Multi-award winner shares her thoughts on the Greater China and South East Asia judging
Jeannie Ong, managing director, operating partner, investor relations at Temasek, is a seasoned IR Impact Award judge – this year taking on the mammoth task of both the Greater China and the South East Asia entries. She talks to IR Impact about how her own experience in investor relations helps her find the winners, the categories that are harder to judge and how IR across the region is evolving.
Winners for the South East Asia Awards will be revealed in Singapore on December 2, while those for the Greater China Awards will be announced in Hong Kong on December 4.
Given your own lengthy career – and your own IR Impact Award wins – to what degree do you draw on your own experience as a judge?
Quite a fair bit, to be honest. Having been on the battlefield myself, I know how many moving parts go into even one investor briefing that looks ‘effortless’. When judging, I can tell when something’s just nicely packaged versus when it’s the result of genuine grit, alignment and long hours behind the scenes. Let’s just say my IR radar has been finely tuned through years of earnings calls, annual-report production and multiple non-deal roadshows to know if the team truly understands its investors, builds credibility through consistency and uses disclosure as a strategic tool rather than a compliance exercise.
Can you sum up what you look for from an award candidate?
The three Cs: clarity, credibility and connection.
Clarity – is the company’s narrative coherent and easy to follow even for someone outside the sector?
Credibility – does the IR team deliver transparency and measurable follow-through on its guidance and commitments?
Connection – does the company engage investors as long-term partners rather than short-term traders?
The best entries show that IR is embedded in corporate strategy – not an afterthought. To put it simply, if I still don’t understand your business after reading your annual report, that’s a red flag. If your numbers tell one story but your tone says another, that’s a red flag. But if your message is clear, consistent and makes me care about your company – you’ve won me over. Bonus points if I feel like I’ve been spoken to, not spoken at.
Are some categories harder to judge than others? If so, why?
Absolutely. Anything involving ‘best investor event’, ‘best IR during a corporate transaction’, ‘best investor targeting strategy’ or ‘best innovation in shareholder communication’ – those are never straightforward. Behind every ‘successful event or strategy’ submission, there’s usually chaos, late-night drafts and someone surviving on instant noodles. Numbers can be measured; diplomacy and timing can’t. What looks like a simple outcome often masks a complex journey of internal alignment and stakeholder diplomacy. In contrast, quantitative categories such as reporting quality or ESG disclosure have clearer benchmarks.
What would you like to see more of when it comes to the awards entries specifically?
Less We did this many roadshows and more Here’s what changed because we did. I love seeing entries that show impact – not just activities. Instead of listing the number of roadshows or reports, explain what changed: Did investor perception improve? Did investors finally understand your strategy? Did trading liquidity increase? Did the company attract new long-only holders? Entries that link IR actions to tangible outcomes stand out immediately. Show me the before-and-after, not just the highlight reel.
You’ve been judging IR Impact Awards for some time now. How has your approach changed?
I’ve mellowed out! I used to be the checklist type – all boxes ticked, reports polished to perfection. These days, I look for heart and progression. I look for maturity – how the IR function evolves year to year: Has the team grown? Did they try something bold? Did they learn from feedback? I’m more impressed by evolution than perfection. Sustainability of excellence matters more than one-off brilliance.
This year you judged both the South East Asia and Greater China Awards. What differences – or similarities – do you find in how these regions approach investor relations?
Both regions are upping their game fast. South East Asia tends to win on warmth and relationship-building – they know how to make investors feel like partners. Greater China shines in innovation and sophistication – interactive websites, data dashboards, analytics, precision timing. Greater China companies are increasingly sophisticated in data analytics and digital IR tools. The common thread is a growing recognition that investor relations is strategic – not just about disclosure but about shaping market confidence. One has soul, the other has innovation. The best? A mix of both.
Finally, in one line: what makes for an award-winning IR program?
A program that earns trust consistently – by communicating with clarity, acting with integrity and engaging with purpose.
