Key Visual for Net Zero and Nature Positive Theatre
HONG KONG’S BEST ATTENDED AND MOST AMBITIOUS BUSINESS EVENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT #OnlyWayForward
Key Visual for Net Zero and Nature Positive Theatre

Net Zero & Nature Positive Theatre (Keynote)

Net Zero & Nature Positive Theatre (Keynote)

Day 1 – Thursday 12 Sept AM

 

ReThink HK kicks-off with the Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address, live-streamed across the event. Government and private sector leaders will explore the current state of play in Hong Kong as well as discuss key issues that all organisations face in the race to net zero.

The opening programme will also address the challenges businesses are facing as Hong Kong transitions to mandatory disclosure and the complexities of measuring and reporting Scope 3 emissions.

09:20 – 09:50

Opening Ceremony

09:20 – 09:50

ReThink HK kicks-off with the Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address, live-streamed across the event. Government and private sector leaders will explore the current state of play in Hong Kong as well as discuss key issues that all organisations face in the race to net zero.

The opening programme will also address the challenges businesses are facing as Hong Kong transitions to mandatory disclosure and the complexities of measuring and reporting Scope 3 emissions.

Speakers

Chris Brown

ReThink HK

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 2024:

  • 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

Kevin O’Brien

Business Environment Council

Chairman, Business Environment Council

Kevin O’Brien is the Chief Executive of Gammon Construction. He has over 30 years’ extensive management experience in the construction and engineering industry covering both the private and public sectors.  He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors. He is the Chairman of the Business Environment Council.

My Sustainability Goals for 2023:

Personal: Taking the best examples and decisions and applying them to my own behaviors and habits.

Business: Start the race on our SBTI journey.

Society: Leading BEC to help Hong Kong accelerate towards net zero.

09:50 – 10:00

Opening Address

09:50 – 10:00

Speakers

Mr Tse Chin-wan

Secretary for Environment and Ecology

Mr Tse joined the former Environmental Protection Agency in 1985 which was subsequently reorganised in 1986 to become the current Environmental Protection Department (EPD). Throughout the service with EPD, Mr Tse had taken up a wide range of duties at professional and senior managerial levels. He was appointed as a Deputy Director of Environmental Protection in 2013 and subsequently as the Under Secretary for the Environment in August 2017.

Mr Tse possesses a broad spectrum of experience in various areas of environmental protection, including law enforcement, computer modelling, environmental impact assessment and cross-boundary cooperation with the Mainland.  During his tenure as the Under Secretary for the Environment, he helped spearhead the formulation of policies on air quality, waste management, climate actions and conservation.

10:00 – 10:55

Sustainable Horizons: Hong Kong’s Progress on the Road to Net Zero

10:00 – 10:55

Facing climate change, pollution, and resource depletion, global efforts to enforce environmental regulations are driving businesses toward sustainability and compliance, while fostering social responsibility. Central to this movement is the shift towards net-zero emissions, a transformation that goes beyond meeting regulatory demands to fundamentally changing business operations for long-term sustainability.

This session will bring together esteemed leaders as we explore the impacts and opportunities of these changes. Offering insightful discussions and expert guidance, the conference aims to equip businesses with the tools to thrive in this changing landscape, highlighting the role of regulatory changes in driving a sustainable, resilient future for Hong Kong’s business sector.

Learnings

  • How are some of Hong Kong’s most complex organisations working to engage internal and external ecosystems to navigate climate action across multiple industries and geographies?
  • What systemic changes and partnerships are needed to help us execute climate commitments, and turn transition risks to opportunities?
  • How can we work together to tackle challenges, while maintaining growth ambitions and shareholder value creation?
  • How can leadership companies leverage innovation to inspire ambition and drive solutions to reduce our carbon footprint over the next five to ten years? What are our biggest barriers?
  • What impact are businesses feeling with new regulations being enforced?

Post-event Actions

  • Gain insights on leading organisations’ carbon reduction approaches and cross-industry solutions.
  • Rethink actions that your company and industry should focus on over the next ten years to turn risks into leadership opportunities, and make meaningful impact at the scale needed to address today’s most pressing climate challenges.
  • Understand why business leaders have a compelling and common interest to work along each other and ensure the transformation of every aspect of industry to contribute to a net-zero economy by 2050

Speakers

Dr Margaret Burnett

Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong

Programme Director

Currently the Programme Director for the Master of Social Science in Sustainability Leadership and Governance, in the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at the University of Hong Kong. Margaret has developed this Master programme to enhance learning, grow deeper understanding, and enable professionals to implement sustainability initiatives across all roles. Empowering both students and clients to integrate sustainability into personal and core organizational decision-making processes as this is time critical and, the focus the programme. She is often a guest speaker, and partners with organizations to provide support to their in-house sustainability strategies, currently through the lens of climate change related factors, and mechanisms for greater stakeholder engagement.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

For leaders, at all levels, to put into action significant changes to their operating environment given the tools at their disposal, and a greater level of authentic collaboration that truly seeks human-centric solutions. Let’s be on the right side of the climate change battle!

Erdal Elver

Siemens Limited

President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan

Mr. Erdal Elver currently serves as President & CEO of Siemens Limited, leading the overall strategy in the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization and delivering sustainable solutions for infrastructure and industry in Hong Kong and Macao.

Mr. Elver first joined Siemens in 1984. Besides his current position in Hong Kong and Macao, he has also served as the President and CEO of Siemens Taiwan and Siemens Vietnam, in addition to holding various senior management roles in Germany and China. With over 35 years of experience in the engineering and manufacturing industry, he has been at the forefront of leading the company as a trusted technological partner, driving sustainable solutions in the field of smart infrastructure and industry. He received his Master’s Degree on Computer Science from Technical University of Munich, Germany.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

– CO2 Emission Reduction: With our DEGREE sustainability framework, Siemens is on track to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, aiming for a 55% reduction by 2025 and 90% by 2030. Since 2019, Siemens has already achieved a notable 50% reduction, highlighting its commitment to a sustainable future.
– Scope 3 Emissions: By offering solutions like SiGREEN software and Siemens EcoTech while leveraging technologies such as digital twins and AI, Siemens empowers their customers in adopting sustainable practices. In fiscal year 2023, these efforts led to a reduction of 190 million tons of CO2, demonstrating a substantial positive impact.
– Resource Efficiency: Committed to minimizing environmental impact, Siemens plans to reduce landfill waste by 50% by 2025 and achieve zero landfill waste by 2030. This reflects its dedication to resource efficiency and sustainable practices.

Mark Harper

Swire Pacific

Group Head of Sustainability

Mr Mark Harper has worked for around 20 years in the field of corporate sustainability. As Group Head of Sustainability at Swire, Mr Harper is responsible for managing the Group Sustainable Development Office, and leading on the design, execution and performance monitoring of the global corporate sustainability strategy for the Swire Group. As well as, acting as the lead change agent in driving improved sustainability performance and best practices, with a view to further embedding sustainability into overall business strategy for Swire.

Prior to taking up the Group Head of Sustainability role, Mr Harper had worked at John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. for over seven years, where he was responsible for managing the Group’s ESG disclosures as well as advising operating companies on their own ESG submissions. In addition to his work on ESG ratings, Mr Harper was also responsible for advising the Group on policy and strategy development, particularly in the areas of climate resilience, biodiversity and sustainable waste management. He also sits on the Board of Business Environment Council, the Executive Committee of the Drink Without Waste working group and is Chair of the ESG Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Mr Harper has extensive experience of ESG disclosure standards such as GRI and the Hong Kong Exchange ESG Reporting Guide, as well as conducting sector focused benchmarking studies, corporate environmental management, as well as organising hands-on corporate citizenship and CSR training programmes.

Before joining John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd., Mr Harper worked in a number of senior management roles at high profile NGOs including the Earthwatch Institute, Fauna & Flora International, China Water Risk, and Business Environment Council, where he was responsible for managing the organisations advisory services on ESG reporting and corporate sustainability strategy development.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024

  • Rollout of the Group’s Net Zero Carbon emissions and zero to landfill commitments.
  • Finalising the Group’s climate risk assessment process and analysis.

Wilson Kwong

HACTL

Chief Executive

Wilson Kwong joined the Jardine Matheson Group in 1998, and has since held a variety of senior management positions in its aviation, real estate development, property management and engineering businesses. He eventually took up his Hactl post in 2018.

Since joining Hactl – Hong Kong’s largest independent air cargo handler – Wilson has strengthened its service portfolio and renewed its focuses on digitisation, innovation, compliance and sustainability. The company’s Sustainability Strategy Framework embraces all aspects of its business, and informs every of its decision and action. Hactl now publishes an annual Sustainability Report, which catalogues the company’s considerable achievements and encourages others to follow suit.

For Hactl, sustainability goes well beyond climate change mitigation measures alone, it also means caring for its workforce and community through measures such as refurbishment to offices; expansion of leisure facilities; provision of free massages employing visually-impaired masseurs and masseuses; advocating for menstrual equity and gender equality; enhancement of training and development programmes and facilities; educating staff on the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals; and introduction of additional policies to foster workplace equality and inclusivity.

Wilson is Chairman of the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong, Chairman of the Shipping and Transport Committee and a member of the General Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. He is a Member of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, the Land and Development Advisory Committee, the Tripartite Taskforce on Manpower Training (Aviation) and the HKTDC Logistics Services Advisory Committee respectively; a Council Member of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, a Board Member of GS1 Hong Kong and an Advisory Committee Member of the Asian Institute of Supply Chains and Logistics. Wilson is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, as well as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

With thanks to

11:05 – 11:20

ISSB Interoperability on a Worldwide Scale

11:05 – 11:20

Join us for an engaging fireside chat with a distinguished member of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), Bing Leng, as we delve into the critical topic of “ISSB Interoperability on a Worldwide Scale.” This session will explore the ISSB’s efforts to create a cohesive and universally applicable framework for sustainability reporting, ensuring that businesses across various sectors can seamlessly integrate and comply with global standards.

Our speaker will provide insights into the challenges and opportunities of achieving interoperability in sustainability standards, the impact on global business practices, and the future of transparent and consistent sustainability reporting.

Learnings

  • What is the importance of interoperability in sustainability standards?
  • What are the future trends and developments in sustainability reporting comparing to global standards?

Post-event Actions

  • Be able to understand the ISSB’s role in global sustainability reporting.
  • Understand practical insights into implementing standards across different sectors.

Speakers

Ee Sin Tan

EY

Partner, Assurance

Ee Sin has more than 15 years of experience and currently leads both the Climate Change and Sustainability Services and Financial Accounting Advisory Services teams in Hong Kong.

