Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce: Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities

I am a Social Sustainability Professional with a focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I). With cross-disciplinary knowledge in psychology and public health as well as multi-sector experience in academia, non-profit, and corporate, I support organizations through consulting, research, events, and programs to facilitate discussions and develop action plans on approaching DE&I and mental well-being as a social and business issue.

Deanne is a partner within the Financial Services Consulting practice at EY in Hong Kong and is accountable for leading the business transformation capability. She is particularly focused on supporting women in leadership and is co-sponsor of the Women in Technology employee group within EY Financial Services.

She joined EY from HSBC where she was most recently in a double hat role accountable for operations regionally (Asia Pacific) across the retail, wealth, cash and customer communications portfolios, in addition she was accountable for cards, loans and mortgages globally. She also enjoys being actively involved in employee advocate groups and was on the executive advisory board for ESG for Asia Pacific (2022 and 2023) and the Operations representative on the Global Diversity and Inclusion council (2021 and 2022).

Prior to HSBC, Deanne worked at Westpac Bank in Australia in a breadth of roles including front line branch management, product, operations, chief of staff, HR & Corporate Affairs, strategy and transformation. Prior to banking, Deanne worked in Pharmaceuticals, FMCG and the Medical Industry. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and trying to keep up with two very active girls (11yrs and 14yrs) who keeps her busy with their passion for a variety of sports including soccer, netball, basketball and touch football.

Yolice Wu joined the Board as Executive Director, People & Culture in 2023. In this role, Ms Wu is responsible for overseeing all People & Culture functions across the organization, setting the People & Culture strategy and direction for the entire company, while also leading the team in driving new People & Culture initiatives.

Ms Wu brings over two decades of experience managing human resources across Chinese Mainland and Asia Pacific regions, with extensive experience in multiple senior leadership roles across different corporations. Prior to joining the Company, Ms Wu served as the Chief People Officer at Jardine International Motors, where she played a pivotal role in transforming and embedding a new culture during a significant merger. Before that, Ms Wu was the Director of Human Resources at Zung Fu.

Ms Wu holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Trade from Shanghai University and a Master’s degree in Training & Organization Development from Saint Joseph’s University.

Prof. Dannii Yeung is a professor of psychology from the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. She is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of American (GSA). Her research focuses on identifying effective means to improve the psychological well-being of middle-aged and older adults, including research projects on age-related changes in work motives and conflict management, age discrimination in the workplace, retirement planning, caregiving for frail older adults, interventions to promote volunteering and improve mental well-being of older adults. She has received research funding from the RGC General Research Fund, RGC Collaborative Research Fund, Public Policy Research Funding Scheme, and other funding sources to support her projects.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

To improve job opportunities and well-being for older workers; To increase working adults’ preparation for retirement; To reduce mental health problems of older people.