SMEs play a critical role in Hong Kong’s sustainability journey, not only as drivers of technological change, but also as adopters of new business models and practices. How can SMEs, corporates and other actors best work together to create win-win partnerships that strengthen awareness and potential for social and environmental innovation and best practices?
MODERATOR
Venus Lee
Managing Director
EDigest
Venus Lee
Managing Director
EDigest
Led by her passion and vision on digital, Venus has co-founded a few digital ventures in the past 20 years. She is now the Executive Director in New Media Group leading Economic Digest 經濟一週 and some other strategic initiatives. She is also an investor in a few digital startup projects.
Venus has worked in the digital field for around 20 years. She started her entrepreneurial journey in 1999 when she co-founded a digital agency e-Crusade with two partners. Together they grew e-Crusade into a reputable digital agency in Hong Kong, winning more than 100 awards both locally and globally, and expanded the business by establishing offices in both Shanghai and Beijing. e-Crusade was acquired by the US leading digital agency Razorfish in 2006 (Razorfish is now part of the Publicis Groupe). Venus was Razorfish’s Managing Director in the Greater China Region till 2011 leading the China expansion.
Afterwards, Venus has set up a few new ventures on kids education, e-commerce, arts and lifestyle.
Prior to her entrepreneurship, Venus worked at Nestle in brand management in both HK and China markets. Venus holds a bachelor degree in business administration and is graduate of the Executive MBA Program from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She also conducted lectures in CUHK, HK Polytechnic University, and HK Baptist University.
Donald Choi
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Chinachem Group
Donald Choi
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Chinachem Group
Donald Choi joined the Group in 2018 as Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Chinachem Group. He has over 30 years of management experience across property development and worked as a professional architect globally.
Sustainable development, environmental protection, and the health and wellbeing of the community now enjoy equal importance to profit at Chinachem. This balanced approach, at the heart of a refreshed brand, is a bold and pioneering change for the industry.
Previously MD of the Nan Fung Group, and a Director of Foster and Partners, Donald has provided professional services for Hong Kong Government, Airport Authority, Mass Transit Railway Corporation, Urban Renewal Authority, Public Works Canada, British Columbia Buildings Corporation. Alongside his professional career, he has held multiple leadership roles in NGO and professional bodies that focus on community, design and innovation. He is now the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects and Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design.
Ophelia Lin
Managing Director
Meiriki Japan Company Limited
Ophelia Lin
Managing Director
Meiriki Japan Company Limited
Ms. Ophelia Lin is the founder and managing director of Meiriki Japan with over 20 years of executive and management experience. She is committed to integrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into business model and undertakes the initiative to fulfill corporate social responsibility. She completed a programme organized by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). She later served as the founding president of “SME Sustainability Society” and is at the same time, appointed as the board governor of “Friends of the Earth (HK)” and a founding member of HKCSS“Caring SME Alliance”. She continues to inspire and assists SMEs to pursue sustainable development and works jointly to realize the vision of sustainable development.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
Ms. Ophelia dedicates her business to sustainability development. She is willing to build a platform for facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration for sustainability development and bring together people from all walks of life to promote the development of sustainability with innovative entrepreneurship.
Carrie Ng
Head of Sustainable Finance, Hong Kong Commercial Banking
HSBC
Carrie Ng
Head of Sustainable Finance, Hong Kong Commercial Banking
HSBC
Carrie is the Head of Sustainable Finance for HSBC Hong Kong Commercial Banking where she is responsible for driving the ESG agenda in the business. She is also a member of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association Green and Sustainable Banking Working Group.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
I would like to see more businesses and individuals undertaking sustainability initiatives or actions – can be as simple as installing water saving nozzles!
Jane Tong
Managing Director
Giormani
Jane Tong
Managing Director
Giormani
Ms. Jane Tong is the Co-founder and Managing Director of renowned sofa brand GIORMANI. GIORMANI was established in 1999 and has obtained more than 20 significant awards and recognitions. GIORMANI stores are all over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. GIORMANI also develops overseas markets through an international brand named “KELVIN GIORMANI”, exporting high-end custom-made sofas to over 20 countries worldwide; and it has set up showrooms in Hong Kong and more than 60 other cities.
Ms. Tong is the Executive Vice Chairman, Secretary General of The Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association. She is also one of the committee members of Retail Industry Training Advisory Committee of Qualifications Framework, the HKSAR, and VTC Retail Trade Training Board. Furniture and Fixtures Industry Committee of the Chinese Manufactures’ Association of Hong Kong. Committee of Federation of Hong Kong Industries (Hong Kong Furniture Industry Council), SME Sustainability Society Committee and Treasurer and Membership Affair. Ms. Tong was also invited to be professional judging panel or mentor for different tertiary educational projects, e.g. HKDI, VTC, etc., to support and nurture the new generation of furniture industry.