Sustainability Leadership A-List winners unveiled

A Sustainability Award winner.

18 individuals across Asia Pacific unveiled at the Sustainability Leadership A-List Awards

This year's awardees include prominent lawyers, business leaders and seasoned practitioners of diplomacy and governance.

The awards were held at EB Impact’s charity gala dinner where two flagship initiatives – geared at empowering seniors and youths through capacity-building – were launched. 

Singapore, 30 May 2025 – Eighteen exceptional government leaders, professionals and youth changemakers from across the Asia Pacific have been honoured with the Sustainability Leadership A-List Awards. These individuals were recognised for spearheading pioneering, measurable and impactful initiatives that have set new benchmarks for sustainability in the region.

Organised by Eco-Business, in partnership with Singapore charity EB Impact and property developer City Developments Limited (CDL), the annual awards celebrate a distinguished group of trailblazers who are shaping the future of sustainability.

The A-List spotlights influential figures driving transformative change across policy, business and society—including outstanding youth leaders aged 30 and below—cementing its reputation as the definitive “who’s who” of sustainability leadership in Asia Pacific.

In its sixth edition, the Awards recognised 10 leaders in the A-List category and eight leaders in the Youth A-List category, representing Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Bangladesh and India. 

These leaders delivered real-world impact across diverse fields, from decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors and advancing climate finance, driving zero waste solutions for plastics and championing coastal protection, to poverty alleviation and labour reform. 

"The A-List Awards prove that transformative action can take on many forms. The winners not only demonstrated inventive thinking but delivered measurable impact – scaling solutions across government, business and civil society. In a world of geopolitical upheaval, weakening alliances and backtracking commitments, sustainability leadership has never been more urgent – or more inspiring,” said Jessica Cheam, Founder and CEO, Eco-Business.  

“In a challenging global and business landscape, partnership is key to accelerating action for solutions. At CDL, our ethos of ‘Conserving as We Construct’ since 1995 drives us to create a positive impact through collaboration. As we navigate 2025 and face growing climate challenges, the power of youth in driving change cannot be understated. By partnering with Eco-Business on initiatives like Sustainability Leadership A-List and Youth Innovation Hub, we are proud to empower the next generation of changemakers and accelerate progress towards a sustainable, resilient future for all,” said Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer for CDL. 

Beyond pioneering innovative solutions, the A-List Award winners were tasked with navigating a challenging external environment marked by heightened uncertainties across the region.

“Like many other start-ups or small enterprises, we've had to navigate rising costs, shifting market demands and supply chain disruptions. But these challenges have pushed us to be more agile and inventive. We focus on local solutions, creating and solving within our communities. By working directly on the ground, we not only reduce our carbon footprint but also empower people. This hyperlocal, community-driven approach has helped us to stay resilient and continue creating impact even amid uncertainty,” said Nuryanee Anisah, CEO and Co-Founder for sustainable fashion brand Commenhers and Youth A-List winner. 

Jovie Montajes, Founder of Light of Hope Philippines – a clean energy solutions provider for underserved communities – and A-List winner, noted that the team remains steadfast in their commitment to helping such vulnerable communities. 

“One thing that inspires me to keep pushing on is the unwavering hope and resilience of the communities we serve, especially those in off-grid islands who, despite facing daily challenges, still welcome each new day with determination and gratitude. Their strength reminded me that even the smallest spark of light can help ignite lasting change,” he said. 

Awardees were selected from over 50 nominations across 14 countries, with nominees assessed on their clarity of vision and execution, scalability of impact and influence on policy direction and business practices. 

The judging committee's views 

“This year’s A-List spotlights a growing cohort of mission-driven leaders across business, civil society and government who are bridging policy, finance and technology to drive systemic climate action. From carbon markets and regenerative agriculture to inclusive green building and climate litigation, these changemakers are proving that multi-sector collaboration is essential. In a time of rising inequality and compounding climate risks, their leadership shows that grounded, locally-led solutions, supported by bold public sector engagement, are key to delivering a more resilient and just future,” said Corinna Chan, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore International Foundation.

“This year’s A-List featured determination as a key theme that impressed the judges. The tenacity – or some might call stubbornness for sustainability – was a hallmark for awardees, and it is worth celebrating as we engage with very challenging times with current geopolitics. To be a leader in these uncertain times requires conviction and courage more than ever; as a leadership trait, it can inspire many to follow, especially during this long-term sustainability journey that we are all on,” said Dr Winston Chow, Co-Chair of the United Nation (UN)’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II.

"In a world full of noise and ideas, it’s really heartening and inspiring to see young people not only talk about what they want to do but actually dedicate their time and resources in making things happen. Be it creating new sustainable materials to pivoting their family business towards sustainability, it’s really inspiring to know we have young people in the region who care enough to do something practical and purposeful,” said Martin Tan, Chief Executive Officer of The Majurity Trust.

The Sustainability Leadership A-List Awards were held at EB Impact’s charity gala dinner hosted at The Capitol Theatre in Singapore. 

Themed ‘Seeds of Change’, the gala dinner marked the official launch of two new flagship initiatives – the Seeds of Change and The Sustainability Youth Festival (TSYF) – reflecting EB Impact’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to build a more sustainable world. 

Seeds of Change is a new intergenerational programme which provides opportunities for seniors to apply their knowledge through micro-jobs, volunteering and community projects. 

TSYF is an inaugural festival dedicated to amplifying youth voices and inspiring sustainable change. Bringing together students, schools, government agencies and corporate partners, the festival offers a dynamic platform for young people to engage deeply with sustainability topics, present innovative ideas and connect with like-minded individuals and organisations. 

The charity gala, which convened leaders across business, policy and civic society including Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment & the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, raised S$191,000 in funding for the programmes.

“Every positive action, no matter its magnitude, advances the greater cause of sustainability. As we navigate the complexities of the green transition, these experiences are equipping our youth with the insights, capabilities and determination needed to drive lasting environmental change for our nation’s future,” said Goh during her address.

Over 200 guests attended the charity gala and awards ceremony. 

One-to-one interviews with Sustainability Leadership A-List winners, judges and partners are available upon request.    Eco-Business