Few professionals represent the evolution of modern finance as genuinely as Arvana Singh. Her career is the story of a banker who sees beyond transactions and towards transformation, where financial innovation meets social and environmental purposes. Beginning as an Associate in a distribution role interfacing with investors, and progressing into a senior Debt Capital Market transactor at Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, and ultimately into the role of Head of Sustainable Finance Solutions she mastered the complexities of deal-making before realizing a deeper calling: to integrate capital markets with sustainability.
What began as a quest for knowledge quickly became a mission. Her self-driven learning, strategic insight, and unrelenting resolve helped develop South Africa’s first green bond issued by a bank in 2019, a feat that expanded sustainable finance possibilities. Her leadership has since led Nedbank to set new benchmarks year after year, from ground-breaking social bonds to sustainability-linked loans with a measurable global impact.
As the Head of the Sustainable Finance Solutions franchise at Nedbank CIB, she continues to advocate for the idea that responsibility and prosperity can coexist and even reinforce each other. Her journey exemplifies a combination of intellect, empathy, and ingenuity, all aimed at one goal: to transform finance into a strong tool for long-term, inclusive development.
Breaking New Ground
In 2019, Arvana Singh transformed the possibility into reality. As a senior Debt Capital Market transactor at Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, she possessed deep knowledge of capital markets and deal-making expertise. She intentionally upskilled in climate and sustainable finance principles through rigorous research, training courses, and networking with local and global players. This combination of traditional finance acumen and sustainability expertise produced a landmark achievement: South Africa’s first green bond issued by a bank.
The journey to this milestone required her to develop a sustainable development goals-linked issuance framework for Nedbank, which underwent external verification and positioning with local and global investors. The market responded enthusiastically. The issuance succeeded beyond expectations, earning the Environmental Finance Impact Initiative of the Year Award. Nedbank entered the market again that same year with equally impressive results.
Since that groundbreaking 2019 issuance, and Arvana’s vision and transition into establishing the Sustainable Finance Solutions division with Nedbank’s Corporate and Investment Banking cluster, Nedbank has consistently issued a sustainable finance instrument across the bond or loan market every year. Most recently, the bank listed a R2.5 billion social “use of proceeds” bond on the sustainability segment of the JSE, marking one of its largest sustainable finance fundraising issuances to date.
Reframing the Profitability Debate
Arvana Singh challenges a persistent misconception in the financial sector: that sustainability trades off against profitability. “Sustainability is not a trade-off for profitability but rather an approach which serves to mitigate against short, medium and long-term risks,” she asserts. This risk mitigation, she explains, can influence better risk-adjusted returns and profitability to the upside.
Her argument carries weight in today’s context. The World Economic Forum cites climate change as the number one global risk, while global inequality demands value creation to meet basic needs for more of the world’s population. “The costs of not being responsible can be hefty,” she warns, pointing to unmitigated losses, shock and stress events, supply chain disruptions, and volatile climate conditions.
Empowerment as Leadership
Those who work with Arvana Singh describe her as a leader who balances intellect with empathy. She defines her leadership philosophy around empowerment and opportunity. “I believe that building confidence is a key building block in getting people to achieve their goals,” she explains. She serves as a source of encouragement, guidance, and motivation, providing support to colleagues in navigating obstacles whilst facilitating networks and providing direction to enable opportunities. Where appropriate, she challenges her team members, directing them closer toward their goals.
She provides her team with intentionally diverse opportunities to learn and gain well-rounded experience that enables career progression. She ensures access to relevant exposure that supports success in their roles. This approach has shaped a culture where people feel equipped to experiment, innovate, and unlock their potential.
Leading from the Top
Arvana views leadership as the defining force in transforming the financial sector into a catalyst for global change. Leaders set the tone and make daily decisions that My parents taught me that whenever you go into a room you are equal and you matter, no matter the colour of your skin or your gender.” influence organizational strategic direction. At Nedbank, the group executive made a pivotal decision to set a sustainable development finance target: approximately 20% of total gross loans committed toward sustainable development objectives by the end of 2025. This target equates to over R180 billion in finance extended to key economic sectors including energy, agriculture, and green buildings.
“Setting this target has signalled a firm commitment to sustainable development finance and provided a goal for which various sector business teams have been working towards,” she notes. Leadership also influences policy, and Nedbank’s market-leading Energy Policy provides clear milestones on how the bank intends to reduce its exposure to fossil fuels. This policy influences decision-making and governs how business operates is another example of how leadership can influence change.
