Key Visual for Net Zero and Nature Positive Theatre
Asia’s Hub for Climate Action & Sustainable Business Solutions #OnlyWayForward
Key Visual for Net Zero and Nature Positive Theatre

ReThink Forum

ReThink Forum

Day 1 – Thursday 10 Sept

 

The Day 1 programme examines how Hong Kong can navigate the transition from climate ambition to delivery, focusing on the systems, capital and infrastructure required to meet its 2035 and 2050 targets. Participants will explore how geopolitics, energy demand and emissions performance are reshaping risk, investment and competitiveness across the city. Through case studies and practical insights, the programme highlights how policymakers, corporates and investors can accelerate decarbonisation, retrofit the built environment, and integrate biodiversity and workforce readiness into long-term transition strategies.

In partnership with

09:20 – 09:50

Opening Ceremony

09:20 – 09:50

Speakers

Chris Brown

EnviroEvents (Rethink) Ltd

Founder & CEO

Chris has 20 years of experience working on large-scale business events. Originally from the UK, Chris has lived and worked in Hong Kong since 2015. Chris moved to Hong Kong to establish a North Asia office for a London-based trade expo organiser and launch a series of digital transformation events. The challenges of living sustainably and a developing concern around the exponential threats of the global climate emergency compelled Chris to “rethink” his own personal contribution to Hong Kong and how he could best make a positive impact on a city he now proudly calls home.

Chris conceived, designed and launched the ReThink HK event during the first part of 2019 – undeterred by the challenges faced by live events at that time, due to civil unrest, the new event concept for uniting the full business and sustainability ecosystem, championing positive action and shared responsibility received excellent support. The inaugural 2020 event was, unsurprisingly, delayed due to COVID but finally ran, in-person, at the K11 Quarry Bay with 450 attendees and all delegate fees were donated to local charities.

Chris’ experience in hosting content-led expo-style healthcare events in the UK, where partnerships and collaboration were crucial to scale and success, provided the foundation for Chris to widen the supporting-network of organisations and sponsors for ReThink HK. The event was moved to the HKCEC for the 2021 edition and resulted in Hong Kong’s best attended event dedicated to the business of sustainability, with over 2,200 attendees. Chris is proud to have maintained the event’s impact pledge; with all delegate fees contributing to impact projects with local Hong Kong charities.

Working alongside the Business Environment Council, Consulates and trade promotion offices, Chambers of Commerce, specialist industry associations, NGOs and action groups the collective ambition for ReThink HK is to accelerate change in Hong Kong – the event returns for its fourth edition this September at the HKCEC, will host over 6,000 attendees and aims to be at least carbon neutral.

All proceeds from delegate fees will be redirected to the newly incorporated Rethink Foundation, a not-for-profit focussed on helping registered NGOs build capacity and operate more sustainably.

Chris received a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Italian from the University of Plymouth (UK). Chris is a member of the British Chamber of Commerce’s Social Sustainability Committee, sits on the Executive Committee and the Sustainability sub-committee of the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

  • Greater action from businesses to contribute towards a more sustainable HK
  • Encourage other event organisers to commit to sustainable solutions
  • Demonstrate that businesses can be operated profitably and with purpose

09:50 – 10:00

Opening Address – Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology

09:50 – 10:00

Speakers

Miss Diane Wong, JP

HKSAR Government

Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology

Miss Wong joined the Administrative Service in 1985. Throughout the service with the Government, Miss Wong had taken up a wide range of duties at different Bureaux and Departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the Tsuen Wan District Office, the former Transport Branch, the former Housing Branch, the Wong Tai Sin District Office, the former  Health and Welfare Branch (subsequently reorganised to become the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau), the former Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau (subsequently reorganised to become the Development Bureau), and the former Food and Health Bureau. She was appointed as a Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in 2018 and subsequently as the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology in August 2022.

Miss Wong possesses a broad spectrum of experience in various areas of public administration, including food and environmental hygiene, land development, home affairs and social welfare.  During her tenure as the Under Secretary for the Environment, she helped support the formulation of policies on air quality, waste management, climate actions and conservation.

10:00 – 10:20

Creating Sustainable Business Value in Turbulent Times

10:00 – 10:20

Five years ago it seemed clear why companies should invest in ESG e.g. mandatory and voluntary ESG disclosure. Today, these drivers to act feel less compelling in a complex and contested world. Yet, if anything the imperative to act has grown. More extreme weather. Competition for energy, food, water and mineral resources. Societal trust in the deployment of AI. New markets such as EVs and sustainable proteins growing to scale. Mike will explore this landscape and crucially surface the best practices companies need to capture sustainable business value.

Session Learnings:

  • Create a new, relevant business case for taking ambitious sustainability action
  • Integrate sustainable action into a company’s value chain to deliver value in practice
  • Deploy new digital and data tools to capture sustainable value
  • Build partnerships to deliver collective change
  • Engage customers if the positive difference more sustainable products and services make to them

Post-Event Actions:

  • Ensure their business case for action is clear, compelling and future proof
  • Have a clear plan to integrate sustainable thinking and action across their value chain
  • Engage their customers in the positive benefits that more sustainable products/services deliver
  • be active in cross value chain, sector and economy coalitions for change

Speakers

Mike Barry

Planeatry Alliance

Co-Founder

Mike is a sustainable business transformation agent, committed to helping business big and small, new and established to prepare for and succeed in the complex transformation to a Society, and Economy that serves it, that is healthier, more sustainable and more just.

He’s the co-founder of Planeatry Alliance that’s helping companies transform the food system by linking their work on human health and sustainability.

