Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) President and CEO Martin Antonio G. Zamora has been named one of Asia’s Outstanding Leaders at this year’s Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards, cited for his people-first leadership.
The people-first philosophy has long shaped NAC’s operations. It guides policies, workplace culture, and community programs, prioritizing the welfare and development of employees and host communities. The principle is also reflected in the company’s reimagined core values – People First, Integrity, and Excellence.
Speaking at the ACES Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Zamora highlighted how the people-first approach became NAC’s anchor as the pillars of ESG were integrated into the company’s core operations.
“Sustainability is not a system or a slogan, but leadership in action. Sustainability should put people first, and especially during this difficult time in my country, People First refers to all Filipinos,” he said.
Under Zamora’s leadership, the NAC Group has expanded from a mining operation into a natural resources development group. It now operates six mines, continues to grow its clean energy arm, and is assessing investment opportunities outside the Philippines.
His leadership also led to the establishment of the NAC Foundation, which is focused on advocating for better education and health. One of its key initiatives is the donation of P50 million to the National Institutes of Health for the unique design plan of its 19-level building. Once completed, it will be the first high-rise research laboratory facility in the Philippines.
“Our mission, and my personal mission, go beyond serving our employees and communities. We aim to be a proactive force for nation-building. We are embarking on a major effort to inspire the youth to reimagine a different kind of Philippines—one that does not involve leaving the country,” said Zamora.
Last year, NAC received the ACES Award for Inspiring Workplace in recognition of its work in employee well-being, professional development, sustainability, and community engagement. The nomination process required supporting documents, an interview, and a vote by the ACES High-Level Award Committee. ACES said Zamora was selected from among hundreds of nominations for the category.
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 President and CEO Martin Antonio G. Zamora has been named one of Asia’s Outstanding Leaders at this year’s Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards, cited for his people-first leadership.){kind=link}