Speakers at this Event

Florian Reimer is the Chief Climate Officer of agritech solutions provider Koltiva. Working on climate change and Nature Based Solutions 12+ years, he advises multinational corporates and investors on their journey to Net-Zero. Tackling challenges of Insetting in supply chains and offsetting for carbon markets, he uses digital solutions to scale impact from large-scale conservation to smallholder farmers.

He led the development of Natural Climate Solutions project for carbon markets on four continents in more than a dozen countries under international certification programs like the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with projects leading to verified climate benefits of dozens of millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. Florian is a proud member of the Plan Vivo Standard Technical Advisory Committee.

Florian is based in Bali, Indonesia and holds a diploma in Geography from Bonn University. He worked in research projects with CIFOR and coordinated program development and implementation for sustainability service providers based in Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Keyvan Macedo started his career in R&D working in the food sector. He joined Natura in 2005 and five years later he shifted his career to Sustainability area to run Climate Change and Environmental Impact overseeing all the operation.  In this position he was responsible to defines models to assess the environmental impact of all its products and packaging design in the company's global pipeline, connecting sustainability to the overall business strategy. He is currently the Sustainability Director for Natura &Co, the global beauty group comprising Avon, Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop, responsible for the implementation of 2030 Sustainability Vision – Commitment to Life. In 2022 he has been appointed as vice chair for ICC Global Environment and Energy Commission.

He has a Bachelor degree in Food Engineering and attended an executive education programs on Management of Low Carbon Economy and on Marketing and Business Administration.

Jair Smits is a Dutch Professional Civil Engineer and obtained his MSC degree in Water Resources Management at the Delft University of Technology. He has 14 years of experience in engineering consulting and is currently Managing Director of Witteveen+Bos South-East Asia, Chairman to the Singapore-Netherlands Water House and World Cities Summit Young Leader. He is also member of the Royal Dutch Engineering Society and the Royal Dutch Water Management Society.

Jair is a systems thinker and is passionate about sustainability. Already at the start of his working career, Jair co-authored the seven sustainable design principles that are used by the company ever since for their projects. These design principles are building with nature, trias, circular design, future-proof design, multi-functional design, participatory design and societal design. 

Jair is an advocate for Nature-Based Solutions. In 2021 he planted a new mangrove forest in Bintan with partners and has been monitoring its growth since; He is currently seeking support to plant over 200 ha of mangroves, 200 ha of sea grass and several km stretches of coral reef restoration.

Dr Hishmi Jamil Husain is a scientist and sustainability professional with expertise in biodiversity conservation, water management, nature-based solutions, climate change, and sustainable development. He has a distinguished career and has been recognized for his achievements with numerous awards and accolades. He is among the notable alumni of International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University, the Hague, the Netherlands, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, Forest Research Institute, (FRI) Dehradun, India and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, India. 

He is currently working with Tata Steel as Head of Biodiversity and Corporate Sustainability and was a Lead Author for the Asia-Pacific Region at the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). He is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, a Life Member of the Club of Rome, and a member of the International Advisory Council of the Grassroots Institute in Canada, among other professional organizations and positions. He was awarded 2015 Young Scientist Award, 2016 Environment Scientist Award, Best Scientist Award 2020, Lifetime Achievement Sustainability Excellence Award 2022, Emerging Sustainability Professional Award 2022 and Sustainability Leader Award 2022. He is on board of several national and international bodies. Dr Hishmi has a diverse international background, having lived and worked in four continents and 13 countries around the world.

Arif Supam Wijaya is forest and ocean lover, lecturer, as well as researcher. His passion in conservation is building stakeholder partnership including community forestry collaboration to support initiative and establishment of locally-led forest management. Arif possess bachelor degree in governmental science at agrarian studies from Hasanuddin University Indonesia and having a master degree in science from James Cook University Australia majoring at protected area management. Before joining FCF, Arif worked for the project of Wild Planet Trust as protected area coordinator in North Sulawesi Indonesia and became researcher at World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia for mangrove forest management and ocean pollution.

Arif’s main job is representing The Forest Conservation Fund (FCF) projects in Asia such as identify and recruit applicants to the forest conservation fund, contact NGOs working with indigenous people and local communities to explain FCF work, other biodiversity/management data (e.g. Smart tool), research and develop grantee and donor support and guidance documents, and support FCF executive director to prepare documents for grants committee and board meetings. In addition, Arif is also an external advisor for nature-based solutions and carbon markets of Boston Consulting Group in Southeast Asia.

As Director of Sustainable Development Innovation, Sinclair oversees the strategy, direction, and evolution of Verra’s suite of programs focused on sustainable development, including the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard; the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards; and the Plastic Waste Reduction Standard. Sinclair also leads the development of Verra’s nature crediting framework, including corporate, commercial, and government engagement, to ensure the framework helps users set and meet increasingly ambitious biodiversity goals.

In previous roles at Verra, Sinclair worked on the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) and managed the VCS project review process. Most recently, Sinclair led the development of Verra’s Plastic Waste Reduction Standard.

