(Eco-Business) – The World Economic Forum (WEF) has appointed senior Temasek executive Neo Gim Huay to head up a unit designed to accelerate climate action and environmental sustainability.

Neo, who is currently managing director of climate change strategy at Temasek International, takes on the position of head of WEF’s Centre for Nature and Climate, starting on 1 January.

The Centre of Nature and Climate brings together public and private sectors and civil society to collaborate on ways to tackle complex systems such as food, the circular economy, global value chains, climate change, environment and natural resource security.

Neo also joins the management board at WEF, bringing several decades of experience in the public and private sectors to the organisation.

Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, said in a statement that Neo’s hire would “ensure the Forum’s continued leadership position at the forefront of developing innovative partnerships and solutions to progressing the global environmental agenda”.

Neo has led Temasek’s sustainability and climate strategy for the past decade, and has been involved in policy development, impact investing, as well as capability building and stakeholder engagement.
 
Before joining Singapore’s state investor in 2012, Neo was a management consultant with McKinsey, working on strategy and operations across several sectors. She has also worked in the scenario planning office of the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as the Singapore Embassy in Washington, D.C.