Dr. Joanne Chai

Dr. Joanne Chai is a strategic finance leader with over 30 years of experience driving sustainable business performance through data-driven decision-making, financial governance, and ESG integration. As a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Certified ESG Planner (CEP), and Chartered Sustainable Finance Manager (CSFM), she specializes in designing governance frameworks for ESG initiatives, with a particular focus on ethical AI adoption, risk mitigation, and compliance.

As Director of boutique consultancy Altus Advisors, she leverages her expertise to bridge finance, technology, and governance, enabling clients to embed robust AI governance, ethical controls, and accountability structures into their ESG strategies. Her prior experience includes partnering with multinational corporations like Hewlett Packard (HPE) and Dell (EMC) across Asia Pacific, where she implemented resilient financial and operational frameworks that balance innovation with regulatory compliance.
Joanne holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Newcastle, Australia, where her research advanced organizational governance, risk management, and cybersecurity in emerging technologies. Passionate about governance-led sustainability, she serves as a Regional Council Member of Seplaa Global Impact Network (SGIN) and Advisor to the Global ESG Leadership Organization, mentoring professionals, especially women in AI and tech, to deploy diverse, interdisciplinary skills for ethical, governance-anchored ESG impact.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. Upskill ESG practitioners in strategic AI implementation.
2. Advance gender diversity in AI through women’s leadership pathways.
3. Leverage Silver Economy potential by enabling older adults to reskill, share expertise, and participate economically.