A study by National University of Singapore (NUS) Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) of SGX-listed companies found that leadership diversity improves firm performance, as measured by return on assets (ROA). Leadership diversity encompasses not only diversity at the gender level but also educational qualifications, industry experience and age. 

The research finds several interesting relationships between each diversity element. In this event, we focus on gender diversity and its impact on firm performance. A unique finding is the concept of gender parity point and what this means for boards and senior management representation. 

Prof Lawrence Loh, who authored the research with his team members, will kick off the event with findings from the research. This will be followed by a panel discussion where we bring leaders and FWA Champions from different areas of financial services - banking & technology - to share their views on this topic.

Speakers

Professor Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability NUS Business School

Prof Lawrence Loh is Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School, National University of Singapore where he is Professor of Practice in Strategy and Policy. He received a PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His thesis on technology governance was awarded first prize in the worldwide doctoral competition in management information systems. 

Prof Loh leads sustainability initiatives for ASEAN and Singapore. He steers the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index and ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. Prof Loh heads studies on business integrity and workplace diversity. 

Prof Loh was lead consultant for information technology manpower as well research and development manpower studies commissioned by the Singapore government. He was chief facilitator for Singapore’s National Technology Plan. Prof Loh also consulted for Fortune 500 companies and international organizations in technology policy. 

Prof Loh is a regular commentator on governance and sustainability for various leading global media. He conducts executive programs on strategy and innovation for board and management leaders. Prof Loh is recipient of the NUS Business School Teaching Excellence Award. 

Joris Dierckx, Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking for Southeast Asia and CEO of Singapore Branch, BNP Paribas

Joris Dierckx is the Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking for Southeast Asia and CEO of Singapore Branch at BNP Paribas. 

Joris started his banking career in 1995 as a graduate trainee at Generale Bank in Belgium. At Generale Bank and subsequently at Fortis, he held various roles in export and project finance in Brussels, Dublin, Mumbai and Singapore. In 2008, Joris was appointed country head for Japan at Fortis, while also serving as interim Head of Merchant Banking Asia during the integration with BNP Paribas. Since joining BNP Paribas in 2010, Joris was successively country head for Greece, South Korea and India. 

Joris holds a Post-Graduate diploma in Sustainable Development from the University of London, a Post-Graduate degree in Finance from the University of Leuven, a Master of Laws degree from the University of London and Master’s degree from the University of Antwerp.

Virginie Barbot, Head of Singapore and South Asia, Nasdaq Market Technology

As Head of Singapore and South Asia as Nasdaq Market Technology, Virginie Barbot is responsible for Nasdaq Market Technology's business in the region, supporting both market infrastructure operators and clients in other industries beyond the capital markets in their technology journeys. Prior to joining Nasdaq, she spent 8 years and Deutsche Boerse Group leading the Market Data and Analytics Services business for the German exchange operator. Virginie has been living in Singapore and has an extensive APAC experience in financial technology combined with market data and analytics. She is currently focused on developing Nasdaq's technology offering for new market segments.  

Tan Su Shan, Group Head, Institutional Banking, DBS Bank

Su Shan has been responsible for leading DBS’ regional wealth management and consumer banking business for close to a decade. She has since been appointed as the bank’s Group Head of Institutional Banking with effect from 1 February 2019.

Prior to joining DBS, Su Shan was Morgan Stanley’s Head of Private Wealth Management for Southeast Asia. She has also worked at Citibank and prior to that in ING Barings in London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. 

In October 2014, Su Shan became the first Singaporean to be recognised as the world’s “Best Leader in Private Banking” by PWM and The Banker, leading wealth publications by the Financial Times Group. She has also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore. In 2018, she was nominated by Forbes Magazine as a top 25 emergent Asian Woman Business leader.

Moderated by Helen Duce, CEO INCLUDE consulting, Founder Lean In Singapore, Executive Consultant INSEAD Gender Initiative

Helen is regarded as an expert in Diversity & Inclusion and is a frequent key-note speaker and panelist on gender diversity in the workplace.

She is a founding partner and CEO of INCLUDE, a Singapore-founded diversity and inclusion consultancy that provides practical, evidence-based solutions to address bias and inequity in workplaces.

Helen has designed and led strategy development, workshops and training across Asia, Europe and North America with companies such as Standard Charter Bank, Credit Suisse, Swiss-Re, Facebook, JLL, Unilever, Aviva, World Food Program, CGIAR, Airbnb, ABB, Singtel, Lloyds, Redhat, and Uber.

Through her consulting practice she delivers a wide range of diversity and inclusion solutions:

• Executive Consultant for the INSEAD Gender Initiative, where she is responsible for developing and implementing a school wide strategy. 
• Founder of Lean In Singapore, an organization spearheaded by Sheryl Sandberg to encourage women to pursue their career ambitions through peer-to-peer support. The Singapore Network has over 3500 members. 
• Adjunct Professor at IE Business School, Madrid

Helen has a background in strategy, marketing and sustainable business. She started her career with Unilever, where she spent 12 years, before co-founding and running a successful global marketing consultancy that was sold to WPP in 2014. She founded INCLUDE consulting in 2019.

Helen has a 1 st Class. Hons BSC in Marketing & Psychology from Lancaster University and an Executive MBA from INSEAD.  

She has lived and worked in Singapore for over ten years with her husband and their four children.

Registration

Please note places are on a first-come-first-served basis so do register early! Deadline for registration is March 25, 2022. We apologise that requests for places after the deadline will not be entertained. As places are limited and if you have RSVP but cannot make it, we appreciate that you cancel your registration so that we can make the place available to someone else. Cancellation details are provided below under NO SHOW POLICY. Thank you.

Members:

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