Make an impact on your organisation with sustainable finance

Sustainable finance integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into business and investment decisions for sustainable outcomes for society at large, such as mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, building inclusive communities, and supporting the adoption of international human rights and labour best practices. With Singapore looking to position itself as the green finance hub in the region, sustainable finance has been growing in prominence within the business community.

Designed to impart practical knowledge to accelerate the growth of Singapore’s sustainable finance ecosystem by looking both from the issuer's and investor's perspectives, the 5-day Certificate Programme in Sustainable Finance course is designed and delivered in partnership with UN Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS), a leading voice in the area of corporate sustainability.

The programme will assist business leaders and managers in understanding how sustainable finance and responsible investment strategies can help accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and further impact their business and industry.

About Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS)

Global Compact Network Singapore

Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) is the local chapter of UN Global Compact. GCNS drives multi-stakeholder action to forge a more sustainable future founded on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through various platforms and partnerships, it advances the stewardship of sustainable business practices and Singapore’s national plan of becoming a regional sustainable business hub.

The objectives of the Certificate Programme in Sustainable Finance course:

  • Build strong foundations in the area of business sustainability and the ESG mindset
  • Master tools and methodologies of sustainable finance, which is becoming more mainstream within the business community and a key enabler to scaling corporate sustainability
  • Apply knowledge and expertise to support and accelerate growth of the sustainable finance sector, both from the issuer and investor perspectives and introduce sustainability principles and frameworks relating to sustainable finance reporting and assessment
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To register your interest or for more information about this programme, please contact:

Jessica Leong
Deputy Director
Telephone: (65) 6904 7249
Email:  [email protected]

  • Acquire in-demand sustainable finance skills through a practical executive course, especially contextualised for corporate executives, including those in accounting, finance, legal, and consulting functions.
  • Designed and delivered by Nanyang Technological University and UN Global Compact Network Singapore, in collaboration with leading industry practitioners working in sustainable capital markets across debt, equity, insurance, corporate finance, and FinTech.
  • Access to current business cases and the sharing of best practices.
  • Understand the benefits, challenges, and limitations of integrating sustainability as a business strategy to attract funding and investments.
    • Middle or senior-level management professionals from public and private sectors and institutions that are potential issuers of or investors in sustainable finance products;
    • Accounting, finance, legal professionals, and consultants;
    • Professionals involved or interested in underwriting, accounting, consultancy, or other professional services for sustainable finance products;
    • Other individuals/institutions with interest in sustainable finance.

    Eligibility:

    • An undergraduate Degree in any discipline
    • Previous education or working experience in banking, finance, accounting, legal, and sustainability consulting  would be advantageous but not required
    DayTitle and Topics Covered
    FOUNDATIONS & OVERVIEW
    Day 1
    • Overview of Sustainable Finance 
    • Climate Risk Assessment 
    • Social & Governance components of ESG Model
    METHODOLOGIES & APPLICATIONS
    Day 2
    • Sustainable Capital Markets: International Frameworks, Regulations, Policies and Taxonomies
    • Sustainable Equity Markets
    Day 3
    • Sustainable Debt Markets
    • ESG Metrics & Management
    Day 4
    • Carbon Trading and Policies
    • ESG / Impact Reporting and Communication 
    Day 5
    • ESG / Sustainable Investing
    • Greenwashing 

     

    Training is conducted from 9am to 5pm unless specified otherwise.

    Next intake: 
    Intake 9: 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 Feb 2025 (Apply here)
    Intake 10: 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 May 2025 (Admission will open in Q1 2025)
    Intake 11: 6, 7, 12 , 13, 14 Nov 2025 (Admission will open in Q2 2025)

    Intake 8:  10, 11, 17, 18, 19 Oct 2024 (Fully subscribed)
    If an intake is fully subscribed, your application will be considered for the next available intake.

    If you prefer to attend a specific intake, or wish to be waitlisted, please drop us an email at [email protected].  

    Venue:
    Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI)
    11 Eunos Road 8, Singapore 408601
    MRT: Paya Lebar Station

    Nanyang Executive Education reserves the right to change the date, venue, and mode of delivery due to unforeseen circumstances.

    All applications will be reviewed by our Admissions Committee. We reserve the right to accept or reject the application of any participant without assigning any reasons whatsoever and the Office’s decision will be final.

    Full programme fee: S$4,900.00  (before GST)

    Fees payable after SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) funding:

    Programme Fee In SGD
     

    Fees BEFORE
    funding & GST

    Fees AFTER
    funding & 9% GST

    Singapore Citizens (aged 21-39) / PR (aged ≥21)
    70% Funding*
    $4,900.00$1,602.30
    Singapore Citizens (aged 40)
    MCES1* - up to 90%
    $4,900.00$622.30
    SME-sponsored Singapore Citizens / PR
    ETSS2​ - up to 90%
    $4,900.00$622.30
    International Participants
    without funding
    $4,900.00$5,341.00

    * Applicable for both self-sponsored and company-sponsored participants. 
    1.
     For more information about the SkillsFuture Mid-career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES) scheme.
    2. For more information about  the Enhanced Training Support for Small & Medium Enterprises (ETSS) scheme.

