Esther An is an expert in corporate sustainability in Singapore. In 2018, An became the first person from Singapore to be recognized as a UN SDG Pioneer.[1][2] An is the Chief Sustainability Officer of City Development Limited (CDL), a Singaporean multinational real estate operating organization, and serves as a board member, chair, or founder of many corporate sustainability-focused groups.[3][4]

Early life

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An was born and raised in Hong Kong. As a child, she was passionate about nature.[1]

Career

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An began her career in public relations in Hong Kong. Her first job was promoting Hong Kong's "Clean and Green" campaign.[1]

City Development Limited

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An joined CDL in 1995 in a PR capacity. Along with Kwek Leng Joo, An helped establish the corporate ethos of "Conserving as we Construct.[1] Under An's guidance, CDL has been recognized as a leader in corporate sustainability numerous times, such as the Time's World's Most Sustainable Companies[5] and Corporate Knights' The Global 100 List.[6] In 2022, she created the CDL Future Value 2030 Sustainability Blueprint to further these goals.[7]

Nonprofits

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An has also served on international and local sustainability organizations. She is the Chair of World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) Corporate Advisory Board,[7] developed the Young CSR Leaders Award in collaboration with Global Compact Network Singapore,[7] founded the Business Council for Sustainable Development Singapore, and serves on the property working group of the United Nations Environment Programme – Finance Initiative.[2] In 2022, An became a G20 Empower Advocate.[8]

Recognition

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An has been recognized on various lists for contributions to corporate sustainability:

  • UN SDG Pioneer for Green Infrastructure and a Low-Carbon Economy[2]
  • Time 100 Climate for 2023[3]
  • Eco-Business A-Listers[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Driving change from within". Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Esther An | UN Global Compact". unglobalcompact.org. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b "TIME100 Climate 2023: Esther An". Time. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  4. ^ Jacky, C. S. (19 June 2017). "7 Things You Need To Know About City Developments Limited". Value Invest Asia. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  5. ^ "World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2024". TIME. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Shawn (17 January 2024). "The 100 most sustainable companies of 2024". Corporate Knights. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Slavin, Terry; Luckhurst, Karen (7 March 2023). "Twenty-five trailblazing women leading the fight against climate change". Reuters.
  8. ^ "Esther An". World Green Building Council. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  9. ^ Ha, Tim (3 January 2020). "Meet the Eco-Business A-Listers: Esther An, CDL's ubiquitous partnership builder". Eco-Business. Retrieved 15 July 2024.