Change & Innovation in Governance7th Singapore Corporate Governance Week

Described by his colleagues as a dedicated advocate of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for over two decades, the late Mr. Kwek Leng Joo’s vision of “Conserving as we Construct” established City Developments Limited’s reputation as a leading green building champion and a forerunner in CSR. His work raised the bar for Singapore’s real estate industry and drove change for the building sector, putting CDL and Singapore on the global sustainability map. The property developer was one of the most sustainable companies in Singapore, according to a 2013 ranking announced at the Davos World Economic Forum.

In Oct 2015, Mr. Kwek was awarded the President's Award for the Environment, Singapore's highest environmental accolade. Beyond being instrumental in spearheading the sustainability efforts at CDL, Mr. Kwek was also a pioneer and driving force behind the CSR and sustainability movement in Singapore, influencing the built industry and business community.In 2012, he was elected President of the Singapore chapter of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and played an active role in promoting CSR to the business community and youths in Singapore. Under his leadership, the Singapore Compact for CSR was rebranded as Global Compact Network Singapore in 2015 to reflect the strengthening of ties with the UNGC. A firm advocate of youth development, Mr. Kwek played a leading role in raising the importance of CSR to the younger generation, spearheading initiatives such as the Singapore Compact Youth Membership network and the Young CSR Leaders Award with the aim of nurturing a new generation of business executives.

In recognition of his dedication and contribution in promoting sustainability, SIAS is proud to present the first Sustainability Award posthumously to the late Mr. Kwek Leng Joo.