BEC EnviroSeries Online Conference - Redefining Business Leadership for Green Growth - Speaker List

 

Speakers, Panellists and Moderators *arranged in order of appearance

 

Mr Peter Bakker
President & CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Mr Bakker has led WBCSD since 2012. WBCSD is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. WBCSD member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing a combined revenue of more than USD $8.5 trillion and with  19 million employees. Mr Bakker is a distinguished business leader who, until June 2011, served as CFO and then CEO of TNT NV, the global transport and logistics company. He has been recipient of the Clinton Global Citizen Award (2009) and the Sustainability Leadership Award (2010). Mr Bakker serves as a member of several corporate sustainability advisory boards. He received the royal order Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2018, in recognition of his long-lasting commitment to engaging business in tackling global sustainability issues.

 

 

Mrs Margaret Brooke
Chief Executive Officer, Professional Property Services Limited

Mrs Brooke is a chartered surveyor and CEO of Professional Property Services Limited, which is a specialist real estate consultancy based in Hong Kong providing a range of advisory services across the Asia Pacific Region. She has over 25 years’ experience working in the region, undertaking a wide range of consultancy projects, with current assignments in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Myanmar. Mrs Brooke is the Chair of the Best Practice Committee of the Harbour Business Forum and is BEC’s representative on the Hong Kong Harbourfront Commission. She is the Chair of Pacific Alliance China Land Limited, Chair of the Heritage Hong Kong Foundation, a member of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association, and Co-founder and Corporate Director of Very Hong Kong.

 

 

Mr T.K. Chiang
Managing Director, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited

Mr Chiang is the Managing Director of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited and holds the overall responsibility for the operations of CLP’s Hong Kong regulated business, which includes a vertically integrated electricity utility serving customers in Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau Island. Mr Chiang holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of Hong Kong, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a Master of Business Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mr Chiang has over 10 years of experience in various senior management positions in CLP Power. He has extensive experience in generation, transmission and distribution systems as well as regulatory strategy. He has held various posts in different areas including power system asset management, planning, design, operation and maintenance, power quality, and corporate and regulatory strategy. He was the Chief Operating Officer in CLP Power before taking up his current position in June 2017. He is also a Director of various subsidiary companies and affiliated companies of the CLP Group.

 

 

Mr Kevin O’Brien 
Chief Executive, Jardine Engineering Corporation  

Mr Kevin O’Brien is the chief executive of JEC and is responsible for all operations in South East Asia. He has participated in many large-scale developments across Asia in both the public and private sectors. Kevin’s roots are in electrical and mechanical engineering, having started his career in London back in 1990. He has been based in Hong Kong since 1995. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and takes an active role in the training and development of the future generation of talent for the engineering and construction industry. He is a board and excom member of the Business Environment Council.

 

 

Mr Simon Ng
Director – Policy & Research, Business Environment Council

Mr Simon Ng is Director – Policy & Research of Business Environment Council. He is responsible for BEC’s work on policy advocacy, thought leadership development, and collaborative research on various environmental issues that BEC focuses on. Trained as a geographer, Mr Ng is known for his ground-breaking work on ship emissions inventory in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta in which his collaboration with the shipping industry led to the launch of the Fair Winds Charter. He is also well regarded for his research and engagement work on walkability. Mr Ng has over 20 years of experience in academic/policy research, project management and stakeholder's engagement. Before joining BEC, he was Chief Research Officer of a leading independent public policy think tank and was a visiting scholar of a top university in Hong Kong. Mr Ng is also a member of many professional bodies of transport & logistics and environmental management. Internationally, Mr Ng is an Expert Member of the UNCRD Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia since 2006.

 

 

Ms Lauren Boucher
Circular Fashion Programme Director, Redress

Lauren is the Director of the Circular Fashion Programme at Hong Kong environmental charity Redress, which aims to reduce clothing waste in Hong Kong by increasing the re-use, re-sale and recycling of clothing. Their programmes with corporates, schools, fashion brands and individuals work to empower consumers and retailers by building and encouraging the use of local infrastructure to extend the life of clothing as well as through education and training about consumer use and disposal habits.

 

        

 

Ir Prof Daniel Cheng
Managing Director, Dunwell Technology (Holdings) Ltd.

Ir Professor Daniel M. Cheng BBS, MH, JP is Managing Director of Dunwell Enviro-Tech (Holdings) Ltd. He is a Board member of Business Environment Council, Honorary President of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and President of the Hong Kong Environmental Industries Association. Prof Cheng is also Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance and Member of the HKX Advisory Committee. For the HKSAR Government, he is serving as Member of The Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development, Member of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Re-industrialisation, Member of the Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund, and Member of the Steering Committee on the Promotion of Electric Vehicles.  

