COP26 AND BEYOND: INVESTMENT IN GREEN AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Roberto is the Executive Director of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia, a Global Network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Roberto strives is to assist businesses accelerate the transition to a sustainable world by offering tools, methodologies and training to support the embedment of sustainability into corporate strategy and operations. With over twenty years’ experience, Roberto’s career includes several senior general management positions with both fortune-500 companies and start-ups, in countries such as Italy, UK, Spain. His main skills include international relations and business facilitation, strategic business planning, general management, marketing and business development. Roberto holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Italy and an MA in Marketing from Lincoln University, UK. Roberto is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Malaya, Asia Europe Institute Malaysia working on a research project on business sustainability.

Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Zakri is also Ambassador and Science Advisor to the Campaign for Nature, Former UN Official and a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Tan Sri Zakri bin Abdul Hamid has had a distinguished career in science as a researcher, educator, administrator, diplomat and also as the former science adviser to the prime minister of Malaysia. Awarded the federal honorific title “Tan Sri” by Malaysia’s head of state in 2014, he served until 2016 as the founding Chair at the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), as the Science Advisor to Malaysia’s Prime Minister, and was one of 26 members of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board. Among other positions in recent years, Zakri has co-chaired the Secretariat of Malaysia’s Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) and chaired the National Professors Council, the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BIOTECHCORP), the National Foresight Institute and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT). Earlier positions included Co-Chair of the Board at the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment from July 2000 to 2005, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) of the United Nations University (UNU) from 2001 to 2008, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) from 1992 to 2000. Currently, Prof. Tan Sri Zakri is the Pro-Chancellor of both Multimedia University (MMU) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. He currently Chairs Atri Advisory, a consultancy company providing advice to governments and the private sectors on sustainable development. In April 2020 Prof. Tan Sri Zakri was appointed ambassador and science adviser to the Global Campaign for Nature, a partnership between the Wyss Campaign for Nature and the National Geographic Society.

His Excellency Massimo Rustico is the newly appointed Ambassador of Italy to Malaysia. Prior to this, among his most prestigious assignments: • Consul General of Italy to Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas (USA), from September 2001 to January 2006; • Consul General of Italy in Istanbul (Turkey), from January 2006 to March 2010; • he served at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as Coordinator for the international business development of the Italian construction industry, from March 2010 to November 2016. During this period, he was assigned to A.N.C.E. - National Association of construction companies (a leading Italian industrial organization with thousands of associated construction companies and member of FIEC, IEC and Confindustria). • Ambassador of Italy to Hungary, from November 2016 to May 2021. His Excellency Massimo Rustico was awarded the honours of “Knight Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic” (1992) and “Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic” (2021).

His Excellency Charles Hay MVO started as the British High Commissioner to Malaysia in March 2019. Prior to Malaysia, Mr Hay was the British Ambassador to South Korea from 2015 to 2018. During his time in the British diplomatic services, he has been posted to the Czech Republic, Spain and the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels. Charles was also the Director of Consular Services in London, responsible for assisting British nationals and in crisis management worldwide. Before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1993, he was a Captain in the British Army.

Giovanna is a commercial manager for sustainable technologies with 15+ years of experience in the engineering and oil&gas industry. She is also a chemical engineer with professional master's degree in Management and Economics of Energy and Environment. She gained her professional experiences through the management of large-scale oil&gas projects, from concept selection to EPC.

Arshad is the President/Group Chief Executive Officer of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad. He also serves as a Director on the boards of several BPMB subsidiaries, namely Pembangunan Leasing Corporation Sdn Bhd, PLC Credit & Factoring Sdn Bhd and BI Credit & Leasing Berhad. Prior to his appointment, Arshad was Head of Global Banking Business at Maybank Islamic Berhad, in which capacity he oversaw the bank’s corporate banking, trade finance and investment banking business lines. Arshad has had a varied career path since commencing his career in 1995 as a lawyer in Kuala Lumpur with Messrs Mohamed Ismail & Co; he specialised in corporate law, banking and finance law, and also Islamic banking and finance law. In early 2003, he joined CIMB Islamic as one of its pioneer members where he focused on Sukuk origination and execution before relocating to the United Arab Emirates in late 2004 to join HSBC Amanah as the Head of Islamic Capital Markets. At HSBC Amanah, Arshad and his team originated and worked on many innovative and ground breaking Sukuk transactions in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and South East Asia. The other roles he has held include Head of Asset Management at Aayan Capital, a boutique investment bank based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Head of Corporate Finance and Advisory at Al Hilal Bank, an Islamic bank based in Abu Dhabi. Arshad returned to Malaysia in 2011 to join the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (“IILM”) as Executive Director, Origination and Structuring. Arshad holds an LL.B. (Hons.) degree from the International Islamic University Malaysia and an M.B.A. from the London Business School, United Kingdom. He was elected to the SC-OCIS Visiting Fellowship in Islamic Finance for the academic year 2015 - 2016 at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, University of Oxford. Arshad is a Chartered Banker and a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia.

