Sustainability Forum PH

Pavan Sukhdev is a sustainability thought leader and an influential voice for change amongst business leaders, policy makers and international institutions. A physicist by training and a career banker by profession, Pavan is driven by two long-standing and inter-connected passions: making visible the invisible economics of nature, and redefining corporate performance.

While he was a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank, Pavan took time out to lead two landmark UN reports: TEEB (‘The Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity’, 2010) and UNEP’s ‘Towards a Green Economy’, 2011. He now heads GIST Impact, a group at the intersection of sustainability, technology and big data which measures and advises on corporate and investment portfolio impacts. He has served on the Boards of Conservation International, Stockholm Resilience Centre and the Global Reporting Initiative, and as President and Board Chair of WWF-International. He is a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Pavan’s pioneering work on corporate sustainability metrics, the invisible economics of nature, and economic transition to an inclusive green economy has been recognised through several awards, including the Tyler Prize (2020); Blue Planet Prize (2016); KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek Prize (2015) and the Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development (2013).

Ms. Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga is the current Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines. Ms. Loyzaga was the President of the National

Resilience Council (NRC), a science and technology-based public-private partnership aimed at the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Climate Agreement. She was a member of the United Nations International Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNDRR) Asia Pacific Science Technology Advisory Group (APSTAG) and was also a Director of the UNDRR’s Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) Philippines initiative, where NRC leads the Disaster Risk Management Strategies work theme.

Ms. Loyzaga served on the Science Advisory Board of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk International Center of Excellence-Taipei (IRDR ICoE) and was a governing board member of the Future Earth Global Secretariat Hub (GSH) Taipei. She was a Trustee of the Zuellig Family Foundation, the Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Naga University and the Forest Foundation Philippines, where she also served as Treasurer. Prior to these appointments, Ms. Loyzaga was the Executive Director of the Manila Observatory from 2007-2016 and was also a Trustee of the Ateneo de Manila University from 2007-2017. During this period, she was appointed to the Department of Science and Technology’s Committee on Space Technology Applications and to the UNESCO National Commission’s Committee on Science and Technology.

In 2013, she was recognized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for her contributions to the Philippine military’s emergency disaster response operations during Super Typhoon Haiyan. Ms. Loyzaga holds a Master of Arts degree in Government from Georgetown University and Bachelor of Arts degree in. Political Science from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Isabel Garcia is WWF-Philippines’ first chairwoman of the board. Isabel is the Managing Director and Curator of the Bonifacio Art Foundation, which runs the Mind Museum and BGC Arts Center. A staunch advocate for conservation, Isabel conceptualized the Mind Museum where she serves as curator since its establishment in 2007. The Mind Museum was founded on Isabel’s belief that science is a human right, wherein accessing it to learn should be readily available to the public. She is also one of the country’s leading science writers with 2 books published and a weekly column on Rappler as their resident science columnist.

Hans Sy Jr, fondly known as “Chico,” has been the President of SM Engineering Design and Development Corp (SMEDD) since 2018. SMEDD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the SM Group’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) is responsible for the design and construction of new malls and SM Retail stores’ layouts, as well as, servicing the engineering operations of the malls, supermarkets, department stores, and other SM Retail affiliates. SM Prime is one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia with interests in malls, residences, offices, leisure resorts and residences, hotels, and convention centers.

Some of his notable projects include SM Aura Premier, Mega Tower and SM Seaside City; the Mall of Asia Arena; SM office and BPO building; the De La Salle University Henry Sy Hall; and UP Professional Schools Henry Sy Hall.

Chico studied at Xavier School for his primary education, and finished high school in Melbourne, Australia. In 2005, he acquired a double major in civil engineering and management from the University of Melbourne, with honors. After graduation, he worked in Australia for a few years and returned home in 2008 to join the SM Group.

He started as a management trainee, and underwent training on the total retail business enterprise – from designing the stores to construction to service delivery, and customer engagement, among others. In 2012, Chico was appointed as Vice President of the newly incorporated SMEDD.

As an advocate of climate change, Chico continually finds ways to incorporate green initiatives in the developments that he is working on. These include the use of renewable energy, water conservation and proper solid waste management.

