Bridging Ambition and Reality: Melissa Brown’s Take on Transition Finance in Southeast Asia

This interview was originally published on the Southeast Asia Information Platform for the Energy Transition.

As Southeast Asia enters 2025, the urgency to align the energy systems in rapidly-growing countries with their net-zero ambitions is more pressing than ever. Ten years after the signing of the Paris Cimate Agreement, the financial sector (banks, investors, and development financing institutions) across Southeast Asia is clearly focusing on understanding how to support investments that contributed to decarbonization in energy generation as well as across end users in the commercial and industrial sectors. Transition finance has emerged as a critical enabler for decarbonization, bridging the gap between the reality of today’s fossil-based economies and the clean energy future that governments, businesses, and communities aspire to achieve, and that governments and corporations have committed to realize, through their net-zero commitments. 

SIPET Connect is proud to continue its Transition Finance Series with Melissa Brown, Director at Daobridge Capital. With more than three decades of experience as a power sector analyst across Asia, Melissa is a leading voice in shaping financial strategies that drive energy transitions. Her career spans roles as Director of Asia Finance Studies at IEEFA1 and Managing Director at Citigroup, where she led teams analyzing major power companies and advising on sustainable energy solutions. Known for her pragmatic and actionable insights, Melissa is a trusted advisor to investors, regulators, and corporates navigating the complexities of Southeast Asia’s energy transition. 

In this timely discussion with Peter du Pont, Senior Advisor to SIPET and Co-CEO of Asia Clean Energy Partners, Melissa explores the evolution of transition finance, the role of global frameworks, and the importance of innovative tools like sustainability-linked loans and blended finance mechanisms. Reflecting on the progress made over the past three decades, and the challenges ahead, Melissa provides a candid assessment of Southeast Asia’s readiness for transition finance in 2025, shares examples of inspiring deals, and outlines a roadmap for financial institutions to play a leading role in shaping a resilient, low-carbon future. 

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