In his career, Seo Jia Han Alvin has held various roles that help companies become more sustainable in their operations and strategies. For championing sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he was named as one of the ten United Nations Global Compact SDG Pioneers in 2019.
He continues his sustainability endeavours outside of work as a Youth Advisory Committee member at Global Compact Network Singapore. This is the local chapter of the UN Global Compact — the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative that seeks to unite businesses for a better world.
This NUS BBA and MSc in Environmental Management (MEM) alumnus also launched a campaign with MEM alumni during the COVID-19 circuit breaker in 2020, raising environmental awareness of food packaging amidst the spate of food deliveries.
Some local and international media coverage of the team’s findings on the impact of disposable waste and key recommendations.
Alvin, currently an Associate Director, APAC Sustainable Finance Office at UBS, tells us how we can strive for sustainability in our personal and professional lives.
Q: What sparked your interest in sustainability issues?
My interest was sparked during my university days. It grew when I worked in a climate technology start-up UgMO Technologies in the United States and when I was with the sustainability team at Singtel. Interestingly, all three individuals who inspire me at school and work are NUS alumni.
At NUS Business School, Associate Professor Audrey Chia taught the “Business with a Social Conscience” module. With all the academic discourse and real-life company case studies, the module answered my questions about doing good and doing well at the same time. It need not be a trade-off. In my mind, a career in sustainability became a possible choice.
Alvin was inspired by Assoc Prof Audrey Chia’s (left) module on “Business with a Social Conscience”. She is also Programme Management Chair of the NUS MEM programme, a cross-faculty collaboration hosted by the College of Design and Engineering.
As part of my job rotation in Singtel’s Management Associate programme, I was fortunate to join the sustainability team set up to drive our regional ESG strategy and efforts.
My leaders, Andrew Buay (FASS 1990), Vice President of Group Sustainability at Singtel and Optus, and direct manager Chia Boon Chong (BBA 1994), Director of Group Sustainability at Singtel, are true servant leaders. I am greatly inspired by how they embed ESG practices in their leadership and daily lives, scale the impact of our work and selflessly guide emerging ESG leaders across sectors.
Alvin with his Singtel mentors Andrew Buay (far left) and Chia Boon Chong (middle).
Finally, on an individual basis, my mum, who passed away in 2010, had always emphasised values and helping others. Thus, I wanted to align my work with creating impact.
Q: How do you see yourself advocating the sustainability agenda?
Many people would have heard of the term entrepreneurship or, more recently, the rise of social entrepreneurship. But I would like to consider my industry peers and myself as social intrapreneurs who drive change from within a larger entity, leveraging organisational resources (e.g., staff expertise, products and services, experience and partnerships) for greater impact on the environment and in the community.
In his past roles at Singtel and Optus, Alvin (third row, far right) led and supported various initiatives in community investment, social innovation, sustainable packaging, climate action and more.
In his previous role as Maxeon Solar Technologies’ first Global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Lead, Alvin (third from left) formulated its sustainability strategy and long-term targets. He also drove corporate giving and community efforts, such as initiating a beach clean-up.
Now, I have moved to a sustainable finance role to support companies in their decarbonisation and sustainability journey. I see my ikagi (a Japanese concept that means a life purpose) as mobilising capital for good. With my experience, I hope to shorten the sustainability learning curves for corporates and increase meaningful action at scale.
Outside of work, I believe in giving back, as I have benefited greatly from the generosity of spirit of past mentors and leaders. And I believe this is exceptionally important as it may be daunting (definitely for me) when one first steps into the workforce.
Alvin took part in the virtual Global Compact Network Singapore Youth Forum 2022, advising youths on how they can embrace sustainability and navigate the career landscape of sustainability jobs across various sectors.
Q: How do you think we can overcome business challenges pursuing sustainability objectives?
A silver lining in the past two years is a sudden acceleration of interest and recognition of the importance of ESG.
Yet, we must also closely examine the ESG initiatives to avoid greenwashing or rainbow washing. To me, this boils down to the crux of sustainability: to strive for long-term authentic impact and not short-term marketing wins.
Q: Could you share some personal tips on sustainability? What are some lesser-known benefits of going green?
Going green in your food choices makes you healthier and more focused throughout the day. You need not compromise on taste, and I can testify to this! I stopped eating meat close to three years ago. It takes time, but it can always be a progressive journey.
Alvin has adopted a flexitarian-oriented pescatarian diet trying out new and tasty food options such as an avocado bowl and zucchini fries.
When my wife and I embarked on our renovation journey for our new home two years ago, we went for furniture and fixtures that were both aesthetic and eco-friendly. We avoided vinyl flooring made from plastic, went for paint and glue with zero or low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and opted for more natural materials such as linoleum and recycled wood. We also chose energy-efficient appliances and considered supply-chain traceability in our furniture, putting the “social” aspect into our choices.
While the above actions have a short-term cost premium, these furnishings have a positive payback as they are more durable. It is a triple-win scenario, benefiting the planet, your health and your wallet. This is similar to the business case justification used in advocating corporate sustainability.
Q: What are some final thoughts you have on your sustainability journey?
Again, I can’t keep emphasising this, but I am grateful for my mentors’ guidance, especially in my early career. I am also thankful to work in this meaningful field alongside many inspiring individuals around the world. Towards sustainability, I am optimistic, excited and can’t wait to see this space accelerate in this Decade of Action and beyond!
