We are pleased to announce the launch of AsianInvestor's fifth annual Institutional Excellence Awards programme, which seeks to identify and recognise the leading asset owners operating in the region. 

As in previous years, we are asking for institutional investors to self-nominate for these awards (please click here). We also ask fund managers, investment consultants, custodians and other advisers to offer third-party nominations for the most impressive asset owners, based upon their interactions (please click here).

You can get more information on the awards, including the rulebook, by going to the awards website (please click here).

This year we are adding one new award, which seeks to identify the most impressive Chief Investment Officer in Asia. This award will be selected by the editorial team in conjunction with a panel of judges.

Except for this new award, all categories are open to institutional investors across Asia Pacific, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, central banks and insurance companies – large or small. There are 19 awards this year, as follows: 

INSTITUTIONAL CATEGORIES

Central bank

Insurance company

Endowment

Pension fund

Sovereign wealth fund

Overseas institutional investor into Asia 

MARKETS

Australia/New Zealand

China

Hong Kong

Japan

Southeast Asia

South Korea

Taiwan

PROFICIENCIES  

Governance

Innovation

Investment capabilities

Environmental, social and governance capabilities (ESG)

Individual contribution to institutional investment

Best CIO (new – decided by editorial team; not open for submissions)

We have weighted several areas of qualitative judgement. The aim is to understand and compare asset owners' tangible progress as investing entities, rather than picking winners based on arbitrary snapshots of a fund's performance. 

HOW TO PITCH

There are several ways to apply and all submissions are treated in strict confidence. All institutions listed in AsianInvestor’s annual ranking of the top 300 asset owners will be invited to pitch. 

For self-nominations, please click this link to fill out the online self-nomination form, outlining why you think your organisation deserve recognition. Please make sure to go through the entire nomination process to the end, to ensure that it is submitted properly. You can include additional or supportive materials as well. 

As stated, we also welcome nominations from third parties, including fund managers, consultants, custodians and other organisations. Please click this link to submit your nomination outlining which institutional investors you think most deserve consideration for these awards. Please ensure you go through the whole nomination and submit it at the end, so that it is well received.

Alternatively, we can schedule an interview with self-nominees or third parties, by phone or in person. Please email editors@asianinvestor.net if you would prefer a direct interview.   

THE JUDGING PROCESS

AsianInvestor will invite a panel of experienced industry participants to provide feedback on the information we have gathered through nominations and our own research. They will remain anonymous.

After the nomination process closes on Friday, August 2 our editorial team will shortlist asset owners and interview them. We will then announce the winners over the week starting Monday, September 2.

All winners will also be invited to our Institutional Excellence Awards Dinner, to be held in conjunction with our annual Southeast Asia Institutional Investment Forum, in early December in Singapore.

For sponsorship opportunities or to enquire about attendance, please contact AsianInvestor's head of business development Tom Griffin, on +852 2122 5262 or by email at tom.griffin@haymarket.asia. 

Photos of the dinner will be available in our Spring 2020 magazine edition, and will be published online at our website in January 2020. 

Best of luck! 

Article updated to reflect the fact CIO award cannot be pitched for but will be chosen by the editorial team.