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ESG Achievement Awards 2024/2025 is Open for Applications, Honouring Technology-Driven Sustainability and Innovation
This year’s ESG Achievement Awards are centred around the theme “Future-Forward Visionaries: Technology Driving Sustainable Transformation,” highlighting the crucial role of innovation and digital advancements in shaping the future of ESG. In light of recent significant investments in artificial intelligence, including a notable HK$200 million donation to the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre (HKGAI), there is a clear trend of increasing financial commitment towards technology and AI initiatives. As businesses in Hong Kong and beyond face challenges like climate change, social inequality, and corporate governance, technology is emerging as a key driver of sustainable growth. Leaders are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital solutions to enhance ESG reporting, optimise resource efficiency, and promote responsible business practices. The Awards will serve as a platform for industry experts to discuss the transformative potential of technology in driving sustainable practices while also examining the ethical implications of AI.
Mr Paul Pong, Co-Founder of IESGB, underscored the significance of the awards, stating, “Technology is not just a tool; it is a catalyst for change. The theme this year aims to highlight how innovative solutions can address pressing environmental and social challenges. IESGB is ready to celebrate those who are harnessing technology to pave the way for a sustainable future, proving that responsible leadership and innovation can go hand in hand.”
The awards will celebrate outstanding achievements in distinct categories that exemplify the multifaceted nature of ESG leadership. From environmental stewardship and social responsibility to corporate governance and innovative projects, the categories highlight the comprehensive efforts driving sustainability forward. Additionally, we are excited to announce an expanded panel of jurors, featuring experts from various specialties, including academia, corporate governance, environmental strategy, and sustainability consulting. This diverse group will evaluate submissions based on impact, innovation, and adherence to ESG principles. Winners will be celebrated at the prestigious Awards Ceremony Luncheon, tentatively scheduled for September 2025.
Mr Vincent Pang, Chairman of the Jury Panel, expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s awards, saying, “Last year, we witnessed an incredible array of applicants who showcased their commitment to ESG principles and innovative practices. As we enter this year’s awards, we anticipate even more inspiring submissions. We are eager to learn how various companies and NGOs are leveraging technology to enhance their ESG efforts, and we look forward to celebrating the visionaries who are leading the charge toward a more sustainable and equitable future.”
Award Categories
| Category | Sub-Categories |
| 1. ESG Benchmark Awards | 1.1) Outstanding Performance in Environmental Responsibility
1.2) Outstanding Performance in Social Responsibility 1.3) Outstanding Performance in ESG Governance |
| 2. Outstanding ESG Awards | 2.1) Listed Company
2.2) Non-Listed Company 2.4) NGO /NPO |
| 3. Outstanding ESG Product and Service Awards | 3.1) Company /Organisation |
| 4. Outstanding Fund Manager’s Choice Awards | 4.1) Only applicable to entrants from Category 1 & 2.1 (Listed Company). |
| 5. Outstanding Sustainable Vision Awards | 5.1) Company /Organisation |
| 6. Outstanding ESG Innovative Project Awards | 6.1) Company /Organisation |
| 7. Outstanding ESG Talent Development Awards | 7.1) Company /Organisation |
| 8. ESG Elite Awards | 8.1) Individual |
| 9. Honorary Awards (By invitation only) | 9.1) Company /Organisation
9.2) Individual 9.3) Outstanding Sustainability Dividend Awards |
Key Dates (Subject to change)
| Date | Key Milestone |
| 26 March | Awards Launch & Open for Application |
| 26 March | Online Briefing Session |
| Early Bird: 7 May Standard: 27 June |
Application Deadline |
| 7-23 July | Judging Period |
| July | Presentations to the Jury Panel
*Upon confirmation for applicants requiring presentation |
| Early August | Finalist Announcement |
| September | Award Ceremony Luncheon |
Jury Panel (in alphabetical order of last name)
| Full Name | Post |
| Chairman of Jury Panel | |
| Mr Vincent Pang | Managing Partner AVISTA Group |
| Vice Chairman of Jury Panel | |
| Ms Ashley Khoo | Past President CFA Society Hong Kong |
| Jury Panel Members | |
| Ms Fanny Chan | Chief Human Resources Officer CTF Life |
| Ms Mabel Chan | Veteran of mutual fund industry Co-host of Metro Finance Radio HK |
| Ms Charmaine W.H. Cheng | Deputy General Manager / Named Company Secretary Fountain Set (Holdings) Limited |
| Ms Lovinia Chiu | Chairman, Executive Director and CEO Medialink Group Limited (2230.HK) |
| Mr Terence Chiu | President Hong Kong Independent Non-Executive Directors Association (HKINEDA) |
| Ir Edward Chow | Head, Carbon and Environmental Excellence Green Living and Innovation Division Hong Kong Productivity Council |
| Prof Rebcca Choy Yung | Founder & Chair Golden Age Foundation |
| Mr Chua Hoi Wai JP | Chief Executive Hong Kong Council of Social Service |
| Ms Pamela Chung | Managing Director, Head of IPO & Share Registry Vistra卓佳 |
| Mr Roy Fan | Head of Sustainability, Climate Change and ESG Services SWCS Corporate Services Group (Hong Kong) Limited |
