QUEST FOR SUSTAINABILITY

September 23, 2009

 

One thing is clear: The Environment is in crisis and mankind faces the distinct potential of extinction.

A common misconception is that the Earth needs our help, but science has taught us that Earth is a constantly evolving system. Humans are only one of an estimated thirty million species inhabiting it. What is at stake today is not the Earth, but our very existence.

We need a collective vision to develop an improved, secure and sustainable economy that can lead the world into a new consciousness. By repositioning ourselves to work in harmony with our environment, instead of seeing the earth as subordinate to man’s needs, we can more effectively answer this call.

More than 25 years ago, the ozone layer was seriously depleted, a result of humans dumping halogenated chemicals like CFCs into the atmosphere. An international agreement to control ozone-depleting substances was then put in place and enforced, allowing the ozone hole to heal. Solving the current climate crisis is an achievable prospect too.

Through the Quest for Sustainability conference, we continue the conversations, with the hope that new ideas, new technologies and most importantly a new consciousness may emerge. We will hear from eco-warriors, working in different areas; different industries and in unique ways, laboring to ensure our children continue to have this world.

Prominent speakers at the conference include; Dr Kenneth Yeang, the world’s leading architect in ecological and passive low-energy design; Sebastian Copeland, environmental activist and co-chair of the environmental non-profit, Global Green USA, who has spent months in the Antarctic and more recently, in the North Pole, photographing the effects of climate change. Speakers from other major organizations such as The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), the Clinton Climate Initiative, as well as businesses who have taken the lead in this area, will also be present.

This is the generation that gets the chance to change our world.

The time is NOW. We are each other’s hope.

 

Key speakers

Dr. Ken YEANG

Dr. Ken Yeang is an architect-planner, ecologist and author who is best known for his signature and innovative green buildings and masterplans. He is regarded as one of the foremost designers and noted authority on ecologically-responsive architecture and planning. Dr Yeang has authored several books on ecological design and tall building design. His latest is, Ecodesign: Manual for Ecological Design, published by John Wiley & Sons (UK). He has received numerous awards for his work and designs that include the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, RAIA International Award, Prinz Claus Award, UIA August Perret Award. He is a principal of the UK architect and planning firm, Llewelyn Davies Yeang and its sister company, Hamzah & Yeang (Malaysia).

Sebastian COPELAND

An international award-winning photographer, Mr Copeland is Co-Chair of Global Green USA, an affiliate of Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross International. His success as a celebrity portrait photographer has enabled him to focus on his passion for the environment and he is a leading force behind the intersection of environmental issues and celebrity activism in the US. An international speaker on the climate crisis for over a decade, Mr Copeland has been featured on television and radio (Larry King Live, NPR, Air America) and has addressed audiences at the United Nations, the World Affairs Council, the General Assembly on Climate in New Orleans, the George Eastman House, Google Headquarters and to Apple’s Senior Design Team. He also holds a seat on the Board of Directors of Shine On Sierra Leone, an NGO providing an educational platform for children of war-torn nations.

Christopher SEELEY

Mr Seeley is the Clinton Climate Initiative City Director for Bangkok and is also the Regional Manager for Asia in for the Building Retrofit Program covering 10 cities in Asia. This Program is specifically focused on ‘retrofitting’ existing buildings of all types to reduce energy consumption and hence, greenhouse gas emissions. Prior to joining the Clinton Climate Initiative, Mr Seeley spent several years in the Energy Services Companies (ESCO) industry in Australia, working to establish partnerships and develop new projects and strategies to address the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the overall improvement in environmental sustainability in Melbourne. Mr Seeley's previous work includes working as an international trade consultant analyzing the implications of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) for various sectors of the Australian economy and a 5-year UNDP (United Nations Development Program) energy efficiency initiative in Malaysia which involved the regional analysis of energy efficiency programs, policy developments and trends throughout Southeast Asia.

