Over three remarkable evenings in Hanoi, Bangkok, and Jakarta, professionals, academics, and policymakers gathered to celebrate a shared milestone, the completion of the first-ever online programme in three Asian languages – Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, and Vietnamese.
Supported by SMU Overseas Centres in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, this initiative has equipped over 1,500 learners across these markets with foundational knowledge in sustainability and sustainable finance.
The three celebratory events brought together over 150 learners across ASEAN, marking a growing regional commitment to sustainable finance and responsible investment. Each event reflected the unique strengths and aspirations of its host nation, sharing a unifying vision: that education is the key to driving Asia’s low-carbon transition.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, 23 September 2025, the event was attended by Mr Donald Tsang, Deputy Chief of Mission and Counsellor (Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Hanoi, Vietnam), together with Ms Liew Pei Shan, Second Secretary (Singapore Cooperation Centre), and Ms Patrina Lim, Market Director from the Singapore Global Network. The evening drew a strong showing from the banking and finance sector, with participants from VPBank, SHB, VIB, Techcombank, BIDV, Vietinbank, LPBank, and Agribank, alongside international institutions such as HSBC and MUFG. The presence of the Asian Development Bank further reflected development finance’s growing interest in Vietnam’s sustainability agenda.
Beyond finance, the event saw participation from real estate and property leaders like Vingroup, Vinhomes, and Frasers Property Vietnam, as well as diverse sectors including manufacturing (SABECO, Hoa Sen Group), consulting (Grant Thornton Vietnam, Pacific Partners) and education (VinUniversity). Attendees ranged from analysts to senior executives and specialists in corporate sustainability, legal affairs, and human capital development — a reflection of the country’s increasingly multi-sectoral engagement in sustainable growth.
“Sustainable and green finance is becoming an inevitable trend in the banking sector. The Decision 21/2025/QD-TTg, issued by Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, outlines the environment criteria for confirming investment projects within the green taxonomy; and The State Bank of Vietnam has issued guidelines and introduced green banking initiatives, highlighting the importance of green finance as a tool for building sustainable banks”, said Nguyen Chi Hieu, ESG Director at Asia Commercial Bank (ACB).
“However, this remains a relatively new area in Vietnam. This course provided valuable knowledge and perspectives on green and sustainable finance, helping our team better understand sustainable finance and learn from other stakeholders. It has also directly supported our work at ACB, where green and sustainable finance is one of our core priorities and a key driver of both business performance and compliance with national directives.”
In Bangkok, Thailand, 30 September 2025, the celebration was graced by Mr Mok Chak Yong, Counsellor (Political) at the Embassy of Singapore in Thailand, who delivered the opening speech. The Thailand celebration drew a distinguished group of professionals from corporate, financial, educational, and research institutions. The financial sector was particularly well-represented, with attendees from Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), and the Thai Banking Academy, alongside key participants from manufacturing such as Indorama Ventures.
Other notable sectors included shipping, represented by senior leaders from Precious Shipping Public Company Limited, and academia, with participants from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok University, Assumption University and the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD). The profiles reflected a deep bench of experience — including Executive Directors, Vice Presidents, and senior researchers — as well as a strong academic and policy presence, with attendees such as a Chairman from the Singapore-Thai Chamber of Commerce. Together, this blend of corporate, academic, and governmental expertise underscored Thailand’s strategic engagement in sustainable finance.
Ruengrit Onpanicharee, IVEX Lean Corporate Expert - Analytics at Indorama Ventures PCL, shared, “This programme has helped me better integrate sustainability into process optimisation and data-driven decision-making. It strengthened my ability to highlight improvements that align with our sustainability goals. The most valuable insight I gained was seeing how sustainable finance principles can align directly with business objectives. This perspective allows me to drive lean initiatives that not only reduce costs but also enhance ESG performance, something increasingly critical in today’s manufacturing landscape.”
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, Indonesia, 23 October 2025, the celebration featured Mr Matthew Lim, Second Secretary (Political), from the Embassy of Singapore in Jakarta), and Ms Caryn Gill, Regional Vice President from the Singapore Global Network. The celebration gathered a cross-sector community spanning energy and mining to healthcare, technology, and finance. Senior leaders from companies such as, Triputra Agro Persada, Hacktiv8, PT ANTAM Tbk, PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk, and DANA Indonesia attended, representing sectors at the forefront of Indonesia’s sustainable transition. Many held senior positions, including Directors, Vice Presidents, and managers overseeing finance, human resources, and ESG initiatives.
