Net Zero & Nature Positive Theatre (Keynote)

Strategic Transition Planning for a Low-Carbon Future

Day 2 : 15:30 – 16:20

In the face of escalating climate challenges, Hong Kong businesses stand at a crucial juncture requiring immediate and strategic action towards sustainability and decarbonisation. Transition planning for a lower-carbon future is vital, not only for mitigating environmental impact but also for ensuring long-term business resilience and competitiveness in the global market. As international regulatory landscapes evolve and consumer demand for sustainable practices grows, companies without clear net-zero strategies risk falling behind. Implementing transition plans allows Hong Kong businesses to lead in innovation, engage with different stakeholders, and contribute significantly to the city’s long-term climate targets, marking a critical step in both environmental stewardship and economic advancement. 

Learnings: 

  • How can corporations plan for strategic transition planning? 
  • What best practices exist for engaging stakeholders in a company’s transition? 
  • What are the barriers and difficulties do corporations encounter when transitioning to a lower-carbon business model? 

Post-event Actions: 

  • Get to know how corporations implement strategic transition planning and its importance  
  • Understand the best practices in stakeholder engagement in transition towards a lower-carbon economy 
  • Reflect on difficulties that corporations encounter while conducting strategic transition planning and how they overcome the problems 

Speakers

Suki Han

Business Environment Council

Assistant Manager – Policy & Research

Suki has 10 years of experience in sustainability consulting, stakeholder engagement, and policy research. Currently at BEC, Suki leads research initiatives related to climate change and energy transition, including BEC’s Climate Change Business Forum, Net-zero Carbon Charter and sectoral energy transition research projects.

Previously, Suki worked with a range of clients across different sectors on sustainability issues in the US and Hong Kong. Her responsibilities included researching international renewable energy policies and developing ESG strategies. She also worked in private equity and venture capital. She has actively participated in international climate change negotiations and policy development, such as COP21.

Suki holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University, and an MBA degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Michelle Au

China State Construction & Engineering Hong Kong

Sustainability, Director

I have worked with the focus on sustainability management, waste reduction policy and climate change related over for 20 years. A plentiful knowledge on environmental science and management of other cites regulations and policy could assist Secretary for Environment to analyze and draft policy for Hong Kong. During my almost ten-year tenure at HKSAR Environment Bureau (ENB) as the role of a Political Assistant, I participated in the process of policy making as well, like Producer Responsibility Schemes.

After stepping down from government, I have joined China State Construction and Engineering Hong Kong Ltd (中國建築工程香港有限公司) as the Sustainability Director since end of 2022. I have introduced a program to trial the use of Hydrogen Power Generation on construction sites and facilitated the industry’s largest Social Responsibility Loan of HKD 500 million in 2024.

I represented the company in professional councils and secured multiple awards, including the “Pioneer Award in Green Building Leadership (Contractor)” at the 2023 Environmental Building Awards, underscoring our commitment to sustainability.

In terms of personal public office, I am a council member (2025-2028) of the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals (HKIQEP). I am also a member of the Smart Waste Management Tool Working Group at the Construction Industry Council (CIC), and a co-opted member of the Sustainable Development Committee of the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC).

Jessica Chan

MTR Corporation Limited

Head of Sustainability

Jessica is the Head of Sustainability of MTR Corporation. She leads the development of sustainability strategies, driving sustainability initiatives, and overseeing the preparation of sustainability reports and disclosures. She has developed a corporate Climate Change Strategy for the company and leads regular review of climate risks and controls across various business units. She has also crafted a long-term decarbonisation roadmap and set science-based carbon reduction targets for MTR. Furthermore, Jessica provides her technical expertise to support the issuance of green bonds by the company.

With an extensive background spanning over 25 years in environmental and corporate sustainability, Jessica is a seasoned sustainability professional with a diverse skill set encompassing sustainability strategies and policies, sustainability communications and disclosure, regulatory compliance, and emerging sustainability issues. Actively engaged in the sustainability arena, Jessica is a member of various international and local sustainability-related committees, including the Sustainable Development Committee of The International Association of Public Transport, the Community of ESG Practitioners of the World Economic Forum, and the Environment & Sustainability Committee of The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

Jessica also contributes to academia as a member of the Programme Advisory Committee for an MSc sustainability programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and serves as an Advisory Board member for an MSc ESG Management programme at Lingnan University. Since 2021, she has been a member of the Board of Examiners for the Hong Kong Sustainability Award organised by The Hong Kong Management Association.

Manshu Deng

Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero

Hong Kong Chapter Director

Manshu leads the Hong Kong Chapter at the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). Building on the works by the GFANZ APAC Network, she focuses on engaging and building capacity with financial institutions across Greater China to scale transition finance to support the real economy transition to net-zero.

Before joining GFANZ, Manshu performed various roles covering programme management, market research and data analytics, at the Hong Kong Academy of Finance, Climate Bonds Initiative, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Bloomberg. Manshu holds a master’s degree in Financial Analysis from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and bachelor’s degrees in Science and Commerce from the University of Ottawa, Canada.

Manshu is now based in Hong Kong. She is fluent in Mandarin, English and Cantonese.

Max Thomas

ESG Solutions

Max leads HSBC’s APAC ESG Solutions team, where the team work with clients across the region supporting them on developing their approach to ESG. HBSC’s ESG Solutions proposition covers how to integrate ESG within the business, how ESG can act as a value driver for a company, insights on regulatory changes, ESG rating considerations as well as key disclosures and considerations from a capital markets perspective.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:
Continue to look forward to engaging with our corporate clients on how ESG can be an opportunity for their business and how they should look to develop going forward.

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