Mike was until 2019 Director of Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer, spearheading its ground-breaking Plan A (because there is no Plan B for the one planet we have) sustainability program. He co-chaired the Consumer Goods Forum’s sustainability work bringing the world’s largest retailers and fast moving consumer goods brands together to work on issues such as deforestation, plastics and forced labour. He is a Senior Associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and a Trustee at Blueprint for Better Business. And Chair of local charity Greener Henley.

10:20 – 11:10

Adapting to Global Shifts: Strengthening Systemic Resilience Across Asia

10:20 – 11:10

As global sustainability enters a volatile new era, the language of “ESG” is being replaced by the hard reality of “Systems Change.” This session examines how Hong Kong can maintain its green momentum amidst shifting global trade dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and the urgent need for a new economic vocabulary. Participants will explore how to move beyond fragmented reporting to achieve the deep, structural shifts required in energy, finance, and supply chains. The discussion focuses on how Hong Kong businesses can insulate their sustainability strategies from political volatility and use systems thinking to drive radical collaboration. By addressing the “momentum gap,” this panel provides a roadmap for leaders to stay the course on long-term climate goals while navigating a complex, fast-changing global environment.

Session Learnings:

  • Understand how global geopolitical shifts and trade policies are redefining local sustainability priorities.
  • Identify the “systems change” levers required to move beyond incremental gains toward radical decarbonisation.
  • Explore new ways of communicating impact that resonate in a more sceptical and pragmatic global market.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Review sustainability strategies through a geopolitical risk lens to ensure long-term resilience.
  • Audit internal “systems” to identify where siloed thinking is blocking large-scale carbon reduction.
  • Refine corporate sustainability messaging to align with the evolving language of global value and transition.

Speakers

Scott Price

DFI Retail Group

Group Chief Executive

Scott Price is the Group Chief Executive of DFI Retail Group, bringing over 30 years of experience in retail, logistics and consumer packaged goods sectors globally. He began his career with The Coca-Cola Company in Japan where he continued through various leadership roles across Asia. In 2002, Scott joined DHL Express as President in Japan before advancing to Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific in 2005 and Chief Executive Officer for Europe in 2007.

From 2009, Scott led Walmart’s Asia business from Hong Kong overseeing operations across the region. He relocated in 2014 to the United States to take on a global leadership role, managing Walmart’s global sourcing as well as strategy, technology and real estate for the International Division.

In 2017, Scott joined UPS as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, responsible for strategic planning, Global Business Services and the company’s Advanced Technology Group. He was appointed Executive Vice-President, UPS International in 2020, overseeing all 220 markets outside the U.S.

In August 2023, Scott joined DFI Retail Group to lead the business. He also serves on the boards of Coles Group in Australia, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and the World Retail Congress. Additionally, Scott is a co-sponsor of CGF’s Net Zero Coalition of Action, an initiative aimed at accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the retail and consumer goods industry.

Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina and earned both an MBA and a master’s degree in Asian studies from the University of Virginia.

John Haffner

Hang Lung Properties

Deputy Director — Sustainability

John Haffner is Deputy Director – Sustainability, Hang Lung Properties, where he is responsible for formulating the Group-wide sustainability strategy and driving its execution. John is also Co-Chair of the ULI Asia-Pacific Net Zero Council. He has more than two decades of experience in cleantech, infrastructure and sustainability in Asia and North America, and is proficient in Mandarin. John was a World Fellow at Yale University, and has more than 20 publications on various topics including the environment, energy and international affairs.

My Sustainability Goal for 2026:

I hope Hong Kong will take initial steps towards developing and publishing a deep decarbonization model that would allow all stakeholders to compare transparently the abatement potential of various carbon reduction measures (including the technical feasibility and expected costs of such measures).

Arnaud Dupoizat

International Finance Corporation

Division Director

Arnaud Dupoizat is the Division Director for East Asia at the International Finance Corporation, based in Hong Kong.
Prior to his current position, Arnaud was the IFC Regional Industry Manager for Financial Institutions in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and between 2018 and 2023, the IFC Country Manager for Türkiye. Arnaud has had a career of over 28 years in emerging markets finance.

As Division Director, Arnaud oversees the formulation and implementation of IFC’s investment strategy and advisory business in East Asia. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has an US$11 billion portfolio in region.
Arnaud holds a master’s degree from HEC Paris, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

11:20 – 12:10

From Targets to Delivery: Can Hong Kong Accelerate Progress Toward its 2035 and 2050 Climate Commitments?

11:20 – 12:10

Hong Kong enters a decisive phase of its climate transition as 2026–2030 becomes the period where long-announced targets must translate into demonstrable progress. This session examines how government, utilities, developers, transport operators and financial institutions can accelerate practical decarbonisation across buildings, mobility and energy systems. With interim 2035 milestones approaching, participants will explore the structural barriers slowing implementation, the influence of regional GBA alignment, and the evolving regulatory expectations shaping investment and operational decisions. The discussion focuses on moving from pledges toward coordinated, system-level execution that meaningfully reduces emissions across the real economy.

Session Learnings:

  • Understand key enablers for achieving Hong Kong’s 2035 and 2050 climate commitments.
  • Identify where implementation gaps persist across buildings, transport and energy systems.
  • Explore regional and regulatory drivers influencing transition investment.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Conduct internal readiness assessments against 2035 milestones.
  • Align decarbonisation workstreams with forthcoming regulatory and reporting changes.
  • Initiate cross-departmental planning to integrate transition actions into core operations.

