
The single-minded push towards clean energy is increasingly moderated by pragmatism and politics, presenting a new paradigm for energy transition. Political changes, especially in the US and Europe, are influencing the pace and direction of the energy transition. The Trump administration is expected to support oil, gas, and nuclear while scaling back incentives for EVs and wind.
On the other hand, Europe's need for defence spending is a competing priority with grid decarbonisation. In Asia, energy security, affordability, and economic growth are driving a pragmatic approach-balancing renewables expansion with continued reliance on gas and coal, and a growing focus on "just transitions" for affected communities.
What does this mean for investors? Does clean energy still have a role to play in the global energy supply? How can fossil fuels be considered part of energy transition?
Global Chief Investment Officer, Bank of Singapore
Jean Chia is Bank of Singapore’s Global CIO, responsible for the house view across Macroeconomics, Investment Strategy, FX, Equity & Fixed Income Research, as well as Discretionary Portfolio Management (DPM), Advisory Portfolio Management (APM) and Funds Selection teams at Bank of Singapore. Jean is a member of Bank of Singapore’s Global Management Committee and chairs the Bank’s Sustainable Investment Governance Committee. She also chairs the board of directors for BOS International Fund, Luxembourg and the OCBC Wealth Panel.
Jean has over 25 years of experience in Private Banking and Asset Management. She was previously Head, Equities Advisory & Sales, responsible for the equities and derivatives business at Bank of Singapore, and Head of Client Advisory Services for Equities, Investment Products & Services at UBS Wealth Management, Singapore. Prior to UBS, she was Vice President, Head of Grassroots Research at Allianz Dresdner Asset Management (now known as Allianz Global Investors).
Jean graduated with an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from University of Oxford, UK. She is currently on the Development Advisory Board of St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford.
Jean holds a Sustainable Finance certification from Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership (CISL). She is a Financial Women’s Association of Singapore (FWA) Female Champion and the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) Fellow for Private Banking and Wealth Management. Jean is a Director on the Board of Mandai Nature, the conservation arm established by Mandai Wildlife Group and Temasek.
Head of Funds Selection, Bank of Singapore
Yazid is the Head of Funds Selection at Bank of Singapore and he plays a key role in developing the funds platform and ESG framework for funds in the Bank.
He has over a decade of experience in the institutional investment space in which he was primarily responsible for the external fund management and asset allocation in a sovereign wealth fund in Brunei.
He graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MPhil in Economics. He is also a CFA Charterholder and obtained the Certificate in ESG Investing from CFA.
Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, BlackRock
Alastair Bishop, Managing Director, is a Portfolio Manager within the Thematics & Sectors team for the Fundamental Equity division of BlackRock's Portfolio Management Group. Mr. Bishop leads the team's energy investment pod and co-manages both traditional energy related strategies (e.g. BGF World Energy, BGF Natural Resources) and energy transition thematic strategies (e.g. BGF Sustainable Energy, BGF Future of Transport).
Alastair sits on BlackRock’s Climate Infrastructure Investment Committee and the EMEA Investment Stewardship Advisory Committee. He has also represented BlackRock on several external initiatives related to the energy transition including the City of London’s Green Finance Initiative (2016-17) and the UK Government’s Capital Markets Climate Initiative (2013-14).
Mr. Bishop joined BlackRock in 2010 from Piper Jaffray where he was a Senior Research Analyst covering Clean Technology. Prior to joining Piper Jaffray in 2009, he covered the Renewable Energy and Industrial sectors for 8 years at the European Investment Bank, Dresdner Kleinwort.
Mr. Bishop earned a BSc honors degree in Economics from the University of Nottingham in 2001.
Senior Client Portfolio Manager, Pictet Asset Management
Jennifer Boscardin-Ching joined Pictet Asset Management in 2020 as Client Portfolio Manager in the Thematic Equities team.
Prior to joining Pictet, Jennifer worked as a Strategy Manager at RWE Renewables, headquartered in Germany. In this capacity she supported the company Board and CEO in making strategic decisions on how to steer the business within the global clean energy markets, as well as analysed the clean energy landscape for regulatory, technology and competitor movements and trends. Prior to RWE Jennifer worked as a sustainability consultant in the international events and tourism industry, focusing on supply chain sustainability, waste management, and ESG reporting.
Jennifer holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California Los Angeles, and a dual Master’s degree in Environment and Energy Management from Sciences Po Paris and Columbia