Building Consensus Through Clarity
The transition to sustainable finance presents complexity and often meets resistance. Singh acknowledges that securing buy-in can be tricky. . Her approach focuses on clarity regarding benefits and costs, providing simple yet impactful knowledge about how instruments can be structured, and simplifying reporting requirements whilst keeping it impactful. She adopts systems level thinking and sets intentional business strategies in a manner that can achieve optimal value creation outcomes for key stakeholders.
“It starts with a mindset shift, a systems level view and an intentional focused approach, with the ability to distil relevant information, insights and solutions to colleagues and clients and be able to structure and package that in a user-friendly way” she explains. Relating this information to both micro and macro environmental contexts proves key to building consensus and inspiring action across diverse teams and organizations.
Impact in Action
Among Arvana’s various initiatives, a 2021 blended finance solution stands out as exemplifying sustainable finance’s real-world impact. Nedbank issued a R1.09 billion green residential development bond on the JSE’s sustainability segment. The bank partnered with the International Finance Corporation and the UK’s Market Accelerator for Green Industry Construction Program, attracting UK donor money to cover costs of greening components and certification of buildings in South Africa. The initiative also enabled the training of Nedbank staff in green certification design, with knowledge applied to clients.
Another milestone came when Nedbank became the first bank in South Africa to raise a USD 350 million sustainability-linked loan with bespoke sustainability key performance indicators in international markets. The loan structured in metrics linked to increasing renewable energy use as a percentage of overall energy mix and reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions over time. Both targets under these performance indicators were met.
Breaking Barriers
As a woman leading in a traditionally male-dominated field, Arvana Singh carries wisdom from her upbringing. “My parents taught me that whenever you go into a room you are equal and you matter, no matter the colour of your skin or your gender,” she reflects. She lived by the principle of working hard in silence and letting success make the noise through her earlier years. As she progressed and earned her seat at the table, she recognized her responsibility to use her voice to positively influence and constructively challenge where necessary.
Her message to young professionals, especially women entering this space, focuses on internal standards rather than external comparisons. “Not comparing yourself to others and focusing on your best and how to give your best is what is key. Stay committed to your vision and firm in your intention and resolve and the results and recognition will follow,” she advises.
Fostering Innovation
Arvana Singh maintains innovation as a constant priority. She fosters creativity by keeping a pulse on client needs in the market and evolving trends and through creating space for sharing insights and creative thinking, ultimately identifying new ideas or approaching challenges differently. New product and service innovation runs as a dedicated stream alongside existing operations, enabling creativity and business growth.
This year, Nedbank launched a new green trade finance solution for a corporate and investment banking client, tailoring the banking package to client needs and facilitating key components for constructing green renewable energy projects in South Africa with embedded impact reporting metrics. The bank has also innovated on its advisory services, helping clients to develop sustainable finance fundraising frameworks and is developing and embedding further sustainability focused advisory and financing solutions.
Staying Grounded
Amid evolving pressures, Arvana Singh stays grounded by knowing what to tune into and distilling noise from reality regarding what benefits people, planets, and clients. She maintains up-to-date knowledge through credible publications and facts, avoiding excessive sway from opinion. Her fact-based approach and continuous awareness of evolving market dynamics inform value judgments based on experience and context.
“To show up with authenticity and adaptability means that I need to know my subject matter, I need to be convinced by it, be a thought leader in it, and need to lead in a manner that is agile and evolutionary,” she explains. Having achieved many goals in various spheres and having adapted to different conditions throughout her personal life, she naturally navigates changing workplace situations—whether it be guiding her team in overcoming obstacles to achieve goals, adapting business strategy to evolving needs and market dynamics, leading cross functional deal teams, negotiations, or managing crisis situations.
She assumed her leadership role in 2020 during COVID-19 lockdown, realizing the power of adapting working methods and changing with the times to remain relevant and adjust business strategy for sustained success. This authentic and adaptable leadership style has resulted in Nedbank’s consistent recognition in the sustainable finance space. Most recently, Euromoney Awards named the bank Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in South Africa and Africa in 2025.
A Legacy in the Making
Looking ahead, Arvana Singh envisions a legacy defined by positive, exceptional difference-making. She is regarded as a pioneer, innovator, and thought leader in sustainable finance— and hopes to continue to serve as an inspirational leader who motivates others to experiment, innovate and unlock potential, progress in their careers, and accomplish their dreams.
In her hands, capital markets have become more than mechanisms for wealth generation. They transform into instruments of purpose, channels through which financial expertise flows toward planetary health and socioeconomic outcomes. Her work demonstrates that the most powerful innovations in finance may not be complex structures, but rather the courage to redirect existing capital market power toward the world we need to build through intentional strategies and meaningful collaboration and partnerships.
