At a certain the point in time, listed company board members become or will become aware that their company is failing to create maximum value from its energy affairs. Robert Allender has 35 years’ experience guiding corporations and business units to turn that failure around.
For the past 9 of these years his main work has been helping listed company boards that want:

• All board members to be appropriately educated and regularly updated on both general and company-specific corporate energy affairs (CEA) issues;
• An energy affairs strategy that outperforms any of their competitors in both profitability and resilience;
• A higher energy affairs maturity score than last year.

Creating value is not the only dimension of Robert’s work; avoiding value destruction is another. These days the hot CEA issues are decarbonisation, the energy transition, Scope 3, and the energy-and-carbon-half of ESG. But business continuity is always the baseline, and controlling energy-related opex and capex cannot be taken for granted. Robert enjoys helping company senior leaders become aware of how complex and consequential their company’s energy affairs have become, and to be free of any 1970s ideas about energy-use ecosystem realities.

Clients for Robert’s CEA work have come from across the world, but Hong Kong has been his home since 1989. He has a business degree from Cornell University, and has been a speaker and writer on CEA and related topics since 1994. He is regularly invited to serve as conference chair, awards judge, MBA guest lecturer, and association and charity director.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

In keeping with my personal mission of having all medium and large businesses put their energy-use strategy in writing, I hope 2025 is the year this practice becomes a hallmark of Hong Kong businesses, one that the city is widely praised for.

Akina Ho is the Co-Founder of AllStarsWomen DAO, Not Your Token, and the Hong Kong PropTech Alliance, and serves as a Board Advisor at BEETc. A recognized thought leader in emerging technologies, Akina is at the forefront of AI and Web3, with expertise in DAOs.

In 2020, She led the creation of the VC arm at Great Eagle Group, where she served on the Investment Committee, investing in transformative technologies and disruptive business models. In 2017, she was part of the executive team that built a Hong Kong unicorn, backed by Foxconn and SoftBank.

With over 20 years of global experience in change management, digital transformation, strategy consulting, marketing, finance, hospitality, and sales operations, Akina is a sought-after speaker. She has been featured on Bloomberg, Fox International, and global stages including Collision 2024 and Huawei AI Summits 2024, sharing insights on AI, Web3, and transformative leaderships.

CEO, Cereb Intelligence | ESG Tech Innovator | IoT Strategist

Trevor Ho is a visionary entrepreneur and deep tech leader driving sustainable transformation through AI and IoT innovation. As the Founder and CEO of Cereb Intelligence, Trevor leads a groundbreaking platform that empowers organizations to optimize operations, reduce carbon footprints, and accelerate ESG goals with minimal infrastructure upgrades.

With over 15 years of global experience across Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe, Trevor has led large-scale IoT deployments, smart energy projects, and digital transformation initiatives across sectors—from commercial real estate and hospitality to manufacturing and smart cities. He previously served as CTO of IoTena Technology and Co-founder & CTO of Global Design Corporations, which was successfully acquired by Energybox.

Trevor holds several patents in cloud-based energy monitoring and predictive analytics and is a certified LEED GA professional. His passion lies in democratizing sustainability tech, helping businesses transition toward greener operations through accessible, scalable, and intelligent solutions.

Simon Yu is an Associate Director at CBRE, the world’s leading commercial real estate services and investment firm. With a strong track record in capital markets, Simon has advised on and executed over HK$8.5 billion (US$1 billion) in real estate transactions, demonstrating deep expertise in investment advisory, transaction structuring, and market intelligence across the APAC region.

A passionate advocate for innovation and sustainability in real estate, Simon co-founded the PropTech Institute in 2019—a non-profit organization committed to accelerating the adoption of technology in the built environment. As President, he has played a pivotal role in cultivating a dynamic ecosystem that connects startups, corporates, and industry leaders to drive digital transformation and sustainable practices in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Simon’s leadership has been instrumental in promoting the integration of AI, data analytics, and green building solutions into real estate strategies. His vision is to create a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable property sector that benefits all stakeholders—from developers and investors to communities and end-users.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Simon actively contributes to cross-cultural and educational initiatives. He serves as President of the Western University Alumni Association in Hong Kong and was recently appointed Co-Chair of the Property Committee at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, where he champions collaboration between Canada and Asia through talent exchange and innovation.

