- Panel Discussion #3 -
Investing in a Greener Future:
Opportunities & Challenges
in Hong Kong's Green Finance Landscape
Key Takeaway
This panel aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the current state, challenges, and opportunities surrounding climate-related financial disclosures in Hong Kong. By bringing together key stakeholders from regulatory bodies, financial institutions, and sustainability experts, the panel will explore the regulatory landscape, reporting frameworks, and best practices for enhancing transparency and promoting sustainable finance. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the importance of climate-related financial disclosures in driving the transition towards a more resilient and sustainable financial system in Hong Kong and beyond.
Speakers
Prof Keith CHAN
Assistant Professor
HKUST Division of Environment and Sustainability
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Dr Keith Chan is an Assistant Professor at Division of Environment and Sustainability HKUST, where he is responsible for teaching courses on ESG Reporting and Environmental Economics. He is a Co-Principal Investigator of Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) 2021/22 by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Hong Kong Government, entitled “Developing Hong Kong as a Global Green Finance Centre”. His research has informed the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in developing the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance. Apart from research and teaching, Keith also helps the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals (HKIQEP) to develop educational materials on corporate sustainability and ESG performance and reporting. He obtained his PhD in Economics from University of Cambridge.
Ir Dr Shelley Zhou
Head of Corporate Sustainability
Hang Seng Bank
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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.
Prof Veronique J A
LAFON-VINAIS
Program Co-Director
HKUST BSc in Sustainable and Green Finance
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Prof. Veronique Lafon-Vinais is a seasoned financial market professional with over 20 years of banking and capital markets experience. She has extensive experience in all the major debt markets.
She is now dedicating herself full time to education and teaching as Associate Professor of Business Education at HKUST, where she teaches in the MBA/MSc programs as well as in the Undergraduate Programs, and professional training and consulting for the finance industry. She is the Program Co-Director of BSc in Sustainable and Green Finance Program, also holding several important roles in the HKUST Business School.