.
Paul Polman works to accelerate action by business to tackle climate change and inequality.
As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), Paul demonstrated that business can profit through purpose, marrying a long-term, multi-stakeholder model with excellent financial performance. During Paul’s tenure, shareholders saw their returns increase by 290% while the company consistently ranked 1st in the world for sustainability.
Today Paul works across a range of organisations to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which he helped develop. This includes his work to drive systems change with Systemiq and bold new industry coalitions, including in fashion and food. Until 2024, he led the UN Global Compact, is an Ambassador for the Race to Zero, and works to develop our next generation of leaders, through the Oxford University Saïd Business School, INSEAD, One Young World and others. Paul’s actively campaigns on a range of human rights issues, including promoting disability inclusion through the Valuable 500 and the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, which he set up with his wife Kim. Follow him on twitter and sign up to receive his newsletter here. More on www.paulpolman.com.
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal is the global leader of Climate & Energy at WWF and interim chair of the IUCN Climate Crisis Commission. He has more than 35 years of experience in environmental law and policy. He served as Minister of the Environment of Peru (2011 to 2016) and President of the Twentieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP20 in 2014.
Pulgar-Vidal was the Executive Director of the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, an influential institution in Latin America. He has a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, where he is a professor, and has completed studies for a master’s degree in Business Law at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas. He is a board member of Forest Trends, Amazon Conservation Association, Peruvian Society of Environmental Law, CARE-Peru and the Science Based Targets initiative and a member of the Assembly of the World Wide Fund for Nature – Colombia.
He is also member of the Steering Committees of F20 and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative as well as a member of the Aspen Institute Management and Leadership Advisory Group, the IUCN International Committee for the Nature Based Solutions Global Standard and the advisory board of the Centre for Multilateral Negotiations – CEMUNE. He has recently been appointed as the chairman of the newly created IUCN Climate Crisis Commission as well as Champion for the Action Agenda for Nature as part of the Convention of Biological Diversity, in an effort to develop the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. He has been invited to serve on the US Advisory Committee on Foreign and Voluntary Aid.
He is the chairman of the evaluation council of the French sovereign Green Bonds. As an active member of different groups aimed at achieving strong outcomes as a part of the formal climate talks and the nonparty stakeholders’ agenda, he is an Ambassador for the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns. He has been recognized with the Légion d´Honneur by the French Government, the Grand Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Cross of the Civil Order of Environmental Merit of the Spanish Government, the Order of Merit for distinguished Services of the Peruvian Government and the Shackleton Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for his contribution to the Paris Agreement and has been inducted into the Earth Hall of Fame of Kyoto.
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Mr. Carrasco has more than 32 years of professional experience, with over 27 years spent at ADB. He joined the bank in 1993 as a Young Professional and progressed through various roles to his current position.
In 2008, he became Director in South Asia Regional Cooperation and Coordination, and in 2010 Director of South Asia Public Management and Finance where he headed a division that focused operations on reforms to public finances and financial markets development.
In 2019, Mr. Carrasco was appointed Chief of the Governance Thematic Group, where he managed the restructuring of the group and ensured quality standards across all deliverables.
He was subsequently appointed Director General and Chief Compliance Officer, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department in 2021, where he guided policy development across all thematic and sector areas while ensuring ADB-wide consistency in initiatives and services. Mr. Carrasco supported senior management in leading the strategic repositioning of ADB into its current role as the Climate Bank for Asia and the Pacific. In 2023, following a reorganization, he was appointed Director General of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, leading ADB-wide knowledge, innovation, policies, and strategies in all thematic areas. He also oversees the administration of trust funds and global funding initiatives and provides advice to management on strategic, operations, and policy matters.
Prior to joining ADB, Mr. Carrasco worked for UNDP in Mozambique and UN-OPS in 1989-1991. From 2000-2003, he was on a leave of absence working as Senior Economist at the European Central Bank. He holds a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Essex, a Master’s degree from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Montreal.
