A rising demand for corporate sustainability data disclosures, strategy formulation and green finance products issuances has led to the emergence of a “talent war” in Hong Kong as it vies to become a regional green finance centre. As requirements for environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance disclosures by listed firms and climate risks reporting by investment funds are stepped up, talent demand will continue to increase.

Under ESG rules, companies must add environmental, social and governance factors to the financial metrics of their business operations in regulatory disclosures, and consider both in strategic and capital allocation decisions. Based on the sum total of institutions under the purview of various regulators, over 2,500 publicly listed companies, licensed banks and asset managers will have to set up ESG-related positions — or outsource them to consultants — by 2025 in Hong Kong.

This panel will convene education experts from reputable international schools in Singapore. Come and find out why the schooling system in the Lion City has consistently ranked amongst the best in the world. Get first-hand insights on what makes Singapore a conducive learning environment for young students and a great place to live. Get answers to your most pressing questions such as: What educational opportunities are available to non-citizens or non-permanent residents in Singapore? How can foreign children get admissions into schools in Singapore? How can you choose the right school for your child? How has the pandemic changed the way schools are run?

This year’s conference offers keynote speeches, interviews and panel discussions offering viewers access to crucial, thought-provoking theories about what an upgrade to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” between ASEAN and China means to the region, the latest on how CPTPP and RCEP are impacting global trade and supply chains, what ASEAN nations can do as the dispute over the South China Sea intensifies, the economic impact of ‘living with Covid’ vs. ‘Covid-zero’, strategies in integrating ASEAN and China’s financial systems, how digital currencies are impacting the region’s fintech ecosystem, how ASEAN and China can work together on green transformation, and why the region’s digital economy is set to continue unprecedented levels of growth.

SCMP Conversations: Scrutinising racial discrimination in Hong Kong workplaces will fall on March 21, 2022 and be held to coincide with International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The aim will be to guide business leaders, people managers and working professionals on how best to identify and call out instances of racial discrimination, explain the importance of doing so, and demonstrate how proactive intervention supports staff and creates a positive working corporate culture that also makes better business sense.

The United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have recommended governments around the world to promote a post-pandemic green recovery with government green stimulus packages. In regards to Hong Kong, how has the city used green stimulus packages and the 2021-2022 budget to build back greener and better?

Now more than ever, women are pursuing their dreams without bias or barriers holding them back. They are striving to be free from stigmas and stereotypes in corporate boardrooms, shop floors, parliament, and many other places. They are becoming resilient leaders without discrimination in running startups, multinational companies, and even countries. Against this backdrop, it’s time to celebrate women’s achievements, share their voices and encourage society to raise awareness against bias and take action for equality.

This half-day virtual event turns the spotlight to speakers representing those who stand to benefit from a proper implementation of inclusive strategies in the workplace; the same segments of our community who have the most to lose if there isn’t one. Speakers representing the minorities, the disabled, and the less fortunate on how - from their vantage point - our city can build a more inclusive and equitable workforce.

The swearing in of Joe Biden as the new US president brought with it the opportunity to change course in US-China relations, which had arguably hit its lowest point in several decades. However, while there have been subtle tone shifts in Biden’s actions and rhetoric toward China, there are few things that differ at all from the approach of the previous administration.

The recent Canadian federal election in September has created a ripple of uncertainties amongst foreign homebuyers in Canada. With both the governing Liberals and opposition Conservatives pledged to ban foreign buyers from purchasing residential homes in Canada for at least the next two years, how would this impact the real estate market in the country and affect the sentiment of overseas and local investors? What might - or might not - happen next?

With the impact of COVID-19, Hong Kong investors, high net worth individuals, and families are increasingly turning to impact investing, or investments that generate a social and environmental impact, alongside financial returns. These investments address urgent global challenges such as affordable healthcare and education, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, or even the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). How big is the impact investing market in Hong Kong? What are the challenges for investors in improving societal imbalances and nurturing the environment and how to overcome them?

On a global scale, there has never been more opportunity for investment and innovation in the healthcare sector than now. For the Asia-Pacific region, demand for healthcare will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years, bolstered by its rising ageing population (one of the largest in the world), a renewed focus and funding from policymakers, and innovators working rapidly to deliver new products to fulfil unmet demand.