Speakers

Prof. Peipei Chen

City University of Hong Kong

Assistant Professor

Peipei Chen is an Assistant Professor in the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong. She is an interdisciplinary researcher in energy transition policy whose work focuses on low-carbon technology deployment, industrial decarbonisation pathways and the social impacts of energy transitions. She evaluates the feasibility and adoption potential of key low-carbon technologies and develops decarbonisation strategies for hard-to-abate industries, supported by integrated assessments of technology evolution and capacity-expansion pathways. She has published in journals such Nature Energy, Nature Climate Change and Nature Communications, with several of her findings cited in United Nations reports.

Ken Chiu

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

Head of Carbon and ESG, Markets

Ken Chiu has served as Head of Carbon & ESG Products at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) since 2022, where he is responsible for driving the growth of HKEX’s Carbon & ESG business. He has led the development and launch of HKEX’s environmental marketplace, helping to expand sustainable finance and carbon market opportunities in the region.

Ken joined HKEX in 2018. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Vice President, Fixed Income and Currency (FIC) Development, where he was responsible for HKEX’s FIC derivatives and bond listing businesses.

Ken holds a Master of Science in Mathematics for Finance and Actuarial Science from Université Paris-Dauphine and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Martin James Murray

Swire Pacific

Finance Director

Martin Murray OBE is the Finance Director of Swire Pacific Limited, as well as a Non-Executive Director of Cathay Pacific. He is also the Director responsible for Swire Pacific’s ESG strategy and its Sustainable Development Office.

Martin was previously the Chief Financial Officer of Cathay Pacific. Prior to joining Cathay Pacific in November 2011, he was the Deputy Finance Director of Swire Pacific Limited – a post he took up in August 2009. Martin is also a former Non-Executive Director of Swire Properties.

Formerly with Ernst & Young in Scotland and Hong Kong, he joined the Swire Group in January 1995 and has worked for the Group in the Hong Kong SAR, the USA, Singapore and Australia. His roles have included Manager Treasury, Finance Director Trading Division, Finance Director of the Shipping Division and Finance Director of John Swire & Sons Pty Ltd.

Martin graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1988 with a Bachelor of Accountancy degree. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a Council member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and an Executive Committee member of The Hong Kong Management Association. He is also the former Director of Finance for Hong Kong China Rugby.

Martin is the Chairman of ISF Cambodia and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in Hong Kong. He was awarded an OBE in January 2025 for his services to charity.

He was presented with the Climate Leadership Award at the 2025 Finance for the Future Awards. The award recognises his work in connecting sustainability initiatives with tangible business outcomes.

Martin is married with two children.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

  • Embed sustainability factors into capital allocation, risk management and business planning.
  • Strengthen the integration of sustainability and financial reporting.
  • Equip leaders and employees with the skills needed for a changing business environment.
  • Harness data, technology and AI to improve reporting and decision-making.
  • Direct resources towards initiatives that create long-term business value and resilience.

Speaking in 2026 sessions:

Delivering Sustainable Value to Accelerate the Transition: CFO Priorities (Breakfast Roundtable)

12:10 – 13:00

The Carbon Balance Sheet: How Emissions Performance is Reshaping Risk, Capital and Competitiveness

12:10 – 13:00

Carbon performance is rapidly shifting from a reporting obligation to a determinant of cost of capital, resilience and long-term competitiveness. With global disclosure standards tightening and investors prioritising verifiable emissions data, Hong Kong businesses face growing pressure to treat carbon as a strategic financial variable. This session explores how organisations can embed carbon into investment planning, risk assessment, asset valuation and procurement decisions. Panellists will discuss the expanding role of transition finance, the rise of digital emissions measurement, and how Hong Kong’s financial ecosystem is reshaping expectations around climate-aligned business models.

Session Learnings:

  • Recognise carbon as a value-linked financial metric.
  • Understand financing mechanisms influencing carbon-intensive sectors.
  • Identify data systems required for reliable emissions performance.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Integrate carbon considerations into capital planning.
  • Strengthen internal controls for emissions measurement.
  • Engage financiers on transition-aligned funding options.

Speakers

Stacey Chow

Brunswick Group

Partner

Stacey advises on leadership transformation and corporate reputation strategies, with the goal to help organizations build long-term sustainability, resilience and competitiveness. Using her synergistic view anchored on public-private partnerships, she has advised major Asian conglomerates and Global Multinational Corporations, enabling them to mitigate risks, capture future value and lead positive change.

Stacey has over two decades of tri-sector experience in the government, international organization and corporate arenas, including at the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and has worked at the nexus of international development, trade and investment promotion, and sustainable infrastructure development.

She was previously selected as a 2012–2015 Global Leadership Fellow at the World Economic Forum and was selected as a “Woman to Watch” in 2023 by The Women’s Foundation and 30% Club Hong Kong Chapter. Stacey is a Board of Governors for the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Hong Kong, a member of the Sustainability Committee of AmCham, a member of the Sustainability Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, and a committee member of the 30% Club Hong Kong.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from UCLA, a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a professional certificate degree in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership. She is an experienced conference speaker and workshop presenter on future-proofing strategies for companies with a focus on trade and investment, innovation, sustainability and future of work trends.

Ronald Young

Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Head of Sustainable Banking Development

Ronald is Head of Sustainable Banking Development at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy to promote sustainable banking activities and facilitate the banking sector’s management of climate related financial risks.

