Leaders Champion Inclusive Workplaces at CFA Institute Inclusion Summit 2025

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, hosted its first Singapore Inclusion Summit on 24 November in collaboration with CFA Society Singapore and supported by GIC. The event brought together some 200 leaders from across the Asia-Pacific financial services industry to explore “Inclusion as a Driver of Collective Intelligence” and the role of inclusive workplaces in driving innovation and resilience.

Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Mr. Desmond Tan, delivered the keynote address, highlighting Singapore’s commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces that strengthen social cohesion and drive economic growth.

“Workplace diversity strengthens human capital, and inclusion transforms that strength into progress. By creating environments where every worker feels valued, we attract and retain talent, boost innovation, and build trust. These qualities keep our workforce adaptable and future-ready, ensuring meaningful contributions to Singapore’s continued success,” said Mr. Desmond Tan. 

Read the full speech here:  Keynote Address by NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan at CFA Inclusion Summit 2025.

Inclusion as a Driver of Collective Intelligence

The Summit featured two engaging panel discussions that explored the evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across the investment profession and the impact of emerging technologies on workplace culture. Senior leaders from global investment firms, technology companies, and asset owners shared practical insights on embedding inclusion into organizational strategy and leadership behaviors.

The first panel, “A New Narrative for DEI,” explored how leading organizations are reframing DEI from a compliance-based initiative to a driver of business value. Speakers discussed the growing influence of the younger generation in shaping purpose-led workplace cultures and how mentorship and lifelong learning can help prepare future leaders. The debate underscored that inclusion is increasingly seen as a foundation for innovation, trust, and long-term success.

The second panel, “Future and AI Trends in DEI: What’s Next?”, examined how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming both investment decision-making and talent management. Industry experts highlighted the importance of addressing AI bias and ensuring technology enhances, rather than replaces, human judgment. Speakers agreed that human empathy, ethical design, and collaboration between industry, government, and academia is critical to ensuring that AI supports equity and opportunity.

Sarah Maynard, ASIP, Global Senior Head, Inclusion, CFA Institute, said:

“Inclusion is rapidly becoming a core global business capability. Around the world, firms are moving from just talking about diversity to purposefully measuring inclusion and developing a deeper understanding of how people contribute, feel valued and collaborate to create better business outcomes. Singapore sees inclusion as both a social and strategic advantage, recognizing that collective intelligence is a key source of innovation in an increasingly complex world.”

The Summit builds on the momentum delivered by the 2024 launch in Singapore of the CFA Institute Inclusion Code. The voluntary Code provides a six-Principles framework that helps organizations measure, report, and improve inclusion outcomes through actions such as broadening talent pipelines, equitable hiring, and leadership accountability.

Cindy Tan, CFA, CA (Singapore), Chair of the Inclusion Code Singapore Working Group and CEO at GMO Singapore, added: 

“Singapore offers a real-world example of how diversity can power innovation, with our mix of generations, cultures, and industries providing a living model of inclusion in practice. Through the Inclusion Code, organizations across the finance industry are turning intent into measurable progress - from equitable hiring and leadership accountability to data-driven transparency. What we’ve seen in the conversations at this Summit reflect a real, meaningful shift: inclusion is increasingly recognized as a strategic lever for competitiveness and sustainable growth within the investment profession.”