Esther Lee is a Senior Sustainability Consultant at global consultancy firm ERM, which has its Southeast Asia headquarters located in Singapore. The company expanded its team in 2024 to accelerate growth in the region, with comprehensive training and mentorship given to its local workforce to help them build capabilities across different sustainability domains. Esther holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Geography with a minor in Geoscience from the National University of Singapore.

 

1. Tell us about what you do at ERM.

As a senior consultant in ERM’s corporate sustainability and climate change team, I collaborate with clients on a wide range of projects, covering areas like climate risk and greenhouse gas emission assessments, as well as decarbonisation strategy. Over the past five years, we’ve seen many corporates start measuring their sustainability impact and setting ambitious targets to achieve but implementation hurdles remain the biggest obstacle for them. Companies don’t always know how to get there and that’s where we step in — you can see us like a coach or a guide whose job is to help companies on their sustainability journeys.

I like to say we work “from boots to the boardroom”. That means we advise top executives on big-picture strategies and work with teams on the ground to execute them. Our work can differ from client to client, depending on which stage they are at in their sustainability journey. Sometimes it’s about helping them measure their carbon footprint or modelling ways to cut emissions. Other times, it’s about integrating environmental and social considerations into their investment decisions, checking if their targets and plans are realistic, or making sure their actions stand up to scrutiny from regulators, investors and the public. In this role, every day brings something different: a new client, a new sector, a new framework, or even a new regulation. This keeps me on my toes and I’m constantly learning.

2. How did you end up in this role at ERM?

My passion for sustainability started back in university, where I explored stints in different areas, from marine biology research and conservation to urban planning and even sustainability startups. That freedom to experiment solidified my interest in climate change-related issues and gave me clarity on the kind of challenges I wanted to tackle in the world. To that end, I spent the early part of my career with an economic agency in Singapore, working with high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises in sustainable energy. It was a fascinating role but I wanted to go one step further.

I’ve always been drawn to working with the movers and shakers of the world, and ERM offered me the opportunity to do just that. The company counts over half of the Fortune 500 as part of its clientele, and working on impactful projects with these influential companies means our results actually move the needle. What’s especially meaningful for me as well is how we help embed science-based thinking into their strategies while advancing the global net zero transition. In a way, it feels like I’ve come full circle — I started by studying how ecosystems were impacted and now I work with global companies to strategise and implement initiatives that can effect tangible change at scale.

3. What have you learnt through your experience at ERM and how has the company supported your career growth?

Having the support of experienced colleagues when I was starting out made a huge difference and gave me the confidence to take on new challenges. Within my first few weeks, I was working on a greenhouse gas project with the guidance of our consultants from Vietnam and Thailand. I’ve come to realise that no one can be a holistic expert alone. Working in global teams means that I can turn to someone who has deep expertise in areas I’m less familiar with most of the time. This makes the work both collaborative and enriching. In addition, I get to be part of large-scale international projects serving global clients.

What I’ve learnt over the years is that it’s not just about the numbers — a big part of our work actually involves change management and education. For business leaders, it does make a difference when you speak their language. Instead of only framing climate change as an environmental and existential crisis, we talk about returns on investments, profits and risk. The urgency becomes real when we position the issue as one that poses near- and long-term risks to their operations, markets and bottom line. Our role is to bridge that gap, translating climate science into business terms so that action becomes inevitable.

In ERM, I’ve also had the freedom to participate in courses that align with my interests and professional goals. For instance, the company sponsored my first greenhouse gas course, ISO 14064, and Global Reporting Initiative training. Most recently, I’ve been taking a life cycle assessment course with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to deepen my knowledge in Scope 3 accounting, life cycle analysis, and environmental product declarations.

4. What’s most exciting to you about the sustainability landscape and what advice do you have for young Singaporeans who are keen to embark on a career in this field?

Sustainability is increasingly a core business priority, especially for companies in Asia-Pacific. Even amid a global slowdown, sustainable investment continues to grow and emerging regional alignment around sustainable finance taxonomies is helping to create a more coherent market for such activities. What excites me most is seeing the ecosystem mature rapidly in areas like financial markets and regulatory frameworks. This creates tremendous opportunities for meaningful action and leadership both in Singapore and globally.

For young Singaporeans, sustainability offers a unique chance to work at the intersection of business, science, and policy. It’s an area where expertise can have tangible impact, whether in helping companies transition to net zero, shaping sustainable finance, or driving the implementation of clean technologies.

My advice is to stay humble, curious and well-read as the field is constantly evolving. Don’t be afraid to dive into the technical and scientific details, as a solid understanding of these issues will set you apart. Your stakeholders or clients will come to respect that. Equally important is understanding your audience. Always ask yourself: why does this matter to them beyond the environmental impact? Framing sustainability in terms of business value, social impact, or tangible outcomes will make your work more compelling and actionable.