Talent, Technology, and Transparency: Driving ESG Through AI and Financial Innovation

François Rivard is CEO of Astrakhan, an innovation and digital transformation consultancy firm. As an author, he has published award-winning books on management and technology, and lectured in French management and engineering schools. He is advising major companies worldwide for which he has designed and built innovative an differentiating digital integration platforms. He is the co-chairman of the Digital Innovation Council of the EuroCham in HK.

Mr Au has many years of experience in high technology, banking and venture capital investment in multi-national corporations. He started his career in Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and earned the capacity of Vice President in CitiBank and ABN AMRO for new development. Launch first Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, Online Stock Trade in Asia, Regional Operations Director for MSN Asia in Microsoft,  CIO in the Carlyle Group while he managed venture capital investment funds in Asia and CEO of Fireswirl Technologies Inc. (CVE: FSW) He has good experience in developing opportunities and business for technology and financial services as well as managing investment opportunities in Asia.

Mr. Au is appointed:

• Senior Research Fellow Qianhai Institute for Innovative Research.
• Advisor for the Korean Blockchain Council and South Korea National Assembly.
• Co-founder of iChef-Ma (Smart Food Vending) • Founder of AKA Investment Fund.
• Vice President and Treasurer of The Irish Chamber of Commence Hong Kong.
• Board of Director of European Chamber of Hong Kong.
• Board of Director, InterCham Scholarship Fund, InterChamber of Hong Kong
• Board member of the Department Advisory Committee, City University of HK
• Mentor and advisor of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Chairman of Trinity College Dublin Alumni, Hong Kong and Macau

Mary is a distinguished advocate and speaker for a range of capital markets-related topics, including fund raising, shareholder rights, corporate governance, diversity,
sustainability, and ESG. She has over 20 years of experience in the global financial industry, with expertise in corporate finance, wealth management advisory and institutional fund management, having worked at institutions such as UBS and Coutts.

Prior to her current role as a Senior Advisor at CFA Institute, Mary served as Head of Policy, Registration and Oversight at the Accounting and Financial Council, the independent audit and accounting regulator in Hong Kong. In that role, she was responsible for policy development and the delivery of statutory functions relating to the registration of audit practitioners, and the oversight of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. From 2016 to 2022, she was Head, Advocacy, Asia Pacific at CFA Institute, leading research and advocacy efforts that drive market integrity, investor protection, and industry professionalism

Mary is a CFA Charterholder and a recognized thought leader in market integrity and
investor protection.

As Co-Chairman of the Digital Innova5on Council (DIC) at The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Filip Ziolek leads efforts to foster sustainable digital innovation across Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the Asia-Pacific region. The Council actively engages with authorities and key stakeholders to drive policy recommendations, promoting European technology expertise as a key contributor to regional economic growth. In this role, Filip collaborates closely with entities such as the Hong Kong Government, InvestHK, Cyberport, and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) to promote innovation, talent development, and compliance-driven digital transformation.
Committed to developing local talent, he empowers individuals to become agents of change by integrating innovation management, sustainability, and compliance into their skill sets.
With over 20 years of strategic leadership across Banking, Luxury, Education, Media, and Entertainment sectors, Filip is an advocate for ethical digital transformation. Currently, He focuses on implementing practical AI solutions that ensure data privacy and security and
helping businesses modernize outdated IT systems with secure, AI-ready infrastructures (code migration). He continues to drive innovation that aligns with both sustainability and efficiency.
As a bestselling author on the Harvard Business Review, Filip Ziolek is recognized for his insights on the intersection of business and technology.