ESG and Sustainable Finance: Latest Trends, Client Engagement and Supporting Clients’ Sustainability Journey - Sustainable Finance

As providers of finance and services to companies and other entities that are responsible for reducing GHG emissions, banks have the ability to boost the transition to a net-zero economy.

Banks play a key role in promoting green and sustainable practices, given its roles as lender and advisor. Banks’ client-facing staff are a vital link between finance and business action. Relationship managers and client-facing officers can facilitate two-way partnerships with companies to encourage net zero transitions and provide the necessary financial support.

This one-day programme is designed to equip sales and relationship managers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively engage with clients on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainable finance topics. Participants will be provided with the latest ESG and Sustainable Finance developments and market insights in Malaysia, learn about the latest trends and opportunities and how to engage with clients to transition to a lower carbon business practice. This programme will also help relationship managers understand the importance of ESG risk profiling and harnessing financing opportunities that accelerate action.

Programme Outline

Learning Objectives

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

Discuss the latest ESG guidelines and trends affecting business and financial institutions in Malaysia
Assist clients to raise their level of awareness of ESG and sustainability in their daily lives, organisation and business
Participate in meaningful conversations with clients about their sustainability plans and associated financing needs

Programme Outline

Introduction to Sustainable Finance
Overview of sustainable finance concepts
Global sustainability goals and frameworks
The role of financial professionals in sustainable finance
Sustainable Finance Trends and Market Developments
Latest trends in sustainable and green finance including guidelines and policies on climate taxonomy, national energy transition etc.
Sustainable products and services
Case studies of latest sustainable and green finance
Updates and Market Insights on ESG Developments
Latest trends in the market
Activities and sectors requiring green financing
Sustainable financing opportunities in Malaysia
Client Engagement in Sustainable Finance
Effective communication strategies for discussing sustainability with clients
Identifying clients' sustainability values and preferences
Navigating ESG topics with Corporate and Commercial customers
Roles of Sales personnel and Relationship Managers
Why, What and How to start?
Type of impactful questions to ask customers
How can you best prepare as a Relationship Manager?
Developing robust processes for client engagement
Discussion
What are the main challenges Relationship Managers face engaging clients and steering them towards low-carbon and green transition?
What are the specific environmental, social and governance risks for the company and industry selected for study?
How to engage in conversations with businesses and ask relevant questions and to obtain the necessary data required by your bank?

Case studies and discussions: studies of companies in specific industries that has environmental and social impacts.

METHODOLOGY

Lecture including presentations, case studies and discussions

Participant profile

Relationship managers, client account officers, sales personnel, risk and compliance officers and anyone interested to learn how to engage with business clients on ESG and Sustainable Finance

Trainer

Cheah Wee Leong

Director, Investment Banking at the Asian Banking School

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Cheah Wee Leong

Director, Investment Banking at the Asian Banking School

Cheah Wee Leong is the Director of Investment Banking at the Asian Banking School. He has more than 25 years’ experience working in the banking industry with local and foreign banks in various roles and capacities. A seasoned professional, Wee Leong brings with him broad experience as a former banker and management consultant.

Wee Leong started his career at Citibank in 1993 before joining US management consultancy firm Accenture in 1997. At Accenture, he was involved in managing large bank merger-integration, process re-engineering and transformation projects. He has worked in projects in various countries including Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia.

In 2003, Wee Leong joined CIMB as its Head of Operational Risk Management and led the implementation of the bank's operational risk management and Basel 2 - Operational Risk framework. Subsequently, he assumed various senior roles in Trade Finance, Regional Transaction Banking, Corporate Banking, Treasury and Markets division and Group CEO office at CIMB. His last role at CIMB was as Director, Group Strategy. He has been designing and developing courses and conducting training regularly (covering various topics) with the Asian Banking School since 2017.

Wee Leong holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the USA and a Master of Business Administration (with distinction) from the Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom. He obtained training from Citibank Asia Pacific Banking Institute in Singapore in 1995. He is a certified Chartered Banker, Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA) Certified Training Professional and a holder of the “Certificate in Climate Risk” (awarded by the Chartered Body Alliance, UK) and PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Certificate in Project Management. Wee Leong completed the “Leading the Sustainability in Transformation in Banking” programme with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (1 week course in Frankfurt, Germany) in October 2022.