He assists clients with navigating the risks and opportunities arising from sustainability issues. He supports clients with formulation of sustainability strategies and data management processes to meet regulatory requirements and address expectations of different stakeholders and help companies to align business models to sustainability development goals. He also provides advisory services to clients on building an efficient and effective finance function that addresses needs of stakeholders and evolving financial and compliance requirements including integrated reporting.

Ee Sin is a practising CPA of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountant (HKICPA) and member of Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA). He also serves as a member of HKICPA’s Sustainability Committee.

Bing Leng

IFRS Foundation

ISSB Member

Bing Leng was appointed as a full-time member of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in June 2022, effective 1 July 2022.

He joins the ISSB from the Chinese Ministry of Finance where he was responsible for sustainability reporting initiatives. He initiated and led the implementation of several reporting-related programmes, including the development of digital taxonomies to enable electronic reporting, the revised financial instrument accounting standards and plans focused on digitising electronic payment vouchers and invoices.

Mr Leng was a member of the International Accounting Standards Board’s IFRS Taxonomy Consultative Group from 2019 to 2022 and a member of the Board of Directors of XBRL International from 2014 to 2020.

He is a Doctor of Management and has a Master of Accounting from Tianjin University of Finance and Economics in China.

11:20 – 12:10

Managing Climate Risk & Opportunities: Hong Kong’s Mandatory Disclosure

11:20 – 12:10

The mix of reporting standards is becoming increasingly complex as the number of options increases. With sustainability as a critical global issue, governments, organizations, and investors focus on sustainability regulatory standards and mandatory disclosure. This session aims to shed light on the significance of sustainability standards, the evolving regulatory landscape, and the implications of mandatory disclosure for businesses and investors as new climate-related disclosures are required in Hong Kong by 2025.

During this session, we will explore the current state of sustainability regulatory standards and their impact on various industries. We will delve into the key frameworks and guidelines, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), among others. By understanding these standards, delegates will gain insights into the expectations placed on organizations regarding sustainability performance measurement and reporting.

Throughout the session, we will hear from industry experts, and sustainability leaders who have first-hand experience navigating sustainability regulatory standards and their journey to mandatory disclosure. They will share their insights, best practices, and success stories, providing practical guidance to participants.

Learnings

  • What is the evolving landscape of regulations and standards related to mandatory disclosure?
  • What are the differences in the key regulatory frameworks and guidelines?
  • What action must business take to ensure they are on track for mandatory disclosures?

Post-event Actions

  • Gain insights into the expectations placed on organizations regarding sustainability performance measurement and reporting.

Speakers

Ee Sin Tan

EY

Partner, Assurance

Ee Sin has more than 15 years of experience and currently leads both the Climate Change and Sustainability Services and Financial Accounting Advisory Services teams in Hong Kong.

He assists clients with navigating the risks and opportunities arising from sustainability issues. He supports clients with formulation of sustainability strategies and data management processes to meet regulatory requirements and address expectations of different stakeholders and help companies to align business models to sustainability development goals. He also provides advisory services to clients on building an efficient and effective finance function that addresses needs of stakeholders and evolving financial and compliance requirements including integrated reporting.

Ee Sin is a practising CPA of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountant (HKICPA) and member of Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA). He also serves as a member of HKICPA’s Sustainability Committee.

Cecilia Kwei

Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Director of Standard Setting

Cecilia is the Head of the Sustainability Disclosures and the Accounting Standard Setters in Hong Kong. She is responsible for overseeing the development of HKFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and HKFRS Accounting Standards for use in Hong Kong.

Prior to her current role, she was a director in Deloitte China specialising in technical IFRS accounting. She also served as a senior lecturer of financial accounting at the University of the Witwatersrand and an auditor at PwC South Africa.

Cecilia has a Master of Commerce degree specialising in taxation and a Bachelor of Accountancy degree, both from Wits University.

Kelly Lee

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

Senior Vice President, Listing

Ms Kelly Lee joined HKEX in 2013. She works within the Policy and Secretariat Services Unit of the Listing Division, and has been involved in HKEX’s major listing policy and ESG initiatives in recent years. Ms. Lee is currently a member of the Sustainability Committee and the Sustainability Advisory Panel of the Financial Reporting Standards Committee of the HKICPA. Prior to joining HKEX, Ms Lee was a senior associate practicing corporate and securities law in Hong Kong.

Bing Leng

IFRS Foundation

ISSB Member

Bing Leng was appointed as a full-time member of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in June 2022, effective 1 July 2022.

He joins the ISSB from the Chinese Ministry of Finance where he was responsible for sustainability reporting initiatives. He initiated and led the implementation of several reporting-related programmes, including the development of digital taxonomies to enable electronic reporting, the revised financial instrument accounting standards and plans focused on digitising electronic payment vouchers and invoices.

Mr Leng was a member of the International Accounting Standards Board’s IFRS Taxonomy Consultative Group from 2019 to 2022 and a member of the Board of Directors of XBRL International from 2014 to 2020.

He is a Doctor of Management and has a Master of Accounting from Tianjin University of Finance and Economics in China.

Hendrik Rosenthal

CLP Holdings Limited

Director – Group Sustainability

Hendrik is responsible for the Group’s sustainability-related strategy, reporting and communications. He supports the senior management in sustainability and climate change-related risk management and advises on sustainability matters of the Group’s power business in the Asia-Pacific region.

With more than 20 years of experience in sustainability and environmental management across the public, private and NGO sectors, Hendrik previously led research and consulting projects in Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Hendrik currently sits on a number of committees on sustainability-related matters, including as Director of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), Steering Committee member of the Climate Governance Institute Hong Kong Chapter, and an advisory panel member for the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), amongst others.

 

With thanks to

12:10 – 13:00

The Scope 3 Challenge

12:10 – 13:00

This session will explore the complexities of Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, which occur in a company’s value chain. These emissions are often the largest share of a corporation’s carbon footprint and can be the most challenging to manage due to their indirect nature. The panel will explore strategies for businesses to effectively measure, report, and reduce these emissions, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with suppliers and customers to achieve meaningful reductions.

Learnings

  • What are the challenges associated with measuring Scope 3 emissions?
  • How can you engage with suppliers and customers to encourage and facilitate emission reductions?

Post-event Actions

  • Understanding what Scope 3 is and be able to create a baseline to create a framework for action.
  • Understand the innovative approaches and technologies to mitigate Scope 3 emissions.

Speakers

Aneesa Walji

Sustainable Solutions

Advisor

Aneesa Walji is an independent Sustainability Advisor and former United Nations staff member, with a track record of helping actors across sectors navigate the growing complexities of business for people, planet and profit. She is a lawyer with 15 years of experience working in partnership with business, government and civil society across Asia, Africa and North America, as well as at the international policy level.

In the course of her career, she has covered issues ranging from labour conditions in Sri Lankan tea plantations to air pollution in Bahrain and modern slavery regulation from an investment perspective. Recently, she led the United Nations Development Programme’s work on responsible business conduct in the Arab States region.

Her diverse work experiences across sectors, regions and substantive areas of focus have given Aneesa a systems-level perspective of the interconnected elements of sustainability, as well as a deep understanding of the evolving global regulatory landscape. She brings expertise in strategy development, multi-stakeholder engagement, training and awareness raising, responsible sourcing and impact assessments, among other areas.

Aneesa holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies, a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto and a Master of Laws from New York University. She also holds several certifications, including from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. Conversations for new ideas and approaches – e.g. Re-Think!

2. Encourage recognition of the interconnections between environmental and social dimensions.

3. Promote win-win approaches through public-private partnerships.

Yoonmee Jeong

OCBC

Head of Sustainability Office, Global Wholesale Banking

Yoonmee Jeong heads the Sustainability Office for the Global Wholesale Banking division of OCBC. The Office plays a key role in driving OCBC’s sustainability and decarbonisation strategy through leading the Net-Zero Project to assess the Bank’s financed emissions, offering practical and credible sustainable banking solutions to the Bank’s corporate and institutional clients, and developing strategies for transition financing and ESG risk management.
Since joining OCBC in 2019, Yoonmee has spearheaded the Bank’s sustainable finance activities, leading her team in innovative transactions across diverse sectors and markets. In 2023 alone, the Bank advised over 100 corporates on sustainable financing.
Prior to joining OCBC, Yoonmee worked in the Sustainable Finance team of BNP Paribas Global Markets in Hong Kong, coordinating the launch of a sustainable finance programme for Corporate and Institutional clients, and advising on several inaugural sustainability bond issuances in the region.
With nearly two decades of experience in financial institutions, Yoonmee has gained valuable expertise in sustainable finance and business development across diverse markets, including Seoul, Hong Kong, Paris, and Singapore. She holds a CFA charter and has earned an MBA from HEC Paris, along with a master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.

Ringo Lam

Schneider Electric

Associate Principal, Sustainability Business

Ringo is the Associate Principal of Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Business. He is responsible for managing Hong Kong Sustainability Business organization and driving client engagement activities in various sustainability services aspects for strategy consulting, managed services, cleantech and energy efficiency. Ringo has another role to lead the managed services in East Asia Japan region which provide enterprise-level cloud platform for collecting and analyzing sustainability and ESG data to support for organizational carbon emission reporting. He specialized in leveraging digitalized and technological solutions to help enterprises for climate mitigation actions and reduce carbon emissions.

In his prior role in Schneider Electric Hong Kong eco-building team, he had demonstrated his expertise included energy and carbon audits, developing energy implementation projects, and managing energy conservation measures and develop business cases with Schneider’s Smart Meters and Building Management Systems (BMS).

Prior to joining Schneider Electric’s Sustainability team, Ringo worked in SGS where he performed and reviewed over 100 carbon/ energy audits for Hong Kong, Macau and China enterprises.

Fei Li

CDP

Co-Director of Disclosures

Fei Li is the Global Co-Director of Disclosures with CDP. Currently, He is responsible for the development of CDP’s global disclosure strategy and CDP’s disclosure business in Asia Pacific.

Since he joined CDP in 2017, Fei Li has been working to raise the awareness and management capacity of companies in China, especially from the FMCG sector, towards environmental risks and their ESG performance. Also, he has explored how to use green finance mechanism to incentivize Chinese companies to introduce environmentally friendly supply chain policies and promote sustainable procurement practices.

Prior to joining CDP, Fei Li served various organizations of United Nations. He contributed to the implementation of Green Jobs Project in ILO’s Asia Pacific Region. Later, he was responsible for grants approval and management for the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program in UNDP China Office.

Fei Li graduated from Michigan Tech University with dual master’s degrees in Environmental and Energy Policy and Applied Nature Resource Economics. He published articles in Energy Strategy Reviews and other International and Chinese journals on renewable energy and carbon emissions trading.

