Share
Sustainable Ambassador Podcast
Making a Mid-Career Pivot into ESG & Sustainability
In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador podcast, we speak with Savills' Asia-Pacific Director of Sustainability and ESG Sam Crispin about his mid-career career pivot into sustainability and ESG.
A decision that dates back to his Bachelor's Degree dissertation, but was more recently catalyzed by a realization that the rest of his career was to be focused on promoting sustainable business practices in his industry.
Through our conversation, we speak about the "transition", his current role, and how his 25 years of experience in the same industry has helped him better engage internal/ external clients to better understand and adopt sustainable practices, toolsets, and business models.
Timestamps:
00:18 - Welcome to Sustainability Ambassador Podcast
00:49 - Sam Crispin introduction
01:20 - Transitioning into ESG role
01:45 - Sam's professional background
02:10 - Real estate and sustainability
02:50 - The built environment, energy and carbon emissions
04:05 - What an Sustainability & ESG Director does
05:11 - Leveraging strengths & trusting team as part of job
06:50 - Strategic vs. technical approach to the job
07:15 - Professional development (online courses, full time programs and certifications)
09:50 - Deciding to devote rest of career to sustainability & ESG
11:05 - What's the professional opportunity to transition into sustainability & ESG roles
11:55 - Advice to others looking to transition
12:55 - Professional development (online courses, full time programs and certifications)
15:55 - Advice to real estate professionals & students looking to transition into sustainability & ESG
About Sam Crispin:
Sam Crispin leads Savills sustainability and ESG internal reporting and external consultancy in the Asia-Pacific region.
He has more than 25 years' experience in city development in mainland China including a range of ESG-related topics such as sponge cities, healthcare and education projects.
His involvement in sustainability dates back to 1992 when his Bachelor's Degree dissertation covered the environmental and social costs and benefits of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's biggest hydropower project.
He is a Chartered Surveyor and has a Master's Degree in Corporate Environmental Governance from the University of Hong Kong.
Follow Sam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samcrispin
About Collective Responsibility
Based in Shanghai, Collective Responsibility is a strategic advisory firm founded by Richard Brubaker, one of Asia’s most recognized authorities on sustainability, innovation and responsible leadership.
Founded with the fundamental belief that a sustainable world can only be achieved through awareness of issues, finding tangibility in business cases, and development of cross-sector collaboration, Collective Responsibility acts as a knowledge base, catalyst, and facilitator between stakeholders.
Our mission is to:
– Create a knowledge base and catalyze discussion of issues related to the development of civil society, business sustainability and social development in Asia.
– Develop tangible interests, engagement, and action on issues of sustainability (economic, environmental and societal).
– Develop organizational capacity with the aim to help create stable and profitable enterprises.
Contact Us:
Social@coresponsibility.com
More episodes
View all episodes
Sustainability with Indigenous Knowledge and Leadership
42:23|In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Prabindra Shakya about Rethinking Sustainable Development with Indigenous Leadership — and why climate progress, energy transitions, and the Sustainable Development Goals must move beyond top-down technical models. Prabindra, a human rights and Indigenous rights defender with nearly two decades of experience, argues that sustainable development will only succeed when Indigenous leadership and traditional knowledge are placed at the center of decision-making.Drawing from his work in Nepal and across Asia, Prabindra explains how many modern development projects — from hydropower and mining to carbon markets — continue patterns of dispossession under the banner of progress. While the impacts are often local, the drivers are global: international finance, supply chains, and legal systems that fail to recognize Indigenous peoples as rights-holders.We explore what real balance looks like in the energy transition, why “green” solutions can still cause harm if communities are excluded, and how Indigenous-led energy and development models offer practical alternatives. The conversation also dives into the realities of advocacy — pushing multilateral banks, leveraging international standards, and securing small but meaningful wins for communities.If we are serious about climate action and equitable development, we must rethink sustainable development — and ensure Indigenous leadership shapes the path forward.
