The three categories for competition in 2024 were:

1. Best Sustainable Built Environment (ESG Category: Environmental)
   Our understanding of sustainability is improving and organizations are daring to look further than cutting their emissions or recycling plastic waste.  Various approaches have been adopted and are being explored in the advancement of sustainability; one of these approaches is a sustainably built environment – encompassing innovative building designs, sustainable resource management, and eco – friendly infrastructure that minimizes environmental impact and has a positive social impact.  A sustainable built environment protects our natural environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting circular economy principles, and tackling the climate crisis – World Green Building Council

   Who Should Apply?
   In the “Best Sustainable Built Environment” category, competitors can demonstrate their commitment to innovative and sustainable building design, resource management, and infrastructure.  Competitors should highlight the creative strategies they have implemented to enhance their own office or the surrounding environment in an environmentally conscious way.  They may showcase how these efforts have positively impacted the local ecosystem, such as improving the physical and mental well – being of employees and boosting overall productivity.

   Examples:
   – Buildings with high energy efficiency
   – Sustainable construction practices
   – Smart technology in the office
   – Employee engagement programs
   – Collaborative workspaces
   – Green commuting program (carpooling / bike sharing)
   – Use of Renewable Energy in the Built Environment and / or in the supply chain
   – Electric vehicle charging stations at the office / Green transportation

2. Best Workforce Sustainability Engagement Program (ESG Category: Social)
   Sustainability initiatives are oftentimes more effectively adopted with a top down approach. However, the success of any organization’s sustainability efforts are dependent on their employees commitment and requires widespread support and participation throughout all layers of the organization. Informing, rewarding, and providing training programs helps incentivize employees to take up these sustainability initiatives.

   Who Should Apply?
   In the “Best Workforce Sustainability Engagement Program” category, nominees share the innovative programs that motivate and empower employees to actively participate in achieving the organization’s sustainability goals. It showcases the programs and initiatives that have helped the organization make an impact, and proved effective in incentivizing and mobilizing their workforce.

   Examples:
   – Training programs on sustainable practices
   – Recognition and reward programs for employee contributions to sustainability
   – Initiatives led by employees to reduce waste or conserve resources
   – Green week to create extra sustainable awareness

3. Best Sustainability Communication (ESG Category: Governance)
   A key aspect of good governance is communication, especially when addressing sustainability. It ensures transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness, which are vital for building trust and engaging with stakeholders. By communicating your organization’s sustainability objectives, you foster informed decision – making and empower stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to sustainability goals. Internally, communication helps align the organization’s mission and vision on sustainability, while enhancing collaboration and driving engagement. Externally, it strengthens your reputation, differentiates your organization, and builds long – term loyalty by showcasing your commitment to responsible practices.

   Who Should Apply?
   In this category, we invite organizations that prioritize effective communication on their sustainability objectives and ensure that their goals are clearly communicated, understood, and supported by all stakeholders. These organizations demonstrate transparency, accountability, and active engagement, through clear, consistent, and inclusive communication and are therefore driving better governance outcomes. This category celebrates organizations that make communication a core part of their governance strategy, fostering a culture of openness, collaboration, and accountability in sustainability efforts.

   Examples:
   – Reporting on sustainability performance with transparency and accountability
   – Organizing multi – stakeholder dialogues and forums to collaboratively address sustainability challenges
     and solutions
   – Actively involving stakeholders in the planning and execution of sustainability initiatives
   – Keeping stakeholders continuously informed through diverse communication channels, ensuring
      inclusivity and clarity
   – Utilizing real – time sustainability dashboards to track and share progress on sustainability goals
   – Launching sustainability – focused social media campaigns to engage a broader audience and raise
      awareness
   – Sharing independent assessments to promote accountability and highlight sustainable performance
   – Publishing detailed case studies to illustrate the tangible impacts of sustainability projects

MISA ’24 shortlisted finalists participated in pitching sessions during the co – organized Sustainable Action Conference (SAC) 2.0, by well – known Dutch company, Control Union.   The following organizations were announced as shortlisted finalists and were invited to present their projects during the MISA ’24 Day Program.

The shortlisted nominees and projects in the ‘Best Sustainable Built Environment (ESG Category: Environment)‘ category were:

• Big Dutchman
• HEINEKEN Malaysia
• Terberg Tractors Malaysia
• Unilever (Malaysia)

The shortlisted nominees and projects in the ‘Best Workforce Sustainability Engagement Program (ESG Category: Social)‘ category were:

• BESI APAC
• Dutch Lady Milk Industries (DLMI)
• Jungheinrich Lift Truck Malaysia
• MY CO2 Group
• SD Guthrie

The shortlisted nominees and projects in the ‘Best Sustainability Communication (ESG Category: Governance)‘ category were:

• BESI APAC
• HEINEKEN Malaysia
• SD Guthrie

Led by a Chief Judge – the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Malaysia, a panel of highly regarded, independent, expert individuals review and judge all MISA submissions.  Each category has a panel of three judges who do a final round of assessment during the MISA Day Program where finalists present their submission.  Judges and audience alike are allowed to ask questions of each nominee before the panel meets privately to confer and tally up the points.