Prof Cheng has consistently contributed his professional knowledge and expertise throughout his career including as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Waste Management Association (2000–2001), the Friends of the Earth (HK) (2000-2004) and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (Jul 2015– Jul 2017), and a member of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (Apr 2016 – Mar 2020), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (Jul 2013- Jul 2017), the Hong Kong Productivity Council (2009–2015) and the Vocational Training Council (2011–2015).

Since July 2015, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University appointed Prof Cheng as Professor of Practice (Management).  The University of Hong Kong also appointed Prof Cheng as Honorary Professor from 2016 - 2019 where he is currently Adjunct Professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering. Prof Cheng is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers and a Registered Professional Engineer.  He graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, U.S.A. Department of Industrial Engineering in 1981.  In February 2014, Prof Cheng was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" by the California Polytechnic University-Pomona, as the first Asian Inductee.

 

 

Mr Harald Tepper 
Senior Director Sustainability, Program Lead Circular Economy, Philips

As lead of the Philips Circular Economy program, Harald aims to drive innovation and business value creation via the transition to a circular economy. Arald As such, he focuses on closing loops, product and business model design, further embedding sustainability and circular thinking into the core processes and culture of the company – with active engagement of employees.  Harald acts as linking pin to the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), which is co-chaired by Philips’ CEO Frans van Houten Prior to Philips, Harald worked as Director of the DNA Investigation Department at the Dutch Forensic Institute, and as transformation management consultant at McKinsey & Company.  Harald holds a PhD in Molecular Physics, and a teaching degree in music.

 

 

 

Mr Arnold Wang 
China Plastics Program Manager, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Arnold Wang is responsible for the plastics program for Ellen MacArthur Foundation in China. Prior to this, he was the deputy secretary general of China Plastics Reuse and Recycling Association. Arnold holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Xiamen University and an MBA degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management of Arizona State University. Before joining the association, he held several positions in the marketing and product management function in international companies, including: Rohm and Haas, Borouge, Specialty Tapes Company and the garbage collection system company: Envac.

 

 

Mr Joshua Wong
Manager, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited

Joshua leads the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability function at The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited – the owner and operator of the iconic Peninsula Hotels and luxury commercial properties, clubs and services. He has diverse experience on improving company’s sustainability performance, enhancing internal policies and guidelines, driving more effective environmental, social and governance disclosure, engaging with internal stakeholders and identifying collaboration opportunities with like-minded partners. Joshua is involved in the development of the company’s updated sustainability strategy called “Sustainable Luxury Vision 2030”, specifically on topics related to climate change, energy and water, responsible sourcing, circular economy, modern slavery, animal welfare, diversity and inclusion, community development.

 

 

Ms Helga Vanthournout
Senior Advisor, Circular Economy Expert, Wealth of Flows Consulting Ltd, Hong Kong

Through Wealth of Flows Consulting, Helga brings over 20 years of professional experience helping organisations find the straightest path towards circular models—expertise from authoring critically acclaimed reports on the Circular Economy with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and other partners, and deep and broad client service in the Circular Economy and waste management space. Helga helps organisations around the globe set powerful sustainability and circular economy agendas and strategies, ensuring they fit with the organisation's "conventional" strategy setting. She facilitates executive interviews and management workshops and assures full activation of such strategies through organisation diagnostics, training, and change management programmes. Helga also develops Circular Economy pilots and prepares the subsequent roll-out and scale-up. She leads thought-provoking seminars and talks, from the board room to employee town halls to customer and partner events.

 

 

Mr Mark Harper
Group Sustainable Development Manager, John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited

Mr Harper has worked for over 15 years in the field of corporate sustainability and environmental engagement. At John Swire & Sons Hong Kong, he is responsible for managing the Group’s ESG disclosures and advising Swire companies on their ESG submissions. In addition to his reporting work, Mr Harper is responsible for assisting the Group on policy and strategy development, particularly in the areas of climate resilience, biodiversity, waste, and sustainable water management. He also leads the Research Committee of the Drink Without Waste working group Mr Harper has extensive experience in ESG disclosure standards, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, GRI and the Hong Kong Exchange ESG Reporting Guide, in conducting sector-focused benchmarking studies, corporate environmental management, and in organising hands-on corporate citizenship and CSR training programmes for many corporations, including HSBC and HKEx. Mr Harper worked in a number of senior management positions before joining John Swire & Sons Hong Kong in high-profile NGOs, including the Earthwatch Institute, Fauna & Flora International, China Water Risk, and the Business Environment Council, where he was responsible for managing the organisations’ advisory services on ESG reporting and corporate sustainability strategy development.