Adding to the diversity were academics and policymakers, including senior leader and lecturer from Petra Christian University and PPM Manajemen, alongside officials from Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK). The presence of students — from undergraduate to doctoral levels — underscored a shared commitment to nurturing both established and emerging talent.
Sharon Issabella, Head of Communications at DANA Indonesia, said, "At DANA, our 2025 focus is clear: build safe, inclusive, and trusted digital finance for everyone. The SMU Sustainable Finance curriculum, especially the modules on sustainability risk, taxonomies, and green-finance products, gave me the frameworks to link our daily work to global ESG standards. That clarity lets me craft stories that resonate with regulators, partners, and, most importantly, the millions of Indonesians who rely on DANA. The programme also peeled back the curtain on sustainability jargon—scope-3, blended finance, circularity—and showed just how complex and collaborative true impact must be. Earlier in my career at several companies, I helped drive sustainability initiatives; now, with these fresh insights, I can turn hard data into human stories and inspire slow-but-sure changes—starting with myself and scaling through DANA's Safe Tech and financial-inclusion campaigns."
Together, this cross-section of leaders, educators, and future professionals reflected Indonesia’s growing momentum in building a collaborative ecosystem for sustainable finance and innovation.
At each event, Nikki Kemp, Executive Director of the Singapore Green Finance Centre, delivered a keynote on how sustainable finance is maturing from policy-driven to market-driven growth. In her remarks, Nikki commended the ASEAN participants for embracing lifelong learning to meet ambitious decarbonisation targets.
Ms Kemp, said, “It is vital to cultivate a community of skilled practitioners across ASEAN who can develop and use innovative and impactful solutions for financing a low-carbon, resilient future. Academically rigorous, industry-relevant programmes like this are evidence of SGFC’s commitment to equipping all financial professionals with an understanding of Asia-specific sustainable finance, including carbon markets, sustainable finance instruments, sustainability reporting, and more. A world-class centre of excellence, SGFC is committed to building regional capabilities, strengthening industry collaboration, and demonstrating a long-term commitment to talent development in sustainable finance.”
Participants of the Online Programme came from a wide range of backgrounds – including working professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs, students, and independent learners – and represented more than 350 organisations across 41 sectors in the region. SMU also collaborated with around 30 universities across the three markets to extend the Programme’s reach. The digital delivery enabled participation across geographies, industries, and experience levels, effectively democratising access to sustainability and sustainable finance expertise in a practical, scalable, and inclusive way.
The Online Programme is only the first chapter in SMU’s broader push to build sustainability-ready talent across ASEAN. With momentum growing, new initiatives are already being explored to deepen regional partnerships and equip professionals with the skills needed for a fast-changing green economy.
Launched during SMU’s 25th anniversary year, the Programme captures the university’s belief that education can drive transformation beyond the classroom. It cements SMU’s reputation as ASEAN’s catalyst for the green transition - connecting ideas, industries, and individuals to shape a more resilient and sustainable future. And as the region moves to scale up green finance and innovation, Singapore’s role as Asia’s sustainability hub looks set to grow stronger than ever.
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About the Online Programme in Sustainability and Sustainable Finance
The Online Programme in Sustainability and Sustainable Finance, jointly developed by the Singapore Green Finance Centre (SGFC), and SMU’s Executive Development (ExD) and with support from the Singapore Global Network (SGN), was adapted from SGFC’s flagship Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled Introduction to Sustainability and Sustainable Finance. Originally developed by Dr Rajiv Lall, Professorial Research Fellow at SGFC, the MOOC remains globally accessible in English via the SGFC website.
SMU’s ExD translated the MOOC from English into the local languages of its three ASEAN markets, ensuring it was accessible, culturally relevant, and resonated with local audiences. This marks a landmark initiative in inclusive, region-wide upskilling while showcasing SMU’s ability to blend global expertise with local relevance across diverse cultural and economic landscapes.
Curated by SGFC and enriched with insights from over 20 leading experts in sustainability and finance, including members of SGFC's Founding Partners from global financial institutions and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the curriculum provided regionally relevant, practical knowledge tailored to Southeast Asia’s transition needs.
