Co-organised by BEC and The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and sponsored by Invest Hong Kong, the seminar “Hong Kong-Europe Collaborative Pathways for Maritime and Aviation Decarbonisation” explored innovative strategies and best practices for decarbonising the maritime and aviation sectors.
The first panel, moderated by Mr Merlin Lao from BEC, focused on “Navigating Challenges and Collaborations for Greener Maritime Operations”, featuring valuable perspectives from Mr Deepak Devendrappa from Venture Energy Limited, Mr Roberto Giannetta from Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, and Mr Frank Jensen from Modern Terminals Limited.
The discussion then shifted to aviation decarbonisation with a panel on “Strategies for Decarbonising Aviation Towards Sustainable Skies” moderated by Ms Maria Tsolaki from CDP, featuring Mr Peter Lee from Airport Authority Hong Kong and Mr Nikola Xing from Cathay Pacific Airways. Ahead of the panel, Mr Peter Lee delivered a presentation highlighting key approaches to reducing emissions, drawing on his extensive experience in aviation, environmental, and engineering fields.
Our heartfelt gratitude to our event sponsor Invest Hong Kong, and to all distinguished speakers, moderators and guests for contributing to this meaningful dialogue on advancing sustainability in maritime and aviation.
Event Details:
- Date: 23 October 2025 (Thursday)
- Time: 2:30 – 5:15 p.m.
- Venue: BEC Auditorium (G/F., 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong)
- Language: English
- Fee: Free
Programme:
| Time | Activity |
| 2:15 – 2:30p.m. | Registration |
| 2:30 – 2:50p.m. |
Opening Remarks
|
| 2:50 – 3:35p.m. |
Panel Discussion: Navigating Challenges and Collaborations for Greener Maritime Operations
Moderator: Mr Merlin Lao, Head – Policy and Research, Business Environment Council |
| 3:35 – 4:00p.m. | Networking Break |
| 4:00 – 4:10p.m. |
Presentation on Aviation Decarbonisation
|
| 4:10 – 4:45p.m. |
Panel Discussion: Strategies for Decarbonising Aviation Towards Sustainable Skies
Moderator: Ms Maria Tsolaki, Associate Director ASPs, APAC (Partnerships), CDP |
| 4:45 – 5:15p.m. | Networking Break |
Speakers *arranged in order of appearance
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Mr Simon Ng Mr Simon Ng is Chief Executive Officer of Business Environment Council. He has over 25 years of experience in academic and policy research, project management and stakeholder engagement. In particular, Mr Ng is known for his ground-breaking work on ship emissions inventory and evidence-based control policy in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, and his intrumental role in the Fair Winds Charter - a voluntary business initiative to reduce ship emissions. Before taking the CEO position, Mr Ng was BEC's Director of Policy & Research for three years. Prior to joining BEC, he was Chief Research Officer of a Hong Kong based think tank, and held teaching and research positions in several local universities. Currently, Mr Ng is a Member of the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Harbourfront Commission, the Lantau Development Advisory Committee, and the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis of the Hong Kong SAR government. Internationally, Mr Ng has been an Expert Member of the UNCRD Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia since 2006. |
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Ms Ching Yng Choi In her prior roles, Ching has been a senior executive and consultant in the investment funds industry, with deep expertise in business development across Asia and Europe, based in Hong Kong. As the former head of the Asia representative office for the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, she was crucial in connecting the public and private sectors to create new market opportunities. Her work involved building awareness for European investment funds in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. She also led position papers and white papers for various working groups and committees. Ching is fluent in English, French, and Mandarin Chinese. |
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Mr King Leung As the Global Head of Financial Services, Fintech & Sustainability at InvestHK, the department of the Hong Kong SAR Government responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment, Mr Leung’s mission is to attract investment and boost job creation in the financial services, fintech, and sustainability sectors in Hong Kong. Moreover, Mr Leung and his teams also help enrich the ecosystem and contribute to raising the long-term competitiveness and innovation of the related sectors in Hong Kong. Mr Leung achieves this goal through collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders – policy bureaus, regulators, financial institutions, investors, fintech and sustainability companies, associations, etc. in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and other major international financial, fintech, and sustainability hubs. Prior to joining the government, Mr Leung had a diverse private sector background as a serial tech entrepreneur, angel investor, fintech lecturer where his first data-related startup was established through seed investment from Credit Suisse. His startup served numerous world-renowned financial institutions in wealth management, insurance, personal finance, etc. Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, King was a management consultant at Booz Allen & Hamilton and KPMG Consulting in the US, as well as a venture capitalist at Innovate@, a technology fund jointly managed by Booz Allen & Hamilton and Lehman Brothers in the US. King received his MBA in Finance and Strategy (honors) from the University of Chicago and BSc in Mechanical Engineering (honors) from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. |
