Supported by the Women in Business Committee
Speakers:
Susanna Chiu, Senior Vice President, Li & Fung Group
Andrew Weir, Regional Senior Partner, KPMG in Hong Kong; Vice Chairman, KPMG China; Global Chairman of Asset Management and Real Estate, KPMG International
May Tan, Former CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong, Corporate INED and Advisory Council Member of Malaysian Chamber
Moderator:
Fiona Nott, CEO, The Women’s Foundation
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) has published guidelines to promote board and gender diversity since 1 January 2019. Women represent only 13% of directors for Hang Seng Index companies and around one in three listed companies have all-male boards. Hong Kong still lags far behind other global financial centres with female directors comprising 29% in the UK and 30% In Australia. What are the key challenges for board gender diversity?
When searching for board members, HKEX has provided guidelines on requirements for "appropriate professional qualifications" and "appropriate accounting and related financial management expertise". As a Finance professional, would it be a natural journey to transition onto the board of directors?
During this webinar we will explore the value of a finance qualification to the board, challenges, transitions and keys to success.
The Chamber, in collaboration with ICAEW and The Women’s Foundation, have brought together a diverse and experienced panel devoted to tackling the key questions and issues on this topic. Join us to hear and benefit from their insights.
Details on how to join will be sent via email by 5pm the day before the webinar.
About the speakers
Ms Susanna Chiu has more than 30 years of experience in accounting, governance, business management and operations. Ms Chiu has successively served at Li & Fung Group as Senior Vice President, Eastern China Chief Representative and Consultant during 2006-2019, responsible for operations, government relations and business development. Prior to this, Ms Chiu served as Chief Operating Officer at DVN (Holdings) Limited (HKEx: 0500). She currently serves as Independent Non-Executive Director for Nanyang Commercial Bank Limited, Huijing Holdings Company Ltd (HKEx: 9968) and Kato (Hong Kong) Holdings Ltd (HKEx: 2189).
Ms Chiu graduated from The University of Sheffield in England with Class 1 Honors in Economics. Due to her outstanding achievements, Ms Chiu is awarded ‘Distinguished Alumni’ by the University of Sheffield. She was awarded nationwide ‘Chinese Women of Achievement’ award in the UK in 1991 for her outstanding community services. Ms Chiu also holds an Executive MBA degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professionally, Ms Chiu is a qualified Chartered Accountant from England, a HK CPA, China CPA and CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor). Ms Chiu is the first woman served as the President of the HK Institute of Certified Public Accountant (HKICPA). To honor her continuous contribution to the HK community, Ms Chiu was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013 and Justice of Peace in 2017 by HKSAR. She was awarded the ‘Outstanding Women Professional’ in 2014 and ‘Outstanding Businesswomen Leader’ award in 2017.
Ms Chiu is appointed by the HKSAR government on various voluntary committees including the Education University of HK, Women’s Commission and formerly the Equal Opportunity Commission. In China, Ms Chiu is appointed as a member of the China People’s Political Consultative Conference of Shanghai. She is also Council Member of the HK Independent Non-Executive Directors Association and fellow member of the HK Institute of Directors.
Andrew Weir is Regional Senior Partner of KPMG in Hong Kong and Vice Chairman of KPMG China. He has over 30 years' experience servicing listed companies, public bodies, investment funds and MNCs in Hong Kong, China, Asia and internationally. He has a keen interest in corporate governance, board leadership and business in the community and leads the quarterly KPMG Independent Non-Executive Directors Forum.
Andrew is a Fellow of ICAEW and HKICPA and is a Fellow and Council Member of the Institute of Directors. He is a regular speaker at forums, universities and business schools on governance and business issues.
Andrew has had a number of senior national, global and regional roles with KPMG. He is currently the Global Chairman of Asset Management and Real Estate, and ASPAC Chairman of Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare, which also includes the real estate, hospitality and transport sectors. Andrew is in the global leadership team of KPMG’s Belt & Road Centre of Excellence and chairs the UK -China corridor leading efforts in establishing greater linkages between Chinese, UK and International business and investment partners. Andrew previously was Head of Capital Markets at KPMG China and Asset Management in Asia Pacific.
Andrew was appointed by the HKSAR Government as a council member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and to sit on the Greater Bay Belt and Road Committee and chair the Global Belt and Road Forum. Andrew was appointed by the HKSAR Government as a director of the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) and chairs its Governance Committee and sits on the FSDC Policy Research Committee. He previously chaired the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and sits on the advisory panels of the Securities Institute, Hong Kong Investor Relations Association and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Andrew is Chairman of Pacific Basin Economic Council and Plan International and Deputy Chairman of UNESCAP on Financial Services. He is a director of Asia Pacific Real Estate Association, ANREV and Community Business. He was previously Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and of Community Business Leadership Council as well as a member of the International Business Council.
Andrew was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017 for his contribution to trade and investment links between Hong Kong, China and the UK and was awarded Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors for his services to the NGO sector. He is a Justice of the Peace.
He has an honours degree in Economics and a Masters degree in Economic Development.
May Tan was the chief executive (CEO) of Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong (SCBHK) for 3 years before her retirement in March 2017. She joined the Board of SCBHK in 2009 when the Bank acquired Cazenove Asia where May was CEO from 1993 till 2009.
Cazenove Asia was an investment bank which was headquartered in London and May was instrumental in growing the equities and corporate finance footprint of Cazenove Asia in the Asia Pacific Region.
Since her retirement, May has focussed on her Board portfolio. Her corporate boards include the following, CLP Holdings, Link Asset Management, HSBC Insurance, MSIG Insurance, Home Credit NV and Anticimex AB. She is also on the Board of HK Youth Arts Foundation and a senior adviser of Oxfam Hong Kong. She was previously Vice Chairman of Oxfam HK from 2012-2017. May is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Malaysian Chamber in Hong Kong and Macau.
In 2015 May was appointed by the Chief Executive of the HK SAR Government as a member of the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service. In the past 20 years she also served on many public service committees in Hong Kong, including being Chairman of the HK Association of Banks, Takeover Panel member, Listing Committee member and member of the HK Trade Development Council.
May is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
About the moderator
Fiona Nott joined The Women’s Foundation as CEO in September 2017, combining her senior leadership experience with a passion for TWF’s mission to serve marginalised women and girls in Hong Kong. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, donor relations, overseeing grants and programmes, as well as government relations and community outreach. A former lawyer and Hang Seng Index company secretary, Fiona has lived in Hong Kong for nearly two decades having cultivated a career as a senior legal professional and adviser to a number of leading corporations in Hong Kong and around Asia including PCCW, AIA, AIG, Aviva, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery as well as SMEs, start ups and non-profit organisations.
She is the Co-Founder of Room to Read's Hong Kong Chapter and helped establish the Regional Programme office in New Delhi, India. She is Deputy Chair of the Australian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong & Macau and was Founder and Chair of its Women in Business Network. In 2015, Fiona won the People’s Choice Award for the Advancement of Women in Business at the Austcham-Westpac Australia China Business Awards.
Fiona holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow (FCIS) of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, a member of the Law Society of New South Wales, Australia and a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and sits on AICD’s Hong Kong Committee.
Pricing
- Member: HK$140
- Non-Member: HK$250
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