Prior to his current role, Ronald was Head of Sustainable Finance for Asia at a major international bank based in Hong Kong, leading the bank’s sustainable banking activities in the region. During his time as a financier, he was an active contributor to the sustainable finance community, playing leadership roles in industry associations, championing improvements in market standards, and spearheading campaigns for capacity building.

Ronald has over 20 years of experience in international banking, finance and investment based in New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore, focusing on sustainable finance and transactions in the energy, infrastructure and natural resources sectors.

He received a BS in Economics majoring in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a BSE in Civil Engineering from the same university. He is a CFA charter holder.

13:55 – 14:45

Retrofitting the Vertical City: Can Existing Buildings be Transformed Fast Enough to Meet Climate Targets?

13:55 – 14:45

Hong Kong’s aging building stock represents one of the city’s largest decarbonisation challenges—and opportunities. This session examines how developers, asset owners, engineers and technology providers can accelerate deep retrofit deployment across commercial, residential and mixed-use buildings. With embodied-carbon expectations rising and electrification demands increasing, the conversation will cover new materials, digital performance optimisation, and financing mechanisms supporting high-impact building upgrades. Participants will also explore how cross-sector collaboration can address landlord–tenant split incentives and deliver meaningful energy savings within dense, high-usage districts.

Session Learnings:

  • Understand pathways for scaling deep retrofits in high-density environments.
  • Explore technologies improving building energy performance.
  • Identify financing solutions for large-scale retrofit programmes.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Conduct building-level retrofit opportunity assessments.
  • Engage landlords/tenants in shared-savings models.
  • Prioritise electrification-ready upgrades in asset planning.

 

Speakers

Jing Wang

U.S. Green Building Council

Vice President, North Asia

Based in Shanghai, Jing Wang serves as Vice President for North Asia at USGBC and GBCI, the organizations that developed and administer LEED, one of the world’s leading green building rating systems. She works with industry leaders, developers, investors and public-sector organizations across North Asia to advance sustainable buildings and accelerate market transformation. A frequent speaker at regional industry forums, Jing shares insights on sustainable development, green building and market transformation, and is committed to fostering collaboration across the built environment.

Prior to joining USGBC and GBCI, Jing led the Marketing & Communications function at CBRE China, a leading global real estate services firm. She also held regional marketing roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Singapore and China before the company became part of Marriott International.

Jing holds an MBA from the University of Manchester and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Yasushi Kinoshita

Green Building Japan

Chairperson

Yasushi Kinoshita, Esq., FRICS, is Representative Member of Eminence Partners, an independent real estate investment advisory firm, and Chairperson of Green Building Japan, a not-for-profit organization advancing sustainability in Japan’s built environment. He serves on the Governance Council of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), co-chairs IWBI’s Investing for Health Advisory, and is a Commissioner of the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air. With nearly four decades of experience in real estate investment, structured finance, and ESG, he has held senior roles at SBI Shinsei Bank, Touchstone Capital Management, and Secured Capital Japan (a.k.a. PAG Investment Management). He also serves on the Executive Committee of ULI Japan and is Co-Chair of the Asian Chapter of The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE).

Grace Kwok

Hong Kong Green Building Council and World Green Building Council

Board Director of HKGBC and WorldGBC

Grace is the Chairman and Executive Director of Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group. She currently serves as Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee, member of the Advisory Council on the Environment and the Energy Advisory Committee. Grace contributes to various professional bodies, including HKIQEP, HKGFA, GRESB, USGBC, CRREM and IWBI. She is a Board Director of HKGBC and WorldGBC. Her accolades include HKMA Sustainability Leader of the Year 2021, APEC Bio-Circular-Green Award 2023, WorldGBC Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards 2024 – Women in Green Building Leadership, Kate Hurst USGBC Leadership Award 2025, 2025 IWBI WELL Executive Award and EY EWW Asia-Pacific Class of 2026.

Grace has been involved in many green building and sustainable design projects in Hong Kong, Mainland China and across Asia-Pacific, acquiring vast professional experiences and regional insights. With a background in environmental engineering, she is a keen advocate for regenerative sustainability. Driven by a vision to shape a sustainable future for all, Grace facilitates collaboration through her work with environmental, building and construction, and finance sectors to build climate resilience and accelerate net-zero transition. With AEC Group’s expanding operations in South East Asia and Middle East, Grace is utilizing her experiences in bridging finance and sustainability through her extensive network to create impact at scale and drive transformative change.

Supported by

15:25 – 16:15

Powering the Digital Future: Can Hong Kong Meet AI Energy Demand and Its Decarbonisation Targets?

15:25 – 16:15

AI adoption and the rapid expansion of data-centre infrastructure are poised to become Hong Kong’s largest new source of electricity demand. With compute-intensive workloads driving multi-gigawatt requirements across major markets globally, Hong Kong must reconcile digital-economy growth with the city’s 2035 and 2050 decarbonisation commitments. This session examines the real-economy implications: grid capacity constraints, land and power availability, clean-energy sourcing, regional import dependencies, and the role of efficiency and next-generation cooling technologies. Speakers will explore whether Hong Kong can scale digital infrastructure without compromising its climate trajectory and what policy, investment and governance changes are required.

Session Learnings:

  • Understand projected AI/data-centre energy demand and grid impacts in Hong Kong.
  • Assess infrastructure and clean-energy requirements for sustainable digital-economy growth.
  • Explore regulatory, planning and efficiency pathways that maintain climate-target alignment.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Engage utilities on long-term capacity and clean-power sourcing needs.
  • Incorporate digital-infrastructure energy scenarios into corporate transition plans.
  • Review opportunities for high-efficiency cooling, design optimisation and on-site generation.

