Sustainable Brands Conference Kuala Lumpur 2024: Technology & AI in Service of Sustainability & Regeneration
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The recently concluded Sustainable Brands Conference Kuala Lumpur (SBKL) 2024 brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators from around the world to discuss the pivotal role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing sustainability and regeneration. The two-day event, held on August 13 and 14, showcased a series of insightful sessions, workshops, and discussions aimed at fostering a sustainable future.
Day 1 Highlights
The conference began with a series of opening remarks and addresses from key figures such as Mike Dupee, CEO of Sustainable Brands Worldwide, Sharmini Nagulan, Managing Director of Acacia Blue CSR Sdn. Bhd., and Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Their remarks set the stage for the theme of the conference, "Technology & AI in Service of Sustainability & Regeneration."
The day's keynote address, "Technology: A Living Systems Perspective," delivered by Jenny Andersson and Mila Aliana from Really Regenerative CIC, explored the interconnectedness of technology and living systems in the context of sustainability. This was followed by a plenary session on "Accelerating Sustainability with AI" led by Enyen Cheong of Microsoft Asia, which delved into how AI can be leveraged to expedite sustainable practices across industries.
Enyen Cheong of Microsoft Asia
Other notable sessions included discussions on connecting communities for sustainable growth, presented by Dr. Sumitra Nair of TM, and the journey to carbon neutrality by Euan Smith, CEO of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad. The afternoon featured a panel discussion on the role of technology and AI in supply chain sustainability, moderated by Redha Shukor from PwC Malaysia.
In the afternoon, a panel discussion on the role of technology and AI in supply chain sustainability featured experts like Umang Varma from Oracle and Tengku Azrul bin Tengku Azhar from MDEC. Dr. Yasmin Rasyid of Sime Darby Property then presented on "Building Resilient Townships: The Sime Darby Property Approach," focusing on sustainability in urban development.
Dr. Yasmin Rasyid of Sime Darby Property
Sarah Ichioka, Founding Director of Desire Lines Pte Ltd, concluded the day's plenary sessions with "Better > More: Qualitative Development as Path to a Thriving Future," advocating for a shift towards qualitative growth in sustainability.
The conversation continued with "Innovating for Impact: How Unconventional Enterprises Drive Sustainable Innovation," presented by Ayu Abdullah, Managing Director of Community Energy Toolkit (COMET). This session highlighted how unique and forward-thinking enterprises can significantly contribute to sustainable innovation.
The day concluded with a panel discussion on "Navigating the Future – Sustainable Fintech Trends," featuring Sharifah Sarah Syed Mohamed Tahir from Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, Liew Ooi Hann of Halogen Capital, Datuk Fadzli Abdul Wahit from MDEC, and Ian Lloyd of Kenanga Digital Sdn Bhd, moderated by Dr. Renard Siew of Yinson Holdings Berhad. The panel discussed emerging trends in fintech that support sustainability and explored how these trends can shape the future.
Day 2 Highlights
The second day commenced with an opening address by Khairy Jamaluddin, a prominent Malaysian public figure, who emphasized the importance of engaging youth in shaping a sustainable future. Marc Buckley, the founder of ALOHAS Regenerative Foundation, followed with a keynote address on harnessing the technology supercycle for regeneration.
The morning sessions continued with a plenary on decarbonizing the aviation sector by Philip See Yew Jin of Malaysia Aviation Group, leading into a series of workshops exploring human and systemic relational technology, led by Jenny Andersson and Mila Aliana, and envisioning a world that works for everyone, facilitated by Marc Buckley.
Participants also engaged in a showcase of sustainability tools and resources, where experts like Dr. Matthew Wong from Carbon GPT and Manminder Kaur Dhillon of publiCT.io demonstrated the integration of AI in sustainability efforts.
In plenary session seven, "Technology in Decarbonizing the Aviation Sector," Philip See Yew Jin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer & CEO of Loyalty & Travel Services at Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), highlighted innovations in reducing carbon emissions within the aviation industry.
Planters Takeaway
As attendees of this influential event, Planters International Berhad gained valuable insights into how technology and AI can be harnessed to drive sustainability in our projects and operations. The discussions and workshops provided us with a deeper understanding of the latest innovations and best practices in the field of sustainable development.
We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Sustainable Brands Conference Kuala Lumpur 2024 and look forward to implementing the learnings and collaborations fostered at the event. Our commitment to sustainability remains steadfast, and we are excited to integrate these new perspectives into our ongoing efforts to create a better, more sustainable world.