 

 

Mr Robin How 
Independent Analyst

Robin How is an independent analyst with a background in investment management. He has lived and worked in Hong Kong for 30 years. Robin publishes weekly on China and has done specialist research into ecological civilisation on which he is writing a book. Robin has a strong background in environmental matters, climate change and green investment.

 

 

Dr Calvin Lee Kwan
Head – Sustainability & Risk Governance, Link Asset Management Limited

Dr Calvin Lee Kwan is currently Head of Sustainability & Risk Governance at Link Asset Management Limited, manager of one of the world’s largest retail focused real estate investment trusts. He oversees the execution of a world-class corporate sustainability program, encompassing strategy, operational efficiency, culture development, thought leadership and policy advocacy. He is also responsible for translating and communicating these efforts to the growing body of ESG-focused investors globally, positioning Link as a sustainable and responsible investment. Innovation is Dr Kwan's passion. He has been a pioneer of sustainable finance, issuing Hong Kong’s first green bond in 2016, followed by the global real estate sector’s first benchmark sized convertible green bond in 2019. He connects Link's long term ESG performance with financial incentives in the form of sustainability linked loans. Dr. Kwan is a member of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s (UNEPFI) Investment Commission, and co-chair of its Property Working Group. He is responsible for steering the group’s efforts on contemporary global business issues including developing TCFD-compliant reporting methodologies, measuring positive impact and COVID-response risks and opportunities. As an adjunct associate professor at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, he nurtures future generations of sustainability professionals, teaching post-graduate courses in environmental policy, corporate sustainability and directs a business sustainability focused research group in the Division of Environment Dr. Kwan earned a BS in Business Administration and Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside, Master and Doctorate degrees in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, an EMBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern and HKUST and is currently completing a JD at Chinese University Hong Kong.

 

 

Ms Nancy Wang
Director, Sustainable Finance, ANZ

Nancy is a Director in ANZ’s Sustainable Finance team and leads sustainable finance for North Asia. She has 15 years of banking and accounting experience across Hong Kong, Beijing and Sydney. Currently, Nancy is responsible for originating and structuring green, social, sustainability & sustainability linked solutions across loans, capital markets and transaction banking. ANZ’s Sustainable Finance team is one of the longest and largest established specialist teams in Asia Pacific. Since 2015, ANZ has funded or facilitated over A$100b sustainable solutions in bonds and loans. Nancy is a member of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association Banking Working Group. She is a champion for equity & inclusion within ANZ, an advisory member at The Women's Foundation Hong Kong and AustCham Hong Kong. She co-founded non-profit organisation Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$ with a vision to close the gender investing gap. Nancy has an audit and assurance background from EY and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of New South Wales, Sydney. 

 

 

Mr Mike Kilburn
Independent Sustainability Advisor

Mr Mike Kilburn has spent over 25 years working on environmental and sustainability issues in Hong Kong.  Most recently he spent eight years as head of sustainability for Airport Authority Hong Kong (“AAHK”). During this time he served as Chair of the regional and global environmental committees of Airport Council International, Chair of the Hong Kong General Chamber’s Environment and Sustainability Committee, a Director of BEC, and an active member of the Climate Change Business Forum, and Transport and Logistics and Sustainability Committees. Mike has a lifelong passion for the natural environment and has been actively involved in biodiversity conservation in Hong Kong since the mid-90s. As Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Bird Watching Society he oversees the advocacy work of the Society and is currently completing a ten-year review of Hong Kong’s performance in biodiversity conservation against its responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity.  He is also a founding Director of the Hong Kong Countryside Foundation, and was a member of the HKSAR Government’s Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan Steering Committee. Prior to joining AAHK in 2012, he was Head of Environmental Strategy for public policy think tank Civic Exchange, in which role he developed and implemented groundbreaking research and solutions to some of Hong Kong key environmental challenges around air pollution, urban livability and biodiversity conservation.