16:15 – 17:05

Nature-Positive Development: How Can Cities Integrate Biodiversity, Climate Resilience and Urban Growth?

16:15 – 17:05

Nature-positive development is becoming essential for Hong Kong as extreme heat, storm surges and biodiversity loss intensify. This session examines how businesses, planners and asset owners can incorporate blue-green infrastructure, urban greening, biodiversity restoration and nature-based solutions into long-term strategies. Panellists will explore regulatory trends, ecosystem-service valuation, and opportunities for corporate investment in urban resilience. The conversation highlights how integrating nature into urban systems can reduce risk, enhance wellbeing, and complement carbon-reduction efforts across the city.

Session Learnings:

  • Understand nature-positive strategies relevant to dense urban environments.
  • Identify resilience benefits from integrating blue-green solutions.
  • Recognise business value from biodiversity-aligned planning.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Incorporate nature-positive metrics into sustainability reporting.
  • Assess assets for blue/green enhancement opportunities.
  • Engage with local partners to support ecosystem restoration initiatives.

Speakers

Patrick Ho

Swire Properties Limited

Head of Sustainable Development / Member of TNFD

Patrick is responsible for formulating and executing the Sustainable Development 2030 Strategy for Swire Properties’ global operations across Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and U.S.A. portfolios. Through engaging stakeholders, setting science-based targets and developing action plans, he leads a team to manage the full spectrum of the Company’s environmental, social and economic impact and to integrate ESG considerations into every facet of the Company’s business.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026: 

  • Guided by the Sustainable Development 2030 Strategy, continue to pioneer sustainable business practices, adopt innovative technologies, and actively share best practices with the business community.
  • Engage actively with stakeholders in HK and the broader region to foster partnerships and develop collective solutions for the net-zero and nature-positive transitions.

17:05 – 17:55

Mobilising Hong Kong’s Climate Talent to Deliver: Our Role in Asia’s Climate Transition

17:05 – 17:55

Hong Kong has developed a deep and well-rounded pool of climate capability, spanning finance, engineering, infrastructure delivery, energy systems, carbon management and professional services. Through its own transition journey, the city has built practical experience in planning, financing and delivering low carbon solutions in a dense, complex urban environment.

The question now is how to better mobilise that talent and experience to support climate delivery beyond its own boundaries. This session will explore how Hong Kong can build on its existing achievements to play a more influential role in climate delivery across East Asia and the Global South, where the scale and urgency of transition demand not just ambition, but execution.

The discussion will also highlight one of Hong Kong’s core advantages: its ability to bridge Eastern and Western standards, systems and market expectations. For business leaders, this creates both commercial opportunity and a wider strategic role in supporting Asia’s low-carbon transition.

Session Learnings:

  • Understand how Hong Kong’s existing achievements across engineering, infrastructure, finance and professional services provide a strong foundation for contributing to climate delivery beyond the city.
  • Recognise that Hong Kong’s value lies not only in its own transition progress, but also in its ability to connect talent, capital and expertise to wider regional needs.
  • Explore how integrating technical, infrastructure and financial capabilities can accelerate practical, on-the-ground climate implementation.
  • Examine how Hong Kong’s role in bridging Eastern and Western standards, systems and market expectations can create practical advantages for business and implementation.
  • Gain a clearer view of how business leaders can step up Hong Kong’s role from successful local transition to regional and global climate impact.

Post Event Actions:

  • Reflect on how their organisation can build on Hong Kong’s existing climate strengths to capture new opportunities across Asia.
  • Identify ways to connect their expertise in engineering, infrastructure, energy, carbon management or finance to regional climate delivery needs.
  • Explore new partnerships that position Hong Kong-based businesses and professionals as enablers of climate implementation and scaling.
  • Consider how Hong Kong’s established strengths and East–West bridging role can support business growth, collaboration and market access.
  • Take forward practical conversations within their organisation on how to position Hong Kong-based talent and platforms as contributors to regional and global climate action.

Supported by

Day 2 – Friday 11 Sept

 

The Day 2 programme examines how Hong Kong can align with national priorities and translate policy into execution, positioning itself at the centre of Asia’s transition economy. Participants will explore the financial, regulatory and market mechanisms required to mobilise capital, scale transition finance and support cross-border collaboration within the Greater Bay Area. Through case studies and practical insights, the programme highlights how organisations can move beyond frameworks to create markets, export green technologies across the region, and embed governance structures that enable credible, long-term net-zero delivery.

In partnership with

09:30 – 09:40

Opening Welcome for Day 2

09:30 – 09:40

09:40 – 10:00

Keynote Address

09:40 – 10:00

10:00 – 10:15

Beyond Carbon Neutrality: Forging a Green Energy Future for Hong Kong’s Evolving Energy Landscape

10:00 – 10:15

With thanks to

10:20 – 10:40

China’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality: Navigating the Energy & Economic Transition

10:20 – 10:40

Speakers

Prof. Kejun Jiang

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)

Professor

Professor, Head, Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change Thrust, Society Hub, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).

