Roundtable A

Rethinking How Capital Markets and Lenders Evaluate Sustainability Performance, and What That Means for Financing Decisions

11 Sep (Fri) Day 2 : 14:00 – 15:30

Full Programme
Roundtable A

Hong Kong businesses are increasingly asked to report on sustainability performance, but fewer understand how that performance translates into financing outcomes — loan pricing, covenant terms, access to green credit, and investor appetite. For SME owners, corporate sustainability leads, and operators across construction, transport and logistics, energy, and consumer supply chains, the gap between disclosure and decision-making has real commercial consequences.

This roundtable demystifies the process. It gives attendees a practical, non-technical understanding of how banks, lenders, and investors evaluate sustainability performance, what data and evidence actually influences a financing decision, and what steps a business can take to improve its position — whether it is applying for a green loan, negotiating covenant terms, or preparing for future capital raises.

Session Learnings:

  • Distinguish between sustainability disclosure as compliance and sustainability performance that influences credit and investment decisions.
  • Recognise the data, governance, and target-setting practices lenders and investors look for before pricing risk favourably.

Post-Event Actions:

  • Identify which financing instruments — green loans, sustainability-linked loans, or transition finance — fit their business, and how each is structured and priced.
  • Avoid the common mistakes businesses make when presenting sustainability performance
  • Take away a checklist to improve their financing readiness.

Speakers

David von Eiff

CFA Institute

Director, Global Industry Standards

David von Eiff has a combined 13 years of experience in environmental compliance, research, and sustainability. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy at the City University of Hong Kong and his Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Public Policy at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. His main research areas address the economic, sustainability and climate change issues associated with water supply management decisions. He has conducted extensive research projects and authored several works including publications on a range of topics. Most recently, he authored a public-facing report which analysed and recommended potential changes for Hong Kong’s water management framework. His work has focused on the carbon footprint of the water supply, using a life-cycle analysis approach to analysis various public policy decisions and water mixes. He has also studied the importance of governance and the governance capacity of the Water supplies department on achieving long term sustainability.

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 2

Rethinking How Capital Markets and Lenders Evaluate Sustainability Performance, and What That Means for Financing Decisions

Richard McGillivray

CFA Institute

Senior Director, Product Advocacy and Education, APAC

Richard McGillivray joined CFA Institute to lead its Asia Pacific Institutional Partnerships team in 2013, working with firms, regulators, and universities across the region, and is now a member of the Education and Product Advocacy team. Richard brings a blend of experience in both investment management and adult professional education to CFA Institute. Prior to joining CFA Institute, he set up and ran the Asia Pacific operations for a UK-headquartered asset management business in Hong Kong.

Richard has delivered finance-related professional development programs to a wide range of financial institutions including Asset Managers, Banks, Pension Funds, Regulators, Universities and Professional Associations across the Asia Pacific region. From 2018 Richard has focused extensively on ESG, and sustainability-related practice, in particular on Climate-related risk and valuation.

Prior to his move to Finance in 2007 Richard worked for 16 years in adult and professional education in Asia Pacific and southern Africa across a range of sectors, including financial services, government, universities, NGOs, law and media.

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 2

Rethinking How Capital Markets and Lenders Evaluate Sustainability Performance, and What That Means for Financing Decisions

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