Eddie Tse

Gammon Construction

Group Sustainability Manager

Eddie has more than 26 years experience in construction and environmental field and specializes in sediment and land contamination assessment and remediation, carbon/energy management, renewable energy projects and waste/asbestos management.

He is the vice chairman of Environment Committee, Hong Kong Construction Association and member of Climate Change Business Forum of the Business Environment Council. He was appointed as a construction advisor in development of Construction Industry Council Carbon Assessment Tool and Sustainable Finance Certification scheme.  He is also appointed by Hong Kong Green Building Council to be a co-opted member of the Sustainable Development Committee, Climate Change Framework for Built Environment Embodied Carbon Expert Group member and Green Product Market Taskforce member.  Eddie is a member of UK CARES Assured Steel Certification Sustainability Technical Committee.

Eddie graduated in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia in Canada, and has a Master of Science (Major in Environmental Engineering) degree from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Eddie is a Fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals, Certified Carbon Auditor (Cement/Steel/Concrete) under the CIC Green Product Certification Scheme, Certified Energy Manager/Carbon Audit Professional of US Association of Energy Engineer and a Qualified Project Assessor of BREEAM Infrastructure.  He is also a qualified assessor of CIC Sustainable Finance Certification Scheme and a Certified ESG Analyst CESGA® of The European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Caring nature and society while pursuing net zero goal

With thanks to

Day 1 – Thursday 12 Sept PM

 

The challenges faced in Hong Kong extend beyond the region and are global in nature. This programme, A Global Approach to Change aims to explore and understand strategies and approaches implemented both in Hong Kong and overseas that have successfully addressed key issues, with the intention of adapting and implementing them on a global scale for maximum impact. This program centres around three key topics: Green Fintech, Water and the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors.

Supported by

14:00 – 14:40

International Cooperation’s Role in Climate Transition

14:00 – 14:40

International cooperation serves as an essential tool in combating the climate crisis, as it can help cultivate a global economy dedicated to addressing this challenge. Not only must we focus on synergistically aligning the work of the private and public sectors within Hong Kong, but also promoting international cooperation to achieve net-zero emissions goals. 

This fireside chat will explore the role of international cooperation in reducing rising greenhouse gas emissions and how this can support Hong Kong’s transition. Our experts will share key insights into the necessity of countries pooling resources and expertise, whether in the context of green technology, sustainable policies, or global climate finance. The discussion will explore the power of joint climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, particularly from the international perspective.

 Learnings

  • How can we prioritize international cooperation as a driver to support Hong Kong’s transition to net-zero? 
  • What are the respective roles of cross-sectoral collaboration and international collaboration in forming climate mitigation and adaptation strategies? 
  • What are some case studies demonstrating how international cooperation has impacted the global achievement of net-zero emissions goals? 

Post-event Actions

  • Understand and explore Hong Kong’s role within the global economy as it strives to reach net-zero emissions goals. 
  • Gain insights into the functions of different forms of partnerships, both within and beyond Hong Kong, in fostering a collaborative atmosphere to build climate resilience. 

Speakers

Stacey Chow

Brunswick Group

Partner, Brunswick Group

Stacey advises organizations on developing initiatives and strategies around sustainability, social impact, as well as environmental, social and governance issues, with a focus on issues management, corporate reputation, stakeholder engagement and global partnerships. Stacey has tri-sector experience in the government, international organization and corporate arenas, spanning a 20-year career across the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and has a background in international development, trade and investment promotion and sustainable infrastructure development.  She was selected as a 2012-2015 Global Leadership Fellow at the World Economic Forum and was selected as a “Woman to Watch” by The Women’s Foundation and 30% Club Hong Kong Chapter in 2023.   Stacey is a member of the Energy, Environment, Social, and Governance (E-ESG) Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, a member of the Environment and Sustainability Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and a committee member of the 30% Club Hong Kong.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Helping companies reach sustainability goals through global partnerships and technological innovation.

Louise Bergholm

The Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macau

Consul General of Sweden to Hong Kong and Macau

Ms Louise Bergholm is the Consul General of Sweden to Hong Kong and Macau since 2023. Having served in various capacities in multiple geographical regions, she accumulated more than three decades of diplomatic experience. Her previous positions include Ambassador of Sweden to Bulgaria, while she was also formerly assigned to Washington DC, USA, and Jakarta, Indonesia. She has been effectively handling a wide scope of topics ranging from politics to economics, with a specific focus on trade policy and promotion.

Ms Bergholm obtained a Master of Science in International Economics degree from the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, and studied history, political science and Spanish at the University of Stockholm, Sweden.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. Recycling stations near people’s homes at more places around the city – this could significantly lessen the volume of waste that goes to landfills.
2. A few degrees warmer in offices, shopping malls and other public spaces. In many places, the aircon is working at lower temperatures than what’s really needed. This would save a lot of precious energy.

Siddharth Chatterjee

Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China

UN Resident Coordinator in China

Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee took office as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China on 16 January 2021 and is the designated representative of – and reports to – the UN Secretary- General. He presented his letter of credence to the President of China on 14 April 2021.

Mr. Chatterjee has more than 25 years of experience in international cooperation, sustainable development, humanitarian coordination and peace and security in the United Nations and the Red Cross movement. He has served in many fragile and war-torn countries all over the world.

A 3 times TEDx speaker, he is a regular opinion contributor on humanitarian and development issues for a range journals which includes Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Huffington Post, Forbes, CNN, Al Jazeera, the Guardian as well as of late he has also published in mainstream Chinese journals.

Mr. Chatterjee holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University in the United States of America.

 

Gregory May

U.S. Consulate General

Consul General

Consul General Gregory May arrived in Hong Kong in September 2022. Prior to Hong Kong he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and as Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang, China. Mr. May had two prior assignments in China at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou and at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. He also worked at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy. In Washington, Mr. May worked as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs and held various positions focused on China, Vietnam, and the State Department’s Executive Secretariat.

Prior to entering the Foreign Service, Mr. May served as the Assistant Director and Research Associate in Chinese Studies at the Nixon Center, a foreign policy think tank in Washington, D.C. From 1993 to 1996, he worked as a journalist for International Community Radio Taipei, an English language radio station; and worked as a correspondent for Newsweek.

Originally from Texas, Mr. May is a graduate of the University of Texas. He holds a master’s degree in China Studies from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. He is married and has three children.

14:40 – 15:30

Futureproofing Water in a Changing Climate Corporate Innovation & Adaptation

14:40 – 15:30

Water is the resource most vulnerable to climate change yet it’s the only resource we cannot survive without. Beyond quenching our thirst, we need water to grow food, generate power, mine and manufacture goods from fashion to electronics. It is an invaluable asset but with every degree of warming, threats to water security also increase. By 2050, 31% of global GDP worth US$70 trillion and 60% of the world’s population could be exposed to extremely high water stress for at least one month a year . Seas are also rising faster than we think redrawing coastlines & forcing migration unless we adapt. Given this, it is not surprising that leading corporates are innovating to adapt and thrive. Join us to find out how HK based corporates are driving global change to futureproof water revolutionising industries with water in mind, carrying out water stress tests, striving for water neutrality plus more.

Learnings

  • Why are companies taking action now to protect water? What exactly was the impetus?
  • What do they view as the biggest short and long term water and climate risks?
  • How are water and climate risks viewed & managed in the companies? Are they board level risks? Are they integrated into risk management?
  • What are these innovations & how do they come up with them? Where can other companies start?
  • What are the benefits of taking this protective action? How do they balance this against the investment ($, time, people +)?

Post-event Actions

  • Leave with an understanding of urgent water and climate risks and why they matter/ are material to companies.
  • Be inspired and see that it’s possible for companies to innovate to protect water and that it is being done by Hong Kong companies.
  • Leave with an understanding of the range of actions companies can take to protect water from operations to supply chains and setting ambitious corporate targets to future proofing portfolios.

Speakers

Debra Tan

CWR

Director & Head

Tan heads CWR, a non-profit that aims to “mainstream” water and climate risks into financial decision-making and corporate strategies. Today, CWR’s work on the assessing and valuing risk exposure to rising freshwater scarcity to coastal threats, is highlighted as tools and useful resources under the IFRS’s CDSB Application Guidance for Water-Related Disclosures and feature in Palgrave MacMillan textbooks. Tan is also a contributing author to the latest IPCC 6th Assessment Report: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Adapting to rising water risks in a new climate future

Daisy Guo

DETERMINANT

Head of Global Business Development & Partnerships

Daisy Guo heads DETERMINANT’s global business development and partnerships. A passionate advocate for sustainability, Daisy is heavily involved in shaping the company’s sustainability roadmap. In 2023, she launched the world’s first cotton waterless dyeing program, a groundbreaking collaboration between DETERMINANT and ECOHUES. This initiative underscores her commitment to pioneering sustainable practices and innovation in the retail industry.

Before joining DETERMINANT, Daisy led Lululemon’s first social impact project in Hong Kong, and contributed to building the Services Marketplace at Lazada, fostering collaboration between Lazada Crossborder and Alibaba teams.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. Promoting water stewardship in the textile & apparel industry through the adoption of new technologies like waterless dyeing.

2. Seeing a further reduction in single-use packaging.

Dr. Frederick Lee

Centre for Water Technology and Policy, The University of Hong Kong

Executive Director

Dr. Frederick Lee holds a PhD degree in Urban Planning from MIT. He is Executive Director of the Centre for Water Technology and Policy at The University of Hong Kong. His primary research and advocacy concerns pertain to two major water sustainability nexus issues: water-energy-climate and water-ecology. He is currently conducting a research project that focuses on the application of smart technologies (IoT, AI) to enhancing water conservation behavior in households. Dr. Lee is also a Fellow at Civic Exchange.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

#1. Reduction of per capita water use in the domestic sector
#2. Improvements in water use efficiency in non-domestic sites

Shashank Singh

Colgate Palmolive

Sustainability Lead APAC

Shashank is a sustainability professional with nearly 13 years of diverse experience in manufacturing, supply chain, marketing, and consulting. Holding a mechanical engineering degree, he spent 3.5 years in manufacturing plants, gaining strong technical skills and a good understanding of manufacturing environments. Through a leadership program, he transitioned to marketing, acquiring 1.5 years of core marketing experience that positions him well to bridge the gap between supply chain and commercial discussions. Post his MBA, he entered sustainability consulting to refine his problem-solving skills. As a consultant, Shashank has worked with several government bodies, multilateral organizations, multinationals, and NGOs/non-profits and gained valuable insights into key sustainability topics like decarbonization, waste management, water, audits, regulatory landscapes, and sustainability reporting. He is a firm believer in building relationships and fostering collaboration to achieve shared sustainability goals. Above all, Shashank is a devoted father to a 4-year-old boy and striving to be the best father.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

– Connect with more like minded people
– More collaboration

Supported by

With thanks to

15:30 – 16:20

Accelerating Decarbonisation in Hard to Abate Sectors

15:30 – 16:20

This session targets the critical challenge of cutting carbon emissions in industries where such efforts are more difficult. These sectors contribute approximately 20% of global emissions and face significant hurdles due to technological, economic, or practical constraints.