Kejun Jiang’s research focus is energy, climate change mitigation and air pollution prevention policy assessment by using IPAC modeling, to support national five-year plans, and long-term planning. He began his research in ERI from 1990 and led the development of Integrated Policy Assessment Model for China (IPAC). IPAC modeling team is now a leading research team on China’s 2050 energy transition studies by providing benchmark research results. Major research focus includes energy and emission scenarios, energy policy, energy system, energy market analysis, and climate change, local environment policies and international negotiation. He also was authors of IPCC for Special Report on Emission Scenario from 1997, and Working Group III Third Assessment Report, leader author for IPCC WGIII AR4 Chapter 3, and leader author for GEO-4 Chapter 2, CLA in WGIII of IPCC AR5, LA for IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report, CLA of IPCC Special Report on 1.5℃ Warning, Lead Author of IPCC AR6WGIII Chapter 3 and SPM, Vice Co-Chair of GEO6, lead author of GEO7. From 2010, he is author for UNEP Emission Gaps. Now he is lead author of IPCC AR6 WGIII. He also joined international research collaboration projects such as EMF, FP6, FP7 and H2020 research projects. He is member of Scientific Panel of UNEP CCAC, and Scientific Committee of IAMC. He got his PHD in Social Engineering Department of Tokyo Institute of Technology.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

  • Move more towards CO2 emission reduction
  • More electric vehicle fleet
  • More renewable energy utilization

10:40 – 11:00

Nature-Positive: A Whole-of-Government and Society Approach

10:40 – 11:00

Speakers

Prof. Zhi Lu

Peking University / ShanShui Conservation Center

Professor

Dr. Lu Zhi is a Boya Distinguished Professor at Peking University. She founded Peking University’s Center for Nature and Society, and Shan Shui Conservation Center. She also serves as the co-chair of the second global assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Dr. Lu’s research tackles critical sustainability issues in China, with a focus on finding practical solutions that promote coexistence between humans and nature. Her work encompasses the study of ecosystem services (forests and grasslands), the natural history and conservation of endangered species like giant pandas and snow leopards, and the development of community-led conservation strategies. She is particularly known for her innovative approach, which tests and implements conservation tools grounded in economic incentives, cultural values, and policy improvements, ensuring that local communities benefit from their conservation efforts. This work extends to both rural and urban settings.

Dr. Lu Zhi earned her undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from Peking University. She has been a visiting scholar at the National Institutes of Health , Harvard University and the Yale School of Forest and Environmental Studies (2001-2002).

11:00 – 11:20

The GBA Economic Pivot: Financing the Transition within the New National Cycle

11:00 – 11:20

11:20 – 12:00

From Mission to Policy to Action: Aligning Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan with National Goals

11:20 – 12:00

With the national 15th Five-Year Plan setting direction on energy transition, carbon reduction, and industrial transformation, and Hong Kong preparing its first Five-Year Plan, the key question is how ambition translates into delivery. This session explores how Hong Kong can align with national priorities while leveraging its strengths as an international financial, trade, maritime and aviation hub and to mobilise capital, support transition investments, and accelerate implementation across the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

Session Learnings:

How national priorities can inform Hong Kong’s emerging Five-Year Plan in practical, actionable ways

Post-Event Actions:

  • Where Hong Kong can play a distinctive role in supporting national transition goals
  • How public and private sectors can better align to enable implementation
  • Identify the conditions needed to mobilise capital at scale

Speakers

Christine Loh

Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST

Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment

Professor Christine Loh is Chief Development Strategist at the Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She is a leading voice on public policy, climate governance and sustainable development in Hong Kong, with experience spanning government, the legislature, think tanks, business and academia. Loh was Under Secretary for the Environment in the HKSAR Government from 2012 to 2017, where she worked on air quality, climate change, energy, nature conservation and stakeholder engagement. She also served as Special Consultant to the Chief Executive’s Office on ecological civilization and the Greater Bay Area from 2019 to 2020. Earlier in her career, she was a Member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. At HKUST, Professor Loh focuses on climate policy, sustainability transitions, green finance, governance and regional cooperation. She is also a published author and frequent commentator on environmental policy, climate risk, China and Hong Kong affairs. She currently serves on the board of Towngas Smart Energy, and is Scholar in Residence at Asia Society Hong Kong from 2023 to 2026.

Prof. Kejun Jiang

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)

Professor

Professor, Head, Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change Thrust, Society Hub, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).

Kejun Jiang’s research focus is energy, climate change mitigation and air pollution prevention policy assessment by using IPAC modeling, to support national five-year plans, and long-term planning. He began his research in ERI from 1990 and led the development of Integrated Policy Assessment Model for China (IPAC). IPAC modeling team is now a leading research team on China’s 2050 energy transition studies by providing benchmark research results. Major research focus includes energy and emission scenarios, energy policy, energy system, energy market analysis, and climate change, local environment policies and international negotiation. He also was authors of IPCC for Special Report on Emission Scenario from 1997, and Working Group III Third Assessment Report, leader author for IPCC WGIII AR4 Chapter 3, and leader author for GEO-4 Chapter 2, CLA in WGIII of IPCC AR5, LA for IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report, CLA of IPCC Special Report on 1.5℃ Warning, Lead Author of IPCC AR6WGIII Chapter 3 and SPM, Vice Co-Chair of GEO6, lead author of GEO7. From 2010, he is author for UNEP Emission Gaps. Now he is lead author of IPCC AR6 WGIII. He also joined international research collaboration projects such as EMF, FP6, FP7 and H2020 research projects. He is member of Scientific Panel of UNEP CCAC, and Scientific Committee of IAMC. He got his PHD in Social Engineering Department of Tokyo Institute of Technology.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

  • Move more towards CO2 emission reduction
  • More electric vehicle fleet
  • More renewable energy utilization

Prof. Zhi Lu

Peking University / ShanShui Conservation Center

Professor

Dr. Lu Zhi is a Boya Distinguished Professor at Peking University. She founded Peking University’s Center for Nature and Society, and Shan Shui Conservation Center. She also serves as the co-chair of the second global assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Dr. Lu’s research tackles critical sustainability issues in China, with a focus on finding practical solutions that promote coexistence between humans and nature. Her work encompasses the study of ecosystem services (forests and grasslands), the natural history and conservation of endangered species like giant pandas and snow leopards, and the development of community-led conservation strategies. She is particularly known for her innovative approach, which tests and implements conservation tools grounded in economic incentives, cultural values, and policy improvements, ensuring that local communities benefit from their conservation efforts. This work extends to both rural and urban settings.

