by Panichat Kitisittichai, SasinSEC  Picture: Khun Vasu Srivibha with SasinSEC team members Panichat Kitisittichai and Cady Wang Pursuant to an ESG digital platform collaboration underway between SasinSEC and Claris EA, we interviewed Vasu Srivibha, Chief Impact Officer and Head of Accreditation, Sasin School of Management. Khun Vasu is also Vice Chair and Head of Signatory & UN Global Compact Engagement, PRME[1] Chapter ASEAN+. With over ten years of experience in the field, Khun Vasu is a fount of knowledge and expertise. He highlighted important aspects of ESG reporting, including the significance of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as the most widely used and recognized disclosure standard. He discussed its pros and cons drawing from his experience preparing an ESG report for one of Thailand’s largest banks in 2013. Based on that experience, Khun Vasu emphasized the necessity for a streamlined and aggregated data collection system to allow companies to find answers to sustainability questions promptly and comprehensively. The need to minimize duplicate work for different standards came up repeatedly, and such a repository would be a step in the right direction. This repository would also help address challenges in incorporating ESG thinking into company strategy and decision-making processes. With a focus on Asia and Thailand, Khun Vasu believed this approach could be a significant differentiator, allowing companies to navigate the ESG landscape more effectively. His insights added to an understanding of the challenges faced by regional companies. Khun Vasu concluded by reiterating the concept of materiality and the crucial role it plays in ESG assessment, reporting, and strategy. His insights displayed deep understanding and shed light on the gap between the Thai corporate landscape trying to embrace ESG principles on the one hand, and the evidence of measurable, meaningful impact, on the other.