KUALA LUMPUR, 10 December 2025 – The ESG PLUS Awards 2025 marked a milestone of celebration of sustainable excellence in Asia bringing together more than 300 corporate leaders, CEOs, founders, investors, policymakers, and sustainability practitioners from across the region, marking one of the region’s most significant celebrations of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) excellence.
Held at Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur, the ceremony was officiated by YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Deputy Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, the event honoured organisations and individuals who are shaping the future of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) leadership in a rapidly evolving global economy.
This year’s Awards saw an overwhelming 400+ nominations, reflecting the rapid rise of ESG-driven commitment across sectors including energy, technology, healthcare, finance, F&B, tourism, real estate, education, and community development.
About ESG PLUS: Positive Leadership. Understanding Sustainability
As one of Asia’s emerging ESG recognition platforms, the ESG PLUS Awards embraces the philosophy of “Positive Leadership. Understanding Sustainability.” The Awards recognise those who demonstrate measurable impact, strong governance, social responsibility, innovation, and long-term commitment to sustainable value creation. This year’s edition received more than 400 nominations across diverse industries, reflecting the growing corporate commitment toward ESG transformation throughout the region. “PLUS” represents the foundation of the Awards:
P – Positive Leadership
L – Long-Term Value Creation
U – Understanding Sustainability
S – Stakeholder Impact
The platform honours those who demonstrate meaningful progress, measurable outcomes, and a vision for a more responsible and resilient future for Asia.
Celebrating 55 Outstanding Award Recipients
A total of 55 awards were presented to exemplary leaders and organisations. Among the distinguished recipients were:
- Leslie Gomez, The Olive Tree Group – Sustainable Leadership in F&B Award
- Izzana Salleh, Project Girls for Girls (G4G) – Women Empowerment & Social Impact Award
- Dato’ Franky Chua, Mangala Estate – ESG Changemaker in Environmental Restoration Award
- Dato’ Simon Foong, Aquawalk Berhad – Honorary Impact Award, Marine Sustainability & Conservation
Other honourees included influential organisations and emerging leaders from across Asia, each demonstrating how ESG strengthens competitiveness, community impact, and enterprise resilience.
ESG Leadership Dialogue: “The ESG Balancing Act: Profit, People & Planet in Today’s Economy”
One of the highlights of the programme was the ESG Leadership Dialogue, themed:
“The ESG Balancing Act: Profit, People & Planet in Today’s Economy.”
This high-impact conversation explored how modern organisations can balance commercial objectives with societal expectations and environmental stewardship — and how leaders must integrate ESG into business strategy, operations, culture, and stakeholder engagement.
The panel featured respected industry leaders, including:
- Leslie Gomez, Founder, The Olive Tree Group
- Penny Choo, Co-Founder, BloomThis
- Chong Kai Wooi, CEO, OCK Digital Sdn Bhd
- Norhisham Abd Bahrin, Partner, Azmi & Associates
- Daryl Foong, CEO, Aquawalk Berhad
- Dato’ Franky Chua, Managing Director & Founder of Franky Group of Companies
Their discussion offered practical insights, case studies, and lessons learned from implementing ESG principles across diverse sectors.
ESG PLUS Awards 2025 was further strengthened by the support of three strategic partners and judges: Convene ESG, Heng Cheng Zin of Baker Tilly Malaysia as the Advisory & ESG Assurance Partner; and ESG Association Malaysia (ESGAM). Their contributions enhanced the credibility and benchmarking standards of the Awards evaluation framework.
A Celebration of Progress, Purpose & Collective Responsibility
The ESG PLUS Awards 2025 underscored a powerful regional shift: sustainability is now a strategic cornerstone of business competitiveness, investor confidence, and long-term value creation.
Chairwoman of the ESG PLUS Awards 2025, Puan Sri Dato’ Akmal Abdul Salam, applauded all recipients, stating that the awardees “exemplify how purpose-driven leadership can reshape industries, uplift communities, and accelerate Asia’s journey towards a more responsible, resilient and human-centred future.”
The event concluded on a celebratory note, reaffirming that sustainability is no longer a peripheral initiative but a strategic imperative for organisations aiming to thrive amid global challenges and rising stakeholder expectations.