PhD International Finance, New York University, 1988 (as a Fullbright Scholar)
M Phil International Finance, New York University, 1985
Bachelor of Social Science & Economics (Hons) National University of Singapore, 1976
Monetary Authority of Singapore Scholar, 1975
Professor Annie Koh is Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice) at Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University (SMU). She is a renowned conference speaker, panel moderator and commentator. She chaired the Asian Bond Fund 2 supervisory committee for the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 2005 – 2023 and is currently a committee member of Singapore’s Customs Advisory Council. She was appointed board member of Singapore Food Agency from April 1st 2023.
Professor Koh is currently an independent director of AMTD IDEA Group, Mewah International Limited, Prudential Assurance Company Singapore Pte Ltd and Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd. She serves as a board member of the non-profit organization EtonHouse Community Fund. Additionally, she has been appointed as an Advisory Council member of the Center for Sustainable Finance & Private Wealth, effective 16 December 2024, and an Advisor for Cyber Youth Singapore in March 2025. She previously served as an Independent Director and Chairman on Prime US REIT from 2019 – 2025, GovTech, Singapore’s CPF, K1 Ventures boards, and was a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council from 2019 – 2022, and the HR Industry Transformation Advisory Panel from 2018 – March 2023.
Professor Koh also advises selected single-family offices and privately owned enterprises such as Flexxon Pte Ltd., HMI Group, JKC4Life and TOP International, and startup company Pyxis Maritime Pte Ltd. She has been an investment committee member of iGlobe Partners since July 2010. Previously held leadership positions at SMU before January 2021 include Vice President for Business Development; V3 Group Professor of Family Entrepreneurship; Academic Director of Business Families Institute and International Trading Institute; Associate Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Business; and Dean, Office of Executive and Professional Education.
Professor Koh received her Ph.D. degree in International Finance as a Fulbright scholar from Stern School of Business, New York University in 1988. Her research interests are in Family Office and Family Business, Investor Behaviour, Alternative Investments and Enterprise Risk Management. She co-authored Financial Management: Theory and Practice, 2nd edition (2021), and Financing Internationalisation – Growth Strategies for Successful Companies (2004), co-editor of Asian Family Business: Succession, Governance and Innovation (2020), and author of a number of Asian family business cases and survey reports. In recognition of her contribution to education and the public sector, she was awarded the bronze and silver Singapore Public Administration medal in 2010 and 2016 respectively, the Adult Education Prism Award in 2017 and the Tripartite Alliance Award in 2023.
Ms Cindy Khoo is the Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore. She drives strategies to uplift Singapore companies, facilitate their global expansion, and transform key industries.
Enterprise Singapore is the government agency championing enterprise development. The agency works with committed companies to build capabilities, innovate and internationalise. It also supports the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups, and builds trust in Singapore’s products and services through quality and standards.
Cindy is currently the Chairman of Infrastructure Asia, and Deputy Chairman of SG Growth Capital, a government investment entity, as well as Singapore Cooperation Enterprise. She also serves on the boards of SGInnovate, the Defence Science and Technology Agency, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, and Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore.
Cindy has a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Cindy was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2024.
Dr. Rao is currently, the elected Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas. The 3,000 member-strong Commission has a mandate to develop scientific, technical and policy advice and advocate for global and national systems of marine, freshwater and terrestrial protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) that result in successful outcomes for the conservation of biodiversity. She is also the Interim Regional Director for the South Asia region of the Wildlife Conservation Society and a conservation scientist with over 25 years of experience with conservation implementation across diverse social and political contexts. Madhu has a strong publication track record and long-term experience with the biodiversity science-policy interface with a focus on threatened species and area-based conservation.
A sustainability practitioner for over two decades, Esther published the first sustainability report in Singapore in 2008 and issued the first green bond by a Singapore company in 2017. Conferred the 2018 SDG Pioneer for Green Infrastructure and A Low Carbon Economy by the UN Global Compact, and named amongst 25 Trailblazing Women against Climate Change by Reuters in 2023 as well as the inaugural TIME100 Climate Leaders in Business 2023 list, Esther sits on the boards or advisory platforms of international organizations including:
She founded Women4Green and Youth4Climate networks to empower women and youths to champion climate action and sustainable development.