Prior to joining Verra, Sinclair worked at Enviance conducting scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) industry analyses and developing business strategies for GHG reporting. Sinclair earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California Santa Barbara, where she focused in Pollution Prevention and Remediation and Corporate Environmental Management. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Florida.

Manjari is a research fellow at the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions concentrating on carbon estimation research to aid the progress of nature-based solutions. Her current research focuses on developing novel methods to estimate and monitor above-ground carbon in Singapore and in the wider Southeast Asian region. She is also interested in assessing the importance of forests and green spaces in cities and their potential to be used as nature-based solutions. Her previous research work focused on drivers of tropical deforestation, socio-economic and environmental sustainability of the rubber industry and displacement trends of rubber plantations by oil palm. Her work included multiple academic and industry collaborations. She has also contributed to research in avian diversity and ecology in Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Zu is a research fellow at the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, currently working on developing carbon estimation methods for forest ecosystems in Southeast Asia. Zu has a background in conservation and restoration ecology. Her previous research concerns tropical ecosystem restoration in complex social-ecological systems, with a focus on tropical peatlands in Indonesia. She has conducted research on examining the drivers of peatland biomass burning and the spatial planning of peatland restoration sites to maximize biodiversity and carbon co-benefits.

Dr Hirzun Mohd Yusof heads the Technology and Innovation Management under Strategy and Innovation at Sime Darby Plantation Berhad. He is responsible for technical evaluation and business development of Renewable related projects such as biogas and large scale solar, as well as lead and align innovation initiatives within SDP to bring new insights and perspectives to create opportunities for alternative and diversified revenue streams. Prior to joining SDP in 2003, Dr Hirzun was a Lecturer at the Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, Universiti Putra Malaysia since 1999 and also serves as a Consultant for the Science Adviser Office of Prime Minister Department.

Candace is the Senior Director of Nature-based Innovations at Verra. She is responsible for identifying and conceptualizing new standards, tools, and programs in support of nature-based solutions (NBS).

Candace has an extensive background in environmental markets and sustainability. Prior to joining Verra, she was the Sustainable Development Director at Viresco Solutions, where she managed consulting contracts focused on natural climate solutions, advised governments across Canada on their carbon policy and guided several multinational corporations in their emissions management strategies.

Prior to her time at Viresco, Candace was the Manager of Agriculture and Social Projects at The Prasino Group. Here, she led a team of sustainability professionals working on agricultural offset protocol development, greenhouse gas emission reduction quantification, and environmental market policy development.

Candace holds a Master of Arts in Geography from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Calgary. Candace is based in Calgary, Canada.

Lucy Thomas is RSK Group’s Chief Scientist and Managing Director of RSK’s Centre for Sustainability Excellence and RSK’s operations in Africa. Lucy has over 20 years’ experience in sustainable risk-based remediation in the property, chemical and energy sectors primarily. Lucy’s global experience includes projects that maximise biodiversity net gain and community engagement, reduce emissions and waste concurrent with balancing the project’s financial economics. Lucy is an elected Council Member of The Geological Society, sustainable sub-group of Singapore Water Association and former chair of the National Brownfield Forum that advocates for sustainable land management. She is also a Chartered Geologist and a Specialist in Land Condition.

Ashley is a Senior Biodiversity and Natural Capital Specialist, Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change team with ERM, and she is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ashley co-leads the Nature-based Solutions service across South and Southeast Asia, supporting across governements, financial institutions and corporate clients in designing frameworks and strategies to leverage nature-based solutions for investments and carbon offsets, as well as the design of Nature-based Solutions projects.

Ashley also leads the social performance, and biodiversity and ecosystem services technical offerings in Malaysia. With her in-depth experience in designing Nature-based Solutions projects, and deep understanding of conservation, afforestation/ reforestation and restoration of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as the interlinkages of natural capital projects with social receptors, she is able to share insights from both an advisor and practitioner perspectives — effecting and driving net-positive gains across climate, community and biodiversity.

Jens Petersen is responsible for implementation and monitoring of fund investments in Southeast Asia. This involves deal structuring, financial due diligence, negotiations, and operational support for New Forests’ acquisitions and assets under management in Asia. 

Jens is a seasoned private equity professional with broad experience in emerging and frontier markets within industries such as forestry, infrastructure, industrials, energy, financial services, telecommunication, retail, and FMGC. 

Jens has spent more than a decade working in private equity in Southeast Asia and brings an extensive network for transaction origination and experience in transaction execution.

Jens has a BSc in Business, Asian Language (Chinese) and Culture, an MSc in Applied Economics and Finance from the Copenhagen Business School, in addition to a Master’s in International Management from the Community of European Management Schools, and an Executive MBA from INSEAD.

Addriyanus Tantra is a Sustainable Forest Management Certification and Compliance Manager at APRIL Group. He leads teams that are focusing on Certification and Assurance of APRIL Group’s Forestry Division, as well as Compliance Monitoring for all type of APRIL’s wood suppliers.  He has over 7 years of sustainability experiences, and is a trained ISO Lead Auditor on Sustainable Forest Management and Chain of Custody Standards.

