Rethinking Sustainability Transformation

Yulia leads Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change services across Asia. She has 18 years’ experience in consulting and managing projects on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development, including over 15 years in Asia-Pacific (APAC). She has worked with various development organisations (World Bank/IFC, EBRD, ADB, United Nations agencies), impact investors and financial institutions, national and city governments, as well as companies in the Oil & Gas, energy, cement, steel, textile and apparel, automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and other sectors.

Yulia is one of the leads ERM experts in APAC for the design of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and climate strategies for various sectors and clients. She is also an author and reviewer of a number of studies and publications.

Mr Mark Harper has worked for around 20 years in the field of corporate sustainability. As Group Head of Sustainability at Swire, Mr Harper is responsible for managing the Group Sustainable Development Office, and leading on the design, execution and performance monitoring of the global corporate sustainability strategy for the Swire Group. As well as, acting as the lead change agent in driving improved sustainability performance and best practices, with a view to further embedding sustainability into overall business strategy for Swire.

Prior to taking up the Group Head of Sustainability role, Mr Harper had worked at John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. for over seven years, where he was responsible for managing the Group’s ESG disclosures as well as advising operating companies on their own ESG submissions. In addition to his work on ESG ratings, Mr Harper was also responsible for advising the Group on policy and strategy development, particularly in the areas of climate resilience, biodiversity and sustainable waste management. He also sits on the Board of Business Environment Council, the Executive Committee of the Drink Without Waste working group and is Chair of the ESG Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Mr Harper has extensive experience of ESG disclosure standards such as GRI and the Hong Kong Exchange ESG Reporting Guide, as well as conducting sector focused benchmarking studies, corporate environmental management, as well as organising hands-on corporate citizenship and CSR training programmes.

Before joining John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd., Mr Harper worked in a number of senior management roles at high profile NGOs including the Earthwatch Institute, Fauna & Flora International, China Water Risk, and Business Environment Council, where he was responsible for managing the organisations advisory services on ESG reporting and corporate sustainability strategy development.

My Sustainability Goal for 2025:

Prepare the company for IFRS alignment in our sustainability reporting; continue to work on integrating sustainability into core functions; continue to drive performance towards achieving our 2030 SwireTHRIVE goals.

Joe is Executive Director, Asia Pacific for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the global, CEO-led community of the world’s leading sustainable businesses working together to realize a net-zero, nature-positive, more equitable future.

Joe is responsible for the engagement of ambitious companies from across Asia and Australasia in the World Business Council. He has supported collective action projects by business with demonstrable outcomes in areas such as climate change, energy transition, water risk, mobility and more resilient agriculture.

Prior to joining WBCSD, Joe held senior roles with the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum. Highlights included a series of special reports with the Financial Times on business and sustainable development, the development of the World Business & Development awards with the United Nations and International Chambers of Commerce, and delivery of programs in skills, inclusive business, and anti-corruption.

Born and educated in the UK, Joe has worked in Asia since 2009. He plays cricket and lives in Singapore with his wife, a writer, and their daughter.

Richard leads the decarbonisation and disclosure services at ERM Hong Kong office. He has over 10 years of in corporate strategy and sustainability, climate change risk disclosure, GHG emissions inventory, target setting (scope 1-3), supply chain management and sustainable buildings. Prior to joining ERM, Richard served two blue-chip listed real estate companies in Hong Kong. Richard was the Co Head of the ULI HK Decarbonisation and Resilience Committee (2023 – 2025) and holds the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing