Even before graduating, second-year accountancy undergraduate Harpreet Kaur Gill has already turned classroom theories into real-world impact.
She co-authored a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report presented at the Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2024, offering guidelines for banks and financial institutions to balance economic growth and infrastructure developments – such as hydropower, irrigation and transportation – with nature conservation.
“Rapid infrastructure developments, if not managed sustainably, can quietly destroy ecosystems,” says the 20-year-old Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) student. “It was exhilarating to see my work contribute to global discussions on sustainable infrastructure finance.”
A 10-month internship with WWF-Singapore in 2024 offered Harpreet the perfect stage to immerse herself in research, uncovering the intricate links between financial institutions, environmental challenges and evolving regulatory demands.
“It was exhilarating to see my work contribute to global discussions on sustainable infrastructure finance.”
– Harpreet Kaur Gill, recipient of the Temasek Foundation Sunburst Scholarship
Her invaluable experience with WWF was made possible, thanks to the flexible curriculum at SUSS which allowed her to strike a balance between academics and on-the-job training.
By condensing her coursework into three days a week, she had the flexibility to dedicate one-and-a-half days to her internship, gaining hands-on industry exposure while staying on top of her studies.
“I am really grateful that SUSS has given me the chance to take on so many opportunities,” she adds.
Harpreet has always loved telling stories through numbers. Her interest in environmentalism was sparked in primary school when she joined the Green Club.
“We had our own little green farm where we cultivated vegetables under special ultraviolet lights,” she recalls.
Growing up in an era of rapid climate change, this passion deepened as she became more aware of global issues through school, social media and the news. “We read about natural disasters, wildfires and rising temperatures every day,” she says.
For her and her peers, sustainability is not just a distant concern – it is a pressing issue they feel personally responsible for. “It is not hard to convince people my age about the importance of protecting our planet. Many of us already understand how crucial it is to mitigate climate change,” she adds.
This early exposure to environmental conservation sparked Harpreet’s interest in the interdisciplinary field of sustainable finance, where she could make use of her analytical and mathematical skills to tackle real-world challenges.
“I found I could blend what I knew with what I saw as the future of sustainability,” says Harpreet.
Encouraged by her parents to take proactive steps to achieve her dreams, she secured an internship with WWF-Singapore to gain hands-on experience in sustainable infrastructure finance in her first year at SUSS.
She also applied for and received the Temasek Foundation Sunburst Scholarship in the same year which covers tuition fees at university, provides a $5,000 yearly allowance and is bond-free.
Through the scholarship, Harpreet has access to alumni connections and mentorships that can help open doors for her future career.
She also stays connected with fellow scholars via a Telegram chat group, where they share curriculum advice and provide emotional support to navigate the challenges of university life.
With her WWF internship completed, Harpreet is now on the lookout for other roles to further strengthen her expertise in sustainable finance while she continues studying.
Starting from her third year, she will complete 60 hours of sustainability-focused community service as part of her scholarship, further developing her portfolio.
During her university breaks, she has taken various online courses – including a fintech class offered by United Women Singapore – to deepen her knowledge in finance and investment management.
When she enters the workforce, Harpreet is excited to help companies meet their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals through green financing, investing in green infrastructure, or by helping them reduce their carbon emissions.
However, she acknowledges much of her work will remain behind the scenes and that sustainable investment projects often take years to deliver visible results.
To keep herself motivated, Harpreet draws inspiration from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s speech at Ecosperity Week 2024, Temasek’s annual sustainability event.
His call for urgent action on climate, water and biodiversity crises resonated with her, particularly his focus on how green initiatives drive economic growth, create jobs, enhance agriculture and improve public health by reducing pollution.
“Sustainable investments reap immense benefits over the long-term,” she says. “I remain hopeful, knowing there are so many sustainability leaders and youth climate activists who are passionate about the cause.
“By prioritising our environment, we can shape a future that is not only preserved but also better than what we see today.”
