Expert Panel

Daniel Hersson is the senior fund manager at ADB Ventures. Previously at ADB, Daniel managed a multi-year program to support cleantech startups, accelerators and venture capital investors across Asia-Pacific. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the global energy and cleantech industry. Daniel is a recognized specialist on venture capital, strategy, startups, and innovation. Previously, he was Director of Strategy at BP Ventures, a leading global cleantech and energy-focused corporate venture capital fund. Daniel also helped set up Infuse Ventures, India’s first early-stage cleantech venture capital fund.

David lead's venture investing for AGL Energy, where he focuses on identifying and investing in disruptive growth options across the energy sector. As a former options trader, David brings an analytical approach to developing a portfolio of growth options to create enterprise value for AGL. Prior to joining AGL, David worked with several startups and utilities on go-to-market strategies. David has two decades of experience working across the energy industry, including roles leading analytics, trading and sales teams. David is Australian and holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics from Flinders University. Specialities: Venture Investing, Energy Industry, Entrepreneurship

Alexandra is a member of the Investment team at Artesian Venture Partners. She invests in companies from pre-Seed to Series B. Alexandra looks after Artesian’s Clean Energy Seed Fund, which is an early-stage venture capital fund set up to invest in startups that support a reduction in carbon emissions. She has made over 50 investments in this fund. Alexandra is a startup mentor and Board Observer for several CleanTech companies. Prior to her work at Artesian, Alexandra was a member of SkyNews’ digital team. Alexandra has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Master of Business Law from the University of New South Wales.

Sophia is a managing partner at bp ventures. bp's purpose is reimagining energy for people and our planet. It wants to help the world reach net zero and improve people’s lives. It is focused on to growing new low carbon businesses, products and services, and - at the same time - dramatically reducing carbon in its operations across the globe. At bp Ventures, she is focused on new business & deal sourcing in the area of e-mobility, clean energy tech, as well as new (disruptive) tech / biz models that will help to decarbonise cities & companies, and help deliver systemic efficiency & resilience in rich and poor countries. Her target geographies are China, India, elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East, Israel, and the Caribbean. Sophia joined bp ventures from bp’s e-mobility team, having helped to design the company’s global e-mobility strategy, and then supported development & launch of customer-focused offers in China, India, UK, and Germany. Before joining bp, she worked as an innovator and business builder in the global consumer goods and services industry, ran her own award-winning business and qualified as a lawyer. She holds a Warwick MBA as well as degrees in science (McGill) and law (London).

James helps people grow CleanTech businesses that bring about a stable climate, smart resource use and clean water. He has been an environmental professional for more than 20 years, working with businesses and governments in NZ and offshore to bring environmental considerations into strategy and decisions. He is also Founder of CleanTech startup Crunch & Flourish.

Li is a Partner focused on the Cathay Smart Energy Fund, based in Shanghai. She has over 14 years of experience in the private equity and asset management sector. Prior to joining Cathay in 2019, Li worked with SBCVC, responsible for investments in new energy, auto and the high-tech industry in China, with a particular focus on investment opportunities created by disruptive technology innovation. Previously, Li worked with Citi in New York, covering investment and M&A deals in the TMT industry. She also worked at Citi in Brazil and has set up the Latam China Desk, covering all Chinese companies in Latin America. In addition, Li worked with China Mobile Communications Corporation, in charge of 31 subsidiaries’ investments and asset management. Li holds an MBA degree from Georgetown University, and Bachelor’s degree of Economics and Master of Law from University of International Business and Economics.

Since January 2016, Richard Youngman has been CEO of San-Francisco based Cleantech Group. This followed 7 years of driving the growth of Cleantech Group's activities outside North America, especially in Europe and Israel, and Asia, based in Cleantech Group's office in London. Richard has more than ten years’ experience researching cleantech innovation, venture capital markets, and start-ups across Europe and globally. He is a regular keynote speaker at major cleantech events and is the driving force behind the annual Global Cleantech 100, a list of the world’s most promising private cleantech companies.

Marissa leads the investment and ventures portfolio for CLP Group Innovation in its pursuit to invest in capabilities, technology and partners to support and enable the energy transition towards global electrification and a low carbon future. CLP is one of the largest investor-owned power businesses in Asia-Pacific with investments in Hong Kong, Mainland China, India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Australia. We are building a Utility of the Future to meet the evolving energy needs of our customers.