| Ms Loretta Fong | Sustainability Assurance Leader PwC Hong Kong |
| Ms Grace Kwok | Chairman and Executive Director Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited |
| Ir C.F. Lam | Organising Committee Member Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance |
| HON Robert Lee | Legislative Council Member Functional Constituency – Financial Services |
| Ir Edmund K H Leung | Vice-President Hong Kong Institute of Director |
| Ms Nana Li | Head of Sustainability & Stewardship, Asia-Pacific Impax Asset Management |
| Prof Charles W W Ng | Vice-President Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) |
| Dr Erin So Pik Ki | Senior Lecturer Hong Kong Metropolitan University |
| Dr Kenny Tang | Chairman The Hong Kong Institute of Financial Analysts and Professional Commentators |
| Dr Aries Wong | Senior Lecturer, Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance Associate Director of Centre for Sustainable Development Studies Hong Kong Baptist University |
| Mr Mike Wong | Chief Executive Officer The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies |
| Ms Jessie Yu | Chief Executive Hong Kong Single Parents Association |
For more information about the ESG Achievement Awards 2024/2025, please visit www.iesgbawards.org
Hashtag: #IESGB
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About IESGB
The Institute of ESG & Benchmark (IESGB) is a non-profit organization founded in 2020, dedicated to advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in Hong Kong and beyond. Committed to promoting ESG education, IESGB cultivates Certified ESG Professionals (CESGP®) and fosters collaboration between commercial and non-commercial sectors. Through its initiatives, IESGB aims to shape a stronger, more sustainable ESG ecosystem that drives meaningful change and delivers long-term impact.
Gears up to launch Aspire Yield
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Neswire – 3 April 2025 – ASG2 Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Aspire, a Singapore-headquartered all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses, today announced that it has secured the Capital Markets Services Licence (CMS) from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The licence will enable Aspire to better serve businesses in Singapore by widening its offering to include regulated investment solutions designed to help them optimize their capital.
With the CMS licence in hand, Aspire also announces the upcoming launch of Aspire Yield, a new investment solution integrated within the Aspire Business Account. Aspire Yield enhances Aspire’s all-in-one financial platform, providing businesses with seamless access to investment opportunities while managing their finances in one place.
Small businesses have long been excluded from accessing competitive investment opportunities, which remain reserved for large corporations with deep banking relationships. In Singapore, traditional banks offer savings interest rates ranging from 0.01% to 0.25% per annum, leaving small businesses minimal returns on their idle capital. Without access to investment options, these businesses struggle to optimize their funds while ensuring liquidity, limiting their ability to grow sustainably.
Aspire Yield aims to bridge this gap by enabling startups and small businesses to earn competitive returns on idle capital while ensuring funds are easily accessible for operational needs. Powered by top-tier money market funds managed by Singapore’s leading asset managers, Aspire Yield will offer flexible investments with no minimum investment requirement, no lock-up period, and next business day liquidity—helping businesses optimize their capital with ease.
“Securing the CMS licence from MAS, one of the world’s most respected regulators reaffirms our continued commitment to building a trusted and innovative financial ecosystem that empowers startups and businesses with the tools they need to scale,” says Joel Leong, Aspire’s co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer. “As we enhance our capabilities, we remain dedicated to delivering seamless, compliant, and innovative financial solutions like Aspire Yield.”
“The launch of Aspire Yield is a major milestone in our mission to help businesses not just manage but grow their capital,” said Andrea Baronchelli, CEO and co-founder of Aspire. “By unlocking access to high-yield investment opportunities for global startups and small businesses, we are leveling the playing field and giving them the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.”
Aspire Yield is currently in private beta. Interested businesses can join the waitlist at https://aspireapp.com/yield.
Hashtag: #Aspire
https://aspireapp.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspireapp-global/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Aspire
Aspire is the all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses globally, helping over 50,000 companies save time and money with international payments, treasury, expense, payable, and receivable management solutions – accessible via a single, user-friendly account.
Headquartered in Singapore, Aspire has 600+ employees across nine countries, clients in 30+ markets and is backed by global top tier VCs, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Y-Combinator, Tencent and Paypal. In 2023, Aspire closed an oversubscribed US$100M Series C round and announced that it has achieved profitability.
