We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the speakers, attendees, and contributors who made our ESG Investing Symposium a resounding success.
Dr. Alvin Ho, CFA, President of CFA Society Hong Kong, extended a warm, all-weather greeting to all, setting the tone for an insightful and collaborative event. We deeply appreciate Mr. Paul Moody, Managing Director, Global Partnerships &Client Solutions at CFA Institute, for his enlightening remarks to highlight key aspects needed to effectively support and promote capital allocation decisions targeted at sustainable investments, as well as to counter greenwashing.
A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Glenda So, Co-Head of Markets at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), for delivering a keynote speech that emphasized the increasing mainstream integration of ESG and sustainable finance in Hong Kong, China, and the region. She also shared the initiatives HKEX has implemented in supporting the development of a sustainable ecosystem as a regulator and market operator.
At the end of the event, Mr. Richard Mak, CFA, Immediate Past President of CFA Society Hong Kong, delivered closing remarks. He emphasized that this symposium served as a pivotal milestone, establishing a robust foundation for ongoing initiatives and remarkable advancements in the realm of sustainable finance. Our collective efforts have not only paved the way for immediate and tangible change but have also set the course for a future defined by responsible and sustainable investment practices, driving transformative action, and fostering a more sustainable financial landscape.
Thank you all for being part of this inspiring and transformational journey. We look forward to continuing our collective efforts in advancing the development of sustainable investment!
Event Details
Date: 20 April 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 9:00 AM –12:30 PM
Venue: JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
Event Highlights
PANEL 2: Navigating ESG Investing – Bridging Perspectives Across the Value Chain
Our panel brings together diverse stakeholders representing every link in the value chain, from investors and fund managers to corporate leaders and regulatory experts. Together, we’ll explore the common challenges, emerging trends, and potential solutions in the realm of ESG investing.
PANEL 1: Asset Owners –Key Drives of the Demand and Orientation of Sustainable Investment
A roundtable discussion among family offices, endowment funds, and institutional investors on the role of ESG Investments in their portfolio, passive investors vs active engagement, and alpha generation vs social responsibilities.
The symposium featured an exceptional lineup of distinguished speakers. This carefully curated group of individuals represents the pinnacle of expertise and influence in their respective fields.
Each speaker brought a unique perspective, extensive knowledge, and a remarkable track record of accomplishments, making every panel discussion a must-attend for anyone seeking inspiration and valuable insights.
Light breakfast and coffee breaks were offered, presenting a unique opportunity to meet like-minded professionals and network with fellow industry practitioners and thought leaders.
Speakers
Opening Remarks
Dr. Alvin Ho, CFA
President
CFA Society Hong Kong
Dr. Alvin Ho is an experienced investment principal with a track record in private equity. He currently splits his time between managing a portfolio of private investments and institutional investing on one end, and handholding start-ups and grown-ups seeking new iterations on the other. In addition, he serves as a board member for listed companies and NGOs and is a member of investment committees for funds and platforms. Previously the legal and executive representative for the local currency funds incorporated in Beijing and Chengdu, He was the Head of China for a pan-regional private equity growth fund.
Alvin holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the Shanghai University of Economics and Finance, and master’s degrees from Tsinghua University and London Business School. He has authored three books in Chinese on the economics of sports. He is the chief editor and contributed two essays to RISE FROM CRISES, a publication of CFA Society Hong Kong.
Keynote Speech
Mr. Paul Moody
Managing Director, Global Partnerships & Client Solutions
CFA Institute
Paul directs the organization’s regional, marketing and customer experience strategy, and leads the teams who work with the 160 local CFA societies around the world. His priorities include deepening our society and institutional relationships, accelerating our B2B and B2C sales and distribution capabilities, bringing new professional educational products to market, and driving revenue growth across our product portfolio.
Prior to joining CFA Institute, Paul enjoyed a 30-year career in asset management, including more than 20 years at Aviva Investors leading strategic partnership and investment solutions for Aviva’s global businesses. He has a long track record in sustainable investment, including launching the UKs first ESG funds and developing Aviva’s pathway to net zero.
Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wolverhampton and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).
Ms. Glenda So
Co-Head of Markets
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)
Glenda is Co-Head of Markets at HKEX and is responsible for leading the Group’s market development in equities, fixed income and currency (FIC) and emerging business.
Glenda is a member of the Management Committee at HKEX. She also serves as the Chief Executive of both subsidiaries at HKEX, the SEHK Options Clearing House Limited and OTC Clearing Hong Kong Limited. Additionally, she is a Board Director at Bond Connect Company Limited.