At ReThink 2025, Simon will host the session “Rethinking Real Estate Finance: Green Bonds and Sustainable Investment in APAC,” exploring how financial innovation can unlock capital for greener, more resilient urban development across the region.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

Mainstream Adoption of Green Finance Instruments
I envision a significant increase in the issuance and uptake of green bonds and sustainability-linked loans across the real estate sector. These tools should become standard practice for funding new developments and retrofitting existing assets, aligning capital flows with ESG goals.

Accelerated Decarbonization of the Built Environment

I hope to see more developers and asset owners commit to science-based targets and adopt low-carbon technologies, such as smart energy systems and green construction materials, to reduce emissions across the property lifecycle.

Stronger Public-Private Collaboration on Urban Resilience
I would like to see deeper collaboration between government, industry, and academia to co-create policies and pilot programs that enhance climate resilience, promote circularity, and support sustainable urban regeneration in Hong Kong’s dense urban fabric.

Stella has over 20 years’ banking experience and has held structured finance and industry coverage roles in Asia, the United Kingdom and Australia. She is based in Hong Kong.

She is currently the Head of Sustainable Finance, International for ANZ, with responsibility across Asia, Europe and the US, focused on originating and structuring sustainable debt product for the bank’s clients.

In addition to her Sustainable Finance responsibilities, Stella is Co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association Green and Sustainable Loan Committee.

Prior to this, Stella was an infrastructure finance specialist in Asia and spent 15 years’ in project finance roles, across transactions in power and renewables, utilities, and transport sectors, structuring project financing for the development of critical infrastructure across Asia Pacific based in Singapore.

She has financed large scale offshore wind projects in Taiwan, acted as Transaction Advisor to PT PLN of Indonesia for the PPP solicitation of hydroelectric projects and was Financial Advisor for the first commercial, large-scale financing for National Airports Corporation of Papua New Guinea for the expansion of Jacksons Airport, Port Moresby.

As Head of APAC at GRESB, Steven is in charge of APAC region’s commercial strategy and has been with the company for over 5 years. Prior to joining GRESB he has worked in Real Estate funds management and banking for ten years.

Carmen is an experienced sustainable finance professional with a focus in impact investing and sustainable finance. She joined CACIB’s Sustainable Investment Banking (SIB) team in 2018, and has made key contributions on the green structuring aspects in a range of milestone transactions in the Asia-Pacific region, including debut People’s Republic of China Sovereign Green Bond, the inaugural and subsequent Hong Kong SAR Government Green Bonds, the inaugural and subsequent Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Social Bonds, debut South Korea Government Green & Sustainability Bond, ICBC’s mega Greater Bay Green Bond, AIIB’s Sustainable Development Bond Framework, and China’s first onshore tri-party green repo, etc.
She serves in the cornerstone member working group of the Alliance for Green Commercial Banks and is in the Advisory Committee for the HKUST BSc Green & Sustainable Finance programme.

Carmen started her career in UBS AG as a fixed income advisor in wealth management, and subsequently joined a boutique impact advisory firm facilitating capital flows to microfinance mandates in Asia.

