Net Zero Innovation (Keynote) Theatre

Climate Governance in an Uncertain World

11 Sep (Thur) Day 1 : 17:00 – 17:50

As ESG initiatives face growing opposition and global economic volatility strains resources, how can companies maintain effective climate governance? This panel will discuss strategies for navigating shifting stakeholder priorities, balancing short-term pressures with long-term sustainability goals, and ensuring climate remains prime on the corporate agenda even when it’s not top of mind.

Learnings

  • Recent themes in climate and nature governance
  • Key challenges faced by corporates and boards regarding driving effective climate governance
  • Best practices to facilitate accelerated climate actions via board management

Post-event Actions

  • Discuss state of climate governance in your organization, and opportunities to promote further effectiveness
  • Explore avenues to engage with board directors on climate actions
  • Join future capability building programmes on climate and nature governance

Speakers

Spencer Liu

Executive Director

Spencer Liu is Executive Director of the Climate Governance Initiative Hong Kong Chapter (CGI HK), a non-profit initiative dedicated to empowering board directors to exercise effective climate governance. In this role, Spencer works with business leaders and governance professionals to strengthen boardroom capabilities and embed climate oversight across Hong Kong’s corporate landscape, influencing through practical guidance, cross-sector engagement, and original research to support decision-making in the climate transition.

Beyond CGI HK, Spencer has founded Riverwood Climate Solutions, where he advises corporations and startups across Asia on climate technologies, with a focus on strategy and venture co-building in the sustainable transportation value chain. He also serves as Advisor & Director at Power Dime Inc., a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) platform helping businesses access traceable, auditable carbon-free power across global markets.

Earlier in his career, Spencer spent eight years at McKinsey & Company, where he co-led sustainability and green business building in Greater China as an Associate Partner. He is a CFA charterholder, CESGA holder, and LEED Green Associate.
My Sustainability Goals for 2025

Corporations continue to see climate actions as priority, with a long-term outlook on such matter

Agnes Tai

Board Director

Agnes K Y Tai, PhD, CCB.D, SCR®, Responsible AI, ESG Investing, FRM, CAIA, MBA, FHKIoD

Agnes is Director of Great Glory Investment Corporation and Senior Advisor of iPartners Holdings Ltd.
She is a Council member of World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Climate and Nature Governance, Trustee of Chapter Zero Alliance (host of Climate Governance Initiative and Chapter Zero UK), Supervisory Board member of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Steering Committee member of Climate Governance Initiative Hong Kong Chapter, Expert Review Panel member for the MTR Corporation sustainability reports, Council member, Publishing Board of Magazine member and Deputy Chair of the training committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, faculty of Competent Boards, board member of Hope of the City, and advisory council/committee member of GARP (HK), Delhi Management Association and BlueOnion. Her board training in English, Putonghua and Cantonese spans all 5 continents. She is Adjunct Professor of HKU in Sustainability Leadership and Governance and lecturer of CUHK in Sustainable Finance and Sustainability Strategy courses, judge for HKMA FinTech competition, Climate Governance Awards and Benchmark Awards, a frequent speaker and author.

In her 45 years of serving the financial community in China, Hong Kong SAR, the USA and Australia, she has established and managed asset management/investment companies, consultancy practices, and new business units within major financial institutions, including co-Founding Peregrine Asset Management (Hong Kong) in the early 1990’s. She held senior roles at Bank of America, Citicorp, Westpac Banking Corporation, Mingly Corporation, Shanghai AJ Trust and Investment Company, Cupola Capital Limited, Booz & Company, Yaozhi Asset Management International, Arta TechFin Corporation, BlueOnion, Bai Xian Asia Institute, Habitat for Humanity, Centreon Technology, and Great Glory Strategies. She was a board or advisory committee member of various international non-profits organizations.

She holds a Climate & Nature Designation certificate from Competent Boards, a Sustainability and Climate Risk certificate and a Financial Risk Manager certificate from Global Association of Risk Professionals, a Board Oversight of Responsible AI certificate from Boards Impact Forum, an ESG Investing certificate from CFA UK, a CAIA certificate from Chartered Alternative Investment Association, and a Palladium Kaplan-Norton Balanced Scorecard certificate. She was a Responsible Officer in regulated activities 4 and 9 licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.

Agnes has a PhD from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with dissertation titled “Do carbon risks matter for Hong Kong equity prices?”, an MBA from the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business, a BSc (Honors) from Roosevelt University in USA and is a graduate of the Stanford University Senior Executive Leadership Program and the 2011 Stanford Directors’ College. She has authored a book on investing in H-shares, a Harvard Business case, a chapter in CFA Society Hong Kong’s 30th anniversary book “Rise from Crises”, and a positive psychology book ‘Tall Miracles’.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025

What I hope to see in 2025

1. HKSARG publically commit concrete climate action beyond 2030, aligned with China State Council ‘Opinions’ published 11 Aug 2024
2. HKSAR Climate Commissioner be more seen and heard, especially in sharing about our city’s (public and private) commitments, achievements and action plans in sustainability
3. I’d continue to help raise HK/China’s profile and voice in Just Transition and Sustainable Finance & Investing

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