Raymond Rufino is the CEO of NEO, the largest top green developer and manager of office buildings in
Bonifacio Global City (BGC). A long time advocate for sustainability, he has led NEO to be the first portfolio in the world to receive EDGE Zero Carbon Certification by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). NEO is also the first office portfolio in Southeast Asia to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Seal. All NEO buildings have attained 5-Star certifications, with several serving as pilot projects, under the Philippine Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Philippines and BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence), the country’s national voluntary green building rating tool.

Raymond currently holds board / executive positions with the Philippine Green
Building Council (PhilGBC), WWF Philippines, ARISE Philippines, YPO Philippines
and SEA Region, EO Philippines, and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) where he
serves as Trustee and Key Leader.

Mr. David Mikel Aboitiz currently serves as the Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Sales for Aboitiz Renewables Incorporated. In his role, David’s primary focus revolves around developing the group’s commercial strategy and ensuring the sales team’s success in securing off-take agreements for the group’s assets.

AboitizPower is the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, and retail electricity services. It advances business and communities by providing reliable and ample power supply at a reasonable and competitive price and with the least adverse effects on the environment and host communities.

AboitizPower, together with its partners, is the Philippines’ largest owner and operator of renewable energy based on installed capacity. In the next 10 years, the company will significantly expand its Cleanergy portfolio in support of the government’s efforts to promote renewable energy in the country. AboitizPower will build an additional 3,700 MW of renewable energy, growing its existing Cleanergy capacity threefold by 2030.

Throughout David’s career, he has focused on the energy space. While in the United States, he was involved in various roles spanning from energy consultancy to private equity focused on solar development. Upon returning to the Philippines, David supported Aboitiz Equity Ventures in the Treasury Services Group, with a focus on acquisition financing that resulted in over $1Bln in transactions closed. Since then, David has taken on leadership roles with Aboitiz Power and Aboitiz Renewables Inc that have focused on Market Strategy, Distributed Generation, Key Account Sales, to now overseeing the Commercial group of Aboitiz Renewables Inc.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Markets & Cultures from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration degree with a focus on Finance and Strategy from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Edwin Africa is an Executive Vice President and the Corporate General Manager and the Group Business Unit Head of Century Pacific Food, Inc.

Prior to his career at Century, Edwin was PepsiCo’s Country Head for Malaysia and Singapore. He also had stints with Nippon Paint Asia and Procter & Gamble, where he started his career.

Edwin is a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University.

Mr. Francis Gotianun of the Filinvest Group currently holds directorship positions in the conglomerate. To name a few, he is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the parent company, Filinvest Development Corporation; of its property arm, Filinvest Land Inc.; and its first sustainability-anchored real estate investment trust, FILREIT.

He is also currently at the helm of Filinvest Hospitality Corporation as Senior Vice President, leading ventures that support the country’s tourism industry. Under his leadership, the company has successfully expanded its homegrown hospitality brands –Crimson Hotel in Filinvest City, Crimson Resort & Spa in Boracay and Cebu; its growing Quest hotel chain in Filinvest Mimosa Plus, Cebu and Tagaytay; and Timberland Sports and Nature Resort in Rizal.

Francis received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and International Business from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce in the US. He earned his MBA from the University of Navarra, IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.

Hindy is a mother to four children, a fashion designer, a biodynamic farmer, TV host and key opinion leader in holistic living. She co-founded Holy Carabao Holistic Farms in 2007 from the simple intention to bring home better food to her family. It began as a small backyard garden that eventually grew into the first door-to-door organic food delivery in our country as well as a trusted supplier of organic produce to supermarkets, restaurants and hotels. Holy Carabao now focuses its work on education through workshops, field trips, farm classes for K-12, and special events like country festivals. She pours her compassion and consciousness into everything she endeavors, from farming to fashion, and her other advocacies including curative education, environmental stewardship, animal rights and holistic nutrition.

Juan Manuel Hoyos hailed from Medellin, Columbia and is the current President of Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI). As President, Hoyos is responsible for developing business strategies to maximize Nissan’s overall performance in the Philippines, managing product introductions, and expanding the reach of the Nissan brand in the country.

