SLID partners Stewardship Asia Centre, Singapore

• Initiative to undertake Asia-Pacific research study on role of Boards in driving sustainability
• Region’s most significant research undertaking on the role of boards in recent years will gather information across 12 countries on Board stewardship of ESG agenda

The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) has joined with Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC), Singapore, together with 12 other institutions across 11 Asia-Pacific countries to undertake a research study titled “Creating a Collective Better Future: The Role of Boards.” 

This study aims to better understand board-level responsibilities in driving environmental and social sustainability agendas. 

SAC is a non-profit organisation established by Temasek Holdings and is dedicated to helping business and government leaders, investors and individual’s action stewardship practices through research, executive education and engagement. 

Businesses are increasingly expected to consider the impact of their activities on the environment and society. Despite more organisations reporting ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) metrics, the existential threats that humanity faces, such as climate change and socioeconomic inequality, continue to grow in severity and urgency.

Led by SAC, the study will collate and analyse inputs from board leaders across Asia-Pacific via interviews and an online survey. It aims to determine the key challenges board leaders face when driving the sustainability agenda in their organisations, potential ways adopted to circumvent these barriers and their roles in championing a collective better future for the stakeholders of their organisations.

SAC Senior Vice President-Research and Engagement Sunil Puri said, “Since governance, sustainability and leadership are deeply intertwined, the senior-most leadership group in any organisation; the board of directors, must lead in guiding, helping and sometimes nudging the management teams to curate a compelling sustainability agenda. To make a tangible difference, boards not only need the right skill set and toolset but, most importantly, a mindset of ‘doing well and doing good’ deeply rooted in the purpose and values of the organisation. SAC is excited to collaborate with like-minded partners in Asia-Pacific to explore the role of boards in driving the sustainability agenda.” 

SLID Chairperson Aroshi Nanayakkara said, “At a time when climate change and environmental and social issues are becoming a critical element of every business, we feel this study is a timely initiative to understand the varying practices and perspectives on ESG and sustainability across the Asia Pacific region. It will also enable us to understand the leadership provided to ESG and sustainability initiatives and how they have been embedded into the different elements of an organisation.”