 

 

Mr Jonathan Chiu
President, Schneider Electric Hong Kong

Jonathan Chiu, President Schneider Electric Hong Kong, has led the company’s overall strategy and business operations, spearheading leadership and business growth locally and ensuring customer satisfaction. Since joining Schneider Electric two decades ago, he has held leadership roles in every part of the organization. His experience across the breadth of businesses and his in depth understanding of technologies forms Schneider Electric HK’s mission to be a digital partner in sustainability and efficiency for our customers. Jonathan is passionate about empowering businesses to digitally transform with innovative strategies and partners, and trusted technology and support. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Hong Kong, a MBA from City University Hong Kong and a MBA from Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program.

 

 

Mr Saraansh Dave
Director – New Business Development, CLP Innovation

Saraansh is the Director of New Business Development for CLP Innovation where he is responsible for developing new opportunities across all of CLP’s regions in Asia-Pacific. This covers a variety of activities including; new business models, project development, partnerships, accelerators and joint-ventures. Focus areas are across the energy spectrum and include electric vehicles, data centres, energy storage, and distributed energy. Prior to CLP, Saraansh worked for various firms in the UK within the energy sector covering technology, strategy and business development. Saraansh holds a first class master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Oxford and an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Bristol.

 

 

Mr Erdal Elver
President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Ltd., Hong Kong and Macao

Mr Erdal Elver currently serves as President & CEO of Siemens Limited, leading the overall strategy in the areas of electrification, automation and digitalisation and delivering sustainable solutions for infrastructure and industry in Hong Kong and Macao. Mr Elver first joined Siemens in 1984. Prior to his current position, he served as the former President and CEO of Siemens Vietnam and held various senior management positions in Germany and China. With more than 35 years of experience working in the engineering and manufacturing industry, he has been leading the company to be a trusted technological partner and driving sustainable solutions in the field of smart infrastructure and industry. He received his Master's Degree in Computer Science from Technical University of Munich, Germany.

 

 

Ir Steven Lai
Chief Executive, Environmental Engineering, ATAL Engineering Group

Steven heads the environmental engineering division of ATAL Engineering Group delivering projects with state-of-the-art environmental technologies. He possesses 30 years of experience in infrastructure mechanical and electrical engineering, ranging from potable water treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, sludge treatment plants, and air treatment plants to solid waste treatment plants. He has a wealth of knowledge in technical and business development of infrastructure projects and a global perspective in environmental systems management. Steven is an Adjunct Professor of the Institute of Science and Technology Management, China Academy of Management Science. He has published more than 50 papers and delivered talks in many international and regional conferences and symposiums. He holds a MSc in Environmental Management and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Hong Kong. He is a Registered Professional Engineer, Fellow of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and a Co-opted Member of Institute of Institution of Public Private Partnerships.

 

 

Mr Ben Wong
Head of Open Innovation, Eureka Nova

Mr Ben Wong – Ben manages and drives the strategy of Eureka Nova, a leading open innovation platform that empowers technology startups to co-create within the New World Group ecosystem of culture, creativity and innovation. Through Eureka Nova’s accelerator programs, open competitions and sandboxes, participating startups work with New World Group’s business units and corporate partners to design innovative technologies that solve real business problems. Ben also co-founded Impact Kommons, the first UN SDG accelerator in APAC focused on accelerating impact with  purpose-driven startups. Prior to Eureka Nova, Ben founded Startup Launchpad, now Asia’s largest I.o.T. startup trade event. He has helped startups raise more than $2 million on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. He is an angel investor and regularly mentors in startup support programs. He holds positions as a Director and Vice Chairman of the Dongguan-Hong Kong Bay Area Association to drive innovation initiatives between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Ben graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

 

 

Ir C.F. Leung
Director – Operations, Business Environment Council

Ir Leung currently is the Director – Operations of BEC. Ir Leung has spearheaded the development of sustainable buildings by leading and providing consultancy services on a large number of green building initiatives and providing training to building professionals. He also works on waste-related projects by providing waste management and audit services for building sector and community events. 

Ir Leung has also been involved in formulating and executing several renowned environmental award programmes, including the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence, the HSBC Living Business Awards, and the BOCHK Corporate Environmental Leadership Awards.
Prior to joining BEC, he worked in an international consultancy firm and an acoustic specialist company, where he gained solid experience in project management and execution of infrastructure projects.

Ir Leung is currently Chairman of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management Hong Kong Branch. He was appointed a Green Building Faculty Member and Chairman of the IEQ Expert Panel.