Hoyos joined Nissan in 2017 as Marketing Director for the Latin America region, where he later took on the role as global head for Marketing as Divisional General Manager in Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama. In that capacity, he took charge of Nissan’s brand, global marketing contents, motorsports, sponsorships and strategies, motor show executions, and regional communications. Before Nissan, he also held various management positions in Renault and General Motors.

Ma. Victoria A. Tan is a seasoned professional in the areas of enterprise risk management, auditing, financial accounting, operational accounting, call center operations and administrative operations. She had worked within the region when she was employed as international auditor by USAID Manila and in Indonesia and Brunei when she was employed by Djajanti Group of Indonesia. She is currently working as the Executive Director, Group Risk Management and Sustainability of Ayala Corporation, one of the biggest, largest, and oldest business houses in the Philippines.

Melissa V. Vergel de Dios, Chief Sustainability Officer of PLDT and Smart and Investor Relations Head of PLDT, has been with PLDT since May 2001 and has held various positions including Property and Facilities Management Center Head. Prior to joining PLDT, she held various positions in the San Miguel Group of Companies where she started her professional career. Ms. Vergel de Dios obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and Management and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Assumption College.

Ian Jason R. Aguirre leads the finance, strategic planning, and business development teams of Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC). With more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive, he sees to it that sustainability initiatives are incorporated in the way he leads the diverse teams under his function.

Jason carries with him an extensive experience in investment banking and corporate finance with emphasis on energy, infrastructure and the telecommunications industries. He currently serves as the Vice President for Portfolio Investments at the SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) where he plays a vital role in the acquisition of several industry-leading companies for the SMIC group, including the acquisition of PGPC from Chevron. The inclusion of PGPC in its portfolio proves the resolute decision of SMIC to shift and invest more on renewable energy – an effort to further contribute in the sustainability initiatives of the country to lessen CO2 emissions.

His strong advocacy for resiliency and sustainability resonates with his business strategies and with his keen effort to promote the use of baseload renewable energy as a crucial component of our country’s energy resiliency and sustainability aspirations.

Education:
Masters in Business Management
Asian Institute of Management
2000

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
University of the Philippines
1996

Agnes C. de Jesus is the Chief Sustainability Officer of the First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPHC) from 2014 to the present. Before this stint, she was Senior Vice President for Environment and External Relations and at the same time the Compliance Officer of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC). Her extensive ground experience of more than 20 years covers environmental, social impact and governance dimensions of energy operations. Because of her comprehensive knowledge, she was selected by an international panel to be part of Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen Honor List in 2018. On September 18,2021 she was selected as one of Diligent’s 2021 Modern Governance 100 under the ESG and Diversity Trailblazer category. Selected from 4 continents, the award honors professionals driving their organizations toward greater diversity, sustainable practices, and sharper insights for company leadership. On April 7, 2022, she was installed as a member of the NEDA SDG Stakeholders’ Chamber on the Working Group on Peace, Security and Governance.

Alex Reyes has been with Cebu Pacific Air (PSE: CEB) since 2008 first as the Vice President for
Commercial Planning. He was responsible for route planning, airline business strategy, and revenue
management then.

In 2012, he led CEB in the expansion of its long haul operations when he was appointed as its General
Manager. Under his leadership, Cebu Pacific launched its inaugural long haul flight from Manila to Dubai in October 2013, operating a brand new fleet of Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

In 2016, Mr. Reyes spearheaded the growth of CEB’s cargo division both in and out of the Philippines as
its vice president. Come 2019, he was appointed President and CEO of Cebgo, CEB’s wholly owned
subsidiary.

Currently, Alex is the Chief Strategy Officer of Cebu Pacific, and is in-charge of the airline’s corporatestrategy, which includes sustainability initiatives.

Prior to joining the airline industry, Mr. Reyes held various positions with one of the Philippines’ largestmedia publishers, The Inquirer Group. He was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Inquirer Publications. He was also previously a correspondent for Bloomberg in Manila and editor at
Nomura Research Institute in Tokyo. In the early 1990s, he studied in Japan under a Monbusho Scholarship.

Mr. Reyes graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science degree
in International Economics. He received his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the
University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Married with four children, Mr. Reyes is a certified diver, and a member of Polo Tri, a Manila-based
triathlon team.