Carmen obtained a degree in BBA majoring in Global Business and Operations Management from the HKUST. She is a certified ESG Analyst of the EFFAS, an Associate Green Finance Professional of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers, a holder of the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing, and a Carbon Audit Professional (CAP). She is a Founder Advisor of a US-based social enterprise, Generation Conscious.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. more investors moving the needle and vote for sustainability with their capital
2. more innovations to leverage digitalisation and technology to promote the green economy
3. more ways for allow green / impact projects to be bankable

Michael LEUNG
General Manager, Hilti (Hong Kong) Limited

Experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry in Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. Skilled in Sales, Engineering, Construction Technology, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Account Management. Strong business development professional graduated from Ivey Business School at Western University, Imperial College London and HKUST. Before joining Hilti, Michael is a chartered structural engineer who involved in commercial, educational and infrastructure projects.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. Embodied carbon saving to be regulated in new building design
2. More examples in solid waste reduction in construction by considering Circularity
3. First structural timber building to be built in HK

Patrick Wong is a graduate of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Building Technology and Managment. During his studies, he demonstrated strong leadership as President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic Students’ Union (1984–1985) and Chairman of the Representative Council, Hong Kong Federation of Students (1985–1986).

After graduation, Patrick built a diverse project management portfolio, including the interior renovation of the Hong Kong Space Museum and leading large-scale construction projects in Mainland China as both planner and owner’s representative. He also gained valuable experience managing aluminum window and furniture manufacturing operations.

In 2000, Patrick founded South Star Glass Hong Kong Ltd., and in 2013, he expanded with GuangDong South Star Glass Ltd., establishing a reputation for delivering premium, innovative and sustainable glass solutions for projects in Hong Kong and overseas. Under his leadership, the company has earned numerous accolades, including the 2023 Green Building Award and repeated recognition in the HKGBC Retrofitting Guidebook. In 2024, South Star Glass received the “Best Stand” award at Sydney Build.

Patrick currently serves as a board member of the Hong Kong Facades Association and remains committed to advancing the glass and construction industry in Hong Kong and China.

Ir. Dr. Dominic Yu is a Research & Engineering based specialist in structural design and structuraluse of glass. He is the Principal of Alpha Consulting Limited, providing consultancy services on glass and facade engineering, non-linear integrated design and analysis, structural fire engineering, product development, etc. He is a Part-time Lecturer in Fire Safety Engineering

Programme of University of Central Lancashire & CityU SCOPE. He is also a Visiting Lecturer for MSc Module of Façade Engineering in the Civil Engineering Programme at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before joining Alpha Consulting Limited, Dr. Yu worked as Specialist Test Consultant and Approved Signatory of Research Engineering Development Façade Consultants Limited (RED Façade and Fire HOKLAS Testing Laboratory).

Dr. Yu obtained Doctoral Degree of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (Structures), Master Degree in Fire Safety Engineering, and Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering. He worked as a Research Associate in the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to serve as Technical Secretary of the consultancy study contributing to the “Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2005” and the 2011 version. He also compiled the Explanatory Materials of the Steel Code for Buildings Department. Dr. Yu is Professional Consultant for the Consultancy Study of “Code of Practice for Structural Use of Glass 2018” for Buildings Department.

Dr. Yu is also actively serving the industry and the university by delivering various technical seminars and lectures. He delivered over 140 technical seminars in various institutions including HKIE, HKISC, HKIS, HKFA, RICS, HKICW, CIOB, BD, ArchSD, HD, etc., in which over 100 seminars since 2012 for the topics related to “Glass and Façade Engineering” including Statutory Requirements, Analysis, Design, Testing, Quality Control, Practical Consideration, Production,Installation, and Inspection.

Eric Chau is an accomplished Information Technology professional with over 15 years of experience in digital transformation, consultancy, and business development. He holds a Sustainable Investing Certificate from the CFA Institute and a Global ESG Investing Certificate from HKMA Global. Currently serving as an Enterprise Partner Success Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Eric excels in bridging business and IT strategies, leveraging his expertise in cloud services, data analytics, and AI/ML. Eric has successfully supported Digital Platform projects for smart building digitalization, utilizing AWS’s renowned AI and cloud technology services. His strong analytical skills and ability to translate enterprise requirements into service-oriented business models have positioned him as a trusted advisor among vendors, partners and clients. His dedication to guiding clients in adopting new technologies sets him apart as a thought leader in the industry.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. Enhance Energy Efficiency in Local Communities: Eric aims to implement innovative energy efficiency programs that reduce energy consumption in local businesses and community facilities. This will involve collaboration with local stakeholders to identify the best practices and technologies that promote sustainable energy use.
2. Promote Decarbonization Initiatives: Eric seeks to drive a community-wide decarbonization initiative that targets carbon emissions reduction within the local area. This goal will focus on encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources, and supporting low-carbon technology advancements.

