About the institute

We established the Sustainability Institute, Asia Pacific (APAC) in 2021 as a fully integrated sustainability centre of excellence that brings together experienced Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) experts across our APAC business to drive sustainability outcomes for investors and support the buildout of a resilient ESG ecosystem in Asia Pacific.

Enhancing our existing ESG infrastructure, the institute formally unites our experts to drive sustainable investing in the region.

Our mission

Leveraging our unique, fully-embedded centre of excellence model, the institute’s mission is to:

  • light bulb

    Deliver APAC-centric sustainable investing solutions and investment-critical insights based on abrdn proprietary research

  • Group

    Build an APAC-wide sustainability knowledge community of clients, experts and partners, sharing sustainable investing insights

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    Contribute to progress in regional sustainable investing through industry collaboration and leadership

Sustainability Institute structure

The Sustainability Institute APAC is advised by the Sustainability Institute Advisory Board, chaired by Rene Buehlmann, CEO Asia Pacific.

The Sustainability Institute is led by Danielle Welsh-Rose, and consists of established ESG experts within the regional investment team, alongside a number of new ESG hires, with other established sustainability experts from across the business, including from the abrdn Research Institute, Investments, Compliance, Product, Learning and Development, and Corporate Sustainability.

Rather than establishing a stand-alone team of ESG experts, our model uniquely supports a structure where ESG expertise remains embedded within the investment teams and supporting functions – closest to where they are most needed.

René Buehlmann

Rene Buehlmann

Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific & Chair of the Advisory Board

René leads our business across Asia Pacific and joined abrdn in March 2021. He has deep experience of leadership roles in global financial markets, including in corporate banking, wealth and asset management.

Before his appointment, René spent 29 years at UBS. Between 2014 and 2019 he was Head of Asset Management Asia Pacific and part of the regional UBS Group Executive Committee. He was responsible for managing and developing the business across segments and distribution channels, as well as ensuring engagement with clients, regulators, industry bodies and key stakeholders. In addition he was managing and developing the global Wholesale business strategy.

He moved to Asia in 2005 to support UBS Wealth Management's expansion in the region, heading a number of leadership roles – including Global Head of Investment Funds and Head of Investment Products & Services Hong Kong. In addition to his experience in Asia, he also spent four years in New York as Head of Lending Products Americas before taking on the functional responsibility for UBS Wealth Management's lending products across all of its global locations out of Zurich.

Danielle Welsh-Rose

Danielle Welsh-Rose

ESG Investment Director, Asia Pacific & Head of the Sustainability Institute

Danielle Welsh-Rose is ESG Investment Director - Asia Pacific at abrdn. Danielle is responsible for driving ESG strategy in Asia Pacific, and supporting the integration of ESG factors into investment decision-making in Australia and across Asia-Pacific, and advocates for the importance of ESG capabilities with clients and potential clients across the region. Danielle joined abrdn in 2019 from the Victorian Funds Management Corporation where she was Head of ESG. Previously, Danielle held senior consulting, ESG and corporate sustainability roles at Sustainability Advisers and VicSuper.

BA, MA, Other

Danielle graduated with a BA in geography and German from Monash University, a Masters of Environment from the University of Melbourne, a Masters of Law (Juris Doctor) from Monash University, and she also holds a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance.

  • René Buehlmann

    Rene Buehlmann

    Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific & Chair of the Advisory Board

    René leads our business across Asia Pacific and joined abrdn in March 2021. He has deep experience of leadership roles in global financial markets, including in corporate banking, wealth and asset management.

    Before his appointment, René spent 29 years at UBS. Between 2014 and 2019 he was Head of Asset Management Asia Pacific and part of the regional UBS Group Executive Committee. He was responsible for managing and developing the business across segments and distribution channels, as well as ensuring engagement with clients, regulators, industry bodies and key stakeholders. In addition he was managing and developing the global Wholesale business strategy.

    He moved to Asia in 2005 to support UBS Wealth Management's expansion in the region, heading a number of leadership roles – including Global Head of Investment Funds and Head of Investment Products & Services Hong Kong. In addition to his experience in Asia, he also spent four years in New York as Head of Lending Products Americas before taking on the functional responsibility for UBS Wealth Management's lending products across all of its global locations out of Zurich.

  • Danielle Welsh-Rose

    Danielle Welsh-Rose

    ESG Investment Director, Asia Pacific & Head of the Sustainability Institute

    Danielle Welsh-Rose is ESG Investment Director - Asia Pacific at abrdn. Danielle is responsible for driving ESG strategy in Asia Pacific, and supporting the integration of ESG factors into investment decision-making in Australia and across Asia-Pacific, and advocates for the importance of ESG capabilities with clients and potential clients across the region. Danielle joined abrdn in 2019 from the Victorian Funds Management Corporation where she was Head of ESG. Previously, Danielle held senior consulting, ESG and corporate sustainability roles at Sustainability Advisers and VicSuper.

    BA, MA, Other

    Danielle graduated with a BA in geography and German from Monash University, a Masters of Environment from the University of Melbourne, a Masters of Law (Juris Doctor) from Monash University, and she also holds a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance.

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