Understanding Corporate Stewardship, Governance and Sustainability: A Landscape Study

This report is the outcome of a research collaboration between the Centre for Business Sustainability, Nanyang Technological University and Stewardship Asia Centre. The objective of this study is to establish and contribute to a body of knowledge surrounding the concept and practice of stewardship, and to develop a clearer understanding of its nexus to the concepts and practice of corporate sustainability and governance.  

Business facing up to COVID-19: Synergising Stewardship, Governance and Sustainability

The COVID-19 crisis, while unprecedented, has simply amplified the weakest links in business activities during these volatile times. Now, as organisations shift gears and move towards recovery, at the heart of an ambiguous future lies the questions: to whom, or to what, are organisations responsible? And what should a company’s focus be when paving the way for sustainable growth beyond the crisis?  

Stewardship in Crisis

COVID-19 has dealt the world a severe double whammy – a pandemic and its consequential economic crisis. Economies and businesses alike, in varied ways and degrees, are encountering an existential crisis. In this context, beyond pondering about wealth creation at an inflexion point, it is pertinent to ask: how is stewardship relevant, and in what ways are stewardship actions important to business organisations and leaders under the circumstances?     

Investor Stewardship - Facing the COVID-19 Test

Amidst this tremendous disruption, investors as always occupy an important position in the business landscape, and have a critical responsibility in the evolving situation. How investors respond and work together along the entire value chain to safeguard the viability of our wealth creation system, will not only influence the ability of businesses to survive, but also to recover and thrive. As an investor, how do you execute your responsibility as a trustee of funds in these tumultuous times? 

Stewardship for Family Businesses: Enhancing Psychological Ownership for Resilience in the Time of COVID-19

How Family Business firms react to the COVID-19 crisis will determine their future growth and survival as well as the legacy they will leave. Now more than ever, Family Business owners need to cultivate resilience and re-evaluate their long-term strategies with a stewardship lens to survive and thrive.  A key strategy to achieve this is to cultivate a sense of psychological ownership. The key question is: How do we make an intangible yet vital attribute like psychological ownership more tangible and harness it as a lynchpin in this dire climate?

Stewardship Commons 2019 Report

Stewarding Our Global Commons -- an Urgent Call for Action

On June 6 2019, Stewardship Asia Centre and the Global Commons Alliance co-hosted the inaugural Stewardship Commons 2019 in Singapore as part of Temasek Ecosperity Week 2019, with the intent to mobilise private sector action to reverse negative trends in climate, biodiversity, oceans and other Earth ecosystems. This report distils the sharing from the session and adds additional insights to complement the conversation on how companies can act on their obligation to steward our global commons.

ENTRUSTED: Stewardship for Responsible Wealth Creation

Co-Authored by Mark Goyder and Ong Boon Hwee

ENTRUSTED, the second book from Stewardship Asia Centre, will help business leaders understand the key stewardship concepts and elements, redefine what business success should look like, and gear up for the transformational shift required to build organisations that focus on long-term success of the company as well as future value creation for society and future generations.

Roundtable@5

Event Video Highlights

Marking a milestone this year with our 5th Stewardship Asia Roundtable, we take a look back at the highlights of the past five years. A big thank you to all participants and contributors for being part of our journey and we look forward to shaping a better future together.

Highlights of the Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2019

Event Video Highlights

Business Future: (Re)Discovering Stewardship, Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2019

Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2019 Insights

On 4 June 2019, the Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2019 brought together 200 influential thinkers and business leaders from 20 countries for a discussion on "Business Future: (Re)Discovering Stewardship". Read the insights here.

Ethics, Accountability and Stewardship in Social Service Organisations

Published in Doing good in Singapore. Part 1: Adapting to the Future, 2019, pages 107–132, also available here.

This book chapter discusses the significance of ethics, accountability, and stewardship, and their application to Singapore’s social service organisations (SSOrgs). It provides SSOrgs with a framework to operationalise ethics, accountability, and stewardship, aimed at improving service delivery in the social service sector.

