Edie Sustainability Leaders Awards, one of the most prestigious international award-giving bodies on sustainability, just wrapped up its awards ceremony held in London on Feb. 6 and the first Asian to receive a Sustainable Leader of the Year accolade is a Filipina.
Janice Lao-Noche, corporate responsibility and sustainability director for the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (Peninsula Group), bagged this year’s Sustainable Leader of the Year title.
“Humbled. Honoured. Touch. This was huge for me because the panel of judges and the nominees [are] all giants of the industry,” says Lao-Noche in an Instagram post. “To be the first person of Asian heritage to win this award is mindblowing.”
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The Sustainable Leader of the Year award is given to “the individuals who are innovating, inspiring, and initiating positive change, and those who are always willing to go the extra mile to transform business for good,” according to Edie’s website.
This means that the awardee has “driven the sustainability strategy of their organization and of the broader environmental agenda,” has “effectively engaged with others to drive engagement with the global climate agenda,” and is a leader that encourages and drives action outside their organization.
“After more than 15 years of working in this industry, this recognition is one of the best because it’s the experts recognizing other experts,” says Lao-Noche.
Last year, Forbes.com included Lao-Noche in their list of sustainability leaders in the world, in which they wrote: “[Lao-Noche] has been a major force in advancing sustainability in Asia through her work at MTR, including launching the corporation’s first-ever Green Bond (which was oversubscribed by 200 percent). Now in her role at HSH, she’s pioneering sustainability in luxury.”
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