David J. Lim Jr. was born in Hong Kong where he finished his secondary education before attending Imperial College of London where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1984.

A great believer in the pursuit of continual learning, he earned his Masters Degree in Structural Engineering from the University of California Berkeley in 1990 and strengthened it further in Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering. Clearly a vigorous intellect.

David is a seasoned Supply Chain Excellence professional with over 30 years extensive experience in multinational engineering, design, construction and project management. He has effectively utilized his expertise honed from various stints in Technical and Project Management at the PMB Engineering, a subsidiary of Bechtel San Francisco and at Ralph M. Parsons Corporation in Pasadena, USA, where he had the opportunity to be part of these companies’ global engineering and construction projects and expansions.

He returned to the Philippines to be part of the Fluor Corporation, which is one of the world’s largest publicly-traded engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction and maintenance companies which offers integrated solutions for their clients complex and challenging capital projects. He was the Project Engineer for the Shell Tabangao Asset Renewal Project in Batangas, Calabarzon in 1993.

More than 25 years ago, he joined JGSummit Petrochemical Corporation and rose through the ranks, working on projects and the expansion of the company and was then given the role to build the Group of Manufacturing, Technology, Quality, Engineering, Sustainability and the Technical Services of Universal Robina Corporation Branded Consumer Food Group covering the ASEAN region and has contributed to its growth and capability of the organization today. He has carved his signature in the various product innovations, operational productivity and people programs.

A great believer in continuing professional learning and development, he lives this by example, by currently completing his Doctoral Program in Environmental Engineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He draws inspiration from Michaelangelo, who was one of the most influential and talented artists in modern history, and shares this mantra “ I am always learning”.

David serves as Co-Chair for the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and is active in civic organizations where he has shown exemplary leadership as President of the Rotary Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas. He is currently the Chief Supply Chain and Sustainability Officer of Universal Robina Corporation.

Engr. Edmond “Macky” Maceda is a sustainability professional with over 30 years of experience
in corporate ESG strategy, academic program development, and sustainability consulting. He
graduated from Stanford University in 1992 with a Master’s degree in Environmental
Engineering after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University
of the Philippines in 1989.

Engr. Maceda’s long career history includes key roles as Sustainability Consultant for DLSU
Animo Labs Foundation (2021-2022); Sustainability Technical Expert for the Climate Change
Commission (2021); Sustainability Director of Enderun Colleges (2015-2021); Sustainability
Consultant to the Chairman of Megaworld Corporation (2010-2018); Sustainability Officer of
Ayala Land (2008-2010); Vice-President for Environmental Affairs of the Fil-Estate Group (1997-
2008); Director for Environmental Consulting Services of SGV & Co (1996-1997); and an
overseas stint as Professional Engineer with Montgomery Watson Consulting Engineers in
California (1992-1996). He has hosted, facilitated and spoken at numerous Sustainability
summits, green conferences, corporate trainings, and related events.

Engr. Maceda recently began serving as Senior Environmental Consultant for the City of Bacolod.

Vice President for Corporate Compliance
Group for SM Supermalls with 20 years of experience in Mall Operations.

• Program Director for SM Environment and Sustainability
• UNDRR ARISE Global Board Member. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (formerly known as UNISDR) is the focal point of the United Nations system for disaster risk reduction
and the custodian of the Sendai Framework, supporting countries and societies in its implementation, monitoring and review of progress.
• Registered Civil Engineer

Ginggay Hontiveros is the First Vice President – Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer of
the Aboitiz Group, where she oversees the group’s Brands, Creatives, Corporate Communications and Sustainability programs. She leads the company’s sustainability agenda and redefines the OneAboitiz sustainability framework unifying the group’s strategic business units in addressing ESG issues.

She has over 30 years experience in senior management of various corporates such as Benguet Corporation, Meralco Group, Lapanday Group, as well extensive project management and stakeholder engagement expertise in the development sector through the Philippine Center Entrepreneurship Foundation. Ginggay graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Bachelor of Science Major in Legal Management.