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Shenglong Electric showcases two AI-powered products in OFC 2025 to redefine smart electricity use
The patented AI-iPanel can speak, think, and manage, transitioning power distribution equipment from the intelligent age to the AI age. Electricity use is now safer, smarter, and more efficient thanks to the deep integration of AI and power technologies. The proprietary iDrip smart IoT system enables users to achieve full lifecycle management of buildings and parks. Building on iDrip 5.0, a digital twin platform has been developed for China’s National Communication Center for Science and Technology. This project yielded the first smart IoT building, metaverse operation and maintenance building, AI-driven green building, and AI-operated building. These two products can be tailor-made to satisfy each and every customer.
Shenglong Electric delivered its first overseas power engineering project in Madagascar in 2007. Since then, its products and services have supported hundreds of projects in over 50 countries and regions, including the Times City Smart Power Solution (Myanmar), Kurdistan Solar Power Station (Iraq), Heat-resistant Power Equipment Upgrade (Niger), Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion (Guyana), Hambantota Airport (Sri Lanka), Agboville-Céchi Road (Côte d’Ivoire), and Kaleta Hydropower Station (Guinea).
Standing at the forefront of smart grid and energy management, Shenglong Electric is leveraging its tremendous in-house technological expertise and cooperating with top-notch domestic universities so as to cut carbon emissions for mankind and add value to each kilowatt-hour of electricity.
Hashtag: #ShenglongElectric
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
PolyU establishes Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure with support from Otto Poon Charitable Foundation
Driving innovative solutions to tackle climate change and extreme weather challenges
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 April 2025 – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has established the Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure (RICRI), a pioneering strategic research institute focused on global climate change, with the staunch support of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation. The Research Institute aims to be a global leader in the research and development of resilient and sustainable solutions for urban areas and rural communities to mitigate the challenges brought about by global climate change. PolyU held an Opening Ceremony and Forum today at Hotel ICON that drew nearly 300 participants, including faculty members, students and industry experts.
RICRI brings together a distinguished collaborative network of renowned experts from Mainland institutions including Tsinghua University, Nanjing University and Beijing Normal University, alongside Hong Kong government departments and industry partners. The Research Institute will serve as an interdisciplinary research platform to build an effective and integrated scientific think-tank, aiming to foster deep integration across government, industry, academia and research for the advancement and application of sustainable development in Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.
In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “The establishment of RICRI represents a landmark milestone in PolyU’s endeavour to address the urgent realities of climate change. This visionary initiative has been made possible through the generous support of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation, and we are deeply grateful to Dr Otto Poon for his strong support and commitment to advancing research and innovation in climate resilience. Dr Poon is an outstanding alumnus of PolyU, a University Fellow, and has been a long-standing supporter of PolyU’s development, empowering our University to make significant contributions for the betterment of society.”
Ir Dr Otto POON, Founder of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation and PolyU University Fellow, said during the ceremony, “Climate change is becoming an increasingly severe global challenge. All sectors of society must work together to enhance infrastructure resilience through scientific research and innovative technologies. I am pleased to support the establishment of RICRI and hope it will become a world-leading research centre for climate-adaptive resilient infrastructure in both urban and suburban areas, the promotion of innovation, exchange of policy development, and establishment of guidelines, standards and good practices of infrastructures for Hong Kong, the Nation and the global community.”
Speaking at the event, Mr TSE Chin-wan, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, outlined the Government’s strategies and measures to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, along with efforts to enhance climate adaptation and resilience. He also highlighted advancements in green technology and finance. He said, “Building a climate-resilient city is important—not only for protecting our properties but also our lives. As we celebrate the establishment of RICRI, let us work together to build a climate-resilient Hong Kong and a new ecological civilisation for us and our children.”
RICRI is led by Prof. Xiang-dong LI, PolyU Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology, and Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development. The Institute focuses on four key research areas: climate change and extreme weather; urban infrastructure and resilience; rural community and disaster mitigation; climate-resilient policy and implementation.
The forum held alongside the inauguration explored a wide range of topics, including: monitoring and prediction of extreme climate events in Hong Kong and surrounding regions; monitoring and adaptation of civil infrastructure towards resilience; urban resilience enhancement for energy-building-transport-water sector synergization toolbox; nature-based solutions for urban infrastructure resilience and water disaster management; resilience of rural infrastructure and communities to climate change; and intelligent platform and toolbox for urban infrastructure resilience.
In support of the University’s research endeavours in the areas of smart city and sustainable energy, the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation has in recent years contributed to the establishment of two research institutes at the University — the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) — as well as two endowed professorships for related disciplines. The establishment of RICRI further strengthens PolyU’s research capabilities in climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience, advancing the pursuit of sustainable development.
RICRI will offer research schemes and funding support in the field of climate-resilient infrastructure, including the Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Distinguished Lecture Series (CRIDLS), the Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Fellowship (CRIF) and the Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Research Scheme (CRIRS).
Hashtag: #PolyU #Climate-ResilientInfrastructure #GlobalWarming #ClimateChange #research #sustainablility
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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