We will delve into the innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies that hold the promise of transforming these sectors. From advancements in lower-carbon energy and feedstock like green hydrogen to novel carbon capture methods, the focus will be on viable solutions that can pave the way for substantial emissions reductions.

The discussion will extend to collaborative efforts and policy frameworks that support the decarbonisation journey. By bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators, we aim to foster a dialogue that accelerates the pace of change. Join us as we explore the pathways and potential for achieving meaningful decarbonisation in the sectors where it is hardest yet most crucial.

Learnings

  • What are the key challenges to decarbonise the hard-to-abate sectors?
  • How are companies using innovation and technology to reach their sustainability goals in these sectors?
  • What collaborative efforts among industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators are essential?

Post-event Actions

  • Leave with an understanding of how the hard-to-abate sectors are a large part of our journey to net zero and the urgency behind their decarbonisation.
  • Be able to understand realistic pathways to achieve carbon neutrality in the hard-to-abate sectors.

Speakers

Rong Yan

RMI

Senior Associate

Rong Yan is a senior associate of the RMI China Program, working with the Industry Decarbonization Initiative, where RMI works to accelerate decarbonizing China’s heavy industries, including steel, cement, petrochemicals & chemicals, and aluminum. She is the content lead for the team’s aluminum and circular economy work,  and the author of RMI China’s flagship report on cement industry sectoral transition roadmap, one of the earliest in the field, developed in close partnership with leading industry associations and institutes and recognized by many. Her other areas of focus include the transition routes and economic analysis of near-zero steel, as well as supporting heavy industry’s transition to near-zero production using procurement as a tool.

Before joining RMI, Rong worked as a consultant, advising international companies from various industries, including finance, manufacturing and consumer goods on their carbon reduction strategies their implementation. Rong also has experience working at BP, WoodMackenzie, and The Nature Conservancy.

Johnson Gui (桂志军)

Shanghai E-Carbon Digital Technology Co., Ltd.

Co-Founder and SVP

Co-founder and Senior Vice President at E-C DIGITAL、Chief Designer of the JimuLCA TooL, Johnson Gui is a member of the Expert Committee for the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Platforms in both the steel and battery industries. He also serves as Deputy Director of the China Industrial Internet Steel Dual-Carbon Innovation Laboratory and is a technical expert for the United Nations Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI).

Previously, he was an LCA expert at ArcelorMittal in France, a researcher at China Baowu Group, and a core team member at the Institute of Resource and Environmental Research. He has also worked with the World Steel Association and the North American Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC).

With over a decade of experience in carbon data quantification and LCA databases, Johnson Gui has been instrumental in developing numerous industry standards.

Valerie Kwan

Asia Investor Group on Climate Change

Director – Stewardship and Corporate Engagement

Valerie is the director overseeing Climate Action 100+, an investor-led initiative to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change. She co-leads the Asia workstream from within Climate Action 100+, and oversees the team’s co-ordination of corporate engagement activities for Asian focus companies. This includes convening sector roundtables to support corporate transition to net zero. Valerie is part of the strategic projects working group and convenes Asia Advisory Group discussions to build investor capacity on stewardship. Outside of CA100+, she is also involved in capacity building for investors in strengthening corporate engagement outcomes through considering various tools and approaches of engagement.
Prior to joining AIGCC, she worked for two sustainability advisory firms and advised clients’ sustainability and risk management strategies. She also conducted environmental and social due diligence for private equity clients. Her career started in public affairs with a Hong Kong-based consultancy. Valerie holds a MSSc in Business and Community from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

It would be great to see Hong Kong introduce medium term goals in renewable energy development to meet its net zero goals, and better response with stronger resilience and readiness for physical risks.

Li Li

BASF Venture Capital

Senior Investment Manager

Li Li, joined BASF Venture Capital as an senior investment manager in 2018. She is responsible for investment and portfolio management in ASIA region and based from Hong Kong. Li started her career with PwC China and provided transaction services to top investment institutes such as Warburg Pincus, TPG, Ping’an, Sequoia and MNC investors. She then started and managed corporate strategy and M&A department for Voith Group in China. Before joining BVC, Li used to work for SABIC Ventures for their Chinese investments. She graduated from Fudan University with an Economics major. Her domain of interest include digitalization, business model, and sustainability investment opportunities that makes a difference for BASF’s future!

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. Better gabbage separation system (paper is currently not a separate category)
2. More sustainable power supply (how to be more independent?)
3. More sustainable water supply (how to be more independent?)

Zi Li

Tencent

Senior Expert

Li Zi is the Senior Expert in Sustainable Development at Tencent. He also served as a research fellow at Alibaba Group before. Prior to this, he was a guest critic at MIT and a research fellow at National University Of Singapore. Li Zi’s primary focus is on providing scenario analysis and strategic planning in the areas of technological transformation (AIGC), geopolitics, and climate change for digital platforms. As a result of his work, he was awarded “The 10 Years Best Research Fellow (2009-2019) on digitalization” at The New Economy Think Tank Summit 2020.
He holds a doctoral degree from the NUS and a master’s degree from TU Delft. With 15 years of professional experience, he has worked extensively in the field of digitalization in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Li Zi also served as a guest editor for Domus , where he initiated the “Online” series of publications, including topics such as “Smart Nation” and “Online Urbanism”. His book, titled “Online Urbanization: Online Services in China’s Rural Transformation”, has been recognized by SpringerLink as one of the most referenced works related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, he is working on a book about the new covenant between humans and AI.

Supported by

16:20 – 17:10

Green Fintech: Driving the Transition in Greater China

16:20 – 17:10

As the world transitions to net-zero, companies need to manage the associated risks and adjust their business models. China is targeting achieving net-zero by 2060 and Hong Kong needs to be there by 2050. In order to achieve net-zero, companies need to identify the opportunities and risks related to the move to net-zero and need to factor transition considerations into their governance and risk management frameworks. Companies face numerous challenges including availability of trustworthy data, varying taxonomies across jurisdictions, build scenario analysis and complete complex reporting requirements. How can Green FinTech’s in Greater China assist in the transition to net-zero by accelerating the transition through the use of technology?

Learnings

  • What are the key challenges in the transition to Net Zero?
  • How can one describe the emergence and role of Green Fintech?
  • What are the key solutions whereby Green FinTechs can assist in the transition in Greater China?

Post-event Actions

  • Be able to identify\understand the problem statements related to the transition to Net-zero.
  • Understand which Green FinTech solutions are available in Greater China.
  • Understand the mapping off which Green FinTech solution best fit their own unique transition challenges.

Speakers

Sandeep Sethi

FinTech Association of HK

Sandeep is a seasoned financial services professional specialising in corporate banking and Corporate Treasury advisory in Asia-Pacific and is CEO of Sustainable Solutions (SS) Consulting Limited, a consultancy specialising in sustainable solutions for financial services firms and corporate treasuries. He is a certified expert in Sustainable finance, a winner of sustainable finance leadership award, a frequent speaker at business forums across APAC, and co-chairs the GreenTech and ESG Committee in the Fintech Association of Hong Kong. Sandeep is also International Resources Director and Contributing Editor for The Asian Banker and has written on a vast spectrum of topics including ESG, corporate treasury, fintech, banking and digital assets. In the past, Sandeep has held leadership roles across corporate banking, cash management and transaction banking operations in a top global bank. Sandeep was recognised as the ‘Best Relationship Manager’ by The Asset Magazine in 2020. Sandeep holds degrees in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering and an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi, India.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

I hope that HK :
– Establishes itself as a leading Global Greentech centre through the continued focus and efforts of the HK authorities as well as the various industry organisations
– HK grown Green fintechs establish themselves on a global scale and become a showcase for HK as a Green fintech centre

Alan Cheung

Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Company Limited

Chief Director of Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies

Dr Alan Cheung is the Chief Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies division at ASTRI. He leads the division in driving ASTRI’s initiatives, particularly in FinTech and Smart City, through Generative AI, multimedia data analytics, Federated Learning, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, and privacy-enhancing applications. The division has won numerous local and overseas innovation awards. His collaboration partners comprise both the public and private sectors. They include government departments and regulators such as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as well as financial institutions and corporations. He has over 25 years of rich R&D and management experience and is also the owner of multiple US patents.

Tracy Wong Harris

Standard Chartered

Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Finance Asia

Tracy Wong Harris is the Head of Sustainable Finance for Asia at Standard Chartered Bank, focusing on the Bank’s sustainable finance strategy, by developing new products and solutions, further incorporating ESG considerations into banking decisions, and identifying sustainable finance opportunities for clients. Tracy is also the Executive Vice President of Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA), an appointed Policy Research Committee member of Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), Board member of Sprinkles (HK) Charity Foundation Limited (s88) and Senior Advisor to the Green Building Project of HK2050isNow.
Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Tracy had been driving the green and sustainable finance development in Hong Kong and had over 20 years of financial markets experiences across various fixed income and complex structured products in JPMorgan, Mizuho International, Barclays Capital and BNP Paribas based in London and Hong Kong.
Tracy received her MSc and BA in International Finance and Capital Markets in the United Kingdom and graduated from the Oxford Said Business School in Social Finance Program.
Former appointed member of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) Climate Change Technical Expert Group (TEG), served as Board member of AIDS Concern, Hong Kong LGBT+ Interbank, and founder of the JPM PRIDE HK network.

Julien Martin

Digital Climate Group Limited

CEO and Founder

Julien Martin has 25 years in financial services in sell side and infrastructure organizations of which 18 in Asia.

He is the CEO and founder of Digital Climate Group, a financial service company working on democratizing access to green finance products for issuers and investors leveraging blockchain, Web3 and AI.

Previously, Senior Managing Director for HKEX and CEO of the Bond Connect Company Limited, a joint venture established by China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) and HKEX. Leading the development of Fixed Income products (Cash, derivatives, and post trade), Data & ESG initiatives including regulatory disclosure, data monetization, ESG products development, index, rating and carbon, digital assets build up. Julien is the key architect that led to the launch of Bond Connect in July 2017, delivering policy breakthroughs and market efficiencies in pre-trade admission, trading, and settlement for the China interbank bond market.