    SkillsFuture Credit 
    On top of the above funding, Singapore Citizens, aged 25 and above and self-sponsored may use their SkillsFuture Credit to defray part of the nett course fee. 

    Participants do not need to contact SkillsFuture for funding application before course registration. NTU will facilitate the funding paperwork for both self and company-sponsored participants. Participants will be invoiced the nett amount after funding and GST.

    Funding Requirements:
    - Participant must achieve at least 75% attendance for the programme.
    - Participant must complete and pass all assignments / assessments as assigned by the trainer.

    Andres Ong

    "In a world where sustainable finance is gaining momentum, my participation in the Certificate Programme in Sustainable Finance has been a pivotal journey of growth and knowledge acquisition. This course has equipped me with the tools and insights necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of sustainable finance and make a positive impact in the real estate arena."

    — Andres Ong
    Group Division Director, ERA Real Estate Singapore

    Find out more about his journey

    Lynn Tan

    "Since the completion of the programme, I am able to better digest and comprehend the technical terms used, as well as the significance of regulation developments in sustainable capital markets, in the research work and documents I came across at work."

    — Lynn Tan
    Officer, ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office

    Find out more about her journey


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    "The 5-day course has helped me gain practical knowledge and useful insights in climate change, environmental, social & governance matters, responsible & impact investing, sustainable capital markets, greenwashing, carbon trading, etc. The short course has not only deepened my interest in sustainability topics, but it has also encouraged me to work more closely with my company’s Sustainability Team.

    Last but not least, it has certainly prompted me to apply for the Executive Master of Science in Sustainability Management with NTU as I become more eager for a wider and more in-depth understanding on sustainability subjects."

    — Toyong
    Director of a major financial institution based in Southeast Asia 

     

    "The instructors came from a diverse background which was very helpful as they shared with us different perspectives on sustainability and sustainable finance. There were active engagements between the instructors and participants to discuss cases and scenarios which are applicable in the real-world. Sustainable finance is a very broad topic and I think the programme has successfully delivered the essential information and laid the foundation for those who wish to dive deeper into it."

    — Monica Huang
    Business Development Manager, Kempower Oyj


    Assoc Prof Joey Zhou

    Assoc Prof. Joey Zhou

    Associate Professor (Practice) in Insurance, Actuarial Science and Risk Management,
    Nanyang Business School, NTU Singapore, Division of Banking and Finance
    Programme Director, Certificate Programme in Sustainable Finance

    Joey is a fully qualified actuary and certified financial risk manager with nearly two decades of experience spanning the insurance, reinsurance, and public sectors. Before he transitioned to academia, Joey held key roles across various functions within the insurance value chain, including actuarial services, product development, distribution, business management, and marketing.

    His areas of passion and expertise include applied research in life and health risks, inclusive insurance solutions for vulnerable populations, retirement protection, climate risk and sustainability. 

    Angie Low

    Assoc Prof. Angie Low

    Deputy Head, Division of Banking and Finance
    Nanyang Business School, NTU Singapore

    Dr. Angie Low is also a fellow of the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economics Research. She received her Ph.D. in Finance from Ohio Stat University.

    Angie's current research interests include corporate governance, managerial compensation, corporate culture, and corporate social responsibility. Her research has been published in leading journals, including Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies. She has received several best paper awards at leading international conferences and was awarded the Banking and Finance Division’s Research Excellence Award in 2010 and 2015. Her research is also featured in several media such as The Economists, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Harvard Business Review, Singapore Institute of Directors Quarterly Bulletin, etc. 

     

    Prof. Chang Xin (Simba)

    Prof. Chang Xin

    Associate Dean (Research), Professor of Finance
    Director, Centre for Sustainable Finance and Innovation (CSFI)
    Nanyang Business School, NTU Singapore

    Xin CHANG is a Professor of Finance at Nanyang Business School and Associate Dean (Research) overseeing PhD programs and research activities at Nanyang Business School. He specializes in corporate Finance, especially capital structure, mergers and acquisitions, and stock valuation. He had taught various courses to undergraduate, honours, master, and PhD students at HKUST, the University of Melbourne, the University of Cambridge, and NTU.

    At NTU, Prof. Chang Xin was the researcher of the year for the Division of Banking and Finance in 2009, the MBA Teacher of the Year in 2011, and the Teacher of the year for the Division of Banking and Finance in 2013. He also won Peter Brownell Award for best publication in Accounting and Finance 2007, the best paper awards at the 16th SFM conference in 2008, the 19th SFM conference in 2011, and the 4th World Business Ethics Forum in 2012. He is also the award winner for “Best Professor in Financial Management” in the third Asia’s Best B-School Awards in 2012. In 2013, he received TCFA's (The Chinese Finance Association) best paper award on corporate finance.

