BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF SPEAKERS:

Professor Koh Lian Pin spent 16 years abroad, working in institutions across Switzerland, Australia and the United States. He was formerly a Swiss National Science Foundation Professor at ETH Zurich, Chair of Applied Ecology at the University of Adelaide, and Vice President of Science Partnerships and Innovation at Conservation International.

Professor Koh returned to Singapore in 2020 under the National Research Foundation’s Returning Singaporean Scientists scheme. He is currently the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Chair Professor of Conservation at NUS. His research focuses on developing the science and knowledge base that informs nature-based climate solutions. He is also a Nominated Member of Parliament for the 14th Parliament of Singapore.

Educated at the Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College, Professor Koh went on to complete his Bachelor and Masters degree programmes at NUS, before pursuing his PhD at Princeton University, and postdoctoral training at ETH Zurich.

For the forum, Professor Koh will discuss the opportunities and challenges of nature-based climate solutions in Singapore and the Southeast Asia region.

Mr Joseph Teo was appointed Singapore’s Chief Negotiator for Climate Change on 2 July 2018.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr Teo has held various overseas assignments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). He was Singapore’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2015-2018), Deputy Chief of Mission at the Singapore Embassy in Belgium (2005-2008), and First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation in Geneva (1995-1998), where he was concurrently appointed Singapore’s Consul in Switzerland.

Mr Teo also held varied appointments at MFA headquarters in Singapore, including as Deputy Director-General, Americas Directorate. Mr Teo was also Singapore’s Deputy Chief Negotiator for Climate Change from 2012-2014, when he helped to coordinate the work of the Inter-Ministry Negotiating Team on all issues relating to the international climate change negotiations.  

Mr Teo has a Bachelor of Economics Degree (First Class) from Murdoch University, Perth, Australia, in 1992, and a Masters of Arts Degree from Stanford University, USA, in 2000.

The Government of Singapore awarded Mr Teo the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2010 and the Long Service Medal in 2016.

Ms Wong Su-Yen is Chairperson of the Singapore Institute of Directors, and she serves on the Boards of several public, private, and not-for-profit organisations in India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, and the United States. An accomplished multicultural business leader who has lived and worked globally, her perspectives are shaped by a unique blend of experience at the board and C-level in technology, business, and organisation development. 

Ms Wong is an Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore where she teaches a Masters course on Global Leadership, and member of the Executive Education Faculty at Duke University.  Previously, Ms Wong was CEO of the Human Capital Leadership Institute, Chairman for Marsh & McLennan Companies (Singapore), and Senior Partner and Managing Director, Southeast Asia at Mercer. Earlier, she was Asia Managing Partner for the Communications, Information & Entertainment practice at Oliver Wyman.  

Ms Wong holds a BA (summa cum laude) in music and computer science from Linfield University, and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina. She is an avid adventure traveller and has ventured to some of the most remote parts of the world, including Antarctica and Timbuktu.

For the forum, Ms Wong will discuss what COP26 means for businesses and corporate leaders. 

News coverage on the forum

NUS News: https://news.nus.edu.sg/the-marathon-race-to-net-zero-how-singapore-and-the-world-are-faring/

Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-leaving-no-stone-unturned-in-bid-to-reduce-emissions-chief-climate-negotiator