Jonathan Coleman has spent his career supporting entrepreneurs around the world with creative financing solutions and integrating positive environmental and community impact into profitable business operations. In pursuit of these goals, he has lived and worked in the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Jonathan holds an MBA with a focus on International Economic Development, is fluent in Spanish, and was chosen as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum and an Elm² Fellow by the Aspen Institute.
At the UnTours Foundation, Jonathan leads the effort to develop innovative financial products for high impact entrepreneurs around the globe, providing accessible and affordable investment dollars to accelerate the positive impact of their businesses. In addition to leading the UnTours Foundation as its Co-CEO, Jonathan is also CEO of UnTours, a travel company wholly owned by the UnTours Foundation that holds the unique distinction of being the world’s first ever Certified B Corporation. Jonathan lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York with his wife and two young daughters.
Tim helped launch the philanthropic arm of the Cotton On business in 2007 after developing a partnership in Mannya Village, Uganda.
The Cotton On Foundation is now a global NGO that has raised over AU$188 million and generates more than AU$20 million annually to create a world where young people thrive.
Cotton On Foundation’s success lies in its unique fundraising model: customers across the Cotton On business’ 1,500 stores purchase items like recycled aluminium water bottles and recycled cotton tote bags, with 100% of proceeds supporting the cause. Today, one Foundation product is sold every two seconds globally.
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Cotton On Foundation focuses on holistic education, youth mental health, and environmental projects that span Uganda, South Africa, Thailand, New Zealand, the USA, Brazil, and East Arnhem Land, Australia. Impactful partnerships with organisations such as One Tree Planted, WWF-Singapore, and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation help create lasting, positive change for young people.
Tim’s personal commitment to sustainability and youth welfare is deeply intertwined with the Foundation’s mission. He holds a double degree from Federation University in Sports Science Human Movement (Sports Management) / Management and credits Cotton On’s global community for the Foundation’s transformative impact.
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Meridith Beaujean joined Marina Bay Sands in August 2022 as Executive Director of Sustainability. In this role, she leads the Sustainability department and drives strategic initiatives and projects across the integrated resort, ranging from Climate Response, Recycling & Circularity, Water Stewardship, Sustainable Food to Sustainable Events. Under her leadership, Marina Bay Sands became the largest hotel in Singapore to be certified to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Industry Criteria for Hotels and Accommodations in February 2023 and won the inaugural Singapore Hotel Sustainability Award in October 2023. ArtScience Museum also achieved LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification in March 2024, surpassing an earlier Gold certification.
Prior to her role at Marina Bay Sands, Meridith spent 16 years with Sands China Ltd. and was part of the pre-opening team of The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, starting as a Technical Writer working behind the scenes to document policy and procedures for all of the hotel’s operational departments.
Meridith rose through the ranks, gaining valuable experience by working in different departments such as Finance, Brand Standards and Operations Excellence to build expertise in hotel standards, quality assurance and guest satisfaction. In 2018, she led and managed Sands China’s sustainability efforts in support of Las Vegas Sands’ global sustainability programme – Sands ECO360. In that role, Meridith was responsible for developing and implementing initiatives to effectively integrate sustainability into the resort’s practices, procedures, and culture.
Originally from Belgium, Meridith spent four years working in Africa with the European Union and the United Nations on health development programmes before relocating to Asia in 2005.
Meridith has a Master’s degree In International Business Management from ICHEC Brussels Management School.
Mr Joseph Teo was appointed Singapore’s Chief Negotiator for Climate Change on 2 July 2018.
Prior to his current appointment, Mr Teo has held various overseas assignments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). He was Singapore’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2015-2018), Deputy Chief of Mission at the Singapore Embassy in Belgium (2005-2008), and First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation in Geneva (1995-1998), where he was concurrently appointed Singapore’s Consul in Switzerland.
