Change Makers Stage

Lapman Lee is a Professor of Practice (ESG, Sustainable Finance, FinTech) and convenor of the HK Polytechnic University Sustainable Finance Center (CESEF). He advises Asian policymakers, listed and private companies on sustainability risk management, reporting standards, strategic communications and PR, technology.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Moving beyond PR and statements towards positive sustainable change and profitability balancing people and planet

Chris HF Leung is currently the Data & Technology Transformation Service Line Leader and Sustainability Practice Leader at IBM Consulting, Hong Kong. He has extensive managerial experience and proven track records in driving business transformation and innovation with Cognitive/AI, Advanced Analytics, Big Data and other exponential technologies.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Leveraging Exponential Technologies to Drive Tangible Business Impacts from Client’s Sustainability Goals

Alice has been dedicated to provide supports to Hong Kong start-ups for more than a decade, currently leading the Entrepreneurship Team at Cyberport to nurture talents and digital tech startups at different life stages through the Cyberport Creative Micro Fund and the Cyberport Incubation Programme. She also drives the integration of traditional and new economies through adopting more innovative solutions as well as strengthens the collaboration of different stakeholders to foster the development of local industries and the economy. Prior to Cyberport, she has worked for HKSTP and various multinational companies in plastic resins, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Alice has been in the judging and assessment panels for signature technology awards and innovation funding schemes including Hong Kong ICT Awards, Jumpstarter of Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund and the TSSSU fundings of universities, etc. She is a Council Member of the Hong Kong Computer Society, a Project Management Professional of the Project Management Institute and a member of the Hong Kong Professionals and Senior Executives Association. She holds a Degree in Public and Social Administration and a Master in Engineering Business Management.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

More people have the opportunity to learn and adopt technology to improve their daily lives which finally contribute to the city’s sustainability.

Ben manages and drives the strategy of Eureka Nova, a leading open innovation platform that empowers technology startups to co-create within the New World Group ecosystem of culture, creativity and innovation. Through Eureka Nova’s accelerator programs, open competitions and sandboxes, participating startups work with New World Group’s business units and corporate partners to design innovative technologies that solve real business problems. Ben also co-founded Impact Kommons, the first UN SDG accelerator in APAC focused on accelerating impact with purpose-driven startups.

Prior to Eureka Nova, Ben founded Startup Launchpad, now Asia’s largest I.o.T. startup trade event. He has helped startups raise more than $2 million on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. He is an angel investor and regularly mentors in startup support programs.

He holds positions as a Director and Vice Chairman of the Dongguan-Hong Kong Bay Area Association to drive innovation initiatives between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Ben graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Lewis Ho leads Avalon SteriTech as the Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for business in APAC and beyond. He also oversees the company’s products and services which include consultation, tailor-made SOPs, designs and technical training for clients, with the goal of helping them devise and implement long-term strategies for public health and infection control.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Empowering public health by accelerating the adoption of smarter, more environmental-friendly infection control technologies for our next generation.

Meet Antonio Ng, founder and director of Formwork IO, a startup in the climate tech space with a mission to accelerate the transition towards carbon neutrality targeting the buildings and construction sector. Antonio is a future strategist (ICFS) and innovation leader with over 25 years of professional practice experience within the sector. Prior to founding Formwork IO, Antonio was the Executive Director of Innovation at AECOM as well as the East Asia Architecture Leader at Arup Group.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

To reach carbon neutral in the R&D of our initial paving block product. Personally, I hope to see the development of Hong Kong as regional carbon exchange for both mandatory and voluntary carbon markets.

Jason has some 20 years of experience in the Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification industry. He has extensive experience in leading the team to develop new services for serving the industries ranging from electronic, wireless to textile and apparel. He has also been managing projects relating to robotic, cybersecurity and smart clothing. He works closely with customers and industry stakeholders to provide Total Quality Assurance solutions for adding value to their R&D process and supply chains.

Jason received his MBA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Bachelor of Science Applied Chemistry (major in environmental study) from the City University of Hong Kong.  Besides, he attended an executive training program Management of Technology Program in Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley, USA. He is an Executive Committee Member of The Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association Limited (HKEIA).