    Associate Professor Matt Dearth

    Assoc Prof. Matt Dearth

    Associate Professor (Practice) of Sustainable Finance, NTU Singapore
    Carbon Trading and Policies, 
    Greenwashing

    Before transitioning to academia full time, Dr. Dearth was Managing Director at Silvercrest Asset Management (Singapore) and head of the Singapore office.  His 30+ years of finance industry experience also includes leadership roles at Marshall Wace, Goldman Sachs, and Booz Allen & Hamilton.

    From 2016 to 2023, Dr. Dearth taught postgraduate finance courses at Singapore Management University in subjects such as sustainable investing, alternative investments and asset management. He was recognized on the Dean’s Teaching Honor List for Top Adjunct Faculty (Postgrad) from 2019-2022. 

    In the fall of 2023, Dr. Dearth joined NTU full-time where he teaches undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive courses in sustainable finance, and is a member of the academic advisory committee for the Centre for Sustainable Finance Innovation. He is a co-author of “Getting Started in Alternative Investments” (Wiley, 2023) and has published multiple case studies on investment management topics.

    Dr. Dearth holds a PhD (General Management) from Singapore Management University, an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Operations Research from Princeton University.


    Assoc Prof Daniel Lee

    Assoc Prof. Daniel Lee

    Associate Professor (Practice), Carbon Markets, Division of Banking and Finance
    Nanyang Business School, NTU Singapore

    Before transitioning to academia full-time, he spent over 17 years in industry where he undertook a variety of roles across the Energy and Decarbonization value chains, including Commodity Trading, Acquisitions & Divestments, and Capital Project Delivery.

    Within the context of Carbon Markets, he first began work in 2009 by establishing Shell's Carbon Trading desk in Singapore for compliance markets in Australia and New Zealand. In 2018, he moved upstream and led several initiatives to establish nature-based carbon projects in South-East Asia, primarily focused on forest conservation. Subsequently in 2021, as part of the management team, he helped to setup Climate Impact X, a Singapore-based voluntary carbon markets exchange focused on serving corporate clients globally, where he led the successful delivery of a landmark auction program for Blue Carbon. His current teaching focus at the Nanyang Business School is on Climate Risk and Carbon Markets.

    Corrado Lillelund Forcellati

    Corrado Lillelund Forcellati

    Director, Paia Consulting
    Chair of Sustainability Committee, European Chamber of Commerce Singapore

    Corrado has trained bankers, asset managers, corporates on sustainability related topics. He has delivered a range of training programs, from sustainable finance, sustainability reporting, to carbon management. He regularly speaks at events and moderates panel discussions on topics around biodiversity and circular economy. He has extensive international wholesale banking and advisory experiences, with a focus on sustainable finance and strategy work in particular pertaining to the Forestry and Maritime sectors. He brings several years of cross-border strategy work, credit- and regulatory risk management including ESG implementation. His advisory experience includes circular economy position papers, green labels and packaging waste studies and forest commodity finance policy brief.

    Corrado has been driving innovation on sustainable finance through data, digital and analytics, most recently with the development of a tool to automate the data collection for sustainability reporting purposes. He was appointed as an industry expert for the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as part of the judging panel for green finance start-ups in connection with the Hackcelerator 2020.

    Prior to joining Paia, Corrado was a Director at KPMG Sustainability Services providing advisory services to corporates, financial institutions and NGOs in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Before KPMG, he was the CEO and country coordinator for Nordea Bank's wholesale banking activities in China and Singapore.

    Corrado is presently the Chair of the Sustainability Committee at the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, an advisor to the Board of the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and a member of the Finance Working Group for the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA).

    Dr. Joanne Khew

    Dr. Joanne Khew

    Director, ESG Specialist
    Eastspring Investments Singapore

    Dr. Joanne Khew has more than 12 years of experience in ESG and Sustainability. She is currently a Director, ESG Specialist at Eastspring Investments Singapore. Reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, Joanne works across the equities, fixed income and private market investment teams to deepen ESG integration throughout the investment cycle. Her role spans the creation of proprietary ESG analysis tools, the design of ESG monitoring and engagement systems and ESG development.

    Prior to joining Eastspring, she was Director, Sustainable Finance and Strategic Partnerships at Standard Chartered Bank where she contributed to growing the sustainable financing portfolio in Asia across sustainable debt, trade and derivative products. She was also involved in the establishment of market-making initiatives such as the Climate Impact X carbon credit marketplace. Joanne held the role of ESG Specialist at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank where she expanded its Sustainable Capital Markets Initiative, ensuring ESG and Climate integration across the investment cycle for capital market, loans and private equity products.

    Joanne graduated with a PhD in Sustainability Science from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate Program in Sustainability Science.