In the development sector, since 2016, she leads the Negosyo for Peace (Business for Peace) Programs, Agripreneurship Mentorship and Inclusive Agri-Business programs for the office of the Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion. She holds the official designation as GoNegosyo’s Senior Adviser for Agripreneurship, and Programs Head for Bangsamoro Region for peace and development. She has also been appointed as Project Ark’s Leader for LGU partnerships also under OPAE.

She also leads Kapatid Agri Mentor Me (KAMMP), a mentorship program in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform, extending support to more than 1,400 cooperatives with about 40,000 farmers and fishermen members nationwide. As head for KAMMP, she focuses on helping farmers and fishermen scale up their agribusinesses in rural areas, and has been instrumental in leading a growing movement for caring for, guiding and mentoring smallholder farmers toward a more
progressive life.

Ginggay’s values embody the UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity. Her professional career and personal advocacies reflect a high sense of responsibility, inclusive approach to addressing concerns, and courage to talk about the most daunting issues of work in the field of sustainability and agripreneurship.

Recognition of Ginggay’s work in different sectors has recently been cited by CSRWorks as one of the awardees for the Asia Sustainability Superwomen 2020. She is also the recipient of the Women of the Future UK-Southeast Asia Mentor of the Year award in 2018, People Asia’s Women of Style and Substance Awardee 2018, and received recognition as one of the Most Influential Filipinas in the World 2019 by the Global Filipina Women Network in Paris. And, she is also the Philippine Nominee for the UN N-Peace Awards 2019 where she was shortlisted for her contributions to empowering communities in conflict areas. These
are testament of her contribution to peacebuilding in the country, and beyond as she continues to help to concretize opportunities for hope, recovery and development among communities ravaged by natural calamities, burdened by poverty, and torn apart by conflict.

Underlying all these involvements is Ginggay’s belief that making a difference in the lives of others is essential. Thus, she sees compassion as the key ingredient for a fruitful exchange that goes beyond all borders – of geography, of society, of culture, of faith.

Earl Forlales is a materials engineer who has developed an innovative solution to the affordable housing shortage facing modern communities.

He’s the designer of the patent-pending CUBO® Modular System, the first engineered bamboo building platform in the world. CUBO was recognized as the global winner in the Cities for Our Future Challenge by the U.K.’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2018.

He took inspiration from his grandparents’ bahay kubo in his home province of Bulacan, where he lived before moving to Metro Manila to study Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry in the Ateneo de Manila University.

In 2019, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts gave him the Ani ng Dangal Award for his contribution to Architecture and Allied Arts. That same year, his home province of Bulacan gave him the Dangal ng Lipi ng Bulacan Award for Science and Technology.

Despite the global pandemic that hit the Philippines hard since 2020, Earl and his co-founder and COO, Zahra Zanjani, have built CUBO Modular to become the first and only sustainable modular housing company in the Philippines.

A 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree, and most recently, a 2021 Tatler Gen. T Leader of Tomorrow honoree, Earl strives to use the social enterprise model to effect real change in how we house Filipinos.

AFFILIATIONS

Co-founder and CEO, CUBO Modular

Atty. Roel S. Espiritu is the Head of the Quality, Sustainability and Resiliency (QSR) Division of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad). He leads Maynilad’s team on quality management systems, quality assurance, water and wastewater regulatory compliance, environmental management programs, occupational safety and health, sustainability, business continuity management and resiliency.

Prior to his current assignment, he served as Maynilad’s Head for Administration and Labor Relations (2008-2012) and Business Area Head (2012-2017).

He is experienced in the areas of labor relations, decent work, green jobs, occupational safety and health, water service delivery to urban poor communities, business area operations, climate change resiliency, business continuity, environment management and sustainability.

BA Political Science degree from the University of the Philippines (1995), Diliman and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Lyceum of the Philippines University (2007).

Dr. Miguel Fortes is a Professor of Marine Science with academic experience in the Philippines, USA and Germany. Miguel has 30 years’ worth of practice in tropical coastal research and management. He is a member of several esteemed groups and organizations such as the International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group (CI/IUCN/UNESCO), Species Survival Commission (Seagrass Specialist Group IUCN), Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (IUCN) and CTI Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group, among others. He is a prolific writer with 147 scientific journal articles and books wherein he generously shares his expertise with readers. Miguel is also well-decorated with 18 awards including the UNESCO Chair and the International Biwako Prize for Ecology and Research Professorship from the University of Tokyo.

