8 January 2026 (Thursday)

10:30a.m. – 6:00p.m.

BEC Auditorium and Exhibition Hall, G/F, 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong

Language:   

English

Free of charge

Time

Auditorium

10:30 - 10:45a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Mr Kevin O’Brien, Chairman, Business Environment Council
• Mr Joseph Chan, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
• Mr King Leung, Global Head of Financial Services, Fintech & Sustainability, Invest Hong Kong

Seizing Opportunities by Harnessing Regulatory Trends in Green Fintech

This session explores how the green fintech sector can leverage the latest regulatory updates and trends to drive innovation, enhance compliance, and create new market opportunities.

Moderator: Mr Merlin Lao, Head – Policy & Research, Business Environment Council

• Dr Entela Benz, Co-Founder and CEO, Intensel Limited
• Mr Ronald Young, Head of Sustainable Banking Development, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
• Ms Christina Tang, Director, Blue Sky Energy Technology
• Ms Anne Yeung, Founder & CEO, OneChain

Networking Break

The Role of Disclosures and Product Passports

This session explores the importance of transparency in financial products and how product passports can enhance consumer trust and sustainability.

Moderator: Mr Tsun Chen, Secretary General, Hong Kong Green Finance Association

• Ms Elaine Ng, Associate Director, International Affairs and Sustainable Finance, Securities and Futures Commission
• Mr Rakesh Vazirani, Director, Decarbonization & Cleaner Production, Supply Chain Sustainability, Bureau Veritas
• Mr Chun Yin Mak, Global Senior Vice President, Univers
• Ms Elsa Pau, Chief Executive Officer, BlueOnion

Lunch

Opportunities in the Evolving Carbon Market

This session discusses the dynamics of the carbon market, investment opportunities, and strategies for leveraging carbon credits for financial growth.

Moderator: Ms Angel Fung, Senior Vice President, (Sustainability) for Financial Services and Fintech, Invest Hong Kong

• Mr Ben McQuhae, Vice President, HKGFA; Founder, Ben McQuhae & Co
• Mr George Chu, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, FiO
• Mr Ken Yuen, Climate Change & Sustainability Risk Consultant, Zurich Resilience Solutions
• Miss Alice Wang, ESG Consultant (ESGBOT Project Manager), Carbon Exchange (Hong Kong) Limited
• Dr Wan Yee Lam, Associate Director, South Pole

Success Stories from the Green Fintech Frontier

This session highlights successful start-ups in green fintech, sharing insights on challenges faced, and the role of support networks in their growth.

Moderator: Mr David von Eiff, Director, Global Industry Standards, CFA Institute

• Mr Calvin Cheng, Founder and CEO, Wizpresso Limited
• Ms Rowena Wong, Head of Sales and Marketing, InnoBlock Technology Limited
• Ms Lavin Yeung, Head of Business Development & Marketing, ESG Matters Limited
• Mr Richard Bourne, Senior Vice President APJ, EcoVadis

Business Matching and Networking Session

Mr Merlin Lao
Head – Policy & Research, Business Environment Council

Mr Merlin Lao is Head – Policy & Research at BEC. He leads the team to develop clear policy positions on pressing climate and environmental topics in Hong Kong, through undertaking research on latest domestic and international trends, engaging with the Hong Kong SAR Government and connecting insights of the local business sector. He is keen on net-zero transition that not only looks at decarbonisation, but also a more equal and liveable built environment.

Mr Lao is a programme management professional with over 10 years of climate change and environment career experience across private, public and non-profit sectors in East Asia, with major exposure in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea. Prior to joining BEC, he was the senior programme manager at an international non-governmental organisation driving sustainable cities agenda in China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea, covering topics such as air quality, low-emission development, urban resilience, circular economy and nature-based solutions.

Dr Entela Benz
Co-Founder and CEO, Intensel Limited

Dr Entela Benz-Saliasi is a strategic and resilient leader in climate finance and market analytics, with over two decades of experience across investment banking, fund governance, and academic leadership. As CEO and Founder of Intensel Limited, she leads a COP28-recognized AI-powered platform that quantifies climate-related financial risks for institutions such as the Central Bank of UAE, ING, CLSA, PwC, and Deloitte—driving strategic decisions in real estate and infrastructure.

Her market expertise is grounded in prior roles at UBS Investment Bank, hedge fund platforms in Geneva, and as Chair of the Risk Committee for VEIL Fund (Dragon Capital, LSE-listed). She holds a PhD in Financial Asset Management and Engineering from the Swiss Finance Institute (HEC Lausanne), an MPhil in International Economics from the Graduate Institute Geneva, and a Finance Certificate from Oxford University (Linacre College)—reflecting a rigorous and global academic foundation.

