In an era where sustainability is crucial to business resilience, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into business strategies has become essential for long-term success. BEC and Hang Seng Bank ESG Forum - Empowering SMEs for an ESG-Driven Tomorrow invited small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), industry experts, and sustainability innovators to explore practical strategies for embedding ESG practices into core business operations.
This event brought together thought leaders to share insightful perspectives, practical case studies, and proven frameworks tailored to the challenges faced by SMEs. Participants gained a deeper understanding of how aligning with ESG principles can enhance competitive advantage, build stakeholder trust, and foster sustainable growth in today's dynamic market.
Event Details
| Date: | 14 March 2025 (Friday) |
| Time: | 2:30p.m. – 5:30p.m. (Registration starts at 2:10p.m.) |
| Venue: | BEC Auditorium, G/F, 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong |
| Fee | Free of charge |
| Language: | Cantonese |
Programme
|
Time |
Activity |
| 2:10p.m. |
Registration begins |
| 2:30p.m. |
MC kick-starts event |
| 2:30 – 2:35p.m. |
Welcome Remarks |
| 2:35 – 2:45p.m. |
Opening Remarks |
| 2:45 – 2:55p.m. |
Keynote Speech |
|
2:55 – 3:00p.m. |
Group Photo Session |
| 3:00 – 3:45p.m. |
Panel discussion (1) – Steps to Decarbonisation: A Practical Approach Panel speakers:
Moderator: Mr Merlin Lao, Head – Policy and Research, Business Environment Council Limited |
| 3:45 – 3:50p.m. |
Group photo (panellists and moderator) |
| 3:50 – 4:10p.m. |
Networking break |
| 4:10 – 4:55p.m. |
Panel discussion (2) – ESG in Practice: Success Stories from SMEs Panel speakers:
Moderator: Mr Ivan Ho, Director, ESG and Carbon, Corporate Sustainability, Hang Seng Bank Limited |
| 4:55 – 5:00p.m. |
Group photo (panellists and moderator) |
| 5:00p.m. |
MC concludes event |
| 5:00 – 5:30p.m. |
Networking session |
Speakers *arranged in order of appearance
|
|
Mr Leonard Tso Leonard Tso is responsible for the formulation of policy initiatives to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in providing supply chain-related financial services, and developing Hong Kong as a global asset and wealth management hub. He joined the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in 2009 and served in various functions including reserves management, regulation of retail banking products and development of offshore Renminbi business in Hong Kong. He also had experience working in the office of the Chief Executive of the HKMA, and was seconded to the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to launch a global promotional campaign for Hong Kong. Leonard is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
|
|
|
Ms Christine Lau Ms Christine Lau joined Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEX”) in 2016. Ms Lau has been working in the Policy and Secretariat Services of the Listing Division, and has been involved in HKEX’s listing policy initiatives in relation to corporate governance and environmental, social and governance matters in recent years. Prior to joining HKEX, Ms Lau was a senior associate practicing corporate and securities law in Hong Kong with a leading international law firm. Ms Lau graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in Laws, and is a qualified lawyer in Hong Kong.
|
|
|
Ir C.S. Ho Ir C.S. Ho is a practicing engineer as well as a lawyer. He graduated with BSc (Engineering) from HKU, then earned an MBA, a Post-graduate Diploma in Software Engineering, and PCLL from HKU; and LLB from Manchester Metropolitan University of UK. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of BEAM Society Ltd, the Chairman of Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, a Barrister-at-law at the High Court of Hong Kong, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of the University of Hong Kong, teaching engineering and legal subjects at both the graduate and post-graduate levels. Ir C. S. Ho had been working with Hong Kong Housing Authority as the Chief Building Services Engineer, heading the Building Services Section responsible for the design and construction of BS installations of all the new public housing development projects. Ir Ho is a Chartered Engineer, a fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and a Corporate Member of Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). He is now the Director of the Hong Kong Green Building Council and had also served as a committee member of the Electrical Division and the Building Services Discipline Advisory Panel of HKIE apart other community services. Ir Ho has been devoted to promoting green building and BEAM Plus (Building Environmental Assessment Method) which aims at improving the overall quality of the built environment.
|
 |
Ir Dr Shelley Zhou Ir Dr Shelley Zhou is currently Head of Corporate Sustainability at Hang Seng Bank. Prior to joining Hang Seng, Dr Zhou led ESG services in APAC for Capco, where she developed ESG products and solutions for financial institutions in Asia-Pacific, established a capable team to deliver net-zero strategy advisory and ESG consultancy services, and provided internal capacity-building and external executive training on climate and ESG related topics. Dr Zhou is a sustainability professional, has 20+ years’ experience in corporate sustainability, environmental and carbon management consultancy, new energy and biotechnology in Hong Kong, China and Singapore, covering government, banking, financial, real estate and retail sectors. Shelley holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). She is also Adjunct Professor at HKUST and has offered carbon management courses since 2010.