Addriyanus has a degree in chemical engineer and joined APRIL in 2015 straight from college. In 2019, he was positioned as the
Suppliers Compliance Manage, then on 2021 given wider responsibility as the Sustainable Forest Management Certification and Compliance Manager.

He plays critical roles in ensuring the compliance of all APRIL’s wood supply chain to the company’s Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP 2.0).  He is also leading internal audit program of APRIL’s Forestry Division, as well as external certifications to drive positive changes and improvements to all APRIL’s supply chain.

As the owner of PT Bangka Asindo Agri, Fidrianto has sucessfully developed a model intergrated dual feed tapioca and sago Plant, 125 expandable 250 TPD capacity, with self support energy from Biogas Plant 2 to 4 MW, also with independent circular water supply management.  The plant is intergrated with cow breeding and cow feed lot and production has been running since December 2017, this integrated green tapioca and sago industry zero waste concept has won PT. BAA the sustainable award 4.0, Net Zero Hub B20 International Event in Bali 11-12 November 2022.

Harm Haverkort had 20+ years’ experience in Private & Financial Sector Development, Climate Change Program design and Management.  He has a proven track record in partnership development, agribusiness development, inclusive finance, climate change in agriculture, landscapes approaches and dealing with nature. Harm has an entrepreneurial mindset with a good understanding of the (Southeast) Asian, African and European context and its cultures. Harm has lived and worked the past 11 years in Ethiopia and Vietnam.

Harm is getting energy to fuel systemic change trajectories with a focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration and synergy. The main driver of him is to create an inclusive economy where he is focussing on climate smart agriculture and the participation of small holder farmers. The huge opportunity to connect the voluntary carbon market to create a systemic change in agriculture practices of small holder farmers is his motivation to work for the Rabobank Acorn program and lead the Asia partnership portfolio.

Martin Lemoine is the Unit Head, Agribusiness and concurrently Officer-In-Charge of the Singapore Office of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Martin has 22 years of professional experience, including 17 years of impact-oriented investment in Asia. Martin has led more than 50 equity and debt investments of a total value of around $10 billion in the agribusiness and infrastructure sectors.

Martin joined ADB in 2009 as an Investment Specialist in the Private Sector Infrastructure Finance Division 1. Martin was promoted to Senior Investment Specialist in 2013 and Principal Investment Specialist in 2015. In the same year, Martin led the creation of the Agribusiness Investment Team to provide dedicated focus and expertise to agribusiness investing at ADB. As of 2023, Martin is leading a team of 15 bankers and analysts who deliver 5 to 8 loans and equity investments amounting to $150 million to $300 million every year. Martin has built an agribusiness portfolio of around $650 million including companies involved in agricultural input distribution, greenhouse farming, livestock farming, food and beverage processing and distribution. These companies have positively impacted around 8 million smallholder farmers in 21 developing countries of Asia and the Pacific.

Prior to joining ADB, Martin was an investment banker with Macquarie’s infrastructure team in Singapore. Martin started his career as a McKinsey consultant in Paris. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School (Palmer Scholar), and master degrees from Essec and Sciences Po.

Patrick is a Managing Director and Asia Chair of Pollination. Prior to Pollination, Patrick worked on international climate, foreign, trade and investment and aid policy at the highest levels of government. He supported two Australian Prime Ministers’ engagement with Japan, including negotiating the FTA and the Australia-Japan CEO Forum. As former Ambassador for the Environment he led for Australia on Paris Agreement negotiations, strategy for Australia’s $1 billion climate finance commitment, and development of climate cooperation with key countries such as China, India and Japan, including working closely with the Japanese government and Companies on the Paris Agreement and on commercial engagement with Australia. He Chaired the Umbrella Group of influential developed countries in the UNFCCC for nearly four years through the difficult but successful negotiation of the implementing rules for the Paris Agreement. Patrick was formally Australia’s High Commissioner to India, an advisor to the Australian Foreign Minister and Counsellor at the Australian embassy in Washington.

Siti has over 20 years’ experience in international timber trade policies and market requirements, forest certification and stakeholder management.

She was the CEO at The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) and served as the Director of Public and Corporate Affairs at the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) and represented Malaysia in various regional and international meetings such as the ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry, International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and ISO/TC207.

Nadine Zamira Syarief is a Sustainability & ESG Manager at APRIL Group, a leading producer of pulp and paper in Asia. With over 12 years of experience in sustainability, Nadine is a highly skilled professional with a proven track record in developing and implementing sustainability strategies for organizations.

At APRIL Group, Nadine is responsible for managing the company's sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives. She plays a key role in driving the company's overall sustainability performance through strategy building, improving internal systems for embedding sustainability, monitoring and reporting of progress and partnership building.

Nadine holds 2 Master's degrees — Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Corporate Communications from LSPR Communication and Business Institute in Indonesia.

Prior to joining APRIL, she worked with the Accountability Framework initiative (AFi) a global consortium of NGOs working to mainstream forest and human rights protection practices within agricultural and forestry supply chains.

Her professional history also includes a role with UNDP’s Sustainable Palm Oil Initiative and Rainforest Alliance and The Body Shop.