The future of the built environment rests on bold leadership. As climate ambitions intensify, business and policy leaders are reimagining how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated, not only to reduce environmental impact, but also to strengthen resilience and create long-term value.
This event will convene sustainability trailblazers to examine how green building excellence can be driven by vision, innovation, and collaboration.
With senior executives from global corporates and leading consultancies at the forefront, the discussion will highlight how decision-makers are turning strategy into action, harnessing technology, advancing governance, and aligning stakeholders around ambitious sustainability goals.
By bringing together influential voices from across the ecosystem, the session offers a unique platform to exchange insights, share best practices, and chart a collective course toward a greener, more resilient future for Singapore and the wider region.
09.00 am Registration opens
09.30 am Welcome remarks by Ms Nele Cornelis, Executive Director, EuroCham Singapore
09.35 am Keynote speech by Mr Yoon Young Kim, Cluster President, Singapore and Brunei, Schneider Electric (Highlighting the key insights from the joint report by Schneider Electric Singapore and the Singapore Green Building Council – Awareness to Action: Insights for a Green Built Environment)
09.45 am Keynote Presentation by Ms Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited (CDL) and Committee Member of the Singapore Reporting Advisory Council
09.55 am Panel session moderated by Mr Benjamin Henry Towell, Executive Director, Global Wholesale Banking Sustainability Office, OCBC
- Ms Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited (CDL) and Committee Member of the Singapore Reporting Advisory Council
- Mr Stephan Degenhart, Associate Partner, Managing Director Asia Pacific & Middle East, Drees & Sommer
- Mr Yoon Young Kim, Cluster President, Singapore and Brunei, Schneider Electric
10.40 am Live Q&A
10.55 am Closing remarks by Ms Nele Cornelis, Executive Director, EuroCham Singapore
11.00 am Site tour
11.30 am End of site tour
Light refreshments will be provided. The organisers reserve the right to change the programme content without giving prior notification or any reasons thereof.
Speakers and Panellists
Ms Esther An
Chief Sustainability Officer
City Developments Limited (CDL)
A sustainability practitioner for 3 decades, Esther has been instrumental in building up the Sustainability leadership for CDL, which has been ranked Top amongst real estate companies on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, released at World Economic Forum at Davos. 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 World Green Building Council Corporate Advisory Board Chairperson, UN PRI Real Estate Advisory Committee, UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network Executive Council, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Taskforce Member, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Supervisory Board, IFRS Corporate Reporting Best Practice Group APAC – Chair, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Randall Lewis Center Advisory Board for Sustainability in Real Estate and ULI Asia Pacific Net Zero Council, Asia Pacific Real Estate Assets Association (APREA) Board of Directors and Chair of ESG Committee, GRESB Foundation Board, MITSolve Climate Advisory and World Economic Forum Nature-Positive Cities Global Commission (2022–24).
In 2017, she founded Women4Green and Youth4Climate networks to empower women and youths to champion climate action and sustainable development.
Mr Yoong Young Kim
Cluster President, Singapore and Brunei
Schneider Electric
Yoon Young Kim is leading the company’s digital and sustainable transformation in energy management and automation. He focuses on driving digital solutions in high-growth sectors like Data Centers, Buildings, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing while helping customers operate more sustainably. Kim brings with him over two decades of global experience in leading teams across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America, and Russia. This includes experience in the energy management and lighting industries, as well as a strong background in sales and marketing. Kim is serving as a Board Member of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore; a Board Member for UN GCNS (Global Compact Network Singapore); a Board Member at NaviX Solutions; and a Global DEI Board Member at Schneider Electric. He is also a Sustainability Advisory Member to the Board at United Overseas Bank (UOB).
Panellist
Mr Stephan Degenhart
Associate Partner, Managing Director Asia Pacific & Middle East
Drees & Sommer
Stephan Degenhart is an experienced Managing Director at Drees & Sommer, an international real estate consulting firm that specialises in sustainability and digitalisation within the built environment globally, Stephan leads the initiatives in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field and has been involved in some of the most innovative projects in the industry, such as the first-ever smart building in Berlin, Germany, and the sustainable Cradle project.
Stephan is a highly sought-after professional speaker who has delivered captivating and impactful talks at prestigious events, educating and inspiring industry professionals and the general public alike. He applies the principles of sustainability, innovation, and digitalisation with unwavering enthusiasm and expert skill in his practice, uses it in mentoring colleagues and generously shares his knowledge at local and international events, showcasing his expertise in the field.
Moderator
Mr Benjamin Henry Towell
Executive Director, Sustainability Office, Global Wholesale Banking
OCBC
Benjamin is a Registered Architect, Chartered Surveyor, and Chartered Environmentalist. He is the Executive Director of the Global Wholesale Banking Sustainability Office at OCBC, leading efforts on sustainable built environment and SME transition through advisory services, innovative solutions, and financial products.
He has played a key role in advancing the transition of the built environment, including data centres, and remains actively engaged with Green Building Councils and global standard setters. Previously, he served on the Governing Council of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), led the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Scheme (2015, 2021), and contributed to shaping Singapore’s sustainability policies.
An active speaker and author, Benjamin has written on green building certification, decarbonisation, and sustainability. He authored the Singapore Institute of Architects’ Green Book and co-authored guides with the Alliance of Green Building Organisations. Currently, he leads a major World Green Building Council Asia Pacific initiative with OCBC, launched successfully in July.
Registration Guidelines –
Please follow these simple steps for easy registration to our paid events.
Step 1: Register below. You will receive a registration confirmation email from EuroCham once payment is made and it has been approved.
Step 2: Before the event, an email will be sent at least 2 days before to the attendees to confirm their attendance and inform them about the event details. Please check your spam folder if you do not receive this email.
Step 3: Please reply to the second confirmation email with your confirmation of attendance so we know that you have received the relevant information and are still attending.
Step 4: Please arrive on time for registration for the event. We will only admit attendees who have made full payment to the event.
Thank you for your understanding.
Kindly note that there are limited seats available, registration is binding, and payment is non-refundable. The organisers reserve the right to change the programme content without giving prior notification or any reasons thereof.
