Cities Theatre

So French So Green – Sustainable Solutions for Green Cities: Buildings and Mobility

11 Sep (Fri) Day 2 : 15:10 – 16:40

Full Programme
Cities Theatre

For decades, Hong Kong has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to adapt to the constraints of geography, space, and density. Today, as climate change reshapes urban priorities, that tradition is evolving into a broader effort to transform buildings, reinvent mobility, and rejuvenate the city.

French companies have long contributed to Hong Kong’s development. In 2024, several of them jointly published a Green Paper outlining recommendations for building a more sustainable city. Building on this momentum, an alliance of French companies and HKUST launched a low-carbon building retrofitting partnership in 2026. Against this backdrop, the forum will explore how innovation can help shape a more resilient, efficient, and future-ready city.

From energy efficiency and innovative materials to smarter grids, new financing models, and sustainable mobility solutions, speakers will discuss how innovation can turn environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable cities and improved quality of life.

The discussion will feature two segments: first on infrastructure and construction, then on sustainable mobility and connectivity.

Opening Address

Panel 1 – Decarbonizing Existing Buildings & Green Financing
– Yannick Mahe (moderator)
– Joanthan Chiu
– Laurent Pelletier
– Carmen Tsang
– Eric Wong

Panel 2 – Sustainable Mobility and Connectivity
– Stephanie Dodin (moderator)
– Derek Chung
– Paul Tirvaudey
– Olivia To

Closing remarks from Patrick Delpy

Session Learnings:

  • How can innovation in retrofitting and construction simultaneously strengthen building resilience and reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment?
  • How are new approaches to green financing reshaping the way sustainable urban infrastructure is funded and delivered?
  • How is the transition towards sustainability transforming the way cities design, operate, and experience mobility and connectivity?
  • How can climate action become a driver of competitiveness, innovation, and improved quality of life for Hong Kong?

Post-Event Actions:

  • Demonstrate integrated sustainability solutions across diverse scenarios through flagship projects and real-world case studies.
  • Assess opportunities to improve the sustainability and resilience of assets, operations, and infrastructure.
  • Explore new technologies, financing models, and partnerships capable of accelerating implementation.

Speakers

Stéphanie Dodin

French Chamber in Hong Kong

Executive Director

Stéphanie Dodin is the Executive Director of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, leading its strategy to strengthen Franco-Hong Kong business ties. She brings over 20 years of experience in international tax, M&A, and corporate law, having held senior legal and advisory roles in Europe before taking on her current leadership position in Hong Kong.

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 2

So French So Green – Sustainable Solutions for Green Cities: Buildings and Mobility

Jonathan Chiu

Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) Limited

President

Jonathan Chiu is President of Schneider Electric Hong Kong. He currently heads the company’s Management Committee responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, operational delivery and business development for Schneider Electric in Hong Kong and Macau.

Since joining Schneider Electric three decades ago, Jonathan has held leadership positions across multiple business divisions. He is passionate about harnessing energy technology to advance digitalization, electrification and automation, driving greater efficiency and sustainability across buildings, data centers, infrastructure and grids in Hong Kong. His extensive experience has been instrumental in broadening Schneider Electric’s impact and strengthening its position as a trusted partner in the region.

Jonathan currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Business Environment Council, and was named Sustainability Leader of the Year at the HKMA Hong Kong Sustainability Award 2023.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Hong Kong, an MBA from the City University of Hong Kong, and an MBA from Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program.

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 1

Data: The Strategic Architecture of a Sustainable Future

Day 2

So French So Green – Sustainable Solutions for Green Cities: Buildings and Mobility

Laurent Pelletier

Veolia Hong Kong Holding Limited

CEO

After a few years in a Consulting Firm that brought him to different continents, Laurent Pelletier joined Veolia twenty years ago and has not quit Asia ever since.

