On 4 June 2019, 200 business leaders and thinkers from 135 organisations across Asia and beyond came together for Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2019. Themed “Business Future: (Re)Discovering Stewardship”, the platform drew rich discussions on prioritising responsible wealth creation to bring long-term value creation to benefit society now and for the future.
The invited panel speakers represented diverse business perspectives and shared their views on responsible leadership, long-term ownership, going beyond shareholder value, and transforming businesses through values-based strategies and a purpose-driven organisation. Speakers this year include Judge Professor Mervyn E. King, Chair Emeritus, International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC); Ms Tan Hooi Ling, Co-founder, Grab; Professor Steen Thomsen, Novo Nordisk Foundation Professor, Copenhagen Business School; and Mr Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, CEO, Temasek International. The panel discussion was moderated by Mr Mark Goyder, Founder and Trustee, Tomorrow’s Company.
The business landscape is rapidly changing alongside the unprecedented speed of developments in technology and geopolitical events with far-reaching impact on businesses and societies. As such, business leadership has become more important than ever as businesses take on a pivotal role amid these uncertainties. In the face of this challenging climate, it is crucial for businesses to recognise that they operate within societies, therefore having a duty to be responsible for their actions.
In the opening address at the Stewardship Asia 2019 Roundtable, Mr Lim Boon Heng, Chairman of Temasek, said, “Being a steward requires us to look beyond ourselves and our businesses. We accept broader responsibilities in order to earn and maintain the trust of the wider community. As we set about creating a sustainable path for our businesses, we need to also create a sustainable path for our people. This, I submit, is the role of stewardship.”
With new attendees comprising 45 percent of the audience this year, the topic of stewardship continues to gain traction among business leaders and organisations. Participants recognise that it is time to put stewardship into action, seeking ideas to do it in an authentic manner that creates a meaningful and positive impact.
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, concluded the event as the “Inspiring Stewardship” lunch speaker. In his keynote, he highlighted the value of stewardship in a fast-changing world, emphasising the responsibility of organisations to invest in innovation, people, and the community.
About Stewardship Asia Centre
Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC) is a thought leadership centre promoting effective stewardship and governance across Asia. Positioned to catalyse and inspire change, SAC builds capabilities and platforms that enable organisations to foster enduring success and responsible wealth creation for the long-term, and to benefit the wider community and future generations. SAC is a non-profit organisation established under Temasek Trust.