Since 2008, Dr. Benz-Saliasi has taught derivatives, fixed income, and ESG investing as Adjunct Associate Professor at HKUST Business School, shaping both graduate students and executive leaders. She is a trusted advisor and trainer for institutions including JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Tencent, and Citibank, and a frequent speaker at global forums such as The Economist, IMD, NYU Stern, and Kellogg.

Her publications—including Harvard Business Review case studies—explore climate risk valuation, venture capital modeling, and portfolio optimization under credit default risk. Fluent in five languages and active across Europe and Asia, Dr. Benz-Saliasi exemplifies analytical depth, strategic foresight, and a commitment to building resilient financial systems in a changing climate.

Mr Ronald Young
Head of Sustainable Banking Development, Hong Kong Monetary Authority 

Ronald is Head of Sustainable Banking Development at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy to promote sustainable banking activities and facilitate the banking sector’s management of climate related financial risks.

Prior to his current role, Ronald was Head of Sustainable Finance for Asia at a major international bank based in Hong Kong, leading the bank’s sustainable banking activities in the region. During his time as a financier, he was an active contributor to the sustainable finance community, playing leadership roles in industry associations, championing improvements in market standards, and spearheading campaigns for capacity building.

Ronald has over 20 years of experience in international banking, finance and investment based in New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore, focusing on sustainable finance and transactions in the energy, infrastructure and natural resources sectors.

He received a BS in Economics majoring in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a BSE in Civil Engineering from the same university. He is a CFA charterholder.

Ms Christina Tang
Director, Blue Sky Energy Technology

Christina Tang is the Founder and Director of Blue Sky Energy Technology, a pioneering green fintech firm that bridges the gap between data and corporate sustainability. Specializing in connected sensors, real-time analytics, and digital behavioral change, Blue Sky empowers organizations to achieve measurable ESG performance and deep stakeholder engagement through traceable, AI-driven data. A recognized voice in sustainability policy, Christina has served on the HKSAR Government’s Advisory Council on the Environment and the Energy Advisory Committee, and represented Hong Kong China at the APEC Energy Working Group. With a professional background at Bain & Co and Acumen, she holds a degree in Environmental Science and Economics from Brown University and a Master’s in Construction and Environment.
 

Ms Anne Yeung
Founder and CEO, OneChain

Anne is the Founder and CEO of OneChain, a blockchain startup based in Hong Kong. As a Certified ESG Planner (CEP®), Anne is committed to leverage blockchain technology to support ESG development and promote sustainable business practices.

She has developed practical and adaptable blockchain applications for product authentication and data traceability, helping businesses improve transparency and trust in their operations.

Anne’s mission is to make blockchain adoption simple and accessible for enterprises. She has also introduced CertLedger, a Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that provides paperless, tamper-proof, and automated credential management solutions to support ESG transparency and compliance.

Mr Tsun Chen
Secretary General, Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA)

Tsun has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining HKGFA, he worked for a number of corporate finance advisory firms and a specialist bank where he was responsible for cross-border mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, debt and equity restructurings and direct investments.  Tsun is a qualified solicitor in England & Wales (non-practising), holds a BSc. in History and Philosophy of Science from University College London and is certified by the CFA in ESG Investing.

Ms Elaine Ng
Associate Director, International Affairs and Sustainable Finance, Securities and Futures Commission

Elaine joined the International Affairs and Sustainable Finance team at the Chief Executive Officer's Office of the Securities and Futures Commission in June 2020. Elaine leads the team’s work to support and coordinate the SFC’s efforts in sustainable finance domestically and internationally with regulatory peers and key stakeholders.

Before her tenure with the Commission, she spent over eight years at MSCI Hong Kong and accumulated a total of two decades of experience in the financial services sector with private sector firms.

Throughout her professional journey, Elaine has specialized in investment risk management, undertaking a variety of roles that span from product development to client consulting and implementation. 

In 2015, she transitioned into the ESG domain to spearhead MSCI ESG Research's business development initiatives across Asia, excluding Japan. 

Elaine is a graduate of Singapore Management University, where she obtained her M.Sc. in Applied Finance, and the National University of Singapore, where she earned her B.Eng. in Chemical.

Mr Rakesh Vazirani
Director, Decarbonization & Cleaner Production, Supply Chain Sustainability, Bureau Veritas

a) 20 years of progressive international experience with 'Product Sustainability assessment', 'Sustainable Production', and Technical Due-Diligence for ‘Impact/Green Finance’ across 15 countries while working in India, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, and UAE.

b) Executed multiyear Sustainability improvement projects with international development agencies and donors including GIZ (German government's International Development Agency) WWF, UNEP with multiple stakeholders (Factories, Universities, NGO, Brands, Government)

c) Qualified for Sustainability/ESG planning and disclosure framework (GRI, IFRS SASB, EU ESRS, UNDP SDG Impact).

d) Mentor at HKSTP - Incubation and Acceleration Programmes, and UNDP Youth 4 Climate; Trainer for Climate Fresk & Climate Adaptation

Husband, Father to 2 girls, Son to 2 civil servants, Student.

