WEBINAR: REALIZING VIETNAM'S RENEWABLE ENERGY PROMISE

Vietnam is in the process of updating its power plan (No 8) which is currently being discussed at government level whilst at the same time engaging in a solar power boom and the taking off of wind power industry. Join HKBAV for a forum of our distinguished panelists on past, present and future trends in Vietnam’s renewable energy.

SPEAKERS' INFORMATION

Denzel is the co-founder and Managing Director of Pioneer International Consulting (PIC) and manages the firm’s offices in Hanoi and Singapore.

PIC advises on investment into and the development of clean energy in Vietnam, with a particular focus on onshore and offshore wind and expertise in project strategy and development and Vietnam’s clean energy policy framework.

Denzel has over 17 years of experience working with both global financial institutions and leading law firms in both Europe and Asia. He previously worked with Clifford Chance LLP and during a 10 year career with the firm worked in London, Moscow, Tokyo and Bangkok.

He moved to Asia in 2008 and was based in Hanoi from 2010 to 2012, whilst seconded from Clifford Chance to the local law firm VILAF. He subsequently worked in the global project finance team at MUFG Bank in Tokyo and with HSBC in Hong Kong, focused on project finance and distressed debt.

Andrew brings with him more than twelve years of experience in the energy and utilities industry. He has a wealth of knowledge in company management, commercial structuring, business development, asset management and strategy development. He has also worked closely with multinational corporations and government and regulatory bodies in structuring deals and projects in Singapore, Southeast Asia and China.

Andrew has also held key managerial positions across Asia, which include the Deputy General Manager role to manage a joint venture unit in a full-fledged chemical industrial park in Shanghai. He is now CEO of Sembcorp Energy Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Vietnam - Singapore Smart Energy Solutions JSC (VSSES).
In 2018, Andrew spearheaded Sembcorp’s efforts to successfully expand its rooftop solar business into the residential space in Singapore by adding about 40 MWp of solar photovoltaic capacity to the company’s renewables portfolio.

Andrew is a graduate from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Logan Knox is the CEO of UPC Renewables Vietnam and has over a decade of experience in the renewables industry. Outside of Vietnam, he has lead or contributed to the development of over 1,000 MW of wind and solar projects across Southeast Asia and South Asia. Logan was most recently the Vice President of Operations for UPC Renewables Philippines. Prior to joining UPC, Logan held various lead positions in Siemens Wind Power, including managing the sales and execution of a combined value of >$1B USD of wind projects.  Logan graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville with a BA in International Business and Mandarin Chinese.

UPC Renewables is a leading global developer, constructor, and operator of renewable energy project. With more than 20 years experience in over a dozen countries, the UPC team consists of hundreds of highly proficient professionals that span across many fields of expertise including technical, financial, legal, environmental, construction, operations, and others. UPC formed companies have built an aggregate of 3GW+ and have financed an aggregate value of >$5 billion USD worth of projects. UPC Renewables entered the Vietnam market in 2017 and is currently constructing 60MW of wind projects and has >500MW in its development pipeline in the country.

Dr. Cheah Kuan Yean has been appointed as General Director of Becamex Hospitality and Becamex Hotels since 2014. Strong background, solid experience with over 35 years experiences in hotel operation, corporate businesses, restaurants chains to ensure high quality of services, standards and finance of his 02 hotels, 01 serviced residences and 01 convention center are delivered positively and consistently.  He has served various positions in many countries such as the UK, U.S, and Singapore such as The Raffles Hotel, Singapore, The Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, Somerset Chancellor Court.

With his management and entire team’s effort, couple of precious awards have been rewarded such as the ASEAN Quality Goods & Services 2015, Typical Best Hotel General Manager by Vietnam Tourism Association, Luxury Business Hotel 2018 by Travel Luxury Guide, Best City Hotel 2019 by Asia Pacific Tourism & Travel Federation, International 4 Star Hotel by International Properties Awards, just to name a few.

Apart from his daily role at the company, he is currently holding the position of the Leader for the Hospitality Management Track of Eastern International University (EIU), Binh Duong province since 2013. He had gained his degree of Ph.D of Business Administration of University of Newcastle, Australia in 2015.

Thanh Hai Nguyen is a special counsel based in Baker McKenzie's Hanoi office. He has been serving as Chair of the Legal Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi (AmCham Hanoi) since April 2017, as well as an active member in the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF)'s Power & Energy Working Group and Investment & Trade Working Group.

Hai's practice focuses on power, energy, infrastructure projects, and insurance business & financial services. He has extensive experience in advising on project development, licensing, construction, operation and related transactions. He is also active in a wide range of practice areas covering corporate, commercial, financial, licensing and regulatory compliance matters.

Active in the power and energy sector, he has advised on legal due diligence, M&A transactions, licensing, development and the operation of numerous power and energy projects across different provinces at different stages, from development, licensing, acquisition to financing, construction and operation of those projects.  He has been active in several regulatory programs in addressing regulatory and contractual improvements and amendments to Vietnamese laws and regulations on power and energy, infrastructure, climate change, environmental, clean technologies, energy efficiency in Vietnam.

Hai is an admitted lawyer in Vietnam and a member of the Hanoi Bar Association. He completed a U.S.A.-Law-Program at University of California, Davis School of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Hanoi Law University and another bachelor degree from Hanoi Foreign Trade University.

Fred Burke is a Senior Partner of Baker McKenzie, based in Vietnam. He has more than 30 years’ experience practicing in the areas of Renewable Energy, Project Finance, Foreign Investment & Securities, International Trade, Real Estate, Taxation & Customs, Hotels & Resorts and Dispute Resolution.

In addition to his experience in the renewable energy sector, assisting leading global solar and wind energy companies through all aspects of project development, financing, construction and operation, Fred also serves as a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Administrative Reform in Vietnam. He served as the Investment & Trade Working Group Chair for the Vietnam Business Forum for over a decade and joined the VBF Member’s Council in 2020. He has extensive experience working with Vietnam legislators and law drafting committees on the full range of new laws and decrees integrating Vietnam into the global economy.

Fred has more than 30 years’ experience in the planning, negotiation and operation of foreign trade and investment projects in Vietnam, as well as in the related issues of regulatory compliance, anti-corruption, insurance, labor, and arbitration. He has been consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in areas of Projects, Energy & Infrastructure, Corporate/M&A, International Trade and Real Estate over a number of year across all major legal publications.

Agenda (GMT +7):

10:30 – 10:40AM [10’]: Webinar introduction
By Ms. Winnie Lam, General Secretary of HKBAV

10:40 – 11:10AM [30’]: Presentations:  (Max 15 mix each speaker)
1. Vietnam Renewable Energy – market update and overview of the project development process
Mr. Denzel Eades, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Pioneer International Consulting
2. Powering Sustainability in Vietnam through Rooftop Solar Solutions
Mr. Andrew Toh, General Director, Vietnam-Singapore Smart Energy Solutions JSC (VSSES)

11:10 – 11:55AM [45’]: Panel discussion:

Panelists:    
- Mr. Logan Knox, General Director, UPC Renewables.
- Dr Cheah Kuan Yean, General Director, Becamex Hospitality.
- Mr. Denzel Eades, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Pioneer International Consulting.
- Mr. Andrew Toh, General Director, VSSES.
- Mr. Hai Nguyen, Special Counsel, Baker & McKenzie Vietnam.

Moderator:
Mr. Fred Burke, Managing Partner, Baker & McKenzie Vietnam.

11:55 – 12:00PM [05’]: Closing & Goodbye