Reality Check: Exploring the Practical Side of Sustainability

Ada is currently a Project Principal at Second Stage, a newly formed social venture building company which invests financial and human capital in early stage companies with specific intention to make a positive impact to society and communities. She is also one of the Founding Directors of WYNG 43 Social Investment. Ada acted as CEO in one of its invested companies, Urban Spring, from 2015- 2022. She is a Certified ESG Analyst under EFFAs. Beyond her day job, her volunteer roles include being the co-chair of the board of Social Value International (a UK registered charity), one of a leading global network that pioneers in establishing impact measurement standards and trainings and a board member of Social Value Hong Kong (formerly The Hong Kong Institute of Social Impact Analysts), as well as a member of the Advisory Committee on Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities under the Social Welfare Department of the Hong Kong Government. Prior to the above engagements, she was the Programme Director of the i2i (incubation to investment) program at SOW Asia. In her early career, Ada worked at a number of international financial institutions in Toronto, Tokyo, and Hong Kong with regional management responsibilities for over 15 years.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

Invest in 3 impact businesses and worked closely with them to scale their business model

Mr. Bishop is a Principal Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong and the International MBA Program at Fudan University, Shanghai. He has broad legal experience in the United States and across Asia, particularly China. Mr. Bishop has worked on major real estate, private equity, financing, and M&A deals, and participated in numerous negotiations in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He has also acted as outside counsel in connection with various corporate, technology, life sciences and commercial matters for MNCs operating in Asia.

In addition to a robust private legal experience, Mr. Bishop focuses significant time on activities and programs providing direct benefit to the community. He consults companies about their ethics, CSR, pro bono, and social entrepreneurship initiatives, and is founder and director of multiple non-profit companies. He and his students are constantly looking for commercial solutions to complex societal problems.

Mr. Bishop adopts a multicultural approach to teaching, aiming to broaden the students’ perspectives and help them to apply complex analysis to real-world legal, ethical, and business problems.

Mr. Bishop won the Outstanding Teacher Award for his postgraduate teaching for the 2011-2012 academic year.

I currently serve as the Digital Customer Success Lead at Unifi3d, where I play a pivotal role in driving digital transformation for various fashion brands. With a focus on sustainability and efficiency, I support clients in integrating cutting-edge digital workflows that enhance operational performance and reduce environmental impact.

With over 25 years of extensive experience in the fashion industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise across multiple facets of the garment sector. I have held significant roles in renowned fashion brands, garment factories, textile mills, and trading companies, providing me with a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s intricacies.

Driven by a profound sense of purpose, Ada strives to inspire, enrich, and positively impact both people and the planet. As the Director of Social Impact at Rosewood Hong Kong, Ada is deeply committed to empowering individuals across the hotel’s entire ecosystem and embracing a sustainability approach that puts circular hospitality at the core of the business.

Ada builds strategic partnerships with the government, local communities, and diverse stakeholders to optimize the scale and impact of Rosewood’s multifaceted social impact initiatives. These programs span opportunity employment, inclusive hiring, sustainable sourcing, and environmental efforts under the Rosewood Empowers and Rosewood Sustains pillars.

Prior to joining Rosewood, Ada held social impact roles at Microsoft, CLP Power, AIA International, and Samsung Electronics, amassing over 15 years of experience in stakeholder engagement and cross-sector collaboration. She has worked extensively with the government, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to drive meaningful change.

Ada holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Psychology) from the University of Hong Kong and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Adelaide. She is also a part-time instructor at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she shares her expertise and passion for sustainable business practices.

Denise Wong is a Managing Director and co-head of the Sustainable Banking Group – Asia Pacific at Barclays based in Hong Kong. In this capacity, she focuses on understanding and supporting clients on their sustainability journey, providing holistic and strategic advice as they navigate the transition to a low carbon economy.

Denise has over 20 years of finance experience, most of which has been with Barclays in Hong Kong and New York. She was most recently a venture partner at a Silicon Valley-based venture capital fund and chief financial officer at one of Asia’s emerging alternative protein companies. Prior to that, Denise was with Barclays for 12 years, her last position being Head of Consumer & Retail, Asia Pacific ex-Japan Investment Banking.

Denise is a passionate advocate and champion for sustainability, diversity and inclusion, social entrepreneurship, and citizenship. She serves as senior sponsor for the Reach and Environmental networks at Barclays, held board and senior advisory positions at non-profit organisations and social enterprises, and spearheaded numerous successful shared value collaborations between corporates and NGOs in Hong Kong. Denise also volunteered her time as a mentor for Unreasonable Impact, Hong Kong University’s Lead for Life Character Leadership Programme, and Hong Kong University’s Entrepreneur Society.

Denise graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.