Mr Teo also held varied appointments at MFA HQ in Singapore, including as Deputy Director-General, Americas Directorate. Mr Teo was also Singapore’s Deputy Chief Negotiator for Climate Change from 2012-2014, when he helped to coordinate the work of the Inter-Ministry Negotiating Team on all issues relating to the international climate change negotiations.
Dr. Winston Chow is the Co-Chair of Working Group II of the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate, where he co-leads the development of Working Group II’s contribution (on climate impacts, adaptation and vulnerability) to the IPCC 7th Assessment Cycle reports, including a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.
He is also a Professor of Urban Climate and Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow at Singapore Management University’s (SMU) College of Integrative Studies (CIS), where he leads the urban infrastructure research pillar at SMU’s Urban Institute. His research focuses on urban climate change risk, vulnerability, and heat island adaptation. Dr. Chow is the Co-Lead Principal Investigator for the Cooling Singapore initiative, which addresses urban heat challenges.
He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Arizona State University, and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Geography from the National University of Singapore.
Jaclyn is a visionary Managing Director at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). As Global Head of Sustainable Finance Strategic Initiatives in the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) based in
Singapore, she blends extensive financial markets and banking experience with a commitment to sustainability. She is responsible for defining and enabling the sustainability frameworks that drive
SCB’s green, transition, social and sustainable lending businesses.
With 20 years’ experience in banking, markets, and risk management she’s a seasoned executive
with broad geographic coverage across EMEA and Asia, with a deep knowledge of managing
corporates, loan syndications, global subsidiaries and financial institutional businesses at JP Morgan, Barclays and Standard Chartered.
Jaclyn leads a multi-disciplined team across markets to drive initiatives that deliver SCB’s mission as a Global Cross-Border Affluent Bank fortified in sustainability.
David Fogarty joined The Straits Times in 2014 and became Climate Change Editor in September 2019, building on years of experience reporting on climate change, carbon markets and biodiversity. He is currently Deputy Foreign Editor at The Straits Times and a senior climate writer. David started writing science news stories in 1986, including the relatively new area of climate change, while studying science at university in Canberra. He has worked for newspapers in Australia, Britain and Hong Kong. He joined Reuters in Hong Kong in 1994 as a desk editor and shifted to Singapore in 1997, all the while maintaining a strong interest in climate change and the environment. From 2008 to 2012, he was Reuters’ first Climate Change Correspondent. After Reuters in 2013, he did media consulting for a group of US foundations, mainly focusing on environmental issues in Indonesia.
Jovi is Associate Editor at The Edge Singapore, a print business weekly focused on Singapore-listed stocks and investing strategies for the region. A recipient of the CDL-Singapore Press Club Sustainability Journalism Award, Jovi covers sustainability, sustainable finance, banks and REITs.
Elaine J. Cheung is a seasoned global business leader with over 30 years of experience in executive C-suite and independent board roles.
With a career spanning healthcare, consumer goods, food tech, aquaculture, and supply chain management, she has successfully led purpose-driven, financially sustainable, and outcome-focused businesses.
Elaine has driven transformative change across MNCs, start-ups, and family businesses, with notable brands including Dole, Temasek, VF Corporation (The North Face, Timberland, Vans, Lee, Wrangler), and the UN World Food Programme.
Currently, Elaine manages a portfolio career as an independent board director and strategic advisor, serving on the boards of Novotech Health, East West Seed, XCL Education International Baccalaureate, and WWF International.
As a respected Audit Committee Chair, she provides governance oversight and financial stewardship to global organizations.
Passionate about mentoring and leadership development, Elaine is known for her infectious energy and ability to curate meaningful connections.
Her unique blend of strategic finance, operational leadership, and sustainability expertise makes her a sought-after thought leader in global business transformation and governance.
Mr Hsieh Fu Hua serves on the boards of a number of non-profit and business organisations. He chairs the National University of Singapore, the National University Health System and the Singapore Business Federation Foundation Limited. He is currently also a member of the National Research Foundation’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council.
He is active in the social sector and co-founded a number of charities, especially in the area of mental health. He was previously President of the National Council of Social Service and Chairman of Stewardship Asia Centre as well as the National Gallery Singapore.