Winners of each category are announced at the MISA Awards Ceremony and dinner.  This announcement is inclusive of a Judge’s Report on the winner’s submission, highlighting the underlying core concept of MISA – the sharing of best practices.

CHIEF JUDGE – H.E. Jacques Werner
Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Ambassador is acquainted with Malaysia and the region, having visited the country in 1988 and having been posted as Ambassador to Singapore from 2013 to 2017. Having previously served in Iran, Singapore, Romania, Bulgaria, and India, he is keen to initiate and catalyze tangible partnerships in areas such as agro, water, business, entrepreneurship, and culture.

BEST SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (ESG CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENTAL)

Judge A: Nelson Samuel (Director – Green Technology Division, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)) Nelson Samuel is the Director of the Green Technology Division at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).  He joined MIDA in 1992 with experience from various sectors and has covered Industrial Promotion Division, Foreign Investment Promotion Division – America Desk, was Deputy Director in MIDA Tokyo and in Strategic Planning Division MIDA, appointed Director of MIDA Seoul in Rep. of Korea. After returning back from Rep. of Korea, Nelson was appointed as the Director of the Foreign Investment Promotion Division, MIDA which monitors MIDA overseas centers globally in attracting FDI to Malaysia.  Nelson Samuel was also previously the Investment Consul in MIDA New York.

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Judge B: Supun Nigamuni (Managing Director, Control Union Malaysia) Supun is an accomplished forestry and environmental specialist with experience in compliance auditing, training, certification, program management, and environmental assessments.  He serves as the Managing Director for Control Union Malaysia and is responsible for managing certifications for Control Union Malaysia. In addition to the local responsibilities Supun also chairs the global expert team overseeing certification activities related to Forestry, Palm, Sugar, Soy, Rubber, and Tourism.

BEST WORKFORCE SUSTAINABILITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (ESG CATEGORY: SOCIAL)

Judge A: Annapooranee Suppiah (Head of Work – Life Sustainability, TalentCorp) In her current role, Annapooranee Suppiah supports TalentCorp in expanding its industry network and establishing partnerships to better address the talent needs of Malaysia’s economic transformation. She strategizes plans and brings them to action to ensure a sustainable talent pipeline, diversity, and mobility for Malaysia to be a preferred talent hub.  Annapooranee has over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing strategies from previous roles in Honda Malaysia and prior to that, she was a Relationship Officer at Maybank Berhad.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Anglia Ruskin University.

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Judge B: Malar Selvaraju (Head of Quality & Sustainability, Basis Bay) Selvamalar Selvaraju is the Quality and Sustainability for Basis Bay.  She is very passionate, impact – driven leader, social entrepreneur, and educator who has championed the development and empowerment of underprivileged women, children, and minorities in Malaysia.  With almost 15 years of work experience in multiple sectors, she is a certified trainer and acclaimed communicator, known for her engaging style of presentation and facilitation. She holds a Masters Degree in Human Resource Development, a First Class Hons LLB Degree from the UK, and has completed Harvard Summer School courses. Malar is focused on strengthening women’s economic empowerment and community – based entrepreneurship to tackle urban poverty and manage post – COVID effects.

BEST SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNICATION (ESG CATEGORY: GOVERNANCE)

Judge A: Karamjit Singh (Founder / Chief Executive Officer, Digital News Asia) Karamjit founded Digital News Asia with a vision that media should play its role as the Fourth Estate and on the belief that timely, insightful and analytical coverage can help the tech ecosystem in South – East Asia, especially Malaysia, grow and develop.  Karamjit was with The Edge for 14 years and is the technology editor with The Edge, specifically of [email protected].  This section covered the business impact of technology, technopreneurship, and policy.  In 2001, he won the Malaysian Press Institute Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist.

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Judge B: Paul Turner (Managing Director, ALD MHD Mobility Services Malaysia (To be rebranded as Ayvens) Paul Turner is the Managing Director at ALD MHC Mobility Services Malaysia.  With over 25 years of experience in the fleet management & finance industry, he was previously Commercial Director at LeasePlan International and has held multiple roles within the LeasePlan Group in various countries.  Originally from Canada, Paul most recently lived in Amsterdam for the last 12 years before moving to Kuala Lumpur.  Ayvens is the merger of ALD Automotive from France and LeasePlan from the Netherlands and is part of the Societé Generale Group. With 3,5 million vehicles under management across 44 countries, it is the leading global player in providing fleet management solutions & operational lease services to both local & multinational customers of all sizes. On the Malaysian market Ayvens has a joint venture with MHC Capital.

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Judge C: Norazlin Hassan (Head of Corporate Communications, MDEC) Norazlin Hassan is a dynamic professional with expertise in marketing, corporate communications, and data – driven strategy development.  Her experience encompasses strategic branding, public relations, digital transformation, and stakeholder engagement.  She has successfully implemented impactful communication initiatives across industries, aligning organizational goals with innovative approaches to reach diverse audiences effectively.  Norazlin’s passion lies in creating meaningful connections through effective communication strategies that bring value to organizations and their stakeholders. She is committed to fostering innovation and excellence in her professional endeavors.

MISA ’24 Day Program Photo Album

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MISA ’24 Awards Ceremony & Dinner Photo Album
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Thank you to the following supporters of MISA 2024