Dr. Lee serves as Technical Manager at ATAL Building Services Engineering Ltd. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Energy Performance Contracting from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Dr. Lee possesses extensive expertise in smart building technologies, encompassing the comprehensive digital transformation stack within the built environment. He manages multidisciplinary teams dedicated to integrating Agentic AI architectures that facilitate autonomous decision-making for real-time energy optimization, adaptive fault detection and diagnosis (FDD), and the advancement of Digital Twin platforms. Through his leadership, ATAL’s innovation pipeline utilizes machine learning, predictive analytics, and AI-driven control algorithms to deliver scalable, self-optimizing solutions tailored to complex building infrastructures.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. Enhance Energy Efficiency in Smart Buildings: Dr. Lee aims to increase the energy efficiency of ATAL’s smart building projects through the implementation of advanced AI-driven control algorithms and predictive analytics. This goal focuses on optimizing energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions across diverse building infrastructures.
2. Expand Digital Twin Technology Adoption: Dr. Lee intends to integrate Digital Twin platforms in new projects. This initiative will facilitate real-time monitoring and adaptive fault detection, enabling proactive maintenance and operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable built environment.

Ryan Tang is a digital transformation leader specializing in smart building technologies, property management systems, and operational excellence. As Product Manager at Hongkong Land, he drives multi-country rollouts of IFMCT, iBMS, and PMS, delivering AI- and data-driven solutions that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and tenant experience. With experience on both client and vendor sides, Ryan blends technical expertise, strategic vision, and cross-cultural collaboration to achieve measurable business impact.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. Implement Smart Building Technologies for Energy Optimization: Ryan aims to deploy smart building technologies, targeting to drive reduction in energy consumption. This goal will involve integrating AI-driven solutions that monitor and optimize energy usage in real time, enhancing sustainability while improving tenant experience.
2. Enhance Tenant Engagement in Sustainability Practices: Ryan plans to develop and launch a tenant engagement platform that encourages sustainable practices among occupants. The goal is to drive sustainability initiatives, such as recycling programs and energy conservation challenges, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within the buildings.

LEED AP / WELL AP / Green Rater / TRUE Advisor / USGBC Faculty

Mrs. Cai is the Senior Manager of market transformation & development of USGBC/GBCI North Asia, mainly providing technical support and related services to all stakeholders in North Asia region, as well as GBCI’s other sustainability programs.

Master degree graduated from UCL Bartlett school and Bachelor degree graduated from Tongji University with major in Environmental Engineering. Mrs. Cai has rich experience in sustainability across the whole industry. From global architectural and engineering consulting firms to overseas green building organization, she has been deeply engaged in the field of sustainable development for more than ten years.

Prior to joining USGBC & GBCI, Mrs. Cai worked at SCDRI, AECOM Shanghai Office and BRE China, focusing on sustainability design, consulting, and certification, holding LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, Green Rater, TRUE Advisor certificate.

Alessandro Bisagni is the Founder & President of BEE Incorporations, a global leader in Conscious Engineering and technology solutions for the built environment that bridge the gap between sustainable design concepts and practical implementation. Since founding BEE in 2009, Alessandro has evolved the company into a multidisciplinary organization offering green building certifications, smart technology via the proprietary BEE Sense software, and performance testing—all aimed at creating high-performing, sustainable spaces supported by measurable data.

