Contributor: Debra Tan

About Debra Tan

Debra heads the China Water Risk team. She was tasked with taking The Asia Water Project pilot to the next level and was responsible for the direction and build out of China Water Risk portal for ADM Capital Foundation. Debra started her career in finance, spending over a decade as a chartered accountant and investment banker. She has lived and worked in Beijing, HK, KL, London, New York and Singapore. Debra left banking to explore her creative side. She has since pursued her interest in photography and within a year had her first solo exhibition sponsored by a global bank. She also ran and organized hands-on philanthropic and luxury holidays for a small but global private members travel network and applied her auditing, financing and photography skills in the field for various charitable organizations and foundations. Debra believes that we can all make a difference, if only we see the ‘big picture’.

Water for Coal: Thirsty Miners?

With up to 83% of China’s coal reserves in water stressed & scarce regions, the recent CLSA report asks if there is enough water to grow coal production. If not, what are our options? Debra Tan expands … more

Cancer Villages: Toxic Tipping Point?

With official recognition of cancer villages in 2013, we reviewed 255 media reports of such villages to look at their spread and industries that may be responsible. Is this the start of a long costly road to clean up? … more

New Guard: New Hope for Pollution?

March ushers in the official all change of the old guard. Will the new guard bring new hope for pollution control? China Water Risk takes a closer look at the events leading up to this week’s National People’s Congress meetings … more

2012 Review & 5 Trends for 2013

Not sure what happened in 2012? Read our review and find out what our top 5 water trends are for the Year of the Snake. Will we be bogged down or will we slide ahead? … more

Water Fees & Quotas: Set for Economic Growth?

Debra Tan reviews the new joint standard on water pricing and new provincial quotas on water use, water efficiency and water quality released in January 2013 … more

Follow the UK: Import Water

China & the UK have similar per capita water resources. Find out how the UK has managed economic growth by “importing water” through trade. Should China follow suit? Debra Tan muses … more

Big Spender: Buying Up Water

A savvy investment or villain in the making? Debra Tan looks at the HK tycoons’ water shopping spree, buying up water rights, water philanthropy and venture capital in water innovations … more

Investors Beware: Blackholes & Blacklists

Holdings of Fidelity, State Street, Vanguard, BNY Mellon, Capital Group, L&G, T Rowe Price & Govt Pension Fund of Norway in polluting fashion brands reviewed … more

Water: Shaping China’s Food & Energy Choices

Debra talks about key issues & new trends surfacing from the Fortune Global Forum roundtable and why she thinks the 12FYP Strategic Emerging Industries are the real Magnificent Seven … more

China: No Water, No Power

HSBC asks if China has enough water to fuel its power expansion as China plans to add more than the total installed power capacity of the US, UK & Australia by 2030. … more

Stockholm World Water Week – 8 Top Picks

In case you have not been following the World Water Week, Debra Tan picks eight points of interest around food & energy security: from the taste of waste to solving access clean water for everyone … more

Investors Say: Water Risk is Beyond Pricing

NBIM, APG, GIC, HSBC and APG on why it is important to measure the impact of the environment on business as the value of water lies in business continuity & value of brands rather than water pricing. … more

China: Bullish on Food Imports

Debra Tan explains why depressing statistics on food, water pollution & scarcity and fake eggs paint a bullish picture for China’s food imports … more

Pollution: More Standards, Rubbish & Money?

With new drinking water and pollution standards, will China be able to clean up or will rubbish continue to pile up … more

8 Take Aways: 2 Degrees Celsius+Water

Debra Tan runs through key take aways from the presentations and panel discussions with Civic Exchange HSBC, Sustainable Fashion Business Consortium, Swire Beverages and Veolia Water … more

Elephants in the Room

With coal-fired power plants and hydropower doubling by 2020, Debra Tan discusses coal, financing the power build out and dams. Is a fundamental shift required to work round these elephants? … more

How Much Water Do You Use?

Happy World Water Day! Coffee or Juice? Beer or Wine? Chicken or Cheese? Find out how much water you can save by making the right choices … more

On Being Frank

“Were you surprised at the frank comments of China’s vice minister of water resources?” That was the first question fired at an interview with a “Week in China”. It was referring to Hu Siyi’s stark warning that “water usage had … … more

Agriculture: A Prosperous Ever After?

With recent reports on by the Chinese government, FAO, HSBC and WEF all highlighting agriculture concerns, Debra Tan takes a closer look at food, property. the weather and potential strategies to ensure a prosperous ever after. … more

Food for Thought

Would China import more chicken or corn from Brazil? Should farming regions swap beef with iPads? Will water hikes dampen demand for water? Debra Tan from China Water Risk muses. … more

Just What is Bottled Water?

We probably drink a bottle of water each day but do we really know what’s inside? China Water Risk’s Debra Tan takes a closer look – It might change the way you choose your water … more