A total of 17 years capital market experience in BNP Paribas group, in FICC trading sales, risk management and platform build up. Julien holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from ESSEC Business School, Paris.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

  • I wish for the creation of a real group of impact investors in HK
  • I wish for a greater fight against poverty in HK
  • I wish for our ocean to be clean and healthy with biodiversity

Neil Tan

FinTech Association of HK

Board Member

Neil Tan has over 20 years of experience in Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Business Development and Partnerships — across Banking (HSBC, Deutsche Bank), Management Consulting (Boston Consulting Group BCG) and Industry (Philips Electronics, Siemens).

Neil is the Managing Partner at Tsunami Advisors, an advisory and consulting firm dedicated to helping FinTech, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Asset, and Web3 firms expand, grow and scale in the Asia Pacific Region.

Prior to this, Neil served as the CEO of Neptune Digital, an award-winning blockchain start-up under the Cyberport Incubation Program (CIP). He was previously the Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific in the Digital Partnerships & Innovation Team at HSBC, where he focused on Banking-As-A-Service (BaaS) and Embedded Finance, including digital payments, lending, wealth and insurance.

Neil is the Former Chairman and current Board Member of the FinTech Association Hong Kong (FTAHK) and a Member of the Hong Kong Government Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development (Web3 Task Force). He is also a Steering Committee Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and a Conference Ambassador of the Hong Kong Tourism Bureau (HKTB).

LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltan1/

FTAHK
https://ftahk.org/our-team

WEB3 TASK FORCE
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202306/30/P2023063000579.htm

HKTDC
https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/steering-committee

HKTB
https://www.mehongkong.com/hkca/ambassadors.html

Supported by

Day 2 – Friday 13 Sept AM

 

More than half of the world’s GDP depends heavily on functioning natural ecosystems. As climate change and human ecosystem destruction exacerbate the loss of nature, businesses become increasingly aware of the material risks from nature loss for their long-term success and resilience. At the same time, companies are discovering opportunities to incorporate nature and biodiversity into business strategies to ensure long-term viability of business models, stable supply chains, access to new markets and offerings, and improved relationships with stakeholders. This programme will explore these nature-based solutions, the blue economy as well as how nature related finance disclosures are essential to the biodiversity landscape.

In partnership with

09:20 – 09:45

Opening Welcome

09:20 – 09:45

Speakers

Catherine Tong Dannaoui

HandsOn Hong Kong

Executive Director

Catherine is a nonprofit leader with a communications and events background spanning over 15 years. As Executive Director of the local charity, HandsOn Hong Kong, she has a passion for creating impactful programs, empowering teams to reach their potential and moving people to take action. Since joining HandsOn in 2016, she has empowered thousands of the city’s employees, families and students on the power of volunteering to address our social needs. Catherine led teams and ran flagship events at both OgilvyOne and The Economist Group before joining HandsOn and holds a B.A. (Honours) in Communications from the University of Technology in Sydney.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

I hope to see Hongkongers commit to making sustainable choices–and changes–in their daily lives. There’s no starting point too small!

Louisa Dearlove

EnviroEvents (Rethink) Ltd and ReThink Foundation

Chief of Staff and ReThink Foundation Lead

Louisa began her career in political campaigning for Hillary Clinton in New York and Ohio. She became the first employee at W Series, a female motor racing series aimed at integrating women into Formula 1. Louisa then transitioned to Dun & Bradstreet, serving as Chief of Staff in London and Hong Kong and is part of the founding team at OPUS. Louisa is Chief of Staff and ReThink Foundation Lead at ReThink Hong Kong.

09:45 – 09:50

Opening Welcome: Business & Nature

09:45 – 09:50

Speakers

Sophie le Clue

ADM Capital Foundation

CEO

Sophie has worked for 30 years in the field of environmental protection and conservation, principally in the Asia Pacific region. She joined ADMCF a year after its founding in 2007, as director responsible for developing the Foundation’s environmental programme. Today, ADMCF focuses almost solely on environmental issues regionally, while maintaining some legacy children at risk projects. Its four strategic programmes include : Acting for Climate, Living Oceans, Water, Wildife Trade. In late 2021, Sophie stepped into ADMCF’s CEO role .

My Sustainability Goals for 2024

I hope to see the new Administration embracing Hong Kong’s environmental challenges to ensure our well being and a healthy environment . This will require setting aspirational goals as well as policy enhancements and reform across a broad range of environmental issues.

Supported by

09:50 – 10:20

Biodiversity and Business: Navigating Solutions to Decline

09:50 – 10:20

In conversation with Kristian Teleki, CEO of FFI, the world’s oldest international wildlife conservation organisation on how business can help navigate to a nature positive economy. FFI has been quietly shaping and influencing conservation practice since its founding in 1903. Fauna & Flora influences conservation in 50 countries around the globe, working with in-country partners to save nature. FFI and Kristian know much about taking on global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss and supporting partners to act locally, which is critical at this particular moment. As businesses try to understand their impacts and dependencies on nature, apply new frameworks such as the Task Force for Nature Related Financial Disclosure, look to a future in which net gain associated with property developments, for example, could become a regulated reality, what is the. supportive role that NGOs can play? How can NGOs such as FFI help us change how we view nature, from a resource consumed freely by all without regard to impact, to one that is valued and has value to business? Given the potential for material impact on our economies and businesses from nature loss, how can we step forward to invest in and protect nature regardless of the sector in which we are invested?

Learnings

  • What is the role of business in securing Nature?
  • Why is it important to have a business strategy with regard to nature and why take action now?
  • What are the emerging regulatory frameworks and tools for managing a company’s nature impacts and dependencies?
  • Why is business disclosure on nature so important?
  • What is biodiversity net gain and how is that impacting property developers in the UK?
  • What is the role of biodiversity credits and where are we in terms of these as a real strategy for helping us to manage biodiversity loss?
  • What is the role of NGOs like FFI in supporting change with regard to how we view nature? How can NGOs help businesses take action?

Post-event Actions

  • Create a business strategy that looks at dependencies and impacts on nature with a view to managing risks but also looking for opportunities.
  • Consider how biodiversity net gain might be integrated into what you do.
  • Commit to reporting under TNFD.

Speakers

Lisa Genasci

ADM Capital Foundation

Managing Director, Sustainable Finance

Lisa is a Managing Director and the Chair of ADM Capital’s ESG Committee. She is responsible for leading the firm wide ESG integration strategy and the Asia Climate Landscape Fund (ACLF) at ADM Capital. Prior to joining ADM Capital in 2021, Lisa established the ADM Capital Foundation (ADMCF) in 2006 as an innovative philanthropic vehicle to support critical research and impact-driven approaches to promoting environmental conservation in Asia. ADMCF has been widely recognised for its work on solutions to some of the world’s most intransigent challenges: depleting oceans, the nexus between forestry and development, air quality and public health, and the intersections between food, energy and water. During her time at ADMCF, she also provided advisory services to ADM Capital funds and supported the ESG integration investment processes. Lisa holds a BA degree with High Honors from Smith College and an LLM in Human Rights Law from the University of Hong Kong.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

To push for change across some of our most intransigent environmental challenges: Our depleting oceans, the nexus between forestry and development, air quality and public health, the intersections among food, energy and water.

Kristian Teleki

Fauna & Flora

Chief Executive Officer

Prior to joining Fauna & Flora as the Chief Executive Officer in 2023, Kristian was the Global Director of the Ocean programme at the World Resources Institute, where he also led the Ocean Action Agenda at the World Economic Forum and the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy with sitting heads of state and government from around the world. Kristian has had an impressive career in wildlife conservation; starting out in coral reef research, he’s since held several high-level roles in environmental and conservation organisations, including with the Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit, Global Ocean Commission, and the UNEP – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC). Kristian has degrees from University of California, Santa Barbara (summa cum laude) and Cambridge University.

Supported by

10:20 – 10:30

Understanding Nature with TNFD

10:20 – 10:30

Speakers

Emily McKenzie

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)

Technical Director

Emily McKenzie is the Technical Director at the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). She has worked for 20 years integrating nature in policy, finance, economics and decision-making. Most recently, she led the analytical team that produced the independent, global Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity, based at HM Treasury in the UK. Emily previously was seconded to the Capitals Coalition Technical Group where she helped develop the Natural Capital Protocol. Emily worked for a decade in the WWF Global Science team, where she helped establish and lead the Natural Capital Project at Stanford University. She also helped design the Environmental Land Management scheme in England – a major national agricultural subsidy reform programme – based at the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Other previous roles include working with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission.

10:30 – 11:20

Nature Calls – Working with Business to Build Back Biodiversity

10:30 – 11:20

Hong Kong is currently updating its territory-wide Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for the next decade, and the increased interest and involvement of business is an important new element. While the biodiversity actions and associated financing requirements have yet to be determined, it is clear that the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss demand a substantial scaling up of actions by government and non-government actors. This will require the urgent identification and implementation of innovative financing and policy mechanisms that can rapidly mobilize substantial amounts of private sector capital for nature conservation. This panel session these issues, examines local opportunities for innovative public private partnerships, and the kinds of policy measures required to encourage the private sector to invest.

Speakers

Andy Cornish

Cornerstone Strategies

Founder, Chief Strategist

Andy Cornish grew up in Hong Kong, and completed a Ph.D on reef fishes at The University of Hong Kong in 2000. He spent 16 years working for the world’s largest conservation organisation WWF, first as the Conservation Director for WWF-Hong Kong, and then as the leader for a global marine conservation program for WWF International.

He subsequently founded Cornerstone Strategies, a boutique consultancy that provides tailored strategic planning support to charities, foundations and corporations in Asia Pacific and beyond. Andy has extensive experience in strategic planning, fundraising, people development, communications and building collaborations, and a firmly results-driven approach.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

  • Nature conservation and restoration being mainstreamed into Hong Kong’s planning processes
  • Renewable energy becoming available to consumers in Hong Kong

Katie Chan

Business Environment Council

Senior Officer – Policy & Research

Katie works on BEC’s Policy & Research team where she contributes to the development of policy positions on Hong Kong’s existing and emerging environmental challenges and drives the delivery of impactful projects to embed sustainability into business strategy and the city’s broader climate transition. Katie currently leads the team’s nature-related work to narrow the gap between business and nature, incorporate biodiversity considerations into local policy and business decision-making, and supports other sectoral decarbonisation initiatives, such as the aviation sector through sustainable aviation fuel.
Prior to working in Hong Kong, Katie worked in the UK to deliver analysis and thought leadership to impact investors and sustainability-minded corporates on climate change policy, the blue economy, biodiversity and nature conservation. Katie is a Geography graduate of King’s College London.

My Sustainability Goal for 2024:

  • Mainstreaming biodiversity protection into Hong Kong’s business decision-making and policy landscape.
  • Engage key stakeholders and facilitate collaboration to bring about positive and impactful industry change for nature, biodiversity, and the broader environment.

