IIC Corporate Governance Conference 2024

YBhg. Datuk Hajah Nik Amlizan Mohamed, Chairman, Institutional Investors Council Malaysia (IIC)( / Chief Executive Officer, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan)

YBhg. Dato’ Seri Dr. Awang Adek Hussin, Executive Chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia

Points of Interest:

• How can institutional investors use their influence to improve the corporate governance of listed companies? What are the common misconceptions of stewardship?
• What are the levers to influence change? What are some unique challenges in corporate engagement in Malaysia? Lessons in engagement and escalation.
• Organisations such as the UNPRI have called for Stewardship 2.0 i.e., shareholder advocacy to create systemic change; do Malaysian institutions have what it takes to encourage system-wide improvements?
• KLCI has declined 13% over the last 5 years. What needs to be done to revive the market?
• Can sustainability and net zero strategies deliver the needed growth?

Moderator: Tehmina Kaoosji, Independent Broadcast Journalist & Communications Consultant

Panelists:

• Tan Sri Azman Bin Haji Mokhtar, Chairman, MIFC Leadership Council
• Steven Larson, Chartered Financial Analyst, Portfolio Manager, Global Equities – Principal Asset Management
• Muazzam Mohamad, Senior Vice President, Head of Investment Stewardship Division, Permodalan Nasional Berhad
• Rohaya Mohammad Yusof, Chief Investment Officer, Employees Providence Fund

Points of Interest:

• Are Malaysian corporate boards fit-for-purpose i.e., can they prepare and lead companies when dealing with the global and local sustainability challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, treatment of labour, workforce diversity, community engagement, etc.?
• As the economy transitions; what must boards do to institute resilience and ensure just outcomes, i.e., that the rising tide does not leave some boats behind?
• Discuss some examples of board failure/success in recognising megatrends and the important lessons to learn about preparing companies for the sustainability related headwinds to come.

Moderator: Daniel Choong, Chief Executive Officer, BNP Paribas Asset Management Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Panelists:

• Michelle Kythe Lim, President & CEO Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM)
• Datuk Amran Hafiz Affifudin, Executive Director and Head of Malaysia Investments, Khazanah Nasional Berhad
• Amar Gill, Secretary General Designate, Asian Corporate Governance Association
• Dato Dr Nik Ramlah Nik Mahmood, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Axiata Group Berhad

YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II

Points of Interest:

• ESG integration into investment strategies and its impact on company analysis, forecasts and valuation.
• Will Malaysia’s approach to sustainability reporting be sufficient in demonstrating how companies are preparing for material sustainability related factors as they may impact asset values, earnings etc.?
• Malaysia’s position in climate – have we “over mitigated”, whilst overlooking adaptation to climate change? Following the lead from establishment of the loss and damage fund at COP28 in December 2023 – is the Malaysian capital market able to support funding for adaptation?

Moderator: Goh Keat Siang, Director and Head of Investment Monitoring, Stewardship & Sustainability, Khazanah Nasional Berhad

Panelists:

• Julian M Hashim, Chief Regulatory Officer, Bursa Malaysia Berhad
• Nicole Lim, ESG Investment Manager, Asia Fixed Income, abrdn
• Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kenanga Investors Berhad
• Nazaiful Affendi Zainal Abidin, Head of Portfolio Strategy & Research Department, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan)
• Rohini Samtani, Sustainability Solutions Manager, S&P Global Sustainable1

Points of Interest:

• As the development in generative AI gains speed, what will this mean for the workforce, particularly in a developing nation like Malaysia?
• How can policymakers, corporations and educational institutions collaborate proactively to ensure the relevance of the Malaysian workforce particularly in light of increasing regional competition?
• Cybersecurity is a growing ESG factor given multidimensional impacts on the firm and system. Discuss some of the challenges faced by the market in terms of cyber resilience, risk pricing (e.g., for insurance innovation and investor valuation), and policy framework.

Moderator: Munirah Khairuddin, Chief Executive Officer Malaysia & Global Shariah & Managing Director, Strategic Distribution & Institutional Client Relations (Southeast Asia & Global Shariah), Principal Asset Management Berhad

Panelists:

• Afzal Abdul Rahim, Chief Executive Officer, TIME dotCom Berhad
• Rafiza Ghazali, Director of Digital Banking, KAF Investment Bank Berhad
• Datuk (Dr) Nora A Manaf, Group Chief Human Capital Officer, Maybank Group
• Nicholas Khaw, Head of Research, Khazanah Nasional Berhad

Points of Interest:

• What are the right measurements, scopes and boundaries in assessing the social impact and SROI?
• Does the challenge to collect reliable and relevant data present a formidable barrier to investment?
• How can investors avoid “social washing”, i.e., where the companies overstate or misrepresent their social impact?

Moderator: Rejina Rahim, Founder, Wahine Capital; Advisor & Council Member IIC

Panelists:

• Nadia Ismadi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pod
• Saifulbahri Hassan, Director and Head of Private Equity Department, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan)
• Johan Rozali-Wathooth, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Bintang Capital Partners Berhad