|
 |
Ms Ophelia Lin Ms Ophelia Lin is the Co- founder and Managing Director of Concord Alliance Ltd and its subsidiaries Meiriki Japan and J-Health. Together the companies develop and distribute high quality health supplements in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China. Meiriki Japan builds the first professional team consisting of a registered pharmacist & nutritionists in Hong Kong to provide a comprehensive service for physical and mental health. Before starting her own business in 1997, Ophelia spent several years as a commercial and graphic designer and then as a fashion designer. Currently, Ophelia is the General Manager of Chun Kee Motorcycle Company Ltd, Power World (Asia) Ltd and Yuen Ho Trading Company Ltd, which are the sole distributors of Honda Motorcycle Japan, KTM Motorcycle Austria and ZERO Motorcycle USA in Hong Kong respectively. She has introduced 100% electric motorcycles – zero waste into HK since 2012. In addition to her extensive experience in sustainability, Ophelia also took further study in The Prince of Wales’s Business & Sustainability Programme at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership in 2018. She was one of the 250 global leaders from business sector, Government and NGO to be invited to Buckingham Palace by Prince Charles to attend the 30th Anniversary event of the Institute. Currently, Ophelia is the Founding President of the "SME Sustainable Society" co-organized by the Business School of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Vice-chairman of Friends of the Earth (HK), Advisory Committee of Caring Company Scheme of HKCSS, a member of Programme Advisory Committee of MSc in Sustainable Global Business in CUHK and the Departmental Advisory Committee member of Management and Marketing Department of PolyU. She has also served as the Advisory Committee on Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities of Social Welfare Department since 2025. In recognition of her exceptional performance in corporate governance, Ophelia was honored with the Director of the Year 2022 award in the non-listed companies category by the Hong Kong Institute of Directors (HKIoD). Under her leadership, Meiriki Japan has received numerous esteemed accolades in the field of sustainability. In 2023, Meiriki Japan also secured four notable awards from the HKMA, namely the Individual Sustainability Leader of the Year, Individual Distinguished Sustainability Award, Organization Distinction Award, and Organization Excellence in Innovation. Furthermore, Meiriki Japan was recognized with the BOCHK Corporate Low-Carbon Environmental Leadership Awards (SME Award) in 2022, the Gold award at the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (Wholesalers and Retailers) in 2020, and ranked first in the Hong Kong SME Business Sustainability Index in 2018, 2020 and 2022. The company also received the Gold awards at the HSBC Living Business SDGs Awards for "Goal 1: No poverty" and "Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production" in 2019, "Goal 5: Gender Equality" in 2023, as well as a special recognition for "Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth" in 2021. In 2018, Meiriki Japan was honored with the Gold award for Hong Kong Outstanding Corporate Citizenship.
|
 |
Mr Edmund Chan Edmund Chan, co-founder of Meat the Next, pioneers TIGA MILK to combat desertification and poverty through superfood technology. A CUHK EMBA graduate with 15 years of experience in the food industry, he is passionate about youth empowerment and promoting well-being. Mr Chan has awarded with 25+ young entrepreneurship & ESG recognitions e.g. the Hong Kong Spirit Award, Hong Kong 10 Outstanding Youth Entrepreneurs Selection and CARS SDG hub scheme. He is passionate about empowering young people though the start up impact venture though sharing & STEM class. His venture also helps for sustainability, preventing desertification & poverty alleviation in China with New quality productive forces driven by technologies.
|
 |
Mr Tommy Pong Mr Pong Yuen Man Tommy is the Chairman of Cheung Hing Construction Company Limited, where he oversees the company’s strategic development. With over 45 years of experience in Hong Kong’s building construction industry, Mr Pong has established himself as a seasoned leader in the field. Under his guidance, Cheung Hing Construction has been recognized as a Group C Building category contractor, Turn-key Interior Design and Fitting-out Works (Group II) by the Development Bureau of the HKSAR and holds an M2 Group classification under the Building (Maintenance) category in the Housing Authority. Mr Pong’s leadership recently led the company to win the prestigious Construction Industry Council Outstanding Contractor Award 2024 in the RMAA (Repairs, Maintenance, Alteration, and Addition) Category, a testament to the company’s excellence and commitment to quality. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr Pong is deeply involved in charitable and community work. He serves as the Chairman of Sunny Shine Charity Foundation Limited, demonstrating his dedication to philanthropy. Additionally, he holds the position of Vice President of the Hong Kong Guangzhou District Association, where he contributes to strengthening ties between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. He was honored as an Honorable Citizen of Sihui City, Zhaoqing, Guangdong, and in 2010, he was appointed as a Council Member of the Guangdong Overseas Friendship Association.
|
 |
Ms Kitty Cheung Ms Kitty Cheung is the Head of Sustainable Finance at Hang Seng Bank and oversees the sustainable finance under wholesale banking in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. She engages with corporate clients in both Mainland China and Hong Kong in originating and structuring sustainable finance transaction and support in driving the overall Sustainability Strategy in Hang Seng. She leverages on the leading local bank position of Hang Seng Bank to support the sustainable market development in Hong Kong and assist clients in their sustainability journey through various client engagement and marketing events to help upbring customer’s awareness and understanding towards sustainability. Kitty worked in the banking industry for over 10 years. She owns an extensive experience in client coverage under various industry sectors.
|
 |
Mr Ivan Ho Ivan is a seasoned finance professional with 17 years of experience in the industry. His expertise spans corporate sustainability, sustainable finance, corporate banking advisory, equity investment, etc. across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Ivan holds several prestigious professional qualifications, including Certified ESG Analyst (CESGA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and Financial Risk Manager (FRM). He obtained his Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering from the University of Hong Kong. |