With a network of 12 offices and over 80 diverse professionals, Alessandro has overseen the completion of more than 2,100 projects across 45+ countries, spanning luxury retail, eco-resorts, office towers, and hospitality. The firm has been recognized as the Top LEED Consultancy in China by GBCI and is a LEED Proven Provider, WELL Enterprise Provider, and WELL Performance Testing Organization.

Alessandro is a Chartered Environmentalist and has received recognitions as Urban Land Institute Top 40 Under 40, Tatler Asia Generation T honoree, South China Morning Post Timekeeper, Green Is The New Black Green Warrior, three-time IWBI Leadership Award recipient for WELL in Asia, Living Future Hero by the International Living Future Institute, and is one of the few LEED Fellows in Asia designated by the US Green Building Council.

He is originally from La Spezia, Italy and has lived in the USA, England, Canada, and now China. First moving to Shanghai in 2006, he now lives in Hong Kong with his wife and three children. Alessandro graduated from McGill University’s School of the Environment with a specialization in Environmental Economics and Urban Planning. Before opening BEE, Alessandro was an Environmental Consultant for the international engineering firm ARUP, based out of their Hong Kong and Shanghai offices.

Credentials: LEED Fellow + AP (BD+C), Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), BEAM Professional (incl. BI), MISEP, LBC Ambassador + Auditor, WELL AP + Faculty + Performance Testing Agent, RESET AP + Auditor

Some of his notable projects include:

• Haworth Beijing Showroom – first certified LEED v4 project in the world
• City of Savona, Italy – first city in Europe to be LEED for Cities certified
• LEED Earth Program – first LEED project in Mongolia
• Naked Stables Reserve – first LEED Platinum hotel in Greater China
• Song Saa Reserve – at 650 acres, the largest Living Community Challenge project in the world
• Prada Alexandra House – first LEED O+M v4.1 retail project in the world
• Haworth Shanghai Showroom – first WELL (v1.0 Pilot) certified project in Asia
• LEED Volume Program – Project Administrator for two international Volume Programs for luxury brands Tiffany & Co. and Cartier
• Hines One Museum Place – one the tallest BD+C Platinum certified projects in Greater China
• Starbucks Shanghai Expo – the company’s first LEED project in Mainland China
• Shanghai International Financial Center – at over 5 million SQF, one of the largest LEED projects in Greater China
• Las Vegas Sands, The Parisian – largest LEED certified integrated resort in Greater China
• Shanghai ITC – largest WELL project in the world at 3.66 million SQF, targeting Platinum

Carol Li oversees community engagement for the organization in North Asia, encompassing the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, and Korea markets. Her dedicated efforts focus on fostering and equipping practitioners with knowledge in green building and sustainable development to advance the adoption of LEED rating systems across the region.

In her role, Carol spearheads the promotion of LEED AP and other sustainability-related credentials managed by GBCI, such as TRUE Advisor, SEA/SEP, and others. She plays a crucial role in fostering robust communication and engagement among the LEED AP community and various stakeholders within the green building ecosystem. Carol is committed to empowering community members by providing essential resources and support.

Carol Li holds LEED Green Associate, TRUE Advisor, and SEA credentials.

Cintia Nunes is the General Manager and Head of Asia of The Mills Fabrica. As the innovation engine to sustainability and impact of Hong Kong conglomerate Nan Fung Group, Cintia leads the team to connect innovators in the techstyle and agrifood tech space with capital, connections, and expertise — to bring sustainability tech innovations from concept to market.

Drawing inspiration from social business principles that prioritize both profitability and purpose, she is committed to facilitating collaboration among stakeholders across the ecosystem to advance positive environmental and social impact at scale.

Before joining The Mills Fabrica, Cintia served as Chief of Strategy and Growth at Hong Kong’s largest network of social enterprises and impact ventures. She also held leadership roles at a multinational FMCG company where she formalized business strategies for over 10 brands.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

• More industry level cross-sectors collaborations
• Open dialogues across stakeholder groups on what works/what doesn’t
• Accessibility/transparency to capital across asset classes for impact