Speakers:

Ashley Hegland, Sustainable Development Advisor, Swire Properties Limited

Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director, Resilient Cities Network

The year 2020 has been a year like no other. With unrelenting pressure placed on individuals, families, communities, and the cities of which they are a part, the concept of ‘resilience’ and specifically ‘urban resilience’ has never been so critical.

Managing through a wobbling economy, supporting health care systems, and addressing inequalities will be at the core of plans to build back better in 2021. At the same time, cities around the world are taking steps to increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change, setting ambitious decarbonisation targets and looking to businesses to demonstrate climate action.

As we enter 2021 under challenging conditions, what are the key factors that cities in Asia must address to ensure future resilience? What kinds of new partnerships and collaborations must we see to unlock solutions for a resilient and equitable urban future?

Join this webinar to hear from Ashley and Lauren who will share their insight on resilience.

About the speakers

Ashley Hegland currently serves as Sustainable Development Advisor to Swire Properties Limited (SPL). In this capacity, he has developed and implemented SPL’s global sustainable development strategy – SD2030 – and designed the Board and management level governance system to implement the strategy. He has also supported the development of SPL’s climate strategy and ongoing resilience plan.

Over the past 20 years in the Asia-Pacific region, Ashley has advised blue chip MNC’s, including MTRC, HSBC, Wal-Mart, Swire Group, Cathay Pacific, CLP Group, Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited, and Shangri-La Hotel Group on sustainability strategy, ESG risk analysis, ESG disclosure, and stakeholder management.

Based in Hong Kong, Ashley is a member of the ESG Working Group for the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) to advise Hong Kong Government on developing Hong Kong’s sustainable capital markets. Ashley is also a Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Business & Society programme in the U.S. Ashley holds an MBA in Corporate Strategy and Sustainability Management from the Schulich School of Business (York University) in Canada.

As Executive Director, Lauren Sorkin oversees global efforts to strengthen cities in the face of the complex and interconnected challenges they face. Leading a team of professionals in London, Mexico City, New York, and Singapore in collaboration with Chief Resilience Officers in more than 40 countries, she drove the co-design process to launch Global Resilient Cities Network as an independent city-led network organisation.

Lauren serves as an advisor and spokesperson on urban resilience, women’s leadership sustainable finance, climate risk, stakeholder engagement, and urbanization trends. She is on the Advisory Board of several sustainability focused initiatives including Food Tank, the Singapore Sustainability Summit (S3), Natural Capital and Smart Cities World Editorial Advisory Board.

Previously with the Asian Development Bank, Lauren led the Bank’s first ever climate change investment plan before moving to the ADB’s Vietnam Office to mainstream climate risks and opportunities in the country’s US$7 billion portfolio. Before joining the ADB, she worked with USAID to implement clean energy, climate change and conservation projects in Asia, Africa and South America. She has published work on biofuels, climate change, public speaking for social impact, infant mortality and HIV/AIDS.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Tufts University and a Master of Science in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics. She lives in Singapore with her husband and two daughters where she can be found practicing contemporary dance, yoga and singing while working towards a better future.

Pricing

• Member: HK$140
• Non-Member: HK$250

Terms & Conditions

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