Professor Sumit Agarwal

Professor Sumit Agarwal is the Low Tuck Kwong Professor at the School of Business and Professor in the departments of Economics, Finance and Real Estate at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is also the Managing Director of Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) at NUS and a Member of the NUS University Sustainability and Climate Action Council. His research interests include issues relating to financial institutions, international finance, household finance, behavioural finance, urban economics, real estate markets, capital markets and sustainability. He has published over one hundred research articles in journals like the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economic Studies, Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies among others. He has co-written three books titled Household Finance: A Functional Approach, Kiasunomics, and Kiasunomics2, as well as co-edited two collected volumes titled Impact of COVID-19 on Asian Economies and Policy Responses, and Household Credit Usage: Personal Debt and Mortgages. He writes regular op-ed’s in the Straits Times and is featured on various media outlets like the BBC, CNBC, and Fox on issues relating to finance, banking, and real estate markets. His research is widely cited in leading newspapers and magazines like the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, and the U.S Presidents Report to Congress. He runs a blog on household financial decision making called Smart Finance. He has won various prestigious awards like the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Outstanding Researcher Award at NUS, the Paul Samuelson TIAA-CREF certificate of excellence, the Terker Family Prizes in Investment Research Award from the Wharton School of Business, the Glucksman Institute Research Award from New York University and grants from the Russell Sage Foundation and the NBER/Sloan Foundation.

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Dr. Darian McBain

Dr. Darian McBain is the Chief Sustainability Officer for the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Dr McBain has more than 20 years of deep experience in sustainability roles spanning across various sectors. Prior to this was most recently Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability in Thai Union Group, a leading global seafood supplier conglomerate. Dr McBain holds a PhD in social indicators for global supply chain analysis, MSc in Business Strategy, Politics and Environment, and a Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental). She was named as a United Nations SDG Pioneer for a Sustainable Ocean Economy in 2021, and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2020.

Her previous work includes serving as the Sustainable Procurement Lead for the UK’s National Health Service, advising the United Nations, working with WWF on palm oil and supply risk analysis, and heading her own strategy and sustainability consultancy. She is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer of Integrated Sustainability Analysis at the University of Sydney and is a published author and spokesperson on issues relating to sustainability, sustainable finance, business human rights and supply chains.

Darian’s work has been highly recognized. She is the recipient of the Edie Sustainability Leader of the Year Award 2018, Ethical Corporation 2018 Responsible Business Leader of the Year, SeaWeb Seafood Leader of the Year for Vision 2019, CSR Asia’s Sustainability Superwomen 2019, Anti-Slavery Australia’s Freedom Award 2019, one of Intrafish’s Seafood Power 100 Most Influential Executives 2020, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business for 2020, Harvard Business Council 2020 International Business Excellence Professional Award, Advance award winner for Sustainability 2021, and was named a UNGC Sustainable Development Goal Pioneer for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

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