Arshad is the President/Group Chief Executive Officer of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad. He also serves as a Director on the boards of several BPMB subsidiaries, namely Pembangunan Leasing Corporation Sdn Bhd, PLC Credit & Factoring Sdn Bhd and BI Credit & Leasing Berhad. Prior to his appointment, Arshad was Head of Global Banking Business at Maybank Islamic Berhad, in which capacity he oversaw the bank’s corporate banking, trade finance and investment banking business lines. Arshad has had a varied career path since commencing his career in 1995 as a lawyer in Kuala Lumpur with Messrs Mohamed Ismail & Co; he specialised in corporate law, banking and finance law, and also Islamic banking and finance law. In early 2003, he joined CIMB Islamic as one of its pioneer members where he focused on Sukuk origination and execution before relocating to the United Arab Emirates in late 2004 to join HSBC Amanah as the Head of Islamic Capital Markets. At HSBC Amanah, Arshad and his team originated and worked on many innovative and ground breaking Sukuk transactions in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and South East Asia. The other roles he has held include Head of Asset Management at Aayan Capital, a boutique investment bank based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Head of Corporate Finance and Advisory at Al Hilal Bank, an Islamic bank based in Abu Dhabi. Arshad returned to Malaysia in 2011 to join the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (“IILM”) as Executive Director, Origination and Structuring. Arshad holds an LL.B. (Hons.) degree from the International Islamic University Malaysia and an M.B.A. from the London Business School, United Kingdom. He was elected to the SC-OCIS Visiting Fellowship in Islamic Finance for the academic year 2015 - 2016 at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, University of Oxford. Arshad is a Chartered Banker and a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia.

Roberto is the Executive Director of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia, a Global Network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Roberto strives is to assist businesses accelerate the transition to a sustainable world by offering tools, methodologies and training to support the embedment of sustainability into corporate strategy and operations. With over twenty years’ experience, Roberto’s career includes several senior general management positions with both fortune-500 companies and start-ups, in countries such as Italy, UK, Spain. His main skills include international relations and business facilitation, strategic business planning, general management, marketing and business development. Roberto holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Italy and an MA in Marketing from Lincoln University, UK. Roberto is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Malaya, Asia Europe Institute Malaysia working on a research project on business sustainability.

Giovanna is a commercial manager for sustainable technologies with 15+ years of experience in the engineering and oil&gas industry. She is also a chemical engineer with professional master's degree in Management and Economics of Energy and Environment. She gained her professional experiences through the management of large-scale oil&gas projects, from concept selection to EPC.

Claudia Carani is a senior expert at the Italian Energy and Sustainable Development Agency (AESS) in cities and communities’ energy transition into low carbon economy, in particularly through the implementation of sustainable urban planning, smart technological solutions and innovative business models addressed to improve the energy efficiency, local energy production, sustainable mobility and circular economy. She is also EU project manager of many projects related to rational use of energy, renewable energy sources, EPC tenders and energy communities supported by EU programmes (HORIZON Europe, INTERREG IVC, Climate- KIC, eeef, EUCF).

With over 20 years’ experience as a qualified planner, it is Matt’s belief that the critical ecosystem services our natural environment provide need protecting and planning for, just as we would for any other piece critical infrastructure. And now, with the climate and ecological emergency more visible than ever, Matt is convinced that we must capture the value and climate resilience services flowing from our natural environment. And this must support us in protecting these assets as well as massively increase our investment in them. This has all led to Matt’s involvement in Greater Manchester’s efforts to stimulate new investment into its natural environment. And most recently participated in the UIA funded innovative nature-based financing IGNITION project. (www.IGNITIONGM.com) This project is testing and developing the necessary funding and delivery mechanisms to deliver a significant uplift in urban green infrastructure, and the vital climate resilience services this will provide.

Roberto is the Executive Director of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia, a Global Network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Roberto strives is to assist businesses accelerate the transition to a sustainable world by offering tools, methodologies and training to support the embedment of sustainability into corporate strategy and operations. With over twenty years’ experience, Roberto’s career includes several senior general management positions with both fortune-500 companies and start-ups, in countries such as Italy, UK, Spain. His main skills include international relations and business facilitation, strategic business planning, general management, marketing and business development. Roberto holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Italy and an MA in Marketing from Lincoln University, UK. Roberto is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Malaya, Asia Europe Institute Malaysia working on a research project on business sustainability.

Claudia Carani is a senior expert at the Italian Energy and Sustainable Development Agency (AESS) in cities and communities’ energy transition into low carbon economy, in particularly through the implementation of sustainable urban planning, smart technological solutions and innovative business models addressed to improve the energy efficiency, local energy production, sustainable mobility and circular economy. She is also EU project manager of many projects related to rational use of energy, renewable energy sources, EPC tenders and energy communities supported by EU programmes (HORIZON Europe, INTERREG IVC, Climate- KIC, eeef, EUCF).

Zalina is currently General Manager for Capital Markets Malaysia, an affiliate of the Securities Commission Malaysia mandated with promoting Malaysia’s capital market both domestically and internationally. Zalina joined Capital Markets Malaysia in June 2014 as Head of Strategy and Business Development. She has over 20 years of experience, predominantly in corporate advisory, and has worked in five countries in different regions of Asia, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Her key skills are in analysing and identifying solutions for long-term growth and sustainability. Zalina returned to Malaysia in 2011 and joined InvestKL, a promotional agency for Malaysia’s capital and largest city Kuala Lumpur, as Head of Advisory and Research. She holds a MBA in Finance from CASS Business School, UK and is a Fellow of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA).

With over 20 years’ experience as a qualified planner, it is Matt’s belief that the critical ecosystem services our natural environment provide need protecting and planning for, just as we would for any other piece critical infrastructure. And now, with the climate and ecological emergency more visible than ever, Matt is convinced that we must capture the value and climate resilience services flowing from our natural environment. And this must support us in protecting these assets as well as massively increase our investment in them. This has all led to Matt’s involvement in Greater Manchester’s efforts to stimulate new investment into its natural environment. And most recently participated in the UIA funded innovative nature-based financing IGNITION project. (www.IGNITIONGM.com) This project is testing and developing the necessary funding and delivery mechanisms to deliver a significant uplift in urban green infrastructure, and the vital climate resilience services this will provide.