Buildings & Facilities Theatre

Building Better: How LEED Helps Companies Create Sustainable Value in North Asia

11 Sep (Thur) Day 1 : 16:00 – 16:50

Full Programme
Buildings & Facilities Theatre

The panel session “Building Better: How LEED Helps Companies Create Sustainable Value in North Asia” brought together industry leaders to explore how LEED certification drives sustainable growth and long-term business value across the region. Speakers from real estate, manufacturing, and consulting sectors shared practical insights on integrating LEED into corporate ESG strategies, highlighting the certification’s role in improving operational efficiency, brand credibility, and investor confidence. Real-world case studies from different regions demonstrated how companies are leveraging LEED to meet carbon reduction goals, enhance occupant well-being, and align with regional climate policies. The session emphasized LEED as not just a green building standard, but a strategic tool for resilience, innovation, and market differentiation in North Asia’s rapidly evolving sustainability landscape.

Learnings

  • LEED as a Strategic ESG Tool: Companies in North Asia are increasingly adopting LEED to align with global ESG standards, enhance transparency, and attract sustainability-focused investors.
  • Operational and Financial Benefits: LEED-certified projects deliver measurable outcomes such as energy savings, reduced emissions, and long-term cost efficiencies—contributing directly to business value.
  • Localization and Policy Alignment: Adapting LEED strategies to local regulations and climate goals, including HK’s 2050 carbon neutrality target, strengthens compliance and public trust.
  • Market Differentiation through Green Leadership: LEED helps companies stand out in competitive markets by reinforcing brand credibility and demonstrating leadership in sustainability and innovation.

Post-Event Actions

  • Evaluate LEED Opportunities: Assess current and future building projects for LEED certification potential to align with ESG and sustainability goals.
  • Engage Internal Stakeholders: Share key learnings from the session with sustainability, facilities, and executive teams to build internal buy-in for green building strategies.
  • Connect with Experts: Follow up with panel speakers and LEED professionals to explore collaboration, technical support, or benchmarking best practices.
  • Stay Updated on LEED v5: Monitor the development and regional adaptation of LEED v5 to ensure alignment with evolving performance standards and carbon reduction targets.

Speakers

Jing Wang

U.S. Green Building Council

Vice President, North Asia

Based in Shanghai, Jing Wang serves as Vice President for North Asia at USGBC and GBCI, the organizations that developed and administer LEED, one of the world’s leading green building rating systems. She works with industry leaders, developers, investors and public-sector organizations across North Asia to advance sustainable buildings and accelerate market transformation. A frequent speaker at regional industry forums, Jing shares insights on sustainable development, green building and market transformation, and is committed to fostering collaboration across the built environment.

Prior to joining USGBC and GBCI, Jing led the Marketing & Communications function at CBRE China, a leading global real estate services firm. She also held regional marketing roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Singapore and China before the company became part of Marriott International.

Jing holds an MBA from the University of Manchester and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 1

Retrofitting the Vertical City: Can Existing Buildings be Transformed Fast Enough to Meet Climate Targets?

Day 2

Connecting Carbon, Communities and Nature: Reimagining the Future of Net-Zero Connected Cities

Wim Chang

Delta Electronics Foundation

CEO

Wim has been with the Delta Electronics Foundation (DEF) since 2007 and currently serves as its CEO. Over the past 17 years, he has led initiatives in climate risk communication, low-carbon building promotion, and green transportation development, establishing DEF as a key advocate for sustainability. He has represented the Foundation as an official observer at both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and its related conferences for 17 consecutive years, bringing Taiwan’s voice to the global stage.

In addition to his extensive international engagement, Wim has published two books on low-carbon living, and is widely recognized for his contributions to environmental protection. He was the inaugural recipient of the “Taiwan Environmental Hero Award” by Global Views magazine and was also honored as a “Water-Saving Talent” by Taiwan’s Water Resources Agency.

Beyond his professional achievements, Wim actively embodies DEF’s mission in his personal life. As an accredited divemaster, he participates in coral restoration projects and other hands-on conservation efforts, demonstrating his commitment to protecting biodiversity and combating climate change.

James Chow

Shun Tak Holdings

Head of Commercial Real Estates

With over three decades of experience across Hong Kong, Mainland China, and various regions in Asia, James is a seasoned expert in the development and asset management of commercial real estate, including office buildings, retail complexes, and hospitality properties. Trained as both an architect and facility manager, he possesses comprehensive expertise in the full real estate development lifecycle—from land acquisition and project execution to leasing, operations, and asset enhancement.

In his current role, James plays a strategic leadership role in shaping the Group’s commercial real estate portfolio. He is also a member of Shun Tak’s Sustainability Steering Committee, where he contributes significantly to the formulation and advancement of the Group’s ESG strategies.

Yukihiko Ito

GOYOH

CEO

In 2006, at the age of 23, Yukihiko Ito launched his first real estate investment and management firm in New York. In 2008, he founded Asterisk, Inc. in Japan, delivering strategic solutions to maximize the “soft value” of real estate for global institutional investors, investment funds, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. He played a central role in fund placement and global business development for clients including M&G Real Estate, BentallGreenOak, and Hoshino Resorts.

In 2018, Yukihiko founded GOYOH K.K., a real estate tech startup based in Tokyo, and introduced the “EaSyGo” service, designed to enhance soft value and generate measurable social impact through an ESG lens aligned with international investor priorities.

Under his leadership, the EaSyGo team has developed several pioneering industry-first initiatives, including:

  • Japan’s first Social Impact Linked Real Estate Finance product in partnership with MUFG Bank,
  • A nationwide program to measure energy consumption in multifamily residential buildings,
  • An interactive sustainability engagement platform implemented across diverse real estate asset classes.

As a recognized thought leader in sustainable real estate, Yukihiko introduced the CRREM (Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor) concept to the Japanese market and established the CRREM Japan Forum in both 2023 and 2024, bringing together public and private stakeholders to accelerate decarbonization in the property sector.

He is currently spearheading the development of EaSyGo Value Driver, a next-generation ESG-SaaS platform that empowers urban assets to meet evolving global investor mandates, align with city-level sustainability policies, and enhance the well-being of tenants and local communities.

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