12-05-2025
Senior Minister of State Amy Khor to head the judging panel for BT's 2025 Sustainability Impact Awards
[SINGAPORE] The Sustainability Impact Awards (SI Awards) welcomes a new chief judge to oversee its judging panel in its third run: Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Amy Khor.
The awards, which is jointly organised by The Business Times and UOB, recognise individuals and businesses based in Singapore that have made significant positive contributions to the country's social and environmental sustainability. The Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) at the National University of Singapore Business School is its knowledge partner.
'The awards remind us that sustainability is not a peripheral issue, but a central pillar of long-term economic resilience and societal well being,' said Dr Khor.
The current geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties have led to some rollbacks in sustainability climate actions. 'The BT SI Awards play an even more important role in spotlighting the tireless efforts of individuals and enterprises leading the charge in sustainability,' she added.
Dr Khor also hopes for the awards to 'serve as a beacon' to guide companies towards responsible growth, helping to reinforce Singapore's role in green finance and sustainable development alongside being an international financial and business hub.
BT editor Chen Hui Fen said: 'It is a privilege to have Dr Khor on board as chief judge for the SI Awards. She brings with her a wealth of experience and will add depth to our discussions on how to shape the awards and recognise winners.
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'We believe that companies that lead with purpose – mitigating climate risks, valuing people, and operating with integrity – are not just doing good, they're building the future. With Singapore affirming its commitment to the climate cause, and large non-listed companies having to make sustainability disclosures too in the coming years, we hope to promote those that are setting high standards and inspiring others to follow.''
UOB chief sustainability officer Eric Lim, in welcoming Dr Khor, said her deep expertise and strong commitment to advancing sustainable development will help elevate the impact of the awards and the recognition it brings to the winners.
The SI Awards specifically looks out for positive and significant environmental and social impact from initiatives introduced by winners.
There are three main categories: large enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals. Under each category, contestants stand to win either of two awards.
Individuals stand to win awards for either Impact Leader of the Year or Impact Leader Excellence. Enterprises – both large and small – are recognised as either Impact Enterprise of the Year or Impact Enterprise Excellence.
Dr Khor, who announced her retirement from politics in April this year, is known for driving policies related to the circular economy, the Zero Waste Masterplan, single-use bag charge and hawker centres, among others.
She led Singapore's Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019, which aimed to send one-third less waste to the Semakau Landfill, in a bid to help it last longer than the projected 2035.
Dr Khor also spearheaded the push for diners at hawker centres, food courts and coffee shops to clear their own dirty trays and litter in 2021.
Since 2020, she has also served as Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Transport, with a focus on improving the taxi and private-hire car industry.
Her prior roles in the Singapore government include that of Senior Parliamentary Secretary and Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. She was also Senior Minister of State for Health from 2013 to 2020, and Senior Minister of State for Manpower from 2013 to 2015.
Nominations for this year's award close on May 16. Those keen to participate can visit the awards website to submit their applications.
Other members of this year's judging panel are:
- Chen Huifen, BT editor;
- Lawrence Loh, director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School;
- Tan Swee Yiow, president of the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore;
- Geoffrey Yeo, assistant managing director, capabilities, urban systems and solutions, at Enterprise Singapore;
- Theresa Goh, managing founder of coaching services provider 360 Dynamics;
- Eliza Tan, senior vice-president; head, initial public offerings admissions; head, sustainable development office, at Singapore Exchange Regulation.