Billy C.H. Hau

School of Biological Sciences, HKU

Principal Lecturer

Billy holds a PhD in forest ecology from The University of Hong Kong (HKU). With a focus on ecological restoration, particularly in degraded tropical East Asia, he is recognized as a terrestrial ecologist and conservationist. In 1998, BILLY founded the Native Tree Nursery of the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) to promote the use of native plant species in forest restoration efforts. Additionally, he is the principal investigator of a 20 ha long-term forest monitoring plot in Hong Kong’s Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve which is part of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) – Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) program. ForestGEO monitors and predicts forest responses to climate change on a global scale. His research currently focuses on carbon sequestration by native trees and forests in Hong Kong. He is also an expert in urban biodiversity and has been helping the public and private sector in promoting biodiversity in urban areas.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

I wish to see:

  • Major commitment from the Hong Kong Government in reforesting the extensive degraded hillsides on Hong Kong.
  • A new Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Hong Kong which would halt major loss of wetland and other important habitats in Hong Kong.
  • The integration of nature-based solutions in policy making in Hong Kong.

Patrick Ho

Swire Properties

Head of Sustainable Development & TNFD Taskforce Member

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 2024:

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

Kate Martin

ADM Capital Foundation

Sustainable Finance Consultant

A structured finance professional with 30yrs of experience in commercial banking, Kate specialised in identifying financial risks and pricing and structuring hedging solutions to mitigate these risks for infrastructure projects and corporates. She also initiated and set up the derivatives sales and coverage desk for Financial Institution & Investor relationships in her last role at SMBC Capital Markets (Asia) Limited.

Certified in Green & Sustainable finance by the Chartered Banker Institute and having completed Sustainability Leadership at Imperial Business School, she is working as a sustainability consultant, helping companies in Asia to identify their material ESG business risks and opportunities and develop Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS).

Kate is currently undertaking a research paper on how Hong Kong can innovate financing for marine conservation for ADM Capital Foundation with the purpose of stimulating more conversation and focus in the public and private sectors on preserving our oceans .

Supported by

With thanks to

11:20 – 11:25

Rethinking the Blue Economy

11:20 – 11:25

Speakers

Alistair Monument

World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong

Conservation Impact Director, Asia Pacific

Alistair Monument is WWF International’s Conservation Impact Director in Asia Pacific, supporting regional and national teams to build impactful strategies, partnerships and programmes that deliver real conservation outcomes. He manages the regional WWF conservation team and is responsible for many large-scale transboundary projects and partnerships with corporates and donors including USAID, SIDA, KFW, DFAT. He sits on the Board of Trustees for TRAFFIC International and other organisations engaging in climate, biodiversity, supply chains and consumption, and has over 30 years of experience in sustainability across 40 countries. Alistair was previously the Global Forest Practice Leader with WWF, Asia Pacific Director at Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and was the founding Director of Assurance Services International (ASI).

Supported by

11:25 – 12:15

Unlocking the Potential of a Sustainable Blue Economy

11:25 – 12:15

A sustainable blue economy is an approach to economic development that seeks to promote the long-term health and sustainable use of ocean resources. In this session, our aim is to explore the immense potential and critical importance of harnessing our oceans and marine resources in a sustainable and responsible manner. Join us as we delve into how businesses can align their practices with sustainability goals at every stage of the value chain, while showcasing innovative solutions that accelerate the transformative power of sustainable blue practices.

Learn from industry experts and thought leaders who will share their insights, experiences, and best practices, providing valuable guidance on adopting sustainable approaches within various sectors.

Learnings

  • What are the principles of the sustainable Blue Economy and how can we ensure the long-term health, resilience and sustainable use of the ocean resources?

Post-event Actions

  • Gain insights into best practices when protecting our ocean and resources.
  • Rethink actions that your company engage in with the Blue Economy, and what they key focuses will be over the next 10 years.
  • Learn how multi-sector collaborations can contribute to the movement towards a Sustainable Blue Economy.

Speakers

Alistair Monument

World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong

Conservation Impact Director, Asia Pacific

Alistair Monument is WWF International’s Conservation Impact Director in Asia Pacific, supporting regional and national teams to build impactful strategies, partnerships and programmes that deliver real conservation outcomes. He manages the regional WWF conservation team and is responsible for many large-scale transboundary projects and partnerships with corporates and donors including USAID, SIDA, KFW, DFAT. He sits on the Board of Trustees for TRAFFIC International and other organisations engaging in climate, biodiversity, supply chains and consumption, and has over 30 years of experience in sustainability across 40 countries. Alistair was previously the Global Forest Practice Leader with WWF, Asia Pacific Director at Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and was the founding Director of Assurance Services International (ASI).

Alfred Chang

BNP Paribas Wealth Management

Sustainable Investing Strategist

Alfred is a Sustainable Investing Strategist at BNP Paribas Wealth Management. He advises clients on their sustainability journey and works closely with the investment services teams as well as stakeholders across the bank towards a holistic sustainable investment offering.
Prior to joining BNP Paribas, Alfred worked in Equity Research at Credit Suisse, covering ESG in Asia Pacific. He also held different roles at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
Alfred holds a Masters in Finance from Imperial College London and a Bachelor in Economics from University of Cambridge.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

  • Bring the blue economy concept to mainstream.
  • Facilitate more impact investing activities.

Dr. Patrick Yeung

AVPN

Associate Director, Climate Action Platform

Patrick Yeung is the Associate Director, Climate Action Platform of AVPN, working to build a social investor network to support climate actions and promote sustainable development. He obtained his PhD in marine biology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2017, with professional field in ecological conservation. He joined the marine conservation team of WWF Hong Kong in 2014, to study on marine litter problems as well as coastal biodiversity through citizen science activities. He also led on identifying marine ecological hotspots as the basis for conservation and research works by facilitating expert groups. In 2019, he started working in Mainland China on marine and wetland habitat conservation, sustainable fisheries and ocean plastic. Besides, he actively built partnerships with NGOs, government authorities, research institutes, industry associations, and managed funding programs, to provide more innovative and in-depth sustainability solutions. He also supported international cooperation and policy advocacy on nature conservation and sustainable blue economy development.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. Support the development of biodiversity strategy action plan of Hong Kong to be an ambitious one which effectively conserve our marine biodiversity and sustainably manage the marine resources.

2. Introduce sustainable blue economy concept in Hong Kong, that evaluates the ecosystem service value of ocean and coastal ecosystem, take that into account when conducting marine spatial planning, and differentiate between sustainable and non-sustainable ocean economic activities.

3. Facilitate the joint ocean-climate agenda of government policy and corporate responsibility.

Yimo Zhang

World Wide Fund for Nature

Priority Project Coordinator

Zhang Yimo is the Priority Project Coordinator of Sustainable Blue Economy, World Wide Fund for Nature Beijing Office. His portfolio covers sustainable fishery, sustainable blue economy policies, marine protected area and No Plastic in Nature initiative, etc.

Before, he conserved wetland and waterbirds in the Yangtze at multiple levels, from individual wetland restoration, sub-basin governance, and national policy advocacy. He is also the NGO focal point in China for Ramsar Convention, the inter-governmental treaty on wetland conservation.

During his 16-year in WWF, he coordinated and supervised WWF Pavilion in Shanghai World Expo 2010, facilitated the evaluation of a 5-year Yangtze programme and development of the strategy for its next phase, acted as the advisor to CEO of WWF-China, developed organizational strategy and roadmap, and managed the Flyway Network Programme. Thanks to the role variety, he had opportunities in working with different stakeholders from governmental departments and NGO fellows to corporate and academic institutes. Thus, he gained extensive experience in the operation of international NGO. He understand profoundly how NGOs can catalyze changes.

He possesses passion and love for nature. He holds the opinion that in the Anthropocene era, while it is still enjoyable to appreciate the beauty of nature in wildness, it is equally important that the governance and commercial investments relevant to nature should be improved, so that human beings can protect and utilize nature in a more sustainable and respectful way.

Supported by

With thanks to

12:15 – 13:05

Nature-Positive Development: Harnessing the Power of Nature for Sustainable Growth

12:15 – 13:05

Nature-positive development is an approach that recognizes the intrinsic value of nature and seeks to integrate it into economic activities and development plans. It aims to ensure that economic growth and human well-being are achieved in harmony with the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. This discussion session will explore the concept of nature-positive development, its principles, and its potential to drive sustainable and resilient growth. We will examine case studies and lessons learned from businesses that have successfully incorporated nature into their strategies, and discuss the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration for achieving nature-inclusive development goals.

Learnings

  • What are the economic advantages for businesses in implementing Nature Based Solutions?
  • What are the unique opportunities and challenges present in these regions and examine how experiences from other areas can shape and inform local Nature based Solutions strategies?
  • How Nature based Solutions can contribute to risk reduction, increased resilience, and improved operational efficiency for businesses?

Post-event Actions

  • Be able to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges present in these regions and examine how experiences from other areas can shape and inform local Nature Based Solutions strategies.
  • Exchange valuable insights from global initiatives and best practices in implementing Nature based Solutions and explore their applicability in the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong

Speakers

Dr Winnie Law

Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong

Deputy Director and Principal Lecturer

Dr Winnie Law is the Deputy Director and Principal Lecturer at the Centre for Civil Society and Governance of The University of Hong Kong. She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses on sustainable development, community planning and environmental management. She also works with a team of researchers and conducts policy research, action research and knowledge exchange projects on rural revitalization, social innovation, community engagement and corporate sustainability. Dr Law has been a director of the long established green green group in Hong Kong, The Conservancy Association, since 2005 and is currently the association’s Vice Chair. Dr Law served on a number of HKSAR Government’s advisory committees including Advisory Council for the Environment, Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, Board of Trustees of Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund, and Assessment Panel of Innovation and Technology Fund for Better Living. At the regional level, Dr Law was commissioned by the EU and UNDP as a planning and social monitoring expert for their city planning and environmental management programmes in Vietnam.

Bosco Chan

World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong

Director, Conservation

Dr. Bosco Chan has been leading biodiversity research and conservation projects in China and Cambodia over the last 20 years, running exciting projects such as saving the world’s rarest primate the Hainan Gibbon, conserving Hainan’s largest rainforest block, protecting Cambodia’s threatened deciduous dipterocarp forest, and discovering new species from unexplored forests. Dr. Chan has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and is a member of various IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups, contributing to the conservation of threatened species in Hong Kong and the broader region.

Paul Chan

Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects

President

Mr. Chan is a practicing landscape architect with academic backgrounds in architecture, project management, law, and landscape architecture. In former years of his career, he obtained a variety of experience through renowned architectural consultancies and construction companies. He was head of project management department of an international property developer. He then practiced landscape architecture and urban design at Earthasia Limited and became director of the company. He later joined the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) as the founding head of landscape architecture. In 2018 he joined Otherland Limited as a co-founder and director. Mr. Chan has taken up leadership on a wide range of landmark projects in Hong Kong and nearby regions covering landscape planning and design of the public realm, institutional, infrastructural, residential, and commercial projects.

