Investing in Asia’s Fossil‑Fuel‑to‑Renewables Transition: Capital, Competitiveness and a Just Energy Shift

Valerie is the director overseeing Climate Action 100+, an investor-led initiative to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change. She co-leads the Asia workstream from within Climate Action 100+, and oversees the team’s co-ordination of corporate engagement activities for Asian focus companies. This includes convening sector roundtables to support corporate transition to net zero. Valerie is part of the strategic projects working group and convenes Asia Advisory Group discussions to build investor capacity on stewardship. Outside of CA100+, she is also involved in capacity building for investors in strengthening corporate engagement outcomes through considering various tools and approaches of engagement.
Prior to joining AIGCC, she worked for two sustainability advisory firms and advised clients’ sustainability and risk management strategies. She also conducted environmental and social due diligence for private equity clients. Her career started in public affairs with a Hong Kong-based consultancy. Valerie holds a MSSc in Business and Community from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

It would be great to see Hong Kong introduce medium term goals in renewable energy development to meet its net zero goals, and better response with stronger resilience and readiness for physical risks.

Based in Hong Kong, Yi Jin supports the Asia based investment teams with ESG integration research and process, company engagement, and thematic research.

Prior to joining Manulife Investment Management, Yi Jin works as an ESG Analyst at Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) in London, focusing on Private Debt, Infrastructure and Real Estate ESG research.

Yi Jin graduated from Imperial College London with MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance degree

Jane is the Head of Stewardship, APAC at BNP Paribas Asset Management and leads the firm’s stewardship activities in the region. This includes direct corporate engagement, proxy voting and working with policymakers on key issues relating to sustainable finance and investment. She represents BNPP AM in key investor networks, including as a member of Climate Action 100+’s global Steering Committee, co-chairing the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change’s (AIGCC) Engagement & Policy Working group, and as a member of Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA)’s ESG Committee.

She joined from the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC), where she was the Director of Investor Practice. During her time at AIGCC, she spearheaded and led global initiatives where AIGCC is a network partner, and she launched AIGCC’s Asia Utilities Engagement Program, a collaborative engagement program that runs in parallel to Climate Action 100+. Prior to AIGCC, Jane was an equities portfolio manager at JPMorgan Asset Management for more than ten years.

Jane was also recognised as the Sustainability Champion of the year for Asian Investor’s Asset Management Awards 2026 for her leadership in advancing high impact stewardship and systemic sustainability outcomes across Asia Pacific.

Jane holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford, St. John’s College; and an MSc. in Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Jane is based in Singapore.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

• A city wide adaptation plan for HK
• An updated fit for purpose HK Climate Action Plan

Tomomi Shimada, Executive Director, is the Head of Investment Stewardship for Asia Pacific ex-Japan, based in Hong Kong. She is responsible for engaging with corporate board directors and management on key investment material issues, including climate risk, human capital management, and corporate governance across the Asia Pacific ex-Japan region. Tomomi also advises analysts and portfolio managers on the sustainability and governance practices of portfolio companies and coordinates proxy voting activities. An employee since 2010, she previously served as the Head of Sustainable Investment Specialists for Asia Pacific, where she was responsible for client engagement and the implementation of the firm’s sustainable investment strategy, solutions, and product innovation. Before relocating to Asia in 2021, she was a Sustainable Investing Specialist for EMEA, based in London. Tomomi has also worked as an Investment Stewardship Specialist covering European and Japanese companies in both London and Tokyo. Tomomi began her career as a Client Adviser at JPMorgan Asset Management’s Tokyo office, covering securities companies and major retail banks. She later moved to London as a Business Liaison Manager, managing Japanese institutional and funds clients. Tomomi holds a B.A. in Law from Keio University, Japan.

Piers is the head of ESG advisory services in Greater China and has over 25 years of ESG advisory experience. He has advised multinational investors on ESG risk management in relation to their investments in China, and Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies on ESG services of capital market transactions. He has served virtually all industry sectors, the major project experience includes climate risk assessments (TCFD) for various assets, ESG disclosure for listed companies etc.

Piers has advised multinational investors on managing ESG risks associated with inbound investments into Asia and listed corporates on the ESG aspects of capital market transactions, outbound M&A and investor relations. He has worked with the safeguard policies of major financial institutions including the World Bank/IFC, AIIB, ADB, EBRD, ECAs and Equator Principles Financial Institutions. He has acted as Lenders’ IESC on close to 100transactions across various industry sectors.