Mr Mark Chen
Executive Lead & CTO, Neuron Operations Limited

Mr Mark Chen is a seasoned technology leader with a passion for driving digital transformation. Currently serving as the Executive Lead & CTO of Neuron since 2021, he is spearheading the development and implementation of the Neuron Digital Platform, a transformative initiative poised to revolutionize the industry.

Prior to joining Neuron, Mark honed his expertise as an ICT and digital technology senior consultant at Arup, a global leader in engineering and design. There, he focused on smart building design, playing a pivotal role in integrating cutting-edge technologies into physical spaces. He also held the prestigious position of skills leader for Digital Technology Consulting in the East Asia Region, demonstrating his leadership qualities and commitment to knowledge sharing.

Mark's extensive experience encompasses a diverse range of system design projects. He has spearheaded the design of IoT systems, digital platforms, structured cabling systems, data networks, unified communication systems, surveillance systems, security systems, AV systems, and building intelligent systems. His ability to navigate the complexities of these systems and translate them into practical solutions has been
instrumental in numerous successful projects.

Mr Robert Gibson
Fellow, Civic Exchange

Robert Gibson is a Fellow of the Civic Exchange think-tank, Adjunct Professor at HKUST and Member of the Sustainability Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs. He has a degree in Engineering Science & Economics from Oxford University and worked for the Swire Group from 1980 to 2010. His last position with Swire was as its Director Sustainable Development, in which capacity he attended COP15 in Copenhagen.

He works on mechanisms for accelerating getting to net zero carbon emissions and adapting to climate change. He has attended 11 Climate COPs.

Mr Mark Harper
Chair, Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group, Business Environment Council

Mr Mark Harper has worked for around 20 years in the field of corporate sustainability. As Group Head of Sustainability at Swire, Mr Harper will be responsible for managing the Group Sustainable Development Office, and leading on the design, execution and performance monitoring of global corporate strategy for sustainability for the Swire Group, and acting as the lead change agent in driving improved sustainability performance and best practices, with a view to further embed sustainability into overall business strategy for Swire.

Prior to taking up the Group Head of Sustainability role, Mr Harper had worked at John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. for over six years, where he was responsible for managing the Group’s ESG disclosures as well as advising operating companies on their own ESG submissions. In addition to his work on ESG ratings, Mr Harper was also responsible for advising the Group on policy and strategy development, particularly in the areas of climate resilience, biodiversity and sustainable waste management. He also sits on the Board of Business Environment Council, the Executive Committee of the Drink Without Waste working group, and is Vice Chair of the Environment and Energy Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Mr Harper has extensive experience of ESG disclosure standards such as GRI and the Hong Kong Exchange ESG Reporting Guide, as well as conducting sector focused benchmarking studies, corporate environmental management, as well as organising hands-on corporate citizenship and CSR training programmes.

Before joining John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd., Mr Harper worked in a number of senior management roles at high profile NGOs including the Earthwatch Institute, Fauna & Flora International, China Water Risk, and Business Environment Council, where he was responsible for managing the organisations advisory services on ESG reporting and corporate sustainability strategy development.
 

Prof Grace Hui
Adjunct Professor, HKUST Division of Environment and Sustainability

Ms Grace Hui is the CEO of Net Zero Asia, a company focuses on carbon asset development. From 2013 to 2022, Ms Hui was a senior executive with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) during which she played a critical role in strengthening Hong Kong as a regional green finance center. Most notably, Ms. Hui spearheaded reviews of HKEX’s ESG Reporting Guide; initiated a new business for HKEX in green finance; founded HKEX’s Sustainable and Green Exchange; published a “Practical Net-Zero Guide for Business”; and led the assessment for carbon market opportunities in Hong Kong.

Ms Hui is an Adjunct Professor at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Division of Environment and Sustainability. She has written articles and guest lectured or spoken on topics such as ESG risks and opportunities, green finance, sustainable investing, carbon markets and net-zero challenges. Ms Hui was an editor for “Green & Sustainable Finance: From vision to market practice” published by The Commercial Press (H.K.) Ltd. in 2021.

Ms Hui is an honorary adviser to the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC); a member of the AFRC’s Sustainability and Climate Action Task Force; Vice Chairman of the Sustainability Committee of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants; a member of both the Finance Management Committee and the Global Centre for ESG Education and Research Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Management Association; and a member of the UK Directors’ Climate Forum (Chapter Zero).