Responsible for OK’s global growth strategy. Carl has done business in Mainland China and Hong Kong since 2008. He has in-depth knowledge in product design, R&D, and APAC supply chain management. Carl is passionate about innovation and empowering organisations to achieve growth through closed-loop supply chains and sustainable practices.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Real-time product information is increasingly more accessible globally. The Hong Kong supply chain management industry, shouldering unrivalled cumulative experience, can maintain its leadership through collaboration and the embracement of 21st-century technology solutions.

Tanya is a Management Consultant with more than a decade of experience in the Infrastructure Advisory, Strategy and Transformation and is a Director for Business Advisory for Arcadis Hong Kong. Her service offerings focuses on Sustainability, Smart City Advisory and Operational Improvement helping out clients with developing guidebooks, policies and strategy across Asia and Middle East.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Hong Kong needs to start looking beyond economic development to the improve the quality of life for the people and the overall health of its natural environment

Veera Sinnemäki is a Global Sustainability Program Manager for Climate at H&M Group driving the implementation of carbon positive strategy and goals in H&M Production.

Previously she was heading the sustainable chemical domain in the H&M Production supply chain.

Before moving to Hong Kong, Veera was regional Social Sustainability Manager in Shanghai, China, as well as shortly Sustainability Country Manager in Myanmar, always with H&M Group. Her previous career before fashion industry was with Nokia as Project Manager.

She holds a Master’s degree in Business Communication from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland, with studies on Chinese politics and diplomacy in Fudan university, Shanghai, China.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Push for change or it pushes you

Per Augustsson is Sweden’s Consul General in Hong Kong since September 2020. He has worked for the Swedish foreign service since 1992 in various positions at the Government Offices in Stockholm and at Swedish missions abroad, including as Deputy Head of the MFA Personnel Department, Deputy Head of the Swedish Embassy in London and Deputy Head of the Swedish Embassy in Beijing.

Linda Bradley, MSc Industrial Engineering, is Sweden’s Trade and Invest Commissioner to Hong Kong as of this year. Sweden’s business promotion focus areas are Smart city development, Smart Energy and Sustainable consumption/food. Linda is Chairperson at Nordic Innovation House in Hong Kong, helping innovative companies to tap into the market.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Sweden aims to be the first fossil-free welfare nation in the world.

This aim shows that Sweden’s strategy is not just about reducing emissions, but is also about doing so in a way that also enhances well-being. By showing that it is possible, we can inspire more countries to follow the same path.

Jessie Chung possesses many years of senior leadership experience in Strategic Sourcing Operations across multiple global locations with the responsibility to drive sourced products profitability. She has joined Electrolux for 7 years as Senior Sourcing Director focusing on strategic supplier development for Taste and Wellbeing in Product Sourcing Operation. Being part of the leadership team, she is keen on building up sustainable strategic relationship with suppliers through transformation and essential stakeholder engagement with Sustainability and customer-centricity as DNA to deliver the best results in Electrolux. In Mid-2022, she has taken up a new challenge as the Senior Commercial Sourcing Director for Care and continues to bring values.

Timo Kantola has served as the Consul-General of Finland to Hong Kong and Macao in September 2022. He previously served as the Ambassador of Finland to Estonia. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Director General of the political department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. From July 2010 to August 2013 he served as Ambassador of Finland to the OSCE in Vienna. He has also served as the Security Policy Director at the MFA, and his earlier career includes assignments in Brussels (EU/Political and Security Committee), Ankara Turkey, Geneva (disarmament and non-proliferation), and Vienna (OSCE ). He joined the foreign service of Finland in 1988.

Nikitha Manoharan is a mechanical engineer by training and has over a decade of experience in the marine and energy markets of the Middle East and Hong Kong. Currently doing her MBA from HKUST, she works closely with multiple stakeholders in the industry towards the common goal of decarbonisation and environmental sustainability.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

In the short term, I hope to see Hong Kong make strides towards better waste management, increased recycling and reduction in air pollution.

Founder of WHub and AngelHub. Member of several think tanks and government steered committees in Hong Kong and Germany. International keynote speaker, judge and mentor incl. 10 Best Female Entrepreneurs of the World award by True Global Ventures and Women of Hope Awardee. Previously, Finance Group Manager at Procter&Gamble in Europe, Northeast Asia and Greater China.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

More investments in the tech companies fuelling our sustainable Future!