John has over 20 years’ experience in the Australian and Asian clean energy and clean technology sectors. Leading Deloitte’s Decarbonisations Solutions in Asia Pacific, he now works with governments and multi-nationals to source and deploy the most effective cleantech solutions that can lead to rapid decarbonisation. John previously founded and ran Australian CleanTech that worked over ten years commercialising the most prospective clean technologies including running accelerator programs for the Australian Government. He has sat on many corporate and advisory boards, including representing South Australia at global climate change conferences. He is widely published including two books on the opportunities emerging from the transition to a low carbon economy. The most recent book, Visions 2100, was launched at the Paris COP21 Climate Conference in 2015.

Charles invests in startups from ASEAN, MENA, South and East Asia, and East Africa. At EcoLabs, he is in charge of executing EcoLabs’ greater venture capital strategy, which includes sourcing investment opportunities ,managing portfolio companies and driving co-innovation progarmme/projects with large corporate partners/ investors. Before joining EcoLabs, Charles worked within privately managed funds. As Managing Director of the Oman Technology Fund in MENA, a USD 150mm venture capital fund, he assisted in the capital raise of the fund, participated as a fund-of-funds investor, and as a direct investor to startups. As Investment Director of Red Dot Ventures in ASEAN, a USD 20mm venture capital fund, he worked alongside governments and participated as a direct investor.

Julien is based in Asia and deploys direct investments in early and growth-stage companies in China and in ASEAN for the Smart City venture capital team. Julien also supports Idinvest portfolio companies across digital sectors, to accelerate their expansion to Asian markets. Julien focuses on key technologies in the digitalization of industry and enterprise: artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, data analytics, new mobility services, and clean energy technologies. He has mainly invested in digital technologies with B2B business models and global reach:WeRide.ai (Driverless taxis, China), DST Car (EV Logistics, China), Grab (Ridesharing, logistics, payments app, Singapore),Neurala Inc. (Deep neural networks, US), TrustInSoft (Automated code analysis and flaw remediation, FR), Enlighted Inc. (IoT networks for buildings, US, acquired by Siemens), First Fuel Software (Energy data analytics, US, acquired by Uplight/Tendril), Organica Water Inc. (Decentralized waste water treatment, US/HK) and Actility (Low power IoT networks, FR). He is a board member and observer of several of these companies. Prior to joining Idinvest in 2011, Julien was based in China where he developed and acquired thermal, hydro, and wind power projects for EDF Group, one of the largest global electric utility companies. He shifted to technology start-ups in 2009, working with entrepreneurs to advise them on their deployments in the Mainland. Julien holds degrees from ESCP Europe, La Sorbonne University, Beijing University and the French School of Oriental Studies. He is a fluent Mandarin, English, French and Spanish speaker and has working capacity in Japanese.

Takuro Kimura spent over 30 years in investing with impact in emerging markets from International Finance Corporation (IFC) and financial institutions in the private sector. He has been involved in multi-billion investments in private equity, mezzanine and project finance, in multiple industries on a global basis, including Asia. At IFC, his roles included Business Head of IFC Tokyo Office, investing in emerging markets alongside Japanese corporates, Cairo-based Manager for the Middle East and North Africa, and Global Head for Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services Department, and as a member of the management team of the Industry Group. He then joined the Orix Corporation where he set up and led a private equity team with focus on South East and South Asia in Healthcare, Food Value Chain and Logistics, before he founded G-Cubed Partners, Inc, investing in early stage ventures in frontier countries in Asia. Throughout his investing career, he has been committed to create impact, with inclusiveness, diversity and gender as part of the core criteria in the decision process. He holds an LL.B. from Kyoto University and MBA from Ecole des Haute Etudes Commerciales de Paris (HEC).

Mr. Nattawat Nirdnoy serves as Cleantech and Digital Investment Manager at GC Ventures. He joined GC in 2020. He drives corporate venture capital investments from thesis development and origination, through deal evaluation and execution. Prior to GC, he served large corporate clients in consulting projects across Southeast Asia in areas of Innovation Management, Enterprise risk management, and Digital Transform with global consulting firms. He holds an M.S. in International Business from the University of Edinburgh and a B.Eng. (International Program) from SIIT, Thammasat University.

Adam is a Venture Partner at Giant Leap, investor, advisor and director for a number of Australian and International companies. He has a background in consumer marketing and commercial strategy and is passionate about working with startups solving big problems. Giant Leap is Australia's first 100% impact venture capital fund. We invest in exceptional, rapidly scalable businesses that blend financial returns with deep social and environmental impact.