In business, Mr Hsieh is the Chairman of Eastspring Investments Group Pte Ltd and GXS Bank Pte Ltd (a Grab-Singtel joint venture for digital banking). He is also a board director of GIC Private Limited and adviser to the PrimePartners Group, which he co- founded.
Mr Hsieh started his career in merchant banking and capital markets in 1974 when he joined Morgan Grenfell Asia Holdings upon graduation, eventually rising to head the organisation. He subsequently served as Group Managing Director of BNP Prime Peregrine Group Hong Kong, CEO of Singapore Exchange, President of Temasek Holdings and Chairman of Tiger Airways Holdings, United Overseas Bank and Asia Capital Reinsurance Group respectively.
Mr Hsieh is an alumnus of the NUS Business School.
Dermot O’Gorman is a global champion for a regenerative revolution for nature, communities and climate. At this critical moment in time for our planet, Dermot is leading environmentalists, philanthropists, businesses and governments in envisioning a regenerative future.
With over 23 years as a CEO in China, Pacific and Australia, Dermot is a respected thought leader and a Fulbright Scholar at Stanford University. He has co-founded several social ventures, including OpenSC and WWF’s Panda Impact. He also serves on various purpose-driven boards.
As a founding member of the COP31 Collaboration Group, Dermot advocates for a unified, society-wide approach to an Australian Pacific-hosted COP31.
He is passionate about fostering leadership that transforms global challenges into opportunities for co-creating a better future for humanity and the planet.
Aditya Bayunanda (Dito) has been with WWF Indonesia since 2009 and became the CEO on November 1, 2022. Over the years, he has held various key roles, including Manager of the Global Forest Trade Network Indonesia, Pulp and Paper Manager, Strategic Leader for Forest-Based Commodities, and Head of the Climate and Market Transformation Program. He also served as Conservation Director and Interim CEO, working extensively with the private sector, government, and civil society to advance sustainability.
Born May 31, 1975, in Yogyakarta, Aditya holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Gadjah Mada University and a postgraduate degree in Business Management from Bogor Agricultural University. Actively engaged in global environmental governance, he contributes to international working groups such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA).
Aditya is known for his leadership in promoting innovative solutions for forest restoration and sustainable supply chains. As CEO of WWF Indonesia, he continues to drive impactful conservation efforts, building on his extensive expertise and dedication to environmental stewardship.
As CEO of WWF-Singapore, Vivek Kumar drives transformative growth and provides strategic leadership in conservation and sustainability strategies with global impact and local relevance.
With over 20 years of leadership experience, he excels in strategic innovation across the nonprofit, media, public sector, and retail industries. Under Vivek’s leadership, WWF-Singapore supports a global network across 100+ countries, focusing on climate action, biodiversity conservation, market transformation, sustainable finance, and community engagement. A good example of WWF’s neutral convenor role is the WWF Earth Summit, which unites stakeholders on climate science and solutions, fostering strategic partnerships with corporates, governments, and communities to advance impactful environmental initiatives.
Vivek brings governance experience from his prior board positions with Enterprise Singapore, IMDA, NTUC Link, and Assurity Trusted Solutions (GovTech Singapore). He also serves as a Steering Committee Member of the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solutions (SCeNe) Coalition and as Honorary Advisory Committee Member of the Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City.
Uma Sachidhanandam is the Director of Conservation at WWF Singapore where she works closely with conservation, policy education and outreach teams. She was previously a senior lecturer on sustainability with Republic Polytechnic for 10 years. She started her career specialising in Environmental Education and Outreach at the Singapore Environment Council and at the time of her departure was Deputy Director of the organisation and Director of Projects. She has had over the years the opportunity to build up a wealth of experience relevant to Singapore’s conservation agenda. She has published scientific papers and books on sustainability issues and biodiversity.
Kamal Seth is the Climate & Sustainability Director and Global Palm Oil Lead at WWF-Singapore, leading initiatives to leverage the power of the finance sector to transform energy and commodities markets to reach net-zero and nature-positive targets.
