At the ACES Awards 2025 in Bali, the spotlight shone on Dr. Jayanthi Desan, a visionary sustainability strategist who was honored with the prestigious ESG Pioneer Award. This recognition celebrates her career-long dedication to guiding Asian organizations through the complexities of environmental, social, and governance shifts, transforming them into resilient, future-ready enterprises. Dr. Jayanthi’s impact extends far beyond traditional advisory; she has become a pivotal voice in Asian boardrooms, advocating for a fundamental shift in how businesses perceive their role in a changing world.
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During her acceptance remarks, Dr. Jayanthi delivered a compelling message to corporate leaders, identifying the inability to see the interconnectedness of the ESG landscape as a primary challenge for modern boards. She argued that issues like climate change, nature loss, and social inequality are not mere "extra-financial" concerns, but rather core drivers of capital cost, supply chain security, and talent retention. By reframing ESG as a strategic force rather than a compliance burden, she believes boards can harness these challenges as a competitive advantage. Her vision for the future involves a deep integration of climate technologies and real-time data systems tools that she asserts will redefine the very architecture of corporate profitability and market competition.
The ACES Awards, organized by MORS Group, paid tribute to Dr. Jayanthi’s transformative influence on the regional business landscape. MORS Group CEO Dr. Shanggari Balakrishnan noted that Dr. Jayanthi embodies the essence of an ESG Pioneer by bringing clarity to complexity and turning corporate responsibility into a source of competitive strength. As a premier platform that recognizes outstanding leadership and sustainability across 15+ countries, the ACES Awards continues to showcase achievers like Dr. Jayanthi who are setting the benchmarks for excellence and creating lasting value for generations to come.