Indigenous Rights Must Be Core to Climate Solutions
43:55|In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Eriel Deranger of Indigenous Climate Action about why protecting Indigenous rights and lands must be central to any real climate solution.Through this discussion we unpack the tension between urgency and intention in climate action, why “inclusion” often becomes assimilation, and what it takes to build climate solutions that are equitable, durable, and grounded in real community power.This conversation is a call to look back in order to move forward—so we don’t rebuild the future using the same systems that created today’s crises.
How Climate Change and Pollution Impact the Heart
45:26|In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, I sit down with Professor Mark Miller of the University of Edinburgh to explore how climate change and pollution impact the heart — and what really happens inside the body when we’re exposed to environmental stress. From air pollution to rising temperatures, we unpack how a warming world is placing measurable strain on the cardiovascular system.For decades, we’ve known polluted air damages the lungs. But Mark’s research shows something deeper and more systemic: even short-term exposure to diesel exhaust can stiffen blood vessels, elevate blood pressure, and disrupt heart rhythms — effects that resemble years of accumulated cardiovascular stress. As climate change increases heatwaves and alters pollution patterns, these stressors don’t act alone. They interact.
Power of Benchmarks to Accelerate Corporate Action
33:38|In this episode, we speak with Gerbrand Haverkamp, Executive Director and co-founder of the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), about what benchmarking is for—and of the power benchmarks have to accelerate corporate action. Gerbrand explains why WBA was founded in the wake of the SDGs, how WBA translates evolving standards into comparable measures of performance, and how change happens through a mix of learning, pressure, and ultimately norm-setting. The conversation closes with a grounded message to sustainability leaders: focus on what actually reduces emissions, restores nature, and improves lives—because that’s what will stand the test of time.
Making Climate Progress in the Midwest
48:11|In this episode, we speak with Heather Navarro about her work at the Midwest Climate Collaboration to support a spectrum of stakeholders making climate progress in the Midwest.Through our discussion, we explore why the Midwest may be one of the most consequential regions in the world for climate progress — and why the most effective work happening there often doesn’t look like “climate action” at all.Along the way, you’ll hear practical lessons from the intersection of advocacy, governance, and implementation — including why solutions break down without the people who have to live with them, enforce them, and maintain them.
What If Sustainability Isn't Enough?
37:33|In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we dive into the concept of degrowth with John Mulrow, founder of the Degrowth Institute and adjunct professor at Purdue University, as a way to answer the question "What if sustainability isn't enough?" A question many sustainability professionals have begin to reflect on as they seek to better understand true impact of their work—and question whether efficiency gains and carbon reductions are enough— at the same time the topic of degrowth is emerging as a conversation about what the wider goals should be.John unpacks what degrowth really means—beyond the buzzword—and why it's essential for achieving ecological sustainability and social justice. We explore the shortcomings of traditional sustainability frameworks, the role of economic savings in fueling further consumption, and how professionals and organizations can begin to challenge the growth paradigm in their own work. With thoughtful insights into equity, historical responsibility, and systems thinking, this episode pushes us to reimagine prosperity in a world of limits.
The Conservative Case for Climate Action
34:03|In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, Rich Brubaker speaks with Bob Inglis, former U.S. Congressman and founder of republicEn.org, about the growing opportunity for conservative leadership in the fight against climate change. The conversation explores the cultural and linguistic barriers that have historically kept conservatives from engaging with the climate movement—and how those are beginning to shift. Bob shares his personal journey, explains how conservatives view climate risk and solutions, and outlines why pricing mechanisms and free enterprise are central to a conservative climate strategy. Throughout the episode, Bob challenges both sides to overcome outdated narratives and come together around pragmatic, economically sound climate action.
Recalibrating Sustainability: Returning to First Principles
39:27|In this episode, Nicole Martens, Head of Impact Advisory at a South Africa–based think tank and consultancy, reflects on the current state of sustainability and the need to return to first principles. She shares her career journey in sustainability and finance, her perspective on the recent recalibration in the field, and the risks of commitments built on assumptions. Nicole discusses sector-specific challenges, the balance between local and global approaches, the role of finance in shaping outcomes, and the importance of credibility, accountability, and evidence-based strategies. She also offers guidance for professionals on how to navigate the pullback with pragmatism and purpose.