A slice of Madras in KL.

IAIA 24 Acceptance

A bit late to announce, but I made it to my fourth IAIA conference submission acceptance in a row, on a panel on just transition. Not a lot of people know but I am an experienced environmental engineer with 15 years plus of ESIA report and field work knowledge. Recently I have seen my intellectual, professional and activist worlds of knowledge converge in the conversation on just transition through ESG risk from a ground up lens.

Research and writing is a fundamental skill for the professional services sector where we strive to provide the best quality to clients navigating the climate crisis. The worlds of research and innovation collide with consulting to provide the best solutions through an ecosystem lens.

IAIA 24 Acceptance

A bit late to announce, but I made it to my fourth IAIA conference submission acceptance in a row, on a panel on just transition. Not a lot of people know but I am an experienced environmental engineer with 15 years plus of ESIA report and field work knowledge. Recently I have seen my intellectual, professional and activist worlds of knowledge converge in the conversation on just transition through ESG risk from a ground up lens.

Research and writing is a fundamental skill for the professional services sector where we strive to provide the best quality to clients navigating the climate crisis. The worlds of research and innovation collide with consulting to provide the best solutions through an ecosystem lens.

Some photos are special for the Life of the Mind.

Terima Kasih Banyak, Pak Isa Kamari for the gift of knowledge.

Pak Isa Kamari is an iconic Singaporean writer and fellow PhD candidate at University of Malaya. A prized autographed book for my library.

Sustainability or its quant cousin ESG is a tool for the just transition, and all impact will be measured towards that. It’s really about livability and planetary survival.

Masjid Jamek feels like Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai due to the jewellery shops.

Had an interesting dialogue with a group of think tank young Turks with social science or public policy background looking forward to work in the ESG space , some inputs could be handy for young professionals across the board, as the green jobs ecosystem could be divided into :

• Rating agency analyst jobs – solid back end research jobs with easy transferable skills, abundant mass market entry level opportunities
• sustainability and energy market research analyst jobs – plenty of jobs at the entry level
• MEL and development consultancy jobs
• boutique ESG consulting firms such as Envint and EMC in Mumbai which offer plenty of quality openings for entry level
• INGOs resource persons
• big 4 analyst jobs (very competitive)
• ESIA consultant work (solid technical work but not the best paid)
• MBB consultancy specialist track jobs (hardest to crack as blue chip credentials are needed)
• in-house sustainability teams in big corporations
• ESG risk and disclosure work in banks and MFIs

The rule of thumb is that the start ups offer steep learning and larger firms offer better specialist understanding plus better pay, make your choice dependent on your situation. Each of these specialties need it’s own vocational grammar. Good certifications which young professionals can tap :

• CFA in ESG Investing
• GRI Certified Sustainability Professional

As any one in the just transition business knows, workforce competency is a material issue.

Anti Green Washing Auditing, Assurance and Disclosure are growth areas.

A selection of visual notes from KL.