Glenda joined HKEX in 2020 and has been instrumental in the establishment of HKEX’s international carbon marketplace, Core Climate. She has also led various enhancements to the Connect programme. These include the introduction of Swap Connect, the first derivatives market access link between Mainland China and Hong Kong that allows international investors to trade and clear onshore RMB interest rate swaps, as well as HKEX Synapse, a post-trade settlement acceleration platform for Northbound Stock Connect.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the global financial industry, Glenda has held senior roles at various international banking and investment firms. Before joining HKEX, she spent four years as Chief Operating Officer of a macro hedge fund in Singapore. Prior to that, she had a 23-year career with Goldman Sachs in New York, and Hong Kong where she was a Managing Director responsible for Asia Ex-Japan Operations, Global Listed Derivatives and OTC Clearing Operations, as well as Asia Securities and Clearing Operations. She also spent three years in Currency Options Trading and Listed Derivatives Business Development.
Glenda is a member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Financial Services Advisory Group.
Glenda holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baruch College in the US.
PANEL 1: Asset Owners - Key Drives of the Demand and Orientation of Sustainable Investment
Mr. Duncan Lee
Director, Investment Environmental, Social & Governance, Group Investment
AIA Group
Duncan is Director of Investment Environmental, Social & Governance for AIA’s Group Investment function, responsible for driving the ESG integration within Group Investment, as well as continuously improving the AIA Investment ESG operating model, to consistently and significantly impacting the long-term financial results of AIA and its customers by driving sustainable behaviour with world-class investment solutions expertise, industry leadership and best practices in processes, controls and systems. This aims to provide both support and leadership with respect to the commitment of AIA towards enabling Healthier, Longer, Better Lives across the Asia-Pacific region. He led AIA’s efforts to manage down investment exposure to coal mining and coal-fired generation. He partners with the Group Sustainability team for external disclosures and rating submissions and is responsible for the Sustainable Investment chapter of AIA’s annual ESG Report. Prior to taking on his current responsibilities, he was responsible for the provision of investment legal advisory, transaction, and documentation support to the AIA Investment team. Most recently, he has spearheaded AIA Investment’s net-zero efforts to establish AIA’s net-zero SBTi boundary, validated Investment near-term targets and AIA’s first Climate Transition Plan.
Prior to joining AIA, Duncan spent almost two decades working in a variety of legal roles, both in private practice and as an in-house lawyer, as well as on the Global Distribution side at Barclays, covering derivatives, structured products, capital markets and prime brokerage.
Duncan has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales. He has successfully completed and passed the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing.
Mr. Tony Lo
Director of Finance
The University of Hong Kong
Tony is currently the Director of Finance of The University of Hong Kong (“HKU”). Before joining HKU, he spent 11 years with The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“HKJC”), his last job being Head of Corporate Accounting and Taxation, responsible for various finance functions including accounting, budgeting, statutory reporting, management reporting and controllership at different stages.
Tony also gained extensive experience in general and financial management from his career with AIG Consumer Finance Group prior to joining HKJC. he obtained his Bachelor degree in Business Administration from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Master of Science in Financial Management from The University of London. He is an associate member of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Ms. Katy Yung
Managing Partner
SFi
Katy is Managing Partner of Sustainable Finance Initiative (SFi), a platform for Impact Investors and Experts “Where Capital Meets Purpose”. She leads the strategic direction of SFi with a vision to mainstream Impact Investing in Asia via the group’s key areas of focus: SFi Circle (memberships), SFi Hub (unlocking capital) and SFi Education (training and upskilling).
Katy has served as Director of Investment at RS Group, a HK-based family office focused on sustainability since 2010. She led the family office’s transition from a traditional investment portfolio to one that is 100% sustainably invested. She remains as consultant to RS Group.
Katy is formerly an investment banker at J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited and graduated from Duke University, NC.
Ms. Adeline Tan (moderator)
Wealth Business Leader, Hong Kong
Mercer
Adeline leads Mercer’s Wealth business in Hong Kong and is a Partner of the firm. She has 20+ years of consulting experience advising clients on pension governance, investment strategy and implementation. She joined Mercer in Hong Kong, after 12 years with Watson Wyatt (now Willis Towers Watson) in the UK.
Adeline serves a broad client base including corporations, wealth managers and public funds, and leads the team in covering the pension and investment needs of clients in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Philippines. She is a voting member of the Asia Wealth Governance Committee and the Asia Asset Allocation Oversight Committee at Mercer. Beyond the firm, she volunteers as a member of the Finance and Investment Practice Board of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, and is a member of the FTSE Russell Asia Pacific Regional Equity Advisory Committee. She is frequent speaker at conference and events on subjects ranging from asset class specialties, sustainable investments and pensions.
Adeline is a graduate of the Business School at the University of Warwick and is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Actuaries.