He works closely with large-scale organisations to take the necessary actions for UN SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, UN SDG 13 – Climate Action and UN SDG 15 – Life on Land amongst many others. Kamal has been managing global partnerships and programmes with key stakeholders like companies, financial institutions, civil society organisations, sustainability standards and governments to halt deforestation and improve the livelihood of smallholders connected to commodities like palm oil.
Kamal is a board member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and co-chair of its ‘Assurance Standing Committee’ and ‘Shared Responsibility Working Group’. He is also a member of the RSPO’s ‘Standards Review Steering Group’ and been part of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) ‘Expert Review Panel’, COP26’s Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade – FACT Dialogue’s Global Multi-stakeholder Taskforce, UNDP’s Green Commodity Community, OECD-FAO’s Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group on Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains and Zoological Society of London’s Technical Advisory Group for SPOTT platform for palm oil.
Having developed a love for animals at an early age, Rohit Singh is the Director, Protected & Conserved Areas (PCA) Management and Governance for WWF-US, based in Singapore. His role is focused on the delivery of WWF’s priority global wildlife outcomes; to reduce illegal and unsustainable wildlife exploitation and trade.
Rohit works closely with WWF field offices, regional programs, global initiatives and partners to develop and strengthen conservation law enforcement and protected area management programs, and to develop and implement best practices and innovations. He is also responsible for leading the WWF fundraising efforts on rangers. He previously spent over 3 years as Zero Poaching Lead, where he led the Zero Poaching workstream.
With over 16 years of global experience in conservation law enforcement, protected area management, fundraising and policy advocacy, Rohit began his career as a Zoo Keeper at the world’s largest bear rescue centre in India, where he personally nursed hundreds of bears back to health in 2005. During this time, Rohit was also responsible for coordinating law enforcement activities with local (State Police, State Forest Department, Special Task Forces) and national enforcement authorities (Army, Border Security Forces) to curb poaching across India.
Rohit then joined WWF-Cambodia in 2008 as a Law Enforcement Technical Advisor where he implemented and monitored enforcement and protected area activities in the Eastern Plains Landscape.
Rohit then spent the next 4 years dedicating his passion and expertise to the WWF Tiger Alive Initiative across Selangor, Malaysia and Phnom Penh, Cambodia where he led WWF’s capacity building efforts on conservation law enforcement and protected area management across the tiger range countries.
Specifically, he focused on ranger training, law enforcement monitoring and zero poaching for WWF priority species (tiger, Asian elephant, rhino, giant panda, orangutan, snow leopard).
Rueban Manokara is the Global Lead of the Carbon Finance and Markets Taskforce, WWF. He oversees the policy development and implementation efforts related to carbon finance within WWF’s networks. Rueban also serves as a Technical Advisory Body member of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, the carbon reduction programme administered by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation. Rueban previously served in the National Climate Change Secretariat in the Strategy Group, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore as Singapore’s lead negotiator for Article 6 at the UNFCCC and coordinated the development of Singapore’s carbon market policy.
Business leader, campaigner, co-author of “Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take”, a Financial Times Business Book of the Year. #3 Thinkers50.
Paul Polman works to accelerate action by business to tackle climate change and inequality.
As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), Paul demonstrated that business can profit through purpose, marrying a long-term, multi-stakeholder model with excellent financial performance. During Paul’s tenure, shareholders saw their returns increase by 290% while the company consistently ranked 1st in the world for sustainability.
Today Paul works across a range of organisations to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which he helped develop. This includes his work to drive systems change with Systemiq and bold new industry coalitions, including in fashion and food. Until 2024, he led the UN Global Compact, is an Ambassador for the Race to Zero, and works to develop our next generation of leaders, through the Oxford University Saïd Business School, INSEAD, One Young World and others. Paul’s actively campaigns on a range of human rights issues, including promoting disability inclusion through the Valuable 500 and the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, which he set up with his wife Kim. Follow him on twitter and sign up to receive his newsletter here. More on www.paulpolman.com.