Louise Tong making an impact
I genuinely have no idea where it comes from, but ever since I was really young I’ve always cared about the environment. I remember when I was head girl at school, my speech at the final prize giving was all about treading lightly on the planet. Then, at university, I made all my friends’ flats keep their recycling which I’d pick up and take to a recycling centre. This was way before curbside recycling. They thought I was mad!
I studied engineering at university. I love maths and physics. Even though I was studying it, I knew it didn’t necessarily mean I had to become an engineer. When I graduated I got offered a job at one of the banks. The world of finance fascinates me. And actually there are lots of parallels with engineering - they both use maths, problem solving and logic. I had a great time there, learned so much and that’s where I met lots of my best friends.
One of my clients was the head of the treasury function at an energy company. She was leaving and recommended me for her replacement. It was the right time for a change and an opportunity to get a bit closer to making an impact environmentally. I got to work on some incredible projects like issuing green bonds, accelerating the uptake of EVs and getting involved in a Commerce Commission review of the lines companies.
And now after three kids and 30 years, I’m back at the same bank I joined as a grad, as their GM Sustainable Finance which we call Toitū Pūtea. It's a chance to take what I was doing at the energy company and apply it across the whole economy which is so exciting. It also feels a bit like coming home. Who I work with and for is really important to me. I love this role because it’s a huge challenge. It’s a new area of focus for the bank, so I can make it my own and I’m coming in at a level where I can make an impact. We’re doing some cool stuff like linking funding to outcomes, for example, lower interest rates for improved environmental outcomes. This is picking up the recycling on steroids!
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