Dr. Eric Wang is a Managing Partner of GRC Fund with over 18 years of experience in venture capital investment, investment banking and equity research. Previously, Dr. Wang was a Managing Director at WK Technology Fund, leading investments in semiconductors, networking and software in Silicon Valley, USA and the greater China. Before becoming a venture capitalist, Dr. Wang was the Global Head of Semiconductor Research at ABN AMRO Bank. Dr. Wang holds a Ph.D. in Engineering-Economic Systems and Operations from Stanford University, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Hawaii and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from National Tsing Hua University.

Sukhwan Yun is a Senior Investment Manager in the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Team of Hyundai Motor Company. Previously, he was a Senior Research Engineer at Hyundai’s Fuel Cell Research Lab and was in charge of developing fuel cell electric vehicles (Tucson ix35 and NEXO). Dr. Yun earned B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. His doctoral research focused on polymer electrolyte membranes for energy conversion in fuel cell and battery applications. As Senior Manager of CVC, Dr. Yun is responsible for sourcing and executing high-potential investments in the automotive and ancillary industries on behalf of Hyundai and its subsidiary companies.

Patti is the Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer at Mana Impact, a company based in Singapore and Hong Kong, which makes impact investments and advisory. She is responsible for strategy, deal sourcing and evaluation, project design and management. An experienced cross-disciplinary professional with a background rooted in economics and finance, her sectors of expertise include access to finance, education and clean energy. Patti’s prior experience spans across various types of organizations, including financial institutions, foundations, corporations and non-profits, which have provided her with a unique ability to understand and navigate multiple stakeholder partnerships successfully. Her past employers include the World Bank, Citigroup and the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network. Patti is a native of Argentina and has working experience in Latin America, the United States, Asia and Europe – and is a Permanent resident of Singapore. She has a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Richmond, and a M.A. in International Development and Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She speaks Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese and Danish.

Fariz leads the investment activities at Petronas Ventures, focusing on early to growth stage companies that develops innovative technologies in the future of energy & facilities, chemicals and advanced materials space. Prior to Petronas Ventures, Fariz was Senior Vice President of Investments with Khazanah in Kuala Lumpur and London, covering investments in the private equity and venture capital space.

Chayoot is a Venture Lead of Innovation Strategy at ExpresSo. He joined PTT in 2012, and has experience in many of PTT’s international businesses, namely, the hydropower plant, the coal-marketing, the palm-plantation businesses, and retail management. He currently executes the commercialization of various new research projects from the laboratory of PTT Innovation Institute. Chayoot enjoys working with various aspect of the future, starting from technology foresight to hands-on execution to shape the future. Chayoot received MS. in Engineering & Technology Innovation Management from Carnegie Mellon University and B.Eng. Mechanical Engineering (1st class honors) from Chulalongkorn University. In his leisure time, Chayoot loves to swim, play e-sport, play basketball, and watch movies.

Karthik started Sangam to find a new model to provide early stage support for climate change pioneers. He spends a lot of his time with the portfolio & within the clean technology eco-system in India & globally.

May leads open innovation for SP Group - seeking cutting edge energy solutions from start-ups and other ecosystem partners, to lead transformational changes in the energy sector for Singapore and regionally. She is on the constant lookout for disruptive technologies from global innovation hubs such as Silicon Valley, Europe and Israel, that will change the future of energy. These efforts range from global accelerator programs, venture capital funds to strategic investments, to bring the best in energy solutions from around the world to Singapore customers and beyond. Prior to SP Group, May was an investment banker with JP Morgan in New York and Hong Kong. Previously, she was an investment manager with Temasek Holdings.

Michael is General Manager of the Unicorn Center at Techcode, a global incubator network with 31 innovation centers in 7 countries. He has over 20 years of experience in venture capital investment, management consulting, scientific research, business development and operation. Previously, Michael was a Principal at CM Venture Capital, a China based venture capital investment firm. At CM, Michael led the venture capital investments in high tech and health care companies. Prior to that, Michael worked at DFJ ePlanet Ventures as a co-lead of investment in China. He was responsible for the firm's venture capital investment and portfolio management. Michael represented ePlanet serving on the board of four portfolio companies. Michael received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley.

Purnima Gandhi is an investment professional with global experience across investment banking, private equity, public equity and angel investing. She has experience of working across cultures and countries having worked in India, UK and Singapore. She has been with the investments team at Temasek International, Singapore for more than 8 years overseeing investments in the energy and environmental sector globally. Prior to this she was in Citigroup in Investment Banking in London. Purnima has an MA from University of Oxford, UK and BA from University of Delhi, India.

