On November 29, Women in Finance Asia (WIFA) in collaboration with J.P. Morgan, hosted a groundbreaking event, "ESG – Beyond the Climate Lens," marking a significant stride in empowering women in the financial sector. Drawing 80 participants, the event was a vibrant mix of expert discussions and engaging insights, aligning well to promote women's empowerment and leadership in the finance industry.

Opening Insights

Wendy Liu, Managing Director at JP Morgan, opened the evening by sharing her valuable experiences with female networking during her career. She highlighted JP Morgan's commitment to developing female talent, as evidenced by their internal networks like Asia Women in Markets and Women On the Move. Underscoring the importance of ESG in investment strategies, Liu's perspective set the foundation for an evening filled with insightful discourse.

Panel Highlights: Diverse Views on ESG

The panel featured distinguished speakers and was moderated by Hannah Lee of JP Morgan. Kristy W. from Amundi discussed impact investing related to social issues and the emerging role of AI in ESG. Katherine Lei, also from JP Morgan, eloquently addressed the systemic risk climate change poses to the financial system. She also shared an intriguing fact about how empowering women can benefit banks since women have lower default rates on credit card debt than men. Debra Tan from China Water Risk brought a surprising perspective, highlighting the severely underestimated threat of rising sea levels. She also shared an eye-opening fact contrasting the environmental impact of search engines versus generative AI.

Climate Risks and Female Empowerment in Finance

Sarah Fung from Hula offered an informative talk on the fashion industry's environmental impact, sharing that extending the life of clothing by just three months can significantly reduce one's carbon footprint. The event also featured a display of pre-owned luxury fashion and personal styling, resonating well with the audience.

The Forces Behind the Event

The event concluded with a graceful cultural touch - a classical singing performance by Liang Hui Tay from Sing City. The musical act was curated by Celia Leung and Bonnie So, bringing an air of elegance to the evening. On an official WIFA LinkedIn post, WIFA offered a special thank you to Ida Lee for her role in organizing the event. She served as a gracious host, ensuring the evening was informative and flawlessly executed.

WIFA's event was a testament to the power of knowledge and collaboration and the importance of including women's voices in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future in finance, echoing the values and aspirations of those who wish to succeed.

Photo credit: WIFA and JP Morgan