Mr. Chan serves a number of professional, consultative bodies and NGOs. He is the current President of the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA), member of the Appeal Board Panel (Town Planning), member of the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis Sub-committee on Planning, Land and Conservation, member of the Land and Development Advisory Committee’s Building Sub-committee and Joint Sub-committee on Streamlining Development Control, member of the DEVB’s Urban Forestry Advisory Panel, member of the DEVB’s Common Spatial Data Advisory Committee, and an Executive Committee member of Playright Children’s Play Association. He is also the current Chairperson of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Working Group of the International Federation of Landscape Architects Asia Pacific Regions. On behalf of HKILA and ALC, Mr. Chan led and successfully completed the government funded projects Development of the landscape architectural profession in Hong Kong and its Positioning in the Region between 2013 and 2015 and Resilient City – Landscape Planning towards Climate Adaptation between 2018 and 2020.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. Adopt nature-positive and climate-positive design in developments.

2. Champion landscape for the wellbeing of people of all ages.

3. Drives awareness for a more resilient city under climate and nature emergencies.

Freeman Cheung

Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals (HKIQEP)

President

Freeman Cheung co-founded the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals in 2015 and was elected President in 2023. Mr Cheung works at AECOM as Senior Vice President, Environment with a large portfolio of environmental improvement projects including the recent engagement in the Northern Metropolis as well as advising clients on how to improve their ESG performance. He also serves the Hong Kong Institute of Environmental Impact Assessment and the Environmental Management Association of Hong Kong as Chairman and other capacities in the past and is a member of the Environmental Impact Assessment Appeal Board Panel and the Advisory Committees on Environmental Science for Chinese University of Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong. He also teaches at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and City University of Hong Kong on various environmental subjects.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Implement nature positive infrastructures to help combat climate change.

Creating nature based-solution for urban development projects.

Encourage blue-green infrastructure to enhance climate resilient.

Dr Robin Kennish

ERM

Director, Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change

Dr Kennish has worked with ERMs Clients in the Asia Pacific region for the last 28 years on managing their sustainability risks and opportunities.  Robin’s focus is on helping Clients on their net zero journey and working with their teams to ensure that a robust ESG strategy is in place.  He is working with power companies, conglomerates and asset management firms on aligning their climate change disclosures with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure requirements.  Robin has recently worked with two HKEX listed companies on their Nature strategy which has included looking as risks and opportunities, value chain impacts as well as preparation of TNFD aligned disclosure for ESG reports.  Robin has a PhD in Marine Sciences and his Biodiversity and Nature experience has ranged from developing corporate level policies through to site level assessments and habitat creation plans..

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

I am committed to working alongside my ERM team and our Clients in Hong Kong to get us on a path to a net-zero and nature positive world.

Supported by

With thanks to

Day 2 – Friday 13 Sept PM

 

“Mobilising Collective Action for Climate Emergency” is designed to act as a pivotal platform for driving a unified and effective response to the urgent challenge posed by the climate emergency. Recognising the dire need for immediate action, this programme brings together a diverse group of leaders, innovators, policymakers, and activists committed to fostering climate adaptation, resilience, and sustainable transition planning. Through an array of impactful keynote speeches, dynamic panel discussions, and interactive workshops, participants will navigate the multifaceted dimensions of climate science, assess the socio-economic repercussions of climate change, and formulate collaborative strategies for a resilient transition to a sustainable future.

This section aims to inspire a collaborative ethos, galvanize multi-stakeholder engagement, and instill a profound sense of urgency and collective responsibility in addressing the climate emergency. By showcasing effective models of climate adaptation and resilience, groundbreaking advancements in sustainable technology, and powerful narratives of community-led action, we seek to empower attendees with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary for spearheading transition planning within their communities and industries. Embrace this opportunity to be part of a transformative movement for collaborative action towards climate emergency, where every participant contributes to shaping a resilient, sustainable, and equitable world for generations to come.

In partnership with

14:05 – 14:10

Opening Welcome: Collective Action for Climate Emergency

14:05 – 14:10

Speakers

Simon Ng

Business Environment Council

Chief Executive Officer

Mr Simon Ng is Chief Executive Officer of Business Environment Council (BEC). He works closely with BEC Board of Directors in setting and implementing organisation goals and strategies conducive to supporting BEC members and the wider business community in the transition towards net-zero economy and a sustainable Hong Kong.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Mobilise corporates in Hong Kong for accelerated climate action.

Supported by

14:10 – 14:40

Power in Unity: Collaborating for Climate Resilience

14:10 – 14:40

Collective action stands as a pivotal force in the battle against the climate emergency, underscoring the critical importance of collaboration among companies. In an era marked by escalating environmental challenges, the synergy between businesses acts as a catalyst for innovative solutions and sustainable outcomes. By pooling resources, sharing best practices, and aligning on climate goals, corporations can amplify their impact, pushing the envelope on what is achievable in sustainability. This united front not only accelerates progress towards a low-carbon economy but also sets a powerful example of responsible leadership, demonstrating that in the face of global challenges, collaboration is beneficial and essential. 

Learnings: 

  • How does collaboration among corporations amplify their impact on addressing environmental challenges? 
  • In what ways do shared practices among businesses foster innovation in sustainability? 
  • Why is united action by corporations crucial for driving substantial progress towards a sustainable future? 

Post-event Actions: 

  • Reflect on the importance of how business can drive environmental change through partnership and shared responsibility 

Speakers

Simon Ng

Business Environment Council

Chief Executive Officer

Mr Simon Ng is Chief Executive Officer of Business Environment Council (BEC). He works closely with BEC Board of Directors in setting and implementing organisation goals and strategies conducive to supporting BEC members and the wider business community in the transition towards net-zero economy and a sustainable Hong Kong.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Mobilise corporates in Hong Kong for accelerated climate action.

Joe Phelan

Executive Director, APAC

Joe is responsible for the engagement of ambitious companies from across Asia and Australasia in collective action to be net zero, nature positive, and more equitable.

Joe has worked with businesses in Asia since 2009, with demonstrable outcomes in areas such as climate change, energy transition, water risk, mobility and more resilient agriculture.

Prior to joining WBCSD, Joe held senior roles with the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum.

Cerin Yip

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

ESG Director

Cerin Yip is currently the ESG Director of Alibaba Group. She previously served as the senior legal counsel. Before joining Alibaba, she worked at international law firms, specializing in corporate finance transactions, investments, listing compliance and general corporate matters.

Cerin is qualified to practice law in Hong Kong and was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales. She is The European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies Certified ESG Analyst and she holds the CFA Institute Certificate of ESG Investing.

Cerin received her double bachelor’s degrees in business administration and laws, and obtained her Postgraduate Certificate in Laws from the University of Hong Kong.

Supported by

14:40 – 15:30

Climate Resilience and Adaptation Approach for Hong Kong Businesses

14:40 – 15:30

In Hong Kong, the business sector faces acute challenges from climate emergency, necessitated by its dense urban environment and economic structure. Rising sea levels, intensifying typhoons, and escalating temperatures pose significant risks to infrastructure, supply chains, and operational viability. For businesses, resilience and adaptation are not just environmental responsibilities but strategic imperatives crucial for sustainable growth and competitiveness. Innovating towards resilience allows companies to pre-empt climate risks, ensure continuity, and tap into new opportunities presented by the sustainable economy. Thus, in the context of Hong’s Kong’s vibrant but vulnerable economic landscape, building adaptive and resilient business practices is paramount for enduring success in the face of environmental uncertainties. 

Learnings: 

  • What steps can businesses take to mitigate climate risks like rising sea levels and extreme weather in Hong Kong? 
  • How can business collaborate to improve supply chain resilience against climate change? 
  • What kind of collaboration with government will support the business sector in overcome extreme weather event? 

Post-event Actions: 

  • Rethink climate resilience in a more extreme setting. 
  • Understand what kind of collaboration and the latest implement from business and the government will help supporting the city-wide resilience discussion. 

Speakers

Laurence Delina

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Assistant Professor

Laurence Delina, an Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, specialises in sustainable development with a focus on rapid mitigation of climate change, accelerating sustainable and just energy transitions, and adaptation and resilience of vulnerable populations to climate extremes. He has authored over fifty peer-reviewed journal articles and four books on these topics. Laurence serves as an associate editor for Energy Research & Social Science, PLOS Climate, and the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. He has worked as a consultant on energy and climate issues for the United Nations, Oxfam, and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Laurence has previously been a Rachel Carson Fellow and a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. He received his PhD from the University of New South Wales Sydney.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. Incorporating adaptation of vulnerable populations into official climate policy
2. More discussion on adaptation finance, especially beyond insurance
3. More focus on vulnerable populations on their climate adaptation needs

Nicolette Botha

Zurich Resilience Solutions

Head of Climate Resilience Solutions APAC

Background & professional expertise

Nicolette has been working in the insurance industry as a Technical Property and Natural Hazards Risk Engineer since 2008 and joined Zurich UK in 2013. In 2020 Nicolette joined the Climate Resilience Team and in April 2024 moved to Australia where she heads up the APAC Climate Resilience and Sustainability Team.

 

In her resilience role, Nicolette have had extensive involvement with assisting customers both nationally and globally to understand the physical impact of climate change and associated extreme weather events on their businesses and provide guidance on climate adaptation and resilience measures required to protect business, people, processes and infrastructure.

 

 

Languages

English (native), Afrikaans (native)

 

 

Selected Publications

Zurich Climate Resilience and Maersk: 2023

https://www.zurich.com/en/commercial-insurance/services/climate-resilience

Wall Street Journal 2023:

https://www.livemint.com/weekend/how-an-insurer-helps-a-shipper-stay-above-water-11685709334472.html

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

A greater awareness of the impact climate change has on organisations.
Improvements in investment in climate adaptations to ensure sustainable resilient organisations.

Eileen Gallagher

BSR

Director, Climate

With nearly 20 years of experience, Eileen works with multinational companies to address climate change. She specializes in improving business strategy to consider how climate change and its solutions affect society, the environment, and the economy.

Eileen directs BSR’s advisory and grant-funded work where climate intersects with human rights and equity, inclusion, and justice. She also supports companies with climate risk and scenario analysis, emissions reduction targets, and net-zero roadmaps. Eileen is BSR’s climate lead in the Asia-Pacific region, where she analyzed how climate change affects vulnerable nations, its people, and global supply chains.