Alain VANDENBORRE

Mr Vandenborre is an entrepreneur and private investor. He has founded or co-founded companies in Belgium, China, Taiwan and Singapore. His latest ventures in Singapore include The Singapore FreePort Pte Ltd, Art & Lifestyle Services Pte Ltd, Art & Investment Services Pte Ltd and International Fiduciary Services Pte Ltd. The Singapore Freeport project was set up in July 2006 in a partnership with a Swiss company, Natural Le Coultre S.A. and the Singapore Government. The Singapore Freeport is a high-security offshore storage and free trade zone facility for high value collectibles, including fine arts, antiques, vintage cars, wine collections, jewelery, diamonds and valuable notes and securities. Phase 1 (25,000m2) will open at Changi international airport in Dec 2009. The completed project expected in 2011 will represent 50,000m² for a total investment of S$150M.

Other speakers include

Howard SHAW

Howard Shaw is Executive Director of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). He has been actively involved in driving the environmental movement through the numerous projects of the SEC, green groups, as well as on a personal level. As one of the leading representatives of Singapore’s NGO community, Mr Shaw has contributed towards shaping Singapore’s environmental policies, strategies, as well as action plans.

 

Ibrahim Hafeezur REHMAN

Mr Rehman, a British Chevening scholar of the 2000 batch, is presently Director with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, responsible for the Social Transformation Division. He has over 18 years experience in projects and activities related to rural development in general, dissemination of Rural Energy Technologies, Natural Resources Management, and Watershed Development in particular. Mr Rehman has worked with bilateral agencies, corporate set-up and NGOs on issues of poverty alleviation. His key areas of focus include involving and consolidating grassroot institutions, undertaking initiatives pertaining to market development for clean energy technologies in rural areas and implementing replicable models of efficient management of natural resources at the grassroots level.

 

Sarah MONTGOMERY

Miss Montgomery has worked in the energy industry focusing on energy conservation, efficiency, and power generation programs for public and private sector buildings in both the US and Asian markets. Her experience ranges from green building consulting to developing creative financing models for energy performance based programs. She holds an MBA in International Business from Thunderbird- School of Global Management in the US and is a Certified Energy Manager and LEED AP. Her work is focused on building sustainable energy conversation programs for building owners that significantly reduce the cost of owning and operating a building over its lifecycle and reduce GHG emissions. She is currently the Regional Energy Solutions Manager for Johnson Controls, South East Asia and India.

 

Bruce W. BLAKEMAN

Bruce Blakeman is the Vice President for Corporate Affairs in the Asia-Pacific region for Cargill, stationed in Singapore. His responsibilities include managing government relations, public relations, internal communications, issues management and corporate social responsibility activities in the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining Cargill in October 2005, Bruce served four years as a Presidential Appointee in the in Bush Administration. Prior to his government service, Bruce was a Senior Vice President for Wirthlin Worldwide, living in Washington, DC, Singapore, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wirthlin Worldwide is a global communications & branding strategy consultancy and political consulting firm headed by President Ronald Reagan’s chief strategist, Dr. Richard Wirthlin. Before joining Wirthlin, Bruce was the first foreign political campaign advisor to the Liberal Party of Australia, based in Canberra for two-and-a-half years.

 

Michael KWEE

Mr. Kwee is the Coordinating Director for Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF). Working with the BTGF Board of Directors based in Singapore, Mr. Kwee is responsible for oversight, planning and management of all matters related to BTGF. Established in 2009, Banyan Tree Global Foundation is an associate company of Banyan Tree Holdings Limited. As the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the group, Banyan Tree Global Foundation provides in-house CSR consultancy services to Banyan Tree Holdings. By promoting as well as enacting strategies and efforts which consider and seek to enhance the social, environmental and economic well-being of all stakeholders, Banyan Tree Global Foundation seeks to direct and guide the continual process of Banyan Tree Holdings’ overall commitment to the CSR journey.