Bridging the Critical Leadership Talent Gap in Asia

Today there is an urgent need for leadership talent in Asia to drive sustainable business growth. Companies operating across global value chains face a pressing need to develop the next generation of sustainability minded business leaders.

We assembled top leaders in a virtual event on talent development for sustainable trade, co-hosted by the Hinrich Foundation and the Global Chamber®.

The recording is available HERE.

According to the Harvard Business Review: “The 10 ASEAN members are projected to be the fourth-largest global economy by 2050. But if ASEAN businesses are going to capitalize on this new scale, the must contend with a scarcity of available leadership talent in the region.”

Competition for skilled leadership talent is intense, and there is a gap in the market between the career readiness of graduates and ever-changing business needs. The challenge that firms must overcome is how to attract, retain and develop the leadership talent needed to drive company growth in a sustainable manner. An effective way to meet this challenge is through reimagined industry-led engagement with higher education institutions.

We brought together Asia-based experts Warrick Cleine – CEO of KPMG Vietnam & Cambodia, Zoe Dodge of Allbirds and Prof. Gael McDonald of RMIT University for their insights into how stakeholders can work together for employer-led solutions for talent leadership development.

Keynote Speakers

Zoe Dodge - Asia Production Head & Country Manager Vietnam, Allbirds

Warrick Cleine - Chairman & CEO, KPMG – Vietnam and Cambodia

Prof. Gael McDonald - Professor Emeritus Global Development Portfolio of RMIT University

Alex Boome - Program Director at the Hinrich Foundation

Summary Biographies

Zoe Dodge - Asia Production Head & Country Manager Vietnam, Allbirds. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Zoe is the Head of Production in Asia at Allbirds, a start-up that designs and sells footwear using sustainable materials. As the company’s first employee in Vietnam, Zoe is responsible for overseeing production in Asia and growing an organization from the ground up. Her focus is managing sustainable footwear and apparel production across China, South Korea, and Vietnam. In her role, she ensures production with the lowest possible impact to the environment, using natural materials and focusing on regenerative sustainability. Prior to her current role, Zoe was the Country Director and Legal Representative for VF Asia in Vietnam from 2019. In this role, she managed 120 people in the footwear, apparel and equipment department, and was directly accountable for sourcing through 150 CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) approved factories with a combined FOB (Free On Board) value of $1.2 billion annually. Previously, she worked for adidas in Vietnam as a Senior Director for Development of Manufacturing Innovation and Senior Director for Development of Footwear and Apparel in its headquarters in Germany. Zoe has expertise helping footwear brands in the United Kingdom with Asia sourcing following on from a decade of experience as Footwear Development Manager for Nike and Reebok in China.

**Warrick Cleine - Chairman & CEO, KPMG – Vietnam and Cambodia.**Warrick is the Managing Partner of Deals, Tax and Legal, and Chairman and CEO of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia. He has been a Tax advisor in Vietnam for over 20 years and is recognized as one of Vietnam’s leading tax professionals. He began his tax advisory career upon graduation in 1992 and moved to Vietnam 1998. He has extensive knowledge and experience in Vietnam of taxation advisory and compliance, tax dispute resolution, corporate governance, and structuring issues, and has advised on numerous corporate transactions in Vietnam and Cambodia. His clients include major international corporations operating in Vietnam from Europe, Asia and the United States, in the financial services, manufacturing, natural resources, technology and consumer goods industries. Outside of KPMG, Mr Cleine is Chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Chairman of British Corporate Advocacy Council in Vietnam, and Adjunct Industry Professor in the School of Business & Management, RMIT Vietnam University.

Gael McDonald - Professor Emeritus Global Development Portfolio of RMIT University. Professor Gael McDonald is Professor Emeritus Global Development Portfolio of RMIT University. She served as President of RMIT Vietnam from 2014 to 2019. Previously, she was Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Business and Law at Deakin University and Secretary of the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC). Professor McDonald’s senior management experience has included being Vice President International, Vice President of Research, Dean of Business and Professor of Business Ethics at Unitec, New Zealand. She is also a past President of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) and has three times been a member of the National New Zealand Performance Based Research Fund Panel in Business and Economics (PBRF). She was appointed a member of the Australian Research Quality Framework Panel for Economics, Commerce and Management and is the Life fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM).

Alex Boome - Program Director at the Hinrich Foundation. Alex has 30 years’ experience creating business and education opportunities in global trade. Prior to the Hinrich Foundation, Alex worked in regional roles with Global Sources Media Group, a business-to-business trade facilitator between suppliers in Asia and buyers worldwide. He has been living and working in Asia since 1987.

Moderator

Colin Christie, Executive Director

Global Chamber® Manila

Colin Christie is an international consultant, connector and collaborator. He is CEO/founder of the firm Sibol Consultancy Services and Executive Director of the Global Chamber® Manila, which helps member and sponsor companies grow globally.

Global Chamber® is a thriving, collaborating and growing community of CEOs, executives, professionals and students in 500 metro areas around the world that is lowering risk and increasing success with global business. Originally from South Africa, raised in Hong Kong, and 30+ years in the USA, Colin now resides in Metro Manila, Philippines and is passionate about helping companies be more global and successful.

About The Hinrich Foundation

The Hinrich Foundation is a unique Asia-based philanthropic organization that works to advance mutually beneficial and sustainable global trade. We support original research and education programs that build understanding and leadership in global trade. Our approach is independent, fact-based and objective.