Rethinking Sustainability Actions for SMEs
12 Sep (Fri) Day 2 : 10:00 – 11:30
This roundtable workshop zooms in on one of the key catalysts for accelerated actions in sustainability: SMEs (small-and-medium enterprises).
Accounting for more than 98% of the total number of enterprises and over 44% of total employment in Hong Kong as well as a large portion of economies all over the world, SMEs’ transition towards sustainability will drive a sea change and accelerate the advancement of UN Sustainable Development Goals.
SMEs (and all companies) incorporating sustainability in their business operations can build strong competitive advantages, land partnerships with corporations with robust sustainability programs, and benefit from operational cost savings over time. Moreover, since SMEs are prevalent in global supply chains, more SMEs integrating sustainability measures in their business operations means increased sustainability in the supply chains for corporations worldwide. However, at times of slow economic growth, SMEs often struggle to secure the necessary resources to integrate sustainability in their business operations.
In this roundtable workshop, we invite industry leaders and subject experts to delve into the challenges facing SMEs when implementing sustainability initiatives and the solutions that can help SMEs stay informed, agile, and proactive in accelerating such endeavors. Participants will gain a better understanding of the tools and resources available to integrate meaningful sustainability initiatives in business operations to accelerate sustainable development throughout the business ecosystem.
Learnings
– Challenges and solutions related to SMEs’ sustainability strategy and actions
– Tools and resources available to integrate and communicate meaningful sustainability initiatives in business operations
– Actionable ideas to incorporate sustainability into business settings
Post-Event Actions
– Effective integration and communication of meaningful sustainability initiatives in business operations
– Broad cross-sector collaboration to accelerate sustainability initiatives
Speakers
Pia Wong
Founder and CEO
Purpose Impact Action
Pia Wong
Purpose Impact Action
Founder and CEO
Pia is a seasoned social impact strategist with 25+ years of experience in cross-sector partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement. Her career began in leadership roles at Weber Shandwick Shanghai and Synovate (Ipsos) APAC before shifting her focus to scaling social impact in Hong Kong in 2006.
Driven by a commitment to systemic change, Pia has spearheaded initiatives in literacy and education during her 12-year tenure as Executive Director of Bring Me A Book Hong Kong. As Co-Founder of Voice for Social Good, Pia is also a huge advocate of operational funding for nonprofits to strengthen sector resilience and deliver on impact – as their viral “Bake a Difference” campaign demonstrates.
Earlier this year, through Purpose Impact Action, Pia led Hong Kong’s first ever impact measurement research. This groundbreaking initiative addressed critical gaps in nonprofit effectiveness while responding to the growing imperative for SMEs to demonstrate their social impact and sustainability commitments to remain competitive.
By transforming complex data into actionable insights, Pia empowers organizations to demonstrate and scale their social value with clarity and confidence.
Pia holds a BA (Hons) from University College London and a Business Sustainability Management Certificate from the University of Cambridge (2022).
My Sustainability Goals for 2025:
My 2025 sustainability goals are focused on advancing social impact measurement in Hong Kong through two strategic priorities:
- Shifting mindsets: Through advocating a long-term approach to sustainability by encouraging funders and investors to commit to multi-year grants or investments. This enables mission-driven organizations to generate robust, evidence-based outcomes over time. In parallel, nonprofits and social enterprises must confidently champion their impact measurement needs to secure the necessary resources and visibility.
- Pooling Resources and Expertise: Drive sector-wide collaboration by developing localized, shared impact measurement frameworks. Aligning on common outcomes and key indicators will enhance data comparability, reduce duplication, and streamline impact reporting — ultimately strengthening the ecosystem’s ability to demonstrate collective progress.
Supported by
Foundation for Shared Impact Limited
Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) is built on the philosophy of “shared impact”. We believe when different groups come together, collectively we can achieve a greater social impact than by working separately. We envision a future where everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential, drive collective social impact and enable society to change for all
Our sustainability goals for 2025:
– Build leadership capacity across sectors through experiential learning and effective training
– Uplift disadvantaged communities through broad cross-sector collaboration
– Enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion through bespoke support to entrepreneurs and our community partners