AIA Singapore’s first Sustainability Report has earned Bronze in Asia’s Best Sustainability Report (First Time) at the 11th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards, underscoring the insurer’s focus on transparency, rigour and impact. In this interview, Liu Chun Yen, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Sustainability, shares how aligning ESG with the company’s purpose of helping people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives is driving stronger disclosures, deeper accountability and a growing culture of sustainability across the organisation.
Congratulations on winning at the 11th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards. What does this recognition mean for your sustainability team and your organisation?
Receiving this award is a testament to our commitment to integrating sustainability considerations into our business and operations.
It inspires us to keep raising the bar on data transparency and reflects the collective efforts of our teams to advance transparency as well as our focus on the five pillars of our ESG strategy—especially our core mission to champion health and wellness as a life insurer.
This recognition from the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards energises our team, affirming that our efforts are making a meaningful difference. It also motivates us to continuously strive for excellence, deepen our impact, and lead with purpose for the benefit of our people, communities, and the future we share.
Sustainability reporting has evolved rapidly. How has your reporting approach matured over the past few years, and what were the biggest lessons from this journey?
Our inaugural report reflects the strength of what we can achieve when we work together, driven by the belief that health and sustainability are deeply connected. It inspires us to keep improving—reporting openly and acting with purpose for a better future.
It also reinforces that our purpose goes beyond profit. Credible reporting requires true integration — demonstrated in our inaugural report with case studies and highlights of our 2025 initiatives — linking health and wellness, sustainable investment, sustainable operations, people and culture and effective governance with our AIA Group ESG strategy, while measuring progress in ways that inspire accountability, continuous improvement and to keep striving for greater change.
The ASRA judges emphasise rigour, transparency, and impact. Which parts of your report do you feel best demonstrate these qualities?
We have prioritised transparency by telling our sustainability story through clear, data-driven narratives. In our report, we laid out our governance model and employee wellbeing programmes with precision, bringing them to life through genuine, compelling stories. From our workplace wellness initiatives to our health and wellness programmes—we demonstrate that sustainability is not just a policy, but an integral part of who we are, how we operate, and the purpose that guides us every day.
Could you walk us through the process of materiality assessment — and how you are now integrating double materiality or value-chain impacts into your reporting?
AIA Group conducts a biennial materiality assessment to identify ESG risks, opportunities, and stakeholder priorities. Building on this, AIA Singapore is developing a localised assessment to better reflect our market context and value-chain impacts. This approach will help us identify relevant ESG topics and enhance transparency, ensuring our reporting remains responsive and meaningful to our stakeholders.
How do you ensure data accuracy and credibility across complex topics such as GHG emissions, supply-chain sustainability, and human rights?
Data credibility is underpinned by strong governance and cross-functional collaboration. We have established clear ownership at the function level, supported by stringent internal review processes and alignment at a Group level. Continuous capacity building is also key — equipping our teams to understand what “good” ESG data looks like and ensuring consistent methodologies across the Group.
What new sustainability frameworks (for example, ISSB or TNFD) are you preparing to align with, and what challenges or opportunities do they bring?
We are progressively aligning with the ISSB standards as part of our roadmap to enhance sustainability disclosures. This transition supports our ambition to connect financial and non-financial performance, and to demonstrate how our purpose-led approach creates long-term value.
Reporting aside, which sustainability initiative or achievement from the past year are you personally most proud of?
Our inaugural Sustainability Report marks an important milestone — but what matters most is how it has encouraged a cultural shift and strengthened our focus on helping people live healthier, longer, better lives.
Through the AIA CAN programme, a Group-led multi-year eco-office initiative, we have raised awareness of sustainability practices within the workplace and empowered employees to take practical actions. Seeing colleagues adopt green habits, volunteer for biodiversity efforts, and integrate sustainability considerations into their roles reflects meaningful and measurable progress.
We are also reducing reliance on paper in an industry traditionally heavy on physical documentation. Our AIA+ app, launched in 2024, integrates insurance, wealth, health, and wellness services digitally. In its first year, this innovation saved over 310 tonnes of paper — equivalent to approximately 7,400 trees.
Additionally, our comprehensive wellness programme, AIA Vitality programme, plays a crucial role by empowering encouraging members to live well with regular health screenings and assessments, as well as to and stay active through weekly fitness challenges and personalised goals. The programme is gamified with Vitality status from Bronze to Platinum, as well as providing an extensive suite of partner benefits and weekly rewards to keep members motivated in the wellness journey. For more than a decade, AIA Vitality has been driving positive lifestyle changes inspiring members to stay on track and keep pace with their health, supporting them to lead healthier, longer, better lives. 71% of participating members have shown improved health outcomes, particularly in glucose levels.
How do you engage internal teams and business units in the sustainability agenda so that reporting reflects genuine performance, not just compliance?
Sustainability is woven into the way we work, communicate, and grow together. Each ESG pillar has clear priorities, and we bring these to life through engagement – campaigns, workshops, and storytelling that make sustainability personal and actionable. When team see how their work contributes to a larger purpose on creating a healthier environment and a thriving community, our reporting naturally becomes a testament to our shared purpose, and a reflection of the pride we take in shaping a better future together.
Many companies are still struggling to link sustainability KPIs with business results. How has your organisation made that connection visible in its strategy and disclosures?
At AIA Singapore, we are guided by our Purpose of helping people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. This commitment comes to life through our ESG strategy, built on five strategic pillars: Health and Wellness, Sustainable Investment, Sustainable Operations, People and Culture, and Effective Governance. These pillars aren’t just boxes to check; they guide us to make a positive difference for our employees, customers and communities.
We believe that delivering value goes beyond financial results. Our ESG strategy empowers us to create meaningful impact, ensuring every step we take aligns with our Purpose. By staying true to these pillars, we’re not only supporting the well-being of those we serve, but also inspiring a culture where sustainability is everyone’s responsibility—and where every action, big or small, helps build a healthier future for all.
Finally, what advice would you give to other sustainability professionals aspiring to reach ASRA-winning standards in their reports?
Start with clarity – knowing your purpose, your priorities, and how you’ll measure progress. A great sustainability report is built on clarity of purpose, data integrity, and honest reflection. Focus on the ongoing journey—demonstrate how your organisation embraces learning, adapts, and continuously amplifies its impact. Excellence emerges when collaboration thrives across all levels across the organisation and leaders champion the cause. When your narrative resonates with your purpose and is grounded in credible, meaningful data, your report will not only set the standard but also inspire others to follow your lead.
