In recent years, the concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has gained global prominence, with green elements becoming indispensable strategic development factors in the financial industry, as well as in the fields of building, technology, energy, and transportation. There is a strong demand for ESG talent as a result of rising expectations from the public, regulators, and institutional investors that business organizations should not only pursue profits but also consider environmental sustainability, social responsibility and relevant risks.
In contrast to the past, where financial professionals only needed to understand finance and environmental professionals focused solely on issues like environmental assessments, carbon emissions, and ecology, the new generation of green talent has to be equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, as well as keeping abreast of the changing landscapes of global ESG reporting standards and various green certifications. The demand for these talents is diversified and involves a wide range of industries, ranging from green finance, green building, and green technology applications to carbon auditing and carbon trading. In the past two to three years, tertiary education institutions have been offering or revamping courses to meet the hot demand for cross-disciplinary green talents, and different training institutions and courses have emerged to contribute to the talent pipeline.
Against this backdrop, Alvin Cheung, the Co-Founder, COO and Research Director of Prologue Communications, has for two consecutive years been the lecturer for the “Upskilling for a Greener Future Project” organized by the HKFYG Leadership Institute and supported by the HSBC, which has trained more than 110 university students to master the relevant knowledge in the ever-changing era of green development.
"Upskilling for a Greener Future Project" Lecture
This year, Alvin mainly focused on green building, green finance, and ESG themes. The 6-session courses covered both theory and practical examples, as well as local and international standards. The courses attracted more than 70 students, who explored ESG knowledge through lectures and group discussions. Students were assigned to workplace internships upon completion of the course to apply what they had learned. Many of the students are interested in joining ESG-related industries in the future, finding new career development opportunities while contributing to sustainable development.
Alvin possesses extensive ESG knowledge and years of industry experience, covering areas such as green finance, and sustainability disclosure standards. Alvin has been dedicated to promoting ESG research and practices in Hong Kong over the past 8 years. As early as 2016, when ESG reporting and green finance were rarely discussed in Hong Kong, Alvin was already leading research projects on green finance and social innovation at a major think tank, publishing multiple research reports, including:
Korea Development Institute: Contemporary Economic and Social Policy for Inclusive Growth (Nov 2019) - Co-author the second chapter "Harnessing the Power of Social Enterprises through Government Investment and Collaboration with the Non-governmental Sector"
Our Hong Kong Foundation: Leading Global Capital Markets Towards a New Era: A Policy Review on ESG Reporting for Corporates and Investors in Hong Kong (May 2019) Financial Innovation for Social Impacts: An Advocacy Report on Pay-for-Success (Nov 2017) Landscape Study for Strategic Development of Green Bond Market in Hong Kong (Oct 2017) Social Impact Assessment Booklet (Sep 2017) Social Innovation For a Better Hong Kong: Lessons from the UK and the Importance of Social Impact Assessment (Mar 2016)
Alvin organized a "Train-the-Trainers" workshop for the youth organization to assist in transition
Subsequently, while working at the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), Alvin played a crucial role during the rapid development and standardization of ESG reporting in Hong Kong. He was responsible for reviewing the Listing Rules related to ESG and Corporate Governance, as well as for stakeholder consultation and monitoring compliance. It is an encouraging progress that Hong Kong companies are increasingly valuing ESG issues nowadays, with organizations of all sizes committed to practicing and aligning with international reporting standards like the ISSB, quantifying the financial impacts and risks of climate change on institutions. After founding Prologue Communications, Alvin continues to contribute his expertise in the ESG field by giving lectures and trainings, researching and producing ESG training materials, and serving as an ESG consultant to provide professional advice to clients. He hopes to collaborate with various parties to tap into the huge potential of green development, striving for business leads while also contributing to society and the planet.
Alvin delivered online and offline ESG lectures for various organizations
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