Dr. Nadira Lamrad is the Head of Sustainability at Jardine Matheson. Nadira is a corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner with rich experience advising large multinationals on sustainability and social responsibility strategies, corporate responsibility and sustainability communications through reporting and investor questionnaires, developing relevant governance structures, planning and facilitating stakeholder engagements, improving ESG performance, and identifying performance gaps and action plans to address them.

Ms. Rainie Pan is the Managing Director of the Hong Kong PropTech Association, an independent organisation that aims to build a collaborative ecosystem around real estate technology stakeholders. Rainie serves in mentor and advisor capacities at a few NGOs and startup programs, and she is also a seasoned management consultant by training serving as a Principal at Oliver Wyman.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

The three SDGs that are dear to my heart and I hope to see & contribute to positive changes in Hong Kong are: Reduced Inequalities (#10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (#11) and Partnerships for the Goals (#17)

Francois heads up Neoma, a tech company delivering seamless and personalized property experiences powered by AI. On a mission to enable people-first spaces, where everyone’s interactions in physical spaces are personalized and stress-free, Neoma has created 350k+ customer journeys across millions of sqf.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

My sustainability goals focus first on helping real estate owners and operators reduce their energy consumption by uncovering space usage analytics. I also wish to make manual customer data search a thing of the past to help their staff get peace of mind.

Jason oversees APAC (ex-China) Asset Management at Gaw Capital, with a strong focus on executing core value-add strategies and portfolio positioning. Given real estate’s scale and tangibility, Jason is excited to partner up with proptechs that bring strategic win-win growth on the portfolio level and sustainable impact on the asset level. Prior to joining Gaw Capital, Jason was Managing Director at a North-American Developer, overseeing their APAC M&A investments and development.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Bridging sustainability and innovation with fiduciary and commercial viability

Kevin Lee is the Head of Smart Facilities Management at SOCAM Development Limited (SOCAM), a member of the Shui On Group. Prior to joining SOCAM, Kevin was an Executive Director at a global investment bank, with a focus on investing in renewable energy and digital infrastructure in Asia-Pacific.

CY is the Senior Manager of StartmeupHK, a one-stop portal to the startup ecosystem in Hong Kong and the dedicated team at InvestHK to support startup companies. Beside information, StartmeupHK provides pro bono advisory services to work with overseas and mainland entrepreneurs who wish to set up an office or expand their existing business in Hong Kong.  CY holds a MBA degree from International University of Japan and a MSc in Telecommunications degree from HKUST.

Former AGM, Product Development of SmarTone

Experience covers e-Commerce, online payment service, Call Mgmt service, Mobile Security, Robotics, Cloud Community service etc.

BSc. (Hons) in Mathematics and Computer Sci.

MBA and MScMET, PolyU

MSc in E-Commerce, CUHK

Candidate of Engineering Doctorate in PolyU

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

I hope to have paperless experience in hotel guest services, particularly for hotel room check-in/check-out process such that both material and operation effort can be saved.

Tung Wong is currently the Head of Marketing at Signify Hong Kong (formerly known as Philips Lighting). I always enjoy taking up challenges and finding innovative ways to drive business transformation. I am leading the team to accelerate the deployment of energy saving system and solution to support Hong Kong to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Dedicated to support Hong Kong to accelerate to transition to the carbon neutral with innovative solutions.

CH is Chief Operating Officer at Aurabeat Technology Limited. He has 30 years experience across different functions, industries, and geographic regions. He has worked in Consumer Electronics, Lighting, and Consulting as Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Business Management, Transformation Management, and General Management; in Hong Kong, China, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Europe, North America, and Latam. His recent assignments gave him insights into technologies that can help reduce the energy consumptions for commercial real estates and into protecting us and our next generations with clean air solutions, and made him realize the importance to continue the development of innovative solutions to make sure the next generations can continue live as we’ve enjoyed it.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Through innovations and joint efforts to enable our next generation can continue living a ‘Normal’ live as we do.

