In this thought-provoking final session of ReThink HK, two teams of experts will go head-to-head to debate the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving sustainable business practices. Arguing in favour of the motion, the proposition will highlight how AI enables businesses to optimize resource efficiency, reduce waste, and accelerate the transition to net-zero operations through data-driven insights, predictive analytics, and automation. They will showcase real-world examples of AI-powered innovations in energy management, supply chain transparency, and circular economy solutions.
On the opposing side, the opposition will challenge the notion that AI is the most impactful tool, arguing that systemic change, policy frameworks, and human-driven initiatives remain the cornerstone of sustainability strategies. They will also address concerns around AI’s environmental footprint, ethical implications, and accessibility barriers.
Moderated by a leading sustainability thought leader, this dynamic debate will explore the opportunities, limitations, and future of AI in shaping a sustainable economy, leaving the audience with actionable insights and a deeper understanding of this critical issue.
Moderator
Christine Loh
Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment
Christine Loh is Chief Development Strategist at Institute for the Environment at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Scholar in Residence at Asia Society Hong Kong (2023-25). She serves on the boards of New Forests Pty Limited, and Towngas Smart Energy. She is a published author of many academic and popular works.
My Sustainability Goals for 2025:
To develop transdisciplinary studies with real world context.
Speaking at:
Day 1
Advances in Climate Science: Fine-Scale Projection for Managing Extreme Risks in Asia’s CitiesDay 2
Rethinking Water: Securing Hong Kong’s Liquid Lifeline Beyond the Burn: Rethinking Sports in Hong Kong’s Boiling Era Financing for Nature: Investing in Biodiversity Across the Indo-Pacific Corridor The Great Debate: This House Believes AI is the Most Impactful Tool in a Business’s Sustainability StrategyProf. Andy Chun
Professor of Practice
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Professor of Practice
Prof. Andy Chun is a distinguished pioneer in Artificial Intelligence, with a career spanning several decades. He spearheaded Hong Kong’s first commercial AI system deployment in the late 1980s. He has since developed innovative AI solutions for numerous public and private sectors, significantly enhancing Hong Kong’s social services, quality of life, and economic prosperity.
Prof. Chun is a Professor of Practice at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and an Adjunct Professor of the EMBA program at City University of Hong Kong. In these roles, he actively advocates for innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies.
Throughout his career, Prof. Chun has led technology initiatives at Prudential plc, held CEO positions at multiple AI start-ups, and served as the University CIO at City University of Hong Kong.
He is an advisor to the HKSAR Government on AI and IT strategies and the founder of the AI Specialist Group for the Hong Kong Computer Society.
His exceptional contributions to AI have earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Distinguished Fellow of the Hong Kong Computer Society. Prof. Chun holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
My Sustainability Goals for 2025:
Keith Ip
Chief Technology Officer
Li & Fung
Li & Fung
Chief Technology Officer
Keith is the Chief Technology Officer of Li & Fung Trading leading the company’s various technology and AI initiatives which help drive value delivery through innovation, use case identification and AI adoption. Prior to Li & Fung, he held different executive roles at S.F. Express, including Chief Technology Officer of S.F. Technology, Chief Information Officer and CEO of S.F. international overseas region based out of Shenzhen as well as CMO of S.F. Express HK. His vast experience cuts across Technology and Digital in Asia Pacific for both established and start-up businesses. Prior to joining S.F. Express, Keith led solution consulting and sales teams of Enterprise Business and Supply Chain Cloud for Oracle Asia Pacific and for SAP Greater China.
Keith, being an early adopter of GenAI in the enterprise world, is a found member and advisory board member of Artificial Intelligence Association of Hong Kong (AIHK). He is also a CIO Board Member of Hong Kong Computer Society. Keith holds an Executive MBA degree from both Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and HKUST, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Ophelia Lin
Vice Chairperson
Friends of the Earth (HK)
Friends of the Earth (HK)
Vice Chairperson
Ms. Ophelia Lin serves as Vice Chairperson of Friends of the Earth (HK), Founding President of the SME Sustainability Society and Founder and Managing Director of Meiriki Japan, empowering and promoting SMEs to adopt sustainable environmental business models.
My Sustainability Goals for 2025:
Matt Sexton
Group Strategy Director
Futerra
Futerra
Group Strategy Director
Matt Sexton is Group Strategy Director at Futerra, the international sustainability strategy and communications consultancy devoted to Making The Anthropocene Awesome.
At Futerra he has developed bold and innovative sustainability strategies for some of the worlds biggest businesses including Swire Pacific, Kao Corporation, Formula 1, Tommy Hilfiger and The North Face. he also started Futerra Academy which has created training for over 60,000 employees at the likes of Aegon, British Airways, Kimberly-Clark and Booking.Com. Prior to Futerra he was sustainability Director at B&Q/Kingfisher where he found his way into sustainability as a buyer when every category seemed to have a sustainability challenges that needed to be solved.
My Sustainability Goals for 2025:
Become a blueprint for city scale sustainability that can be replicated across the world – 80% of us, I think, live in cities!
Jie Zhou
Head of International Innovation
University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Head of International Innovation
Jie Zhou is a sustainability expert, systemic innovator, trustee, and reseach advisor with 15+ years of experience across Europe and Asia.
A founding member of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) Innovation team, she designs and spearheads initiatives that turn complex challenges into scalable, real-world solutions. She has launched accelerators for circular innovation, created widely-used toolkits for SME decarbonization, and built international partnerships with UN agencies, global corporations, and family offices in Asia.
In her role as head of the Sino-UK Centre for Sustainability Innovation at Cambridge, she builds a critical bridge between two of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems, accelerating climate solutions on a global scale.
The Institute for the Environment at HKUST is a multidisciplinary research institute that addresses pressing environmental challenges—such as climate change, pollution, and resource scarcity—through regional collaboration, policy-relevant research, and partnerships across academia, industry, and NGOs, promoting a greener, healthier Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area, and beyond.
General Enquiry Email Address: ienv@ust.hk
General Enquiry Phone Number: 2358 6901