Steward Leadership for Sustainable Businesses

At the Steward Leadership Summit 2025, organised by Stewardship Asia Centre, leaders explored how values-led strategies drive long-term performance. In the panel “Steward Leadership for Business Longevity,” Mr Bey Soo Khiang, Vice Chairman of RGE and Chairman of APRIL Group, discussed how stewardship, science, and disciplined execution can help organisations sustain resilience amid a shifting global landscape.

“RGE has been operating over the past 50 years with the purpose of improving lives by managing resources responsibly.” Mr Bey detailed how this purpose is operationalised through the 5Cs – making sure everything we do is Good for Community, Country, Climate, Customer, and Company. The RGE group of companies internalises this purpose and sets a decade-long roadmap across decarbonisation, climate solutions, inclusive progress, and sustainable growth through their respective 2030 goals. Continuous updates reflecting new knowledge and best practices ensure that our businesses continue to be relevant amid changing environmental and geopolitical situations.

RGE Vice Chairman Bey Soo Khiang discusses how stewardship, science, and disciplined execution can help create sustainable businesses resilient to shifting global orders.

Evidence, Data, and Transparency

“We do business based on data and evidence, so we know where we come from, and where we are going.” A data-centric approach underpins all decisions. RGE invested in four greenhouse gas (GHG) flux towers to measure emissions, with 5-year mid-point results published in a peer-reviewed paper in Nature, the world’s leading scientific journal.

With a governance mindset of total transparency, RGE frequently hosts bankers, officials, and stakeholders to see operations firsthand. “If you don’t believe what we say, believe what you see for yourself on the ground,” said Mr Bey.

At APRIL for instance, since 2013, an Independent Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) with leaders from business, forestry, and social sectors has overseen a Sustainable Forest Management Policy, supported by annual audits by KPMG Canada and open reporting. If issues arise, the approach is straightforward: verify on the ground, acknowledge errors, and rectify them, reinforcing credibility through evidence and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Sustaining Commitments Need Reliable Funding Mechanisms

To ensure durable sustainability impact, RGE integrates funding into its operations. For example at APRIL, for every tonne of wood delivered to the mill, US$1 goes toward conservation, securing consistent, year-on-year support for critical projects such as Restorasi Ekosistem Riau, an area more than twice the size of Singapore.

“The very reason we have a purpose is to always be able to go back to it, and make sure we are holding true to our North Star,” Mr Bey emphasised. Even amid global tensions and geopolitical uncertainties, RGE is structured to dedicate long-term resources to sustainability, staying the course on its commitments.

Reflecting on joining RGE as an executive 14 years ago, Mr Bey is clear on the first order of business: “Our job is to first define what ‘good’ looks like,” he explained. This is then translated into tangible policies with measurable outcomes.

By embedding these policies into the company’s frameworks and employee KPIs, RGE has built a stewardship model capable of navigating external changes and challenges, ensuring that shared values and purpose remain steadfast over the long run.

Learn more about our core values and 5Cs philosophy: Our Core Values – RGE Core Values