Dr. Lu Zhi earned her undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from Peking University. She has been a visiting scholar at the National Institutes of Health , Harvard University and the Yale School of Forest and Environmental Studies (2001-2002).

13:00 – 13:50

Unlocking Hydrogen Scalability in Hong Kong’s Energy Transition

13:00 – 13:50

With thanks to

13:50 – 14:40

Beyond Credible Transition Planning to Transactions: Executing Transition Finance in the Real Economy

13:50 – 14:40

This session focuses on how financial institutions and corporates can move from frameworks to capital deployment by examining the current state of transition plans and their implementation, using real case studies. Speakers will share practical tools, data and disclosure strategies available to close the gap between pure green finance and high-emitting sectors

Session Learnings:

  • Understanding of the various transition-related instruments currently used in the market, the standards and frameworks available, setting credible KPIs, and pricing risk for high-emitting sectors.
  • Practical ways to align incentives across stakeholders: borrowers, lenders, regulators, and investors, while avoiding greenwashing through robust data, disclosures, and verification.
  • What actually unlocks capital at scale, using real case examples, including common pitfalls, opportunities of taking action now, and how leading institutions move from plans to funded transactions.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Identify a potential transition opportunity in your portfolio and map out a structure (instrument, KPIs, stakeholders, and timeline).
  • Apply a disclosure and data framework to strengthen credibility; define metrics, reporting processes, and verification steps for a live or upcoming transaction.
  • Initiate discussion, capacity building and internal alignment (e.g. risk, sustainability, and business teams) on transition-related business strategy and opportunity.

Speakers

Jenny Lee

Hong Kong Green Finance Association

Deputy Secretary General

Jenny Lee is Deputy Secretary General of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA), where she leads multi-stakeholder engagement and advances sustainable finance initiatives across the public and private sectors, regulators, and government. She contributes to capacity building, data analytics, and transition planning under Hong Kong’s Cross-Agency Steering Group’s Green and Sustainable Finance Centre, and is actively involved in global platforms including UNFC4S, the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC). Jenny convenes regional bi-lateral sustainable finance dialogues, co-convenes the Hong Kong chapter of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and has advised on key Hong Kong green fintech initiatives, and proof-of-concept funding support scheme.

After a 20-year career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, and JPMorgan, Jenny transitioned into sustainability. She is committed to driving positive change and impact, integrating finance, technology, and nature, and is a life-long learner, holding certifications from the CFA Institute in Climate Risk, Valuation and Investing, CFA Sustainability Investing and MIT Sloan Management in Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

Advancing cross-sector collaboration and pratical application of sustainable and transition finance

Elaine Ng

Securities and Futures Commission Hong Kong

Associate Director, International Affairs and Sustainable Finance

Elaine is Associate Director in the International Affairs and Sustainable Finance team at the Chief Executive Officer’s Office of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. Her work focuses on international regulatory cooperation and the implementation of sustainable finance policies relevant to Hong Kong’s capital markets.

Elaine supports the SFC’s senior management in engaging with international regulators and standard‑setting bodies, including IOSCO and the Financial Stability Board, and contributes to policy discussions on sustainability disclosures, transition finance and market integrity. In Hong Kong, she is closely involved in cross‑agency work under the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross‑Agency Steering Group, with a focus on sustainability disclosures, transition and adaptation finance, and supporting market infrastructure such as data, assurance and capacity building.

Before joining the SFC in 2020, Elaine worked at MSCI in Hong Kong for over eight years and has more than 20 years of private sector experience in the financial services industry. Her background includes investment risk management, product development, client consulting and implementation. She moved into ESG work in 2015, supporting asset owners and asset managers in integrating ESG and sustainability risks into investment processes across Asia ex‑Japan.

Elaine holds a Master of Science in Applied Finance from Singapore Management University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the National University of Singapore.

Raphael Vialat

Societe Generale

Head of Sustainability and Impact Advisory, Asia Pacific

Raphael Vialat is Head of Sustainability and Impact Advisory for Asia Pacific at Societe Generale. In this role, he leads the Bank’s regional sustainability platform, supporting clients in achieving their ambitions through ESG advisory, sustainable finance solutions, and impact-driven strategies.

With over 15 years of experience in ESG, Raphael has played a key role in developing environmental and social risk frameworks within Global Banking and Investor Solutions, as well as embedding ESG considerations across core banking activities.

In his current position, he focuses on expanding advisory capabilities in sustainable finance, deepening client engagement on ESG topics, and advancing impact investing across the region. He is also instrumental in strengthening the Bank’s sustainability expertise and capabilities throughout Asia Pacific.

Prior to this role, Raphael served as Head of the Environmental and Social Expert Team for Asia Pacific, where he supported clients in progressing their sustainability journeys and integrating ESG principles into their operations.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

  1. Accelerate climate transition pathways across APAC
  2. Strengthen climate adaptation and resilience
  3. Mobilize capital for nature-based solutions

Supported by

14:40 – 15:30

Beyond the Super-Connector: Scaling GBA Green Technology Across Asia-Pacific

14:40 – 15:30

As the Greater Bay Area and Mainland China scale clean technologies across energy, mobility, and infrastructure, a new opportunity is emerging: to take these solutions beyond domestic deployment into regional markets. This session explores how Hong Kong can move beyond its traditional “super-connector” role to enable the cross-border scaling of green technologies, linking innovation, capital, and markets across the Asia-Pacific region.