Mr Chun Yin Mak
Global Senior Vice President, Univers

Chun Yin Mak is the Global Senior Vice President at Univers, where he is responsible for leading AI transformation and the company’s core AIoT software platform business. Univers provides the world’s leading AI-powered intelligence and business value delivery platform, enabling organisations to achieve net zero, optimise energy use, and drive operational excellence and efficiency. The Univers teams are reimagining and reshaping how businesses leverage data-driven, people-powered insights and advanced AI technologies to enable sustainable, high-impact transformation amid today’s energy and intelligence transitions.

With over 25 years of experience at leading global firms including Accenture, IBM, Dentsu, and now Univers, Chun has been at the forefront of large-scale digital reinvention across the Asia Pacific, Greater China, and North America. He has supported over 250 clients in delivering breakthrough transformations by applying advanced AI technologies such as generative, predictive, analytical, and conversational AI, alongside workflow reengineering, agentic automation, hybrid cloud solutions, experience design, and organisational restructuring.

Ms Elsa Pau
Chief Executive Officer, BlueOnion

Elsa Pau is the Founder and Group CEO of BlueOnion, a Green FinTech and RegTech platform that provides sustainability, climate risk, and due diligence infrastructure for banks, asset and wealth managers, and corporates. BlueOnion now works with regulators, global financial institutions, and technology partners to combat greenwashing, implement emerging climate and sustainability standards, and embed sustainability and financed‑emissions analytics into mainstream financial decision-making.

Ms Angel Fung
Senior Vice President, (Sustainability) for Financial Services and Fintech, Invest Hong Kong

Angel is the Senior Vice President (Sustainability) for Financial Services and Fintech at InvestHK. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in promoting Hong Kong’s position as a leading green finance hub. Angel is dedicated to attracting and supporting corporates in the landscape of sustainable finance, addressing climate risk, and facilitating the industry’s management of climate-related financial risks. She is also keen on enabling the adoption of green solutions within business operations.

With a strong commitment to driving the green finance and green fintech ecosystem, Angel fosters cross-sector collaborations that empower diverse partnerships between corporates and sustainability management.

Prior to joining InvestHK, Angel served as a Relationship Manager in the Japanese Corporations Business Division and as an Assistant Vice President of the Advisory Team at MUFG Bank. Her extensive experience in the financial sector has equipped her with valuable insights into integrating sustainability into business practices.

Angel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from the University of Hong Kong and is a holder of the CESGA (Certified ESG Analyst) and CFA ESG designations.

Mr Ben McQuhae
Vice President, HKGFA; Founder, Ben McQuhae & Co

Ben is an industry leading lawyer, an active leader in sustainable finance and green fintech, and a thought leader in environmental markets and tokenization. He focuses on what’s transformative and tries to create impact through his work.

• Founder, Ben McQuhae & Co (www.bmcquhae.com), a Hong Kong-based corporate & commercial law firm supporting clients shaping the future in finance, M&A and regulatory matters. We operate at the intersection of law, innovation, and sustainability to deliver tailored legal advice to support our clients through today’s challenges. We are skilled at navigating emerging trends, deconstructing complex problems, and uncovering opportunities for growth. Our focus areas include Digital Assets & RWA Tokenization; Sustainable Finance; Environmental Attribute Markets; Energy Transition; GreenTech; Fintech; Regulatory Risk Management & Greenwashing
• Founder, Venturis (www.venturis.eco) a sustainability innovation firm to help identify and capture opportunities from the net zero transition. Our ecosystem offering powered by experts in various subject matters within sustainability can help design, build and execute sustainable business strategies – from products to financing to stakeholder alignment.

Mr George Chu
CEO, FiO / Co-Founder, ChinaNet Online

George Chu is a Taiwanese entrepreneur with extensive experience in cross-border startups and U.S. public markets. He began his entrepreneurial journey in high school, founding a company that was later acquired for over USD 1 million. After graduation, he co-founded EdgeMatrix, the world’s first mobile browser startup, and went on to co-found ChinaNet Online (Nasdaq: CNET), where he built deep expertise in precision advertising, marketing technology, and digital operations.

George holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an EMBA from Peking University, combining strong global strategy insight with hands-on operational leadership. He has also served as an investor in technology and digital ventures, and is currently a partner at a Hong Kong–based investment firm. As Founder and CEO of FiO, he is focused on building AI- and blockchain-powered infrastructure for transparent, verifiable global carbon assets.

