100 WATER HEROES: DEBRA TAN

Director and Head of China Water Risk (CWR)

Debra Tan leads China Water Risk (CWR) in its mission to “foster efficient and responsible use of the China’s water resources by engaging the global business and investment communities in understanding and managing China’s water risk.” Launched in 2011, CWR has become a internationally respected institution in the water risk sector.

Prior to her involvement with water issues, Debra worked as a chartered accountant and investment banker. She has produced a number of reports for financial institutions that focus on the water risks surrounding the power, mining, agricultural and textiles industries. These reports “have been considered groundbreaking and instrumental in understanding not just China’s but future global water challenges.” Particularly notable was a report that resulted in the fashion industry nomination CWR as a finalist for the Global Leadership Awards in Sustainable Apparel. She is a renowned speaker who has delivered numerous key note addresses, as well as having been invited to join prestigious panel discussions, conferences and academic forums.

Under Debra’s leadership, CWR has focused on transforming China’s industrial and agricultural sectors to be environmentally sustainable, particularly because they are the country’s main polluters and make up over 80% of their overall water use. CWR’s long-term vision is to create “an investment and corporate universe that understands and responds to the inherent environmental and business risks of China’s water crisis, working together to ensure sustainable use of water resources.”

Debra is one of our #100WaterHeroes for leading China Water Risk as they seek to create industrial and agricultural sectors that are environmentally sustainable and water-conscious.

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