Nordic Talk: Accelerating the Green Transition Through Technology and Innovation

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.