Marla drives the execution of the BDO Sustainability Framework with policy formulations and programs across the BDO Group, and produces the annual BDO Sustainability Report. She works closely with business groups and subsidiaries as subject matter expert and advisor, to ensure the Bank’s alignment of its policies and practices with global standards, regulations, and guidelines on sustainability reporting. She is also responsible for communicating sustainability initiatives to internal and external stakeholders, and represents BDO in external speaking engagements and forums.

Before joining BDO, Marla was Diversity & Inclusion Lead for global news and information services provider Thomson Reuters, where she spent 11 years leading the execution of global strategies in diversity and inclusion, social impact, corporate responsibility, and corporate communications. Previously, she held senior corporate communication roles at tech firm Intel Corporation for its Asia operations; Filipino food and beverage group San Miguel Corporation; architecture, engineering and construction company Environments Global; and public relations firm Orendain & Associates.

Marla is an experienced international speaker on gender, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability. She is a certified facilitator of the Google #IamRemarkable workshop for women, and former Board Member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)-Philippines.

Lyn Javier is the Assistant Governor of the Policy and Specialized Supervision Sub-Sector (PSSSS) under the Financial Supervision Sector of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). She oversees the supervisory policy and data departments of the BSP as well as the supervision of specialized areas specifically money laundering, information technology, treasury and trust operations.

Javier is the designated BSP representative to the Basel Consultative Group, the Executives’ Meeting of East Asia-Pacific Central Banks Working Group on Banking Supervision, and the Network for Greening the Financial System-Workstream on Scaling Up Green Finance.

At the domestic level, Javier is involved in interagency committees and working groups related to the supervision of financial institutions and the promotion of sustainability agenda. She also represents the BSP in the accounting and auditing standard setting bodies in the Philippines.

Jo Ann Eala is Vice President and Head of BPI’s Sustainability Office, which oversees the development, execution and evaluation of ESG goals, policies, programs, and activities of BPI and its subsidiaries. Jo Ann previously headed BPI’s Sustainable Development Finance (SDF) program which ensures that BPI’s loans for energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate resilience, green buildings, and sustainable agriculture projects are compliant with global standards and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

BPI’s sustainability initiatives receive local and international recognition for the cutting-edge innovations and the high ESG standards and practices they uphold and promote. BPI provides technological and financial advice as well as environmental risk management solutions that form part of loan packages given to both big and small companies. Prior to her roles in Sustainability, Jo Ann had stints in BPI’s Corporate Banking, Corporate Planning, and Asset Management Trust Corp.

Jo Ann holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. She also graduated with an Economics degree from the University of the Philippines where she garnered academic, leadership and service awards.

Noel Peters is an environmental specialist supporting ADB’s private sector transactions. Prior to joining ADB, he provided environmental finance services to clients including major corporations, trading companies, international banks, the UN, national and regional governments, and non-profit organizations. He was formerly a member of the Australian Government’s Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee advising the Australian Government on the integrity of the Carbon Farming Initiative and as one of the first climate bond verifiers, worked closely with the Climate Bonds Initiative in the development of its climate bond standards. Most recently, he provided the technical support for the issuance of the first climate bond in Asia and the Pacific.

John Altomonte is an entrepreneur and environmental scientist, working towards revolutionizing the energy industry and shaping the sustainable energy transition. John is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Verne Energy Solutions, which he founded in 2018. He also serves as a consultant for the Senate of the Philippines and leads the Corporates for a Better Planet Initiative (CBPI) Program of WWF-Philippines. John is a prominent professional in the field of sustainability. He is an adjunct faculty member at the Ateneo de Manila University, a Senior Research Fellow at the Global Grassroots Initiative, and sits on the board of the Clean Energy Revolution and Philippine Taxonomic Initiative. He has a Bachelor in Science in Environmental Science and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management.

Dedy Mahardika is the Science-Based Targets (SBT) Engagement Manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania at CDP based in Jakarta, Indonesia. He focuses on the development of regional corporate engagement and strategic collaboration to bring more uptakes in the region.