Ee, G., Ong, B. H. & Toh, Y. (2019). Ethics, Accountability and Stewardship in Social Service Organisations. In I. Sim, A. Loh & C. K. Teo (Eds.), Doing good in Singapore. Part 1: Adapting to the Future (pp. 107–132). Singapore: National University of Singapore, Centre for Social Development Asia (CSDA).

Cultivating a Giving Mentality, becoming Stewards of Community

Published in Entrepreneurs' Digest, Issue 82 November/December 2018, Page 54-55

Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC) and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) held a joint stewardship conversation on the topic of corporate giving in July 2018. The two-hour session brought together business leaders from different industries to discuss the roles of businesses in uplifting the community. Participants shared about their company's perspectives on stewardship, social impact, as well as their aspirations towards the corporate giving landscape within and beyond Singapore.

The Stewardship Mindset - Insights from a 1300 year old family business

Interview with Zengoro Hoshi, 46th generation ownder of Hoshi Ryokan 

As part of the Stewardship Principles for Family Businesses campaign, Stewardship Asia interviewed Mr Zengoro Hoshi, the 46th generation owner of Hoshi Ryokan to uncover the insights, values and stories behind this 1300 year old family-owned inn. 

Stewardship Principles for Family Businesses

Fostering Success, Significance and Sustainability

The ‘Stewardship Principles for Family Businesses’ is a guide intended to help family businesses across (and beyond) Asia, to focus on stewardship.  These broad principles aim to articulate the mindset and attitudes, as well as the behaviours and practices that would foster the success, significance and sustainability for family businesses (FBs).

Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2018 Insights

On 4 June 2018, the Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2018 brought together some 200 influential thinkers and leaders from 20 countries to discuss on the topic of "Stewardship in a Disruptive World". Here are the insights which is an executive summary of the event.

Highlights of Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2018

Event Video Highlights

Stewardship in a Disruptive World, Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2018 Event Highlights

Temasek Trust Conversation on Corporate Giving Insights 2017

Take a look at the insights curated from the keynote address by Mr Ng Kee Choe, Member of Temasek Trust Board of Trustees, a lively panel discussion involving panellists from the corporate and non-profit sectors, as well as a rich dialogue with Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Speaker of Parliament and Advisor to National Council of Social Service.

Keynote Address - Temasek Trust Conversation on Corporate Giving 2017

By Mr Ng Kee Choe, Member of Temasek Trust Board of Trustees

Stewardship: A Matter Of Survival

Interview with Ruth Yeoh

Ruth Yeoh, Executive Director of YTL Singapore Pte Ltd

Stewardship: More Than Just A Code

Interview with Mark Goyder

Mark Goyder, Founder of Tomorrow's Company

Helping Stewardship Take Hold

Interview with Kerrie Waring

Kerrie Waring, Executive Director of International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN)

Stewarding Long-Term Success

Interview with Jesher Loi

Jesher Loi, Director, Branding & Market Development of Ya Kun International Pte Ltd

Businesses Taking a Lead to Make the World Better

Published in Entrepreneurs' Digest, Issue 76 November/December 2017, Page 32

This report summarises the highlights of the conversation and the insights that were surfaced during the third Stewardship Asia Rountable that was held on 6 June in Singapore.

Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2017 Insights

The Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2017 Insights is an executive summary of the event held on 6 June in Singapore.

Highlights of Stewardship Asia Roundtable 2017

Event Video Highlights

About the Stewardship Asia Roundtable

CEO Ong Boon Hwee tells us all about the Stewardship Asia Roundtable.

Bridging Generations

Published in Entrepreneurs' Digest, Issue 73 May/June 2017, Page 46 - 47

Insights into family business succession.

The Leadership Call

Interview with Claire Chiang

"The Leadership Call: Setting the Standards of Stewardship in Companies" with Claire Chiang, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts

Business for Happiness

Interview with Rich Karlgaard

"Business for Happiness: The Purpose of Business - It's Not Just about Money" with Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes Magazine

Stewardship and the Accounting Profession

Published in ISCA Journal, March 2017 Issue

As Singapore’s national accountancy body, it is natural and important for ISCA to play a role in the SSP Steering Committee. Accounting is, after all, the lingua franca of business and accountants and auditors are charged with the responsibility of providing the trustworthy financial information that is used to make critical resource-allocation decisions.