Dr. Xin Ma is the Partner and Managing Director of Asia Platform at Total Ventures (TV). She has set up TV’s activities in China and runs its investment activities in Asia. She has been in charge of negotiating and setting up investment fund in China, as well as direct investment in areas such as smart energy and future mobility. She worked in Deloitte’s London office before she joined Total Group, where she held several posts before TV, including the Group’s Deputy Chief Economist, head of Equity Development in China, as well as the head of Asia for M&A and New Business for the Marketing and Service Branch. Xin was born in China and is fluent in French and English. Total Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of the Group Total, its portfolio companies cover areas such renewable and smart energy, energy storage, energy efficiency, cleantech, IOT, and future mobility. Recent investments of TV include Stem, AutoGrid, Ontruck, G7, Grab, Cosmo, and Sigfox.

Melvyn is the Founder of Singapore-based, TRIREC, which is the leading investment firm that was incorporated in 2015 with the aim of making a meaningful impact on addressing climate change through a disciplined investment approach by supporting companies and projects that share our belief in a sustainable future. TRIREC’s investment mandate is focused on the decarbonization theme and invests in early stage start-ups globally. He was the Deputy Head of Wealth Management for Asia at Schroders where he was responsible for the management and strategic development of the business for the region since 2019 till his retirement in early 2021. Melvyn chaired the Asia Investment Committee where he led the efforts in the formulation of investment philosophies and risk frameworks for the wealth management business. He was also the Co-Chair of the Private Assets Investment Committee for Schroders Wealth Management globally, with responsibilities of evaluating private investment opportunities. Melvyn sat on the boards of Schroder & Co (Asia) Limited and Schroder & Co (Hong Kong) Limited. Melvyn was the Co-Founder and Chair of Investment Committee at Thirdrock Group, which was the leading Asian independent asset manager, between 2011 and 2019, before the firm was acquired by Schroders. He started his career with Goldman Sachs where he spent 3 years in Singapore managing multi-asset global discretionary portfolios, followed by 8 years in Hong Kong as a leading member of the equity derivatives team with experience across structuring, trading and marketing of derivatives and structured products. Melvyn currently sit on the board of Sunseap Group and also serves in the Audit and Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committee of the firm. He previously sat on the boards of a few renewables and environmental companies, and Fintech startups in the South East Asia region as he has also been active as an early-stage investor for more than a decade. He volunteered as a District Councillor since 2014 for 6 years under the Environment Functional Committee with the South West Community Development Council in Singapore. The committee initiates and executes on community projects that brings awareness and engagement of environmental issues to the grassroots. Between 2018 to 2020, Melvyn served as a Technical Advisor to the National Research Foundation of the Prime Minister’s Office in Singapore. In 2018, Melvyn was selected and has been a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corp, which was founded by Vice President Al Gore, to spread awareness, shape public opinion, influence policy, and inspire our communities to act on climate change. Melvyn has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ross School of Business, Michigan and is a member of the International Alumni Advisory Committee for the University of Michigan since 2019. He is married with two boys.

Ms. Qi Lu is a Partner at Tsing Capital, where she heads several functions including portfolio management, research, and ESG. Qi has over ten years’ experience working in energy, environmental protection and sustainable development sectors. Her focus areas include renewable energy, electric vehicle, energy efficiency, power storage, smart cities, etc. Prior to joining Tsing Capital, she worked for Carbon Trust and Azure International, two leading environmental and low carbon consulting firms, where she worked with Chinese national and local governments to give recommendations on sustainability-related policy making. She also advised many western Cleantech companies on their China-entry strategies. Qi has been actively advocating impacting investing in China. She is a director of the China Alliance of Social Value Investment. Qi holds an M.S. Operations Research from Columbia University and a B.Eng. Industrial Engineering from Tsinghua University.

After joining JSR Corporation, he worked in the Corporate Planning Department, where he was involved in the creation of strategies, including medium-term management plans, as well as the startup of corporate venture capital (CVC) activities and the execution of investments. He served as General Manager of the Management Division at JSR Micro NV (a European subsidiary handling electronics materials), and also served as General Manager of the Strategy Division at Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd., where he was involved in PMI management and business development activities. He joined UMI in April 2017. He graduated from the Keio University Faculty of Economics, and completed a Graduate degree in International Management from the Aoyama Business School (ABS) at Aoyama Gakuin University.

Steve is one of the rare entrepreneurs in the region who has built a market leader and raised more than US$200M of capital. He co-founded Property Guru in 2007, leading and growing the business into Southeast Asia’s leading online property group. He recently joined Wavemaker as Venture Partner helping source and evaluate deals.

Soohyun Bae provides strategic advice and operational support from her experience as a management consultant in the global consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, especially on consumer, retail, and digital sectors.