 

 

Ms Sophie Punte 
Managing Director of  Policy, We Mean Business coalition

Sophie Punte is Managing Director of Policy for the We Mean Business coalition, bridging business climate action with supportive government policy worldwide. She has 25 years of experience in bringing industry, government and other stakeholders together to address common sustainability challenges, in both developed and developing countries. Sophie was Executive Director of non-profit organizations Smart Freight Centre and Clean Air Asia, led an energy efficiency program for industry at the United Nations, and advised corporate and government clients at audit firm KPMG and an engineering consultancy. She sits on various boards and councils, including the WEF Global Future Council on Urban Mobility Transitions. Sophie has a master’s degree in biology and environmental management.

 

 

Ms Pratima Divgi
Director, CDP

Pratima Divgi leads CDP’s regional efforts in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In her role as Director, she engages with corporates, investors and cities in their efforts to measure and manage environmental impact.

In her previous career, Pratima spent 17 years in finance, most recently in private equity with Aberdeen Standard Investments. Besides her investment role at Aberdeen Standard, she was also part of the private equity environmental, social and governance (ESG) working group which involved formulation of the ESG policy and leading the policy implementation for Asia-Pacific private equity investments.

Pratima remains an active member of the Hong Kong Venture Capital Association.

 

 

Ms Ophelia Lin 
Managing Director, Meiriki Japan Company Limited

Ms. Ophelia Lin is the Founder and Managing Director of Meiriki Japan with over 20 years of executive and management experience. Also she is the General Manager of Chun Kee Motorcycle Company Ltd, Power World Company Ltd and Yuen Ho Company Ltd which are the distributors of Zero Motorcycle. She is committed to integrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into business model, and undertakes the initiative to fulfill corporate social responsibility. After completing the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) programme, she has served as the Founding President of “SME Sustainability Society”. While being appointed as the Board Governor of “Friends of the Earth (HK)” and a Founding Member of HKCSS “Caring SME Alliance”, she continues to inspire and assist SMEs to pursue sustainability, and to realize the vision of sustainable development through active collaborations.

 

 

Mr Albert Poon
Senior Manager, Environment, Quality, Safety & Health Function, KONE Elevator (Hong Kong) Ltd

Albert is in charging Environment, Quality, Safety & Health Function of KONE Elevator (Hong Kong) Ltd. more than a decade and newly appointed to be the chairman of Environment Steering Committee to inaugurate programs guiding KONE Hong Kong toward carbon neutral in 2030 and leading the way in our industry to create more sustainable urban environment.  He is responsible to open the line of communication amongst  professional bodies, customers and with our own staff. Achieving this challenging goal, Albert takes initiatives and implement programs to pay strong focus on economic, environment and social which are the three pillars of Sustainability. Albert earned his Chartership in Occupational Safety & Health Profession in Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, UK and Australian Institute of Health & Safety. He has been the speaker and guest lecturer for his profession in local academic institutes including Occupational Safety & Health Council, Universities, Vocational Training Council and various well-known companies in Hong Kong and Macau.

 

 

Dr Raymond Yau
General Manager, Technical Services & Sustainable Development, Swire Properties Limited

Dr Raymond Yau is the General Manager, Technical Services & Sustainable Development in Swire Properties Limited. Under his leadership since 2016, he leads a number of new initiatives that are pivotal to the long-term sustainable development of the company. These include formulation of company’s wide SD 2030 Vision and strategies, digital transformation of technical services and cloud-based energy management platform, implementation of monitoring-based commissioning of all existing portfolios for deep energy savings, ESG framework of the company’s first green bond of US$500m in 2018 and the Climate Risk Assessment of its global assets. Dr Yau led to set out the Science-based Targets of Swire Properties for long-term decarbonization in accordance with The Paris Agreement and climate science that was officially  approved by SBTi in November 2019. Dr Yau had been practicing as a professional consulting engineer for over 28 years in the field of designing sustainable buildings and sustainability consulting across the Globe.  He was awarded HKIE -  Innovation Award for the Engineering Industry 2013 – Principal Innovator - Construction Category Champion CIC Zero Carbon Building. Dr Yau is currently the Executive Committee Member & Board of Director of BEC since 2016 and  Chairman of BEC Sustainable Living Environment Advisory Group.  He is a Founding Member of IWBI Governance Council, Member of WorldGBC Embodied Carbon Primer Taskforce, Member of GRESB Standard Review Committee  and Co-opted Member of Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) of the HKGBC. He is also Committee Member of the China Green Building Council and Deputy Officer of China Association of Building Energy Efficiency – Technical Committee on Building Commissioning and Operation. Dr. Yau is  Guest Professor at Chongqing University, China and LEED AP, WELL AP, Green Building Faculty, BEAM Pro, Chartered Engineer and Fellow Member of HKIE and CIBSE.   Dr Yau received the 2019 International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) Leadership Award.