The Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore’s central bank and regulator, has appointed Darian McBain as its first chief sustainability officer.
McBain takes on the role following a long stint with seafood giant Thai Union, where she was global head of public affairs and sustainability.
She joins an organisation that is forming a sustainability function for the first time, and is tasked with steering its sustainability efforts and deepening its capabilities.
The sustainability function has been set up to strengthen the financial sector’s resilience against environmental risks and identify strategic green finance collaborations with regional and international counterparts, as well as reduce MAS’ own carbon and environmental footprint, according to a statement from MAS, released on Wednesday.
McBain is slated to start in her new role on 1 October.
She will report to Ho Hern Shin, deputy managing director, financial supervision and Leong Sing Chiong, deputy managing director, markets and development. McBain will set the agenda for MAS’ green finance steering committee, which is chaired by MAS MD Ravi Menon.
Menon said that the formation of the sustainability group “reflected MAS’ commitment to embed climate change and environmental sustainability across its roles as a financial regulator, as a promoter of the financial sector, and as an organisation.”
The Australian joins MAS after six years with Thai Union, where she worked to overhaul the company’s environmental and social credentials. McBain, who holds a doctorate in social indicators for global supply chain analysis, was recently named as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Pioneer for the initiatives she led while at Thai Union.