He started in Shanghai in the water business, taking different positions in Pudong Veolia Water, acting at the end as a COO.
In 2010, Laurent moved to Hong Kong to take the position of CTO for Asia and support our operations and fast growth in the region.

In 2019, he took over the responsibility of Veolia Hong Kong and diversified Veolia’s portfolio of activities there, not only focusing on waste management but also energy optimization for buildings. In 2024, Macau and Taiwan are added to his responsibilities.

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 2

So French So Green – Sustainable Solutions for Green Cities: Buildings and Mobility

Paul Tirvaudey

RATP Dev

Managing Director of Hong Kong Tramways

Paul Tirvaudey has been the Managing Director of Hong Kong Tramways since 2022.

Paul has more than 15 years of experience in various sectors. After starting his career in 2009 as a nuclear engineer for Electricité de France (EDF), he worked as a civil servant for the French Ministry for Environment and Energy, then for the French Ministry for Economics and Finance. Before joining RATP Group in 2017, he was a Portfolio Manager at the French Government’s Shareholding Agency, in charge of monitoring French railways and seaports. From 2017 and 2022, Paul has been Chief of Staff to RATP Group CEO Catherine Guillouard, and Secretary of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board. He has been strongly involved in key strategic projects for RATP Group, to prepare the opening to competition of Paris bus market.

Paul is a graduate in Engineering of Ecole Polytechnique (Paris) and holds a Master’s Degree in Project Finance from Ecole des Ponts ParisTech.

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 2

So French So Green – Sustainable Solutions for Green Cities: Buildings and Mobility

Olivia To

Invest Hong Kong

Senior Vice President (Sustainability) Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Olivia To is Senior Vice President (Sustainability) Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Invest Hong Kong, the government department responsible for attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment into Hong Kong. She is a sustainability professional specializing in climate change and green technology.

She is an engineer by training, certified carbon auditor, carbon trader and WELL AP. In her previous role at the Environmental Protection Department of HKSARG, she worked with directorates to prepare Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 and carbon accounting.

She holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering and management from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Global Environmental Studies from the Education University of Hong Kong. She also serves as a Committee Member of the Energy Institute. As a rescue diver, she continues her passion in marine conservation at leisure.

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 2

So French So Green – Sustainable Solutions for Green Cities: Buildings and Mobility

Carmen Tsang

Crédit Agricole CIB

Head of Sustainable Investment Banking Greater China

Carmen is an experienced sustainable finance professional with a focus in impact investing and sustainable finance. She joined CACIB’s Sustainable Investment Banking (SIB) team in 2018, and has made key contributions on the green structuring aspects in a range of milestone transactions in the Asia-Pacific region, including debut People’s Republic of China Sovereign Green Bond, the inaugural and subsequent Hong Kong SAR Government Green Bonds, the inaugural and subsequent Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Social Bonds, debut South Korea Government Green & Sustainability Bond, ICBC’s mega Greater Bay Green Bond, AIIB’s Sustainable Development Bond Framework, and China’s first onshore tri-party green repo, etc.
She serves in the cornerstone member working group of the Alliance for Green Commercial Banks and is in the Advisory Committee for the HKUST BSc Green & Sustainable Finance programme.

Carmen started her career in UBS AG as a fixed income advisor in wealth management, and subsequently joined a boutique impact advisory firm facilitating capital flows to microfinance mandates in Asia.

Carmen obtained a degree in BBA majoring in Global Business and Operations Management from the HKUST. She is a certified ESG Analyst of the EFFAS, an Associate Green Finance Professional of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers, a holder of the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing, and a Carbon Audit Professional (CAP). She is a Founder Advisor of a US-based social enterprise, Generation Conscious.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

  1. more investors moving the needle and vote for sustainability with their capital
  2. more innovations to leverage digitalisation and technology to promote the green economy
  3. more ways for allow green / impact projects to be bankable

Speaking at 2026 sessions:

Day 2

So French So Green – Sustainable Solutions for Green Cities: Buildings and Mobility

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