Ms Xing Lan
Director, Green & Sustainable Hub – Asia Pacific, Natixis

Xing has significant experience as a sustainability practitioner, having focused on sustainable finance advisory, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, carbon management, climate and corporate sustainability strategies in her previous roles. Prior to joining Natixis, she had been providing sustainable consultancy services to clients in Hong Kong, Singapore and Mainland China since 2013. She started her career as a researcher in Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with a focus on the life cycle assessment approach and product-level carbon accounting. Xing has a Master of Science in Environmental Measurement and Assessment from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

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.

Ms Teresa Lin
Adviser, Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub, Hong Kong Centre

Ms Teresa Lin is an Adviser to the BIS Innovation Hub (BISIH), Hong Kong Centre, with a focus on green finance. She co-led Project Genesis 2.0, a project showcasing prototypes of a tokenized green bond appended with smart-contract based carbon credits. She also led the COP28 UAE TechSprint in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency, the Central Bank of the UAE and the Emirate Institute of Finance.

Prior to her secondment to the BISIH, Teresa worked in different teams at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), her work included securities-related banking conduct policy formulation, banking culture, and ESG-related market development and policy research.

Prior to joining the HKMA, Teresa was a policy analyst on economic and innovation policies at the Hong Kong SAR Government. Teresa started her career in sales and trading in equity structured products before pivoting to the public sector. She holds a Masters in Public Administrations in Economic Policy Management from Columbia University.

Mr Lionel Mok
Programme Lead, Civic Exchange

Lionel Mok is the Sustainable Finance Programme Lead for Civic Exchange. He is responsible for managing the organisation’s efforts to conduct research and engage with stakeholders on the integration of sustainability considerations into financial market practices. Lionel has previously worked for Climate Bonds Initiative and the International Finance Corporation.

Mr Ivo Spreeuwenberg
Deputy Director – Corporate Strategy, CLP Power Hong Kong

Ivo leads a team at CLP Power Hong Kong responsible for long-term strategic planning with a focus on enabling Hong Kong’s energy transition to carbon neutrality.  He is a Chartered Engineer, holds a master’s degree in Power Systems Engineering & Economics and has extensive experience in tackling energy and environmental issues in a UK, EU and US context over his 20 years in the energy industry.

Ivo is currently a member of the Sustainable Living Environment Advisory Group at BEC and a Vice Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee at the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

He has strong capabilities and experience in influencing policy, developing strategy, and undertaking stakeholder engagement.  Recent experience has included regular interface with consumer groups, trade bodies, international energy companies, environmental groups, government, and the energy regulator to evolve the regulatory framework and secure sufficient funding to evolve the electricity system towards UK net zero targets.  

In previous roles, Ivo has been responsible for coordinating and drafting responses to government policy consultations, acting as the primary interface for the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales on energy issues and advising on how to navigate the uncertainty of a rapidly decarbonising energy system.

Prof Alfred Sit
Chief Executive and Secretary, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Prof Alfred Sit Wing-hang joined the Government in 1984 and was promoted to the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services and General Manager of Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund in 2017, responsible for electrical and mechanical safety as well as energy efficiency and conservation in Hong Kong and provision of engineering services to the electrical and mechanical assets of the Hong Kong SAR government.  During the period from April 2020 to June 2022, he was appointed as the Secretary for Innovation and Technology.

Prof Sit is an electrical engineer by profession and has over 40 years’ experience in public administration. He is a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. He was the President of the Hong Kong Institution of Facility Management, Chairman of the Biomedical Division and Secretary of the Nuclear Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

Prof Sit is now the Chief Executive and Secretary of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, and is also a Senior Advisor to the President and Vice -Chancellor of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Advisor of the Institute for Innovation, Translation and Policy Research of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Professor of Practice of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Honorary Professor of the Baptist University of Hong Kong.

Mr C.F Wong
Commissioner for Climate Change, HKSAR

Mr C.F. Wong is currently the Commissioner for Climate Change in the Environment and Ecology Bureau of HKSARG. He was an Assistant Director of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) before joining the Bureau. Throughout his service with EPD, Mr Wong had taken up a wide range of responsibilities, including international collaboration, development of environmental infrastructures, environmental impact assessment, waste reduction and law enforcement.