Vivek has been passionate about climate for most of his career. He is currently the Regional Chief Risk Officer, Asia Pacific. Until recently he was the Director and Global Head of Climate Business.
He takes inspiration from his strongest beliefs – the world needs urgent action to combat climate change, addressing climate change will generate huge business opportunities for the private sector and capital markets, and climate risk is as important as other risks and needs to be urgently mainstreamed.
Vivek believes in looking for these opportunities to mobilize capital needed to move them forward. He played a leading role in business development, guiding standard-setting and new product design, and connecting the dots across the IFC to mainstream the climate lens into all IFC’s business. He believes that the private sector will be key to greening major sectors of national economies – from energy and transport to agriculture and manufacturing – and is committed to helping clients who are working to move the needle on the low-carbon transition in their countries and communities.
He was previously IFC’s Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific, where he led investment and advisory operations across 18 countries and was one of the first at IFC to integrate climate into all aspects of the business. Before that, he was IFC’s Director and Global Head of Credit and Investment Risk. He had also held multiple leadership roles managing portfolio, credit risk, and business development in frontier markets at IFC, Bank of America and ABN AMRO Bank. He started his career in advertising, where he learned the importance of knowing your audience, and the power of words to change the World.
Roundtable Room 2 (Level 2)
Elevating ESG
This roundtable reflects Elevandi’s commitment to overcoming the barriers to scaling sustainable finance, and build upon conversations at the Point Zero Forum, Singapore FinTech Festival and Japan FinTech Festival on finance climate data.
The recent introduction of the sustainability reporting requirements such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) presents a turning point for businesses within the supply chain. While navigating the complexities of supply chain mapping, verification procedures, and implementation costs associated with these regulations can be daunting, they also offer a foundation for gaining a competitive edge. This exclusive roundtable discussion brings together key stakeholders – businesses of all sizes, forward-thinking financial institutions (FIs), and innovative technology providers – to foster collaboration and unlock the full potential of EUDR and CSDDD.
Operating under our Elevating ESG theme, this interactive session goes beyond mere compliance. We'll delve into best practices that not only ensure businesses meet the new regulations, but also help them transform compliance into a competitive advantage. Experts will share insights on efficient supply chain mapping, robust verification procedures, and cost-optimization tactics and available financial instruments. Additionally, the roundtable will explore usage of tech solutions for operational efficiency and competitive advantage.
The envisioned collaboration is intended to extend beyond the roundtable itself. We'll explore the design, development, and deployment of a pilot to gain valuable insights and foster a supportive ecosystem. Collaboration with industry stakeholders, for smoother implementation of these requirements and championing best practices for sustainable supply chain reporting. Through this roundtable, attendees will gain digestible insights and have the opportunity to contribute to the pilot project firsthand.
Attendees who wish to familiarise themselves with the topic may refer to the reference materials below.
- ESG: The Urgency of Action & Why Climate Technology Matters Now
- The Climate Data Roundtable
- Project Savannah: Maximising the Potential of Digital ESG Credentials for MSMEs