Navigating ESG Risk in the Supply Chain

Nowadays, and in light of supply chain shortages, geopolitical challenges and legislative developments, many boards now understand that disruptions in supply chains are a real risk and may even become a reputational challenge. Board members are increasingly obliged to ask themselves what their own organisation’s supply chains look like, and with whom they do business.

Trade wars, legislative changes, labour shortages, supply chain disruption and shortages are all ‘system shocks’ that can create havoc for any organisation. In mitigating this, boards must first understand the two priorities nearly every business has for its supply chain – sustainability and resilience. Sustainability represents how well the current supply chain adheres to relevant ESG standards, whereas resilience describes how vulnerable a supply chain is to possible disruptions.

Boards would need to ensure better supply chain visibility across the four tiers, have an appropriate balance between efficiency and resilience whilst meeting their ESG commitments to key stakeholders and have clear and agreed-upon metrics, targets, and accountabilities for monitoring to reflect potentially shifting supply chain priorities. Real time supply chain planning and stakeholder engagement can make a huge impact – exploring possibilities to diversify the supplier base and digitalising the supply chain are ways to increase resilience.

Currently, the challenge in supply chains is the vagueness or lack of network visibility, owing to the vast, multiple-tiered supply chains. That is where structural ESG and sustainability reporting helps business to gain visibility, mitigate and manage risks. Supply chain management has been designated as one of 11 common sustainability themes identified in the Bursa Malaysia’s Enhanced Sustainability Reporting Framework.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about the benefits of integrating ESG principles within the supply chain management – identify the fundamental steps to get started.
• Provide guidance and clarity to boards in setting clear goals and metrics to monitor progress, as well as for disclosures that are aligned to the Bursa Malaysia Enhanced Sustainability Reporting Framework.
• Discuss on potential business risks and measures that need to be considered, from the E, S and G’s perspectives.

Programme Agenda

A seasoned management consultant and finance industry professional, Helene has held various senior management positions in Strategic Planning, Marketing and Branding throughout her career which includes tenure at global consulting giants Boston Consulting Group and Willis Towers Watson.

Prior to founding GoImpact platform developed to accelerate the adoption of Sustainable Finance, Helene was Managing Director and Head of Strategic Planning, Brand and Communications Asia Pacific for BNP Paribas Wealth Management, a role she has held for 5 years. She also held similar roles at J.P. Morgan Private Bank and Swiss wealth management firm Lombard Odier. In these capacities, she was instrumental in advancing the agenda of Sustainable Finance and Investments across a broad client base of family offices and asset owners.

Helene is a known Influencer and Key Opinion Leader in Fintech and Digital Transformation, recognized by Thomson Reuters Refinitiv as Top 5 in Asia Pacific, and globally a Top 2 Influencer in Sustainable Finance. She has received numerous accolades as Top 100 Women in Finance from FinTech Times, and Top 50 Hall of Fame Global Fintech Leaders. GoImpact platform has already forged partnerships with key players like Temasek Foundation, UNDP, Financial Times and Bloomberg since inception one year ago.

A sought-after speaker and moderator at Fintech and Sustainable Finance forums, Helene graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a First Class Honors degree in English and Economics.