Session Learnings:

How Hong Kong can support the regional scaling of GBA/China-driven green innovation

Post-Event Action:

  • Where the GBA/China is developing scalable green technologies
  • How Hong Kong can facilitate cross-border deployment into APAC markets
  • The role of finance, trade, and partnerships in accelerating adoption
  • What it takes to position Hong Kong as a platform for regional scaling

15:30 – 16:20

Climate Governance in Practice: Decisions Shaping Climate Outcomes

15:30 – 16:20

As climate commitments mature, governance is becoming the critical link between ambition and delivery. Yet a persistent gap remains between high-level commitments and what happens in government, corporate boardrooms, and important institutions. Governance impacts how decisions are made, who is accountable, how different actors are coordinated, and how progress is tracked over time. It shapes whether strategies translate into consistent, credible action. This session explores how climate governance is evolving across both the public and private sectors. Bringing together diverse perspectives, it focuses on how decisions are made in practice, how trade-offs are managed, and what is needed to embed climate considerations into real-world strategies and operations.

Session Learnings:

How climate governance is shifting from commitments, coordination and disclosure toward decision-making and accountability

Post-Event Actions:

  • How governance expectations are evolving across public and private sectors
  • The role of leadership and institutions in translating ambition into action
  • How organisations navigate trade-offs between short-term pressures and long-term transition goals
  • What enabling conditions – policy, market, or organisational – support effective implementation

 

Speakers

Spencer Liu

Climate Governance Initiative Hong Kong Chapter

Executive Director

Spencer Liu is Executive Director of the Climate Governance Initiative Hong Kong Chapter (CGI HK), a non-profit initiative dedicated to empowering board directors to exercise effective climate governance. In this role, Spencer works with business leaders and governance professionals to strengthen boardroom capabilities and embed climate oversight across Hong Kong’s corporate landscape, influencing through practical guidance, cross-sector engagement, and original research to support decision-making in the climate transition.

Beyond CGI HK, Spencer has founded Riverwood Climate Solutions, where he advises corporations and startups across Asia on climate technologies, with a focus on strategy and venture building in sustainable transportation and circular economy.

Earlier in his career, Spencer spent eight years at McKinsey & Company, where he co-led sustainability and green business building in Greater China as an Associate Partner. He is a CFA charterholder, CESGA holder, and LEED Green Associate.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

Deepen tradeoff discussions in sustainability-embedded business decisions in the board room

Eric Tang

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

Independent Non Executive Director

Mr. Tang Ying Cheung, Eric (“Mr. Tang”) is an independent non-executive director, chairman of the Sustainability Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited.

Mr. Tang has over 35 years of audit and assurance experience, with clientele covering listed companies in Hong Kong, state owned enterprises, MNCs and SEC registrants. He has in-depth experience in consumer business industry and capital market transactions including initial public offerings, re-organisations, and strategic acquisitions. Mr. Tang was a Partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu from 1999 to 2022. He had held different leadership roles during his tenure which included National Leader of Consumer Business & Transportation Industry, National Leader of Audit Learning, National Audit Risk Leader, and National Professional Practice Director, and he had served as a member of Deloitte China Governing Board.

Mr. Tang is a Fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants; a member of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; a Certified Internal Auditor of the Institute of Internal Auditors; and an FSA Credential Holder recognised by the IFRS Foundation. He is a member of Honorary Advisory Panel, a Panel Convenor of Financial Reporting Review Panel and a member of Investigation and Compliance Committee of the Hong Kong Accounting and Financial Reporting Council.

Gillian E Meller

MTR Corporation

Legal and Governance Director

Gill Meller is MTR Corporation Limited’s Legal & Governance Director. She is responsible for leading the Company’s environmental, social and governance initiatives and for overseeing the Company’s legal, company secretarial, insurance, risk and assurance management and procurement and supply chain functions.

Gill is qualified to practise as a solicitor in Hong Kong and England and Wales. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Geography from Hertford College, the University of Oxford and obtained her postgraduate qualifications in law from The College of Law in the United Kingdom. She is the chair of the Legal Committee of The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Listing Committee of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and an independent director of Hong Kong, China Rugby. She is also a representative of the China/Hong Kong Division on and President of the Council of the international Chartered Governance Institute.

Aya Batyrbekova

ISS-Corporate

Head of Sustainability Advisory Services – EMEA & APAC

Aya Batyrbekova is Head of Sustainability Advisory Services for EMEA & APAC at ISS-Corporate, where she leads advisory engagements that help corporate issuers integrate sustainability into strategy, governance, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

With nearly two decades of experience, she works with companies across sectors to navigate evolving investor expectations and sustainability disclosure requirements, providing practical, business-focused guidance that supports long-term value creation.

Prior to joining ISS-Corporate in 2015, Aya held a variety of roles at ISS STOXX and MCSI spanning sustainability, governance, compensation advisory, and research services. Earlier in her career, she worked in business development consulting and international development, including with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Aya holds a Master of Science in Multinational Commerce and Finance from Boston University and the CFA Institute Sustainable Investing Certificate.

Supported by

16:30 – 17:35

The Great Debate

16:30 – 17:35

All sessions are subject to change.