2023 Brochure released!

The Illegal Wildlife Trade and Global Threat to Biodiversity: Accelerating Private Sector Engagement and Commitment

Day 1 - 5th Oct | 15:30 - 16:20

Location: Sustainable Transformation Theatre (Keynote)

Food & Nature

Overview

Hong Kong remains one of the largest hubs for the illegal trafficking of wildlife consignments, such as ivory, shark fin, live reef food fish, pangolin products, exotic pets, rhino horn, amongst others. Yet its strategic position as a trade and financial centre offers a unique opportunity for businesses to work with regulators and other stakeholders to establish the city as a leader in detecting, disrupting and deterring the multi-billion dollar illegal wildlife trade.

Learnings

  • For a city of its size, Hong Kong has a vastly disproportionate ecological footprint. The private sector, especially the transport, logistics, financial and technology industries, plays a crucial role in protecting their platforms and supply chains from being exploited by wildlife traffickers.
  • What role do businesses play in combating the illegal wildlife trade? How can businesses identify supply chain vulnerabilities and address legal, financial, reputational and associated risks, while contributing to protecting local and global biodiversity?

Post Event Actions

  • Gain insights on the ramifications of the illegal wildlife trade on biodiversity as a natural asset that affects the long-term sustainability of our economy and environment.
  • Rethink how your company and industry can contribute to transforming Hong Kong from being a hub for the illegal wildlife trade to becoming a global leader in the fight against it, with potentially far-reaching benefits for global biodiversity.

Speakers

MODERATOR

Charles Goddard

Editorial Director

The Economist Group

Charles Goddard

Editorial Director

The Economist Group

Charles Goddard imagines and builds The Economist Group’s flagship initiatives. He works closely with partners on themes ranging from ageing and longevity to climate change, global health security and the sustainable ocean economy. Based in Hong Kong, Charles was previously editorial director, Asia, at the Economist Intelligence Unit and managing director of the Economist Corporate Network, a peer network for senior executives. He is executive director of the Group’s World Ocean Initiative.

Roberto Giannetta

Chairman

Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association

Roberto Giannetta

Chairman

Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association

Roberto Giannetta, Chairman of the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, has 30+ years of service in the shipping industry. HKLSA represents the interests of container liner principals on numerous industry and government organizations, covering operational, safety, environmental, regulatory, trade, and policy matters vis-à-vis government and industry stakeholders.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Despite liner shipping already providing the most environmentally efficient means of global transportation, HKLSA is committed to guarding against illegal wildlife trade, improving sea and air quality, zero carbon emissions, and protection of human life.

Chad Olsen

Partner, Forensic

KPMG

Chad Olsen

Partner, Forensic

KPMG

Chad is the Forensic Leader for Hong Kong. He brings over 25 years of dedicated experience in the forensic industry. He is an Australia & NZ Chartered Accountant and has spent his career working in Australia, Singapore Beijing and Hong Kong.

He manages a dedicated team of over 40 forensic professionals in Hong Kong and is part of KPMG’s broader Greater China team.

He has held leadership roles with Tier One Financial Institutions and led high profile assignments related to Deferred Prosecution Agreements, Consent Orders, Audit Committee and Regulatory Enquiries.

Chad’s work has allowed him to oversee assignments with senior stakeholders from all around Asia and the Globe. He is an outgoing advocate of transformation and works with academics, think tanks, private public partnerships and other platforms of higher learning.

Karen Pong

Sustainable Development Manager

Cathay Pacific Airways

Karen Pong

Sustainable Development Manager

Cathay Pacific Airways

At Cathay, Karen is responsible for the development and execution of sustainability programmes, management and communications to help the Group move towards its net-zero carbon and more sustainable operation. Prior to this, Karen worked as a project manager in an ESG advisory, where she led research, reporting and stakeholder engagement projects for corporate and non-profit clients.

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