Competence Greenwashing: Contributing to Today’s Workforce Skills Gap

Ivo is currently Vice-Chair of the ESG Committee at the British Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Sustainable Living Environment Committee at the Business Environment Council. He leads the development of corporate strategy at CLP Group in Hong Kong, reporting to the Chief Strategy, Sustainability and Governance Officer.

Ivo comes to the topic of ESG through his over 20 years of experience in the energy industry and passion for helping drive the transition to net-zero carbon emissions, which has led to roles across the UK, Europe, US and Hong Kong.

He is a Chartered Engineer and holds a Masters degree in Power Systems Engineering and Economics.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1) Continued progress towards the city’s 2035 decarbonisation targets
2) An acceleration of the city’s recovery as a destination for international talent (incl. ESG talent)
3) Progress on approach to waste and recycling

Paddy has spent 20 years in the executive search and recruitment sectors with experience of working across multiple markets in the APAC region. At Acre he has overall responsibility for the growth of APAC business. He has relationships across the finance and commercial sectors, and has a specific focus on sustainable and impact investment. This includes working with banks, insurers, pension funds, investment managers, private debt, equity & real asset funds, family offices and foundations.

The changes I would hope to see in Hong Kong for 2024-2025 include:

1. Enhancing corporate governance for sustainability by ensuring that at least 70% of major corporations in Hong Kong adopt comprehensive sustainability reporting and set clear goals for 2025.
2. Investing in people and talent to embed sustainability into every business function, driving impactful change and equipping businesses with the knowledge and skills needed to transform their operations.
3. Reducing carbon emissions by implementing stringent policies around the use of renewable energy sources by promoting energy efficiency in buildings and supporting the transition to electric vehicles.

Haily has extensive experience in the field of corporate sustainability, including disclosures, strategy development, and stakeholder engagement. At Swire, she advises on key policies and developments related to sustainability and supports the implementation of the Group’s sustainability strategy, SwireTHRIVE, with a focus on managing water and supply chain impacts. She also manages the Group’s capacity building programmes and engagement strategy to further embed sustainability within the business.

My sustainability goals for 2024:

Enhance organisational sustainability fluency and literacy in support of SwireTHRIVE objectives.

Celina is an Account Director at LinkedIn with over a decade of experience consulting businesses in Hong Kong on talent planning, attraction, and development strategies. Three years ago, she took on the role of LinkedIn Hong Kong’s GoGreen Lead, sparking her passion for sustainability.

Drawing on her experience as LinkedIn’s internal sustainability advocate and utilizing the platform’s data and insights on the Green Skills and Economy, Celina is committed to expanding LinkedIn’s impact on creating a more sustainable and equitable future for both the environment and the workforce. She is particularly focused on driving conversations around the development of green skills, emphasizing the importance of professional and corporate capabilities in the transition towards a green economy.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

1. I hope to see “Sustainability” deeply integrated into all aspects of business operations, creating a ripple effect of Green-Related job opportunities across various levels and functions.

2.Employers to prioritize upskilling their workforce, not only in Sustainability principles but also in acquiring new skills essential for adapting to the evolving job requirements in the transition to a green economy.

3. An expanded perception and definition of “Green Jobs” to encompass a wider range of roles and industries, fostering a more inclusive and diverse workforce in sustainability efforts.