Prior to joining BSR in 2017, Eileen served as a sustainability consultant, supporting companies on sustainability strategy development, strategic stakeholder engagement, and environmental management. While working at a public policy organization, she gained experience in international development, climate policy analysis, and effective communications.

Eileen holds a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.

Jingwei Jia

Sustainable Fitch

Associate director

Jingwei is an Associate Director of ESG Research at Sustainable Fitch, based in Hong Kong. As part of Fitch’s global ESG research team, Jingwei conducts fixed-income investment research across key ESG themes within APAC and globally. Her research encompasses sustainable labelled debt markets, carbon markets, technologies to sector decarbonization, natural capital, and circular economy. She also frequently engages with investors and industry associations regarding recent market development, regulations and sectoral trends that are relevant to sustainable finance, with a particular focus on APAC and Greater China.

Jingwei joined Fitch Ratings in 2019. She holds a M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in the U.S.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

More awareness and actions around financing climate adaptation
Improving energy efficiency of buildings in Hong Kong

Michael Long

New World Development Company Limited

Group Head of Sustainability

Michael joined New World Group as the Head of Sustainability leading the Group in shaping the next evolution of their ambitious sustainability agenda. Michael enjoys many aspects of the role and its challenges, from advising on responsible investment approaches and sustainable finance options to reimagining business products and services in a climate changed world and aligning social value creation to business decision-making.

Michael possesses over 28 years of experience in sustainability and environmental management across a range of industry sectors in Asia, Australia and the United Kingdom. In his prior role, Michael was the Head of Sustainability and Foundation in Asia at Lendlease and more recently delivered its first Mission Zero Roadmap, WELL Health Safety Rating across its office portfolio and helped secure its Regional and Sector leadership in GRESB across its REIT and Funds portfolio.

Supported by

With thanks to

15:30 – 16:20

Strategic Transition Planning for a Low-Carbon Future

15:30 – 16:20

In the face of escalating climate challenges, Hong Kong businesses stand at a crucial juncture requiring immediate and strategic action towards sustainability and decarbonisation. Transition planning for a lower-carbon future is vital, not only for mitigating environmental impact but also for ensuring long-term business resilience and competitiveness in the global market. As international regulatory landscapes evolve and consumer demand for sustainable practices grows, companies without clear net-zero strategies risk falling behind. Implementing transition plans allows Hong Kong businesses to lead in innovation, engage with different stakeholders, and contribute significantly to the city’s long-term climate targets, marking a critical step in both environmental stewardship and economic advancement. 

Learnings: 

  • How can corporations plan for strategic transition planning? 
  • What best practices exist for engaging stakeholders in a company’s transition? 
  • What are the barriers and difficulties do corporations encounter when transitioning to a lower-carbon business model? 

Post-event Actions: 

  • Get to know how corporations implement strategic transition planning and its importance  
  • Understand the best practices in stakeholder engagement in transition towards a lower-carbon economy 
  • Reflect on difficulties that corporations encounter while conducting strategic transition planning and how they overcome the problems 

Speakers

Suki Han

Business Environment Council

Assistant Manager

Suki is experienced in sustainability consulting, environmental policy research, investor relations, and strategic communications. Currently serving as Assistant Manager – Policy and Research at Business Environment Council Limited (BEC), Suki leads climate change research and initiatives while promoting BEC’s Net-zero Carbon Charter membership among businesses. Suki holds an MBA degree from Chicago Booth and a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University.

Michelle Au

China State Construction & Engineering HK

Sustainability, Director

Michelle has worked with the focus on sustainability policy over for 18 years. Her ten-year tenure with the Secretary for the Environment had involved in preparing the Blueprints on Climate Action Plan 2050 and Waste Blueprint.

She has joined CSHK in 2022, she has facilitated company to establish long-term decarbonization policy and strategies. One of key initiative is the Clean Energy Plan at construction sites, to promote using clean energy like hydrogen fuel cell, electricity power generator and solar energy.

 

Jessica Chan

MTR Corporation

Head of Sustainability

Jessica is the Head of Sustainability of MTR Corporation responsible for developing sustainability-related policies and strategies and driving sustainability initiatives for the Corporation. She is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in environmental and corporate sustainability. Jessica is a member of several international and local sustainability-related committees including UITP’s Sustainable Development Committee, WEF’s Community of ESG Practitioners, and HKGCC’s Environment & Sustainability Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Examiners of HKMA’s Hong Kong Sustainability Award.

Manshu Deng

Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero

Hong Kong Chapter Lead

Manshu leads the Hong Kong Chapter at the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). Building on the works by the GFANZ APAC Network, she focuses on engaging and building capacity with financial institutions across Greater China to scale transition finance to support the real economy transition to net-zero.

Before joining GFANZ, Manshu performed various roles covering programme management, market research and data analytics, at the Hong Kong Academy of Finance, Climate Bonds Initiative, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Bloomberg. Manshu holds a master’s degree in Financial Analysis from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and bachelor’s degrees in Science and Commerce from the University of Ottawa, Canada.

Manshu is now based in Hong Kong. She is fluent in Mandarin, English and Cantonese.

Max Thomas

HSBC

ESG Solutions

Max leads HSBC’s APAC ESG Solutions team, where the team work with clients across the region supporting them on developing their approach to ESG. HBSC’s ESG Solutions proposition covers how to integrate ESG within the business, how ESG can act as a value driver for a company, insights on regulatory changes, ESG rating considerations as well as key disclosures and considerations from a capital markets perspective.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:
Continue to look forward to engaging with our corporate clients on how ESG can be an opportunity for their business and how they should look to develop going forward.

Supported by

With thanks to

16:30 – 17:30

The Great Debate: The House Believes We Have a Credible Path to Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

16:30 – 17:30

The closing Great Debate at ReThink HK, on the topic that “The House Believes We Have a Credible Path to Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050” promises a robust exchange of ideas. Six speakers, representing corporates, NGOs, and business associations, will engage in a lively discussion. The central theme revolves around the credibility of various pathways to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Tailored for a Hong Kong business audience, the debate aims to shed light on practical strategies. Expect rigorous scrutiny of policies, technologies, and collaborative efforts in the race toward carbon neutrality. This debate serves as a crucial platform for stakeholders to assess our progress and chart a credible course toward a greener future as this is the only way forward.

Speakers

Yue Shun (Brian) Wong

University of Hong Kong

Assistant Professor and Fellow at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World

Brian Wong is an Assistant Professor and Fellow at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World, HKU. He also serves as the Chief Strategy Officer to the HK-ASEAN Foundation and advises large banks, financial institutions, and family offices on geopolitical risks. He is also a long-standing columnist at the Hong Kong Economic Journal.

John Haffner

Hang Lung Properties Limited

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. 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 Goals for 2023:

To make significant progress against defined sustainability goals both professionally and personally.

Genevieve Hilton

Co-Chair, AmCham E-ESG Committee, Author, Fairhaven – A Novel of Climate Optimism

Geneviève Hilton is the co-author of Fairhaven – A Novel of Climate Optimism (as Jan Lee). She is the co-chair of the Energy & ESG committee of AmCham Hong Kong, and previously spearheaded ESG and corporate citizenship at Lenovo and BASF in Asia. She has been active in sustainability in the region since 1994.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

To inspire business leaders and individuals in the region to stay optimistic and take bold action to address climate change.

Dr Jane Lee

Our Hong Kong Foundation

President

Dr Jane Lee joined Our Hong Kong Foundation in January 2023 as President. She graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Arts (Honour) and took her Ph.D from Australian National University.

Dr Lee is active in public and community service. Currently, she is a member of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Deputy Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Coalition, Council Member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies under the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and member of the Talent Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

She also serves as Supervisor of SKH Lui Ming Choi Secondary School and Chairman and Supervisor of the True Light Middle School of Hong Kong and Macau Anglican College. She sits on the Council of St. John’s College of the University of Hong Kong and the Board of Directors and Council of Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education.

Before joining OHKF Dr Lee was Director of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican) Welfare Council (2011-2022), Deputy Director of HKUSPACE (2002-2011) and the Founding Chief Executive of Hong Kong Policy Research Institute (1995-2002) now serving a member of its Board of Directors. She is founder of Social Enterprise Summit on 2008. She was the Chair of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Task Force (2018-2024).

Carly Leung

Climate Incubator

Co-founder and Development Director

Ms Pui Yee Leung, Carly, is a member of the UN Asia-Pacific Youth Advisory Group on Environmental and Climate Justice, where she actively contributes to the advancement of these critical issues. Carly’s passion and expertise extend beyond her advisory role. Recognizing the urgent need for a just climate transition, she co-founded the Climate Incubator. This initiative serves as a dynamic platform for individuals seeking to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively address climate change. As an incubator that empowers youth, she sets up Climate Incubator to foster collaborative learning, networking, and the development of green skills.

My sustainability goals for 2024:

  • Drive the just transition by promoting green jobs in the Asia Pacific Region.
  • Connect international climate topics to local and regional climate action through climate education and youth engagement.
  • Co-create with various like-minded organizations to foster synergy.

Simon Ng

Business Environment Council

Chief Executive Officer

Mr Simon Ng is Chief Executive Officer of Business Environment Council (BEC). He works closely with BEC Board of Directors in setting and implementing organisation goals and strategies conducive to supporting BEC members and the wider business community in the transition towards net-zero economy and a sustainable Hong Kong.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Mobilise corporates in Hong Kong for accelerated climate action.

John Pabon

Fulcrum Strategic Advisors

Sustainability Author, Consultant, and UN advisor

John Pabon has spent two decades in the business of saving our Earth. After leaving his role at the United Nations, John travelled the world studying the impacts of sustainability first-hand in factories, on fields, and in Fortune 500s.

He is an expert in sustainability with a mission to move sustainability from theory to practical strategies that help people and businesses confidentially make real impact. To get there, he shares his message through books, consulting to businesses, and keynote speaking to audiences around the world.

John’s global career has taken him from Los Angeles to New York, Shanghai to Seoul to Melbourne. He’s had the privilege of working with the United Nations, McKinsey, A.C. Nielsen, and as a consultant with BSR, the world’s largest sustainability-focused business network. A decade of experience living and working in Asia inspired him to found Fulcrum Strategic Advisors with a mission to help companies, governments, and individuals capitalise on the benefits sustainability offers.

He is a regular contributor to major publications and speaks to an array of global audiences on issues of sustainability, geopolitics, communications, and societal change. John is the Chair of The Conference Board’s Asia Sustainability Leaders Council, advises the United Nations, and serves on the board of advisors to the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce. He is the author of “Sustainability for the Rest of Us: Your No-Bullshit, Five-Point Plan for Saving the Planet” and “The Great Greenwashing: How Brands, Governments, and Influencers are Lying to You.”

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