Matt Reid is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Steelhead Group which includes Maximal Concepts, KIN Food Halls, Far North Productions, Plastic Conscious and Disruption Labs, with long time business partner, Malcolm Wood. Steelhead Group is a symbiotic group of companies across four primary verticals; hospitality, environmentalism, wellness and content production. Each business draws from the other; all grounded in core areas of passion and disruptive ideas harnessing creativity, innovation, powerful content, branding, strategy and design. Everything is led by the desire to use business to create positive impacts and a triple bottom line mentality.

Founder of WHub and AngelHub. Member of several think tanks and government steered committees in Hong Kong and Germany. International keynote speaker, judge and mentor incl. 10 Best Female Entrepreneurs of the World award by True Global Ventures and Women of Hope Awardee. Previously, Finance Group Manager at Procter&Gamble in Europe, Northeast Asia and Greater China.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

More investments in the tech companies fuelling our sustainable Future!

Executive manager with business and engineering skills, 20 years of expertise in designing and implementing innovative, profitable and sustainable policies.

Visionary and result-oriented leader, I am a motivating leader and mentor who excels at guiding others to achieve professional and personal growth.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

A population aware of the effects of climate change and willing to take action. Less inequalities in the population. Richest people showing the example.

Miss Mercy Liu is the Head of Global Industrial Business at SmartMore. Working closely with the General Manager, Mercy facilitates channel development, growth strategies & partnerships across different industrial applications of smart manufacturing. She is a experienced business development manager with 8 years experience in strategies, business planning, as well as building and maintaining collaborations with institutional partners ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to SMEs across industries in APAC.

Gene Soo is the Head of Ecosystem of Global Innovation Department at MTR. Having led the creation of Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem by cofounding StartupsHK, Gene is now tasked with building new businesses and enhancing the core MTR business with technology, partnerships, and new business models. Prior to his role at MTR, Gene led the launch of Citymapper, a transport app, into Hong Kong in 2015 as General Manager. Prior to Citymapper, Gene has been involved in building fashion, lifestyle and mobile gaming startups.

Gene has been pushing for more focus on user experience, sustainability and open data practice in Hong Kong and believes strongly in improving daily lives through better design and technology.

Gene received his BS and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University as well as MBA from Columbia University.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

For 2022, I would hope to see the city to push for better use of design, technology and innovation such that green and sustainable habits would become second nature to people in Hong Kong.

Leading private and social enterprises for over 25 years in multilateral, culturally diverse environments, Virginia is passionate about bringing to life innovations that impact our society.

Virginia has a demonstrated track record of securing strategic partnerships between corporations, governments, and non-profits to deliver on social impact projects. She started her career in telecommunications, building satellites, and the distribution of free-to-air television across 60 countries in Asia.

Seeing the uptake firsthand, Virginia focused on education, believing that investing in people is the key driver for impactful change. Bringing together diversity and crossing cultural divides is a pathway to create Shared Value in our world, aligning purpose with profit.

After serving on the board of several educational institutions, Virginia is now a member of the Board of Directors of the Adecco Group Foundation in Switzerland a social innovation lab, incubating and accelerating new solutions in the world of work.

Karen knows how instrumental a people-centric approach is to winning trust and working effectively with clients in all functions at companies of all sizes and across all industries.

Growing up in Hong Kong, living a year in Germany, Karen has a proven track record in client relationships management, partnership and community development, and event organisation. Before joining SVIHK, Karen worked in the German Chamber of Commerce as a bridge between the German and Hong Kong businesses. Leading some German corporate delegations in the energy industry, she discovered how business can play a role and positively impact the environment and society. She now puts all her energy into rallying companies, government and society’s partners through purpose-driven partnerships.

A sports enthusiast, Karen knows persistence and patience are essential for impactful change.

Karen knows how instrumental a people-centric approach is to winning trust and working effectively with clients in all functions at companies of all sizes and across all industries.

Growing up in Hong Kong, living a year in Germany, Karen has a proven track record in client relationships management, partnership and community development, and event organisation. Before joining SVIHK, Karen worked in the German Chamber of Commerce as a bridge between the German and Hong Kong businesses. Leading some German corporate delegations in the energy industry, she discovered how business can play a role and positively impact the environment and society. She now puts all her energy into rallying companies, government and society’s partners through purpose-driven partnerships.

A sports enthusiast, Karen knows persistence and patience are essential for impactful change.