Mr Ken Yuen
Climate Change & Sustainability Risk Consultant, Zurich Resilience Solutions

Ken Yuen is a Climate Change and Sustainability Risk Consultant at Zurich Resilience Solutions, the risk consulting arm of Zurich Insurance Group. In this role, he supports organizations across sectors in building climate resilience, leveraging Zurich’s proprietary data, tools and expertise throughout the APAC region. Ken’s work includes scenario-based analysis, risk quantification, as well as resilience planning and tailored recommendations.

Prior to joining Zurich, Ken contributed to a wide range of sustainability and risk consulting projects across Asian countries, with a focus on sustainability disclosure, carbon accounting, strategic planning, and risk management.

Ms Alice Wang
ESG Consultant (ESGBOT Project Manager), Carbon Exchange (Hong Kong) Limited

Alice Wang is an ESG Consultant and ESGBOT Product Manager at Carbon Exchange (Hong Kong) Limited, holding a Master’s in Sustainable Technology for Carbon Neutrality. She leads the design of a one-stop ESG software, ESGBOT, that helps organizations strategically utilize data-driven tools to accelerate their transition toward carbon neutrality. Alice advises clients on sustainability strategy, carbon auditing, and net-zero roadmaps, effectively connecting carbon market opportunities with tangible business and environmental results.

Mr David von Eiff
Director, Global industry Standards, CFA Institute

Mr 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.

Mr Calvin Cheng
Founder and CEO, Wizpresso Limited

Calvin Cheng is the founder and CEO of Wizpresso, a leading technology company based in Asia, specializing in advanced artificial intelligence solutions for the financial markets, legal, and compliance sectors. Under Calvin’s leadership, Wizpresso delivers proprietary software that empowers financial institutions, professional services firms, and enterprises with actionable market intelligence, automated regulatory reporting, and robust knowledge management. Wizpresso’s solutions are trusted by hundreds of global organizations and have earned prestigious industry accolades, including the HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Gold Award, Best Tech Startup at the DaLa Awards, AI of the Year at APICTA, Grand FinTech Award at HKICT, and multiple other distinguished honors.

With over 15 years of experience in investment banking and product development, Calvin previously held roles in Global Banking at HSBC. Renowned for his commitment to innovation and education, Calvin was the first laureate of the BOCHK Science & Technology Innovation Prize and is recognized as a Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow by Tatler Asia. He serves as a Visiting Lecturer in FinTech at HKU SPACE and as a guest lecturer at HKU and CUHK. Calvin is also a mentor at HKU Business School, a steering committee member of CUHK’s Corporate Innovation Index (CII), a founding fellow of the Data Literacy Association (DaLa), and a council member at the Institute of Financial Technologists Asia (IFTA). He has been awarded a Certificate of Achievement by the Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao. 

Calvin holds an Honors Business Administration (HBA) degree with distinction from Ivey Business School and is a CFA charterholder.

Ms Rowena Wong
Head of Sales and Marketing, InnoBlock Technology Limited

Rowena is the Co-Founder and Head of Sales & Marketing at InnoBlock Technology. She’s a dynamic leader in Sales and Marketing, emphasizing ESG principles. She drives business development and marketing across Asia, including Hong Kong, China, and Cambodia. Rowena has spoken at key sustainability events like FHKI’s carbon accounting workshop, AWS Summit and the Belt and Road Summit, integrating technology and environmental responsibility to support business growth.

With over 13 years of experience in ICT and hospitality, she previously served as Global Key Account Manager at Huawei, aligning technology solutions with client needs across 12 countries. Her expertise spans business development, key account management, marketing, and project management. Previously, she worked at 360 Experience and Swire, ranking in the top 5% for B2B sales in APAC, serving the enterprise, financial, and property sectors.

Ms Lavin Yeung
Head of Business Development & Marketing, ESG Matters Limited 

Lavin Yeung is the Head of Business Development and Marketing at ESG Matters, where she spearheads strategic growth across the Asia-Pacific markets. With a profound commitment to driving sustainable business practices, Lavin is an expert in guiding start-ups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs through their ESG integration journey, encompassing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), enhanced customer relations, and purpose-driven marketing.

Her passion is centered on fostering a greater understanding and widespread adoption of ESG development across the region. To nurture the next generation of industry leaders, she actively engages in talent development and has spearheaded the growth of Matters Academy, the firm’s dedicated education arm. She brings a practical, results-oriented approach to making sustainability a core component of business success.

Mr Richard Bourne
Senior Vice President APJ, EcoVadis

Richard Bourne is the Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) and a member of the Senior Leadership team at EcoVadis. Over his 16-year tenure, Richard has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s sustainability network, significantly contributing to the growth of its global rated network, which now includes over 170,000 companies. His leadership has been instrumental in engaging both procurement organisations and their suppliers, promoting sustainable business practices across SMEs and large corporations alike. Richard's expertise continues to shape the future of sustainability in the APJ region and beyond.