Dedy brings more than four years of experience in research and program management. In his previous role, Dedy managed the implementation of SBT achievement through conservation projects on the ground with Lestari Capital. He also led the research and engagement of SBT in Southeast Asia at the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia and acted as the liaison for the region. Dedy earned a Master of Science in Environment and Energy Engineering from Kyungpook National University, South Korea and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Universitas Indonesia.

Jonas Marie Dumdum is a Consultant under the Industry Solutions Consulting (ISC) Sector for the Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Singapore – Manila Branch and is a lead consultant for the NRI Manila Sustainability Service. He continues to work directly with companies in the Philippines on how to improve their sustainability journey through reporting, analysis, and strategy formation.

Jonas co-hosts the Sustainarumble! Podcast, the first ever podcast that tackles issues of sustainable development in the Philippines. He serves as a representative of the podcast to the Stakeholders Chamber for the Sustainable Development Goals (SC-SDGs) of the National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA).

Jonas is also a corporate and environmental sustainability practitioner, a Registered Chemist (RCh), and a Climate Reality Leader. He is also a 2022 Island Innovation Ambassador, 2022 European Climate Pact Ambassador for the Philippines, and a member of the Society of Sustainability Practitioners and Sustainable PH.

Dr. Annadel Salvio Cabanban is the Head of Office of Wetlands International Philippines and Program Manager for To Plant or Not to Plant and Building with Nature Initiative Asia – Philippines. She is trained as a Marine Biologist at the University of the Philippines, Quezon City, and at James Cook University, Townsville City, Australia. She received her Bachelor of Science at Silliman University, Dumaguete City, and was with the academe for almost 30 years.

Annadel has worked with the United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Office for Project Services, and the Asian Development Bank in regional projects funded by the Global Environment Facility for the sustainable use of the coastal and marine environment and resources. She has also participated in marine conservation projects of Conservation International and the World Wide Fund for Nature. She is also a volunteer of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Hon. Alfredo Matugas Coro II completed his three terms as the Municipal Mayor of Del Carmen in Siargao Islands. In his 9 years in public service, Del Carmen’s partner-driven approach to development has resulted in improvements in health service delivery, education reforms resulting in better learning quality, sustainable fisheries management, community-based tourism development and efficiency and effective local governance. Through LGU Del Carmen, other municipalities of Siargao Islands are now benefiting from various partners and partner programs.

Apart from his role as Local Chief Executive, Mayor Coro also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Surigao State College of Technology, a regular columnist for Caraga Aksyon Balita, Director of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines – Siargao Chapter and Rotary Club of Siargao, Convenor of the Siargao ICT Council and Lead Facilitator of the Siargao Student Leadership Program.

Prior to Mayor Coro’s work in public service, he was working as a consultant for Information Technology multinational companies in the Philippines and Overseas. He graduated from University of the Philippines Los Banos with a degree in Computer Science and is taking up his Masters in Technology Management in the University of the Philippines. He has attended various trainings and conferences here and abroad including the International Visitors Leadership Program of the US State Department and Clean Technology of MASHAV in Israel. Currently, he is fellow of The Equity Initiative Program as funded by the Atlantic Philantrophies and China Medical Board.

Neil Aldrin Mallari is a National Geographic Explorer and a biodiversity conservation practitioner and advocate. He is the founder/co-founder of a number of biodiversity conservation NGOs in the Philippines including the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines and Center of Conservation Innovations PH where is the President. As a seasoned conservationist, he has led program development and directed various programmes/projects/activities in the Philippines designed to implement and promote biodiversity conservation, improve protected areas management, climate change adaptation and mitigation programme of work, habitat restoration, strategic planning and organization development. He has extensive experience in working with government agencies, funding agencies, development partners and the private sector and has influenced important conservation policies and investment portfolio for biodiversity conservation.

Mallari completed his undergraduate from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos and his PhD from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He has more than 40 scientific publications under his belt including two award-winning and seminal conservation books: Threatened Birds of the Philippines and Key Conservation Sites in the Philippines. Mallari is currently an Ecology professor at De La Salle University and the Far Eastern University in the Philippines where he focuses on strengthening conservation science and conservation capacities of future conservation leaders to improve conservation practice.