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Mr Deepak Devendrappa Deepak Devendrappa is passionate about ESG—transition to low carbon economy, decarbonisation and sustainability. An MBA from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and University of California, Berkeley in 2008, Deepak started his career at Methanex Corporation. He progressed through the roles of leading marketing in Asia and globally, business development in Asia/ China, and operations and logistics in Asia. Deepak was later promoted to Global Director of Low Carbon Market Development, commercialising Methanol as a low carbon fuel. Since 2025, he has been focusing on commercialising clean fuels at Venture Energy. In May 2025, Deepak enhanced his strategic sustainability perspective graduating from the Sustainable Leadership Programme for Senior Executives at INSEAD Business School. |
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Mr Roberto Giannetta Roberto Giannetta has 35 years of service in the shipping industry. Having served as director of system development, financial controller, executive director, and now Chairman for liner shipping’s association, he has a vast cross-reference of knowledge in shipping practices across Asia. As Chairman of the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, Roberto represents the interests of container liner principals on numerous industry and governmental organisations (including APEC Shipping Port Network Security, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board committees, Article Number Association, and others) covering operational, safety, environmental, regulatory, trade, and policy matters vis-à-vis government and industry stakeholders. With a board of directors comprising CEO and MD level representatives from major shipping lines serving trades to/ from Asia and the rest of the world, Roberto has a well-guided understanding of shipping liner needs, objectives, and environment. |
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Mr Frank Jensen Frank Jensen is Chief Commercial Officer at Modern Terminals Limited and has worked in Asia since 1990. He has worked in the Logistics/ Container Shipping industry for more than 30 years. He joined Modern Terminals Limited in 2000 as General Manager Sales & Marketing. Prior to joining Modern Terminals Limited, Frank spent ten years in Asia with Danish trading company The East Asiatic Company ("EAC"), where he worked in various leadership roles in Logistics and Transportation in Hong Kong and Mainland China as well as two years in Mumbai, India as Managing Director for EAC’s activities and investments in India. Modern Terminals Limited opened Hong Kong’s first purpose-built container terminal facility in 1972. Today, the company owns and operates container terminals at Kwai Tsing Container Port, Hong Kong. In the Pearl River Delta it operates and holds a majority of shares in DaChan Bay Terminals, Shenzhen and also holds equity stakes in both Shekou Container Terminals and Chiwan Container Terminal in Shenzhen. The company’s mission is to be the preferred partner for world-class terminal and supply-chain services, building global connectivity for the sustainable development of local economies and the improvement of people’s well-being. Frank has an Executive MBA from Ivey Business School, Canada. Frank is from Denmark and has been involved with the Danish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong since 2006 and served as Chairman of the Chamber from 2011 to 2016. |
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Mr Merlin Lao Mer Merlin Lao is Head - Policy & Research at BEC. He leads the team to develop clear policy positions on pressing climate and environmental topics in Hong Kong, through undertaking research on leatest domestic and international trends, engaging with the HKSAR government and connecting insights of the local business sector. He is keen on net-zero transition that not only looks at decarbonisation, but also a more equal and liveable built environment. Mr Lao is a programme management professional with over 15 years of climate chnage and environment career experience across private, public and non-profit sectors in East Asia, with major exposure in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea. Prior to joining BEC, he was the senior programme manager at an international non-governmental organisation driving sustainable cities agenda in China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea, covering topics such as air quality, low-emission development, urban resilience, circular economy and nature-based solutions. |
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Mr Peter Lee Mr Lee is the Chief Sustainability Officer of the Airport Authority. He supports, guides and advises the Authority on the formulation and implementation of long-term sustainability strategies that encompass environment, social, governance, and climate resilience at corporate level. He also leads and manages all environmental matters related to the planning and implementation of the Expansion of the Hong Kong International Airport into a Three-Runway System, which is to maintain Hong Kong as an international aviation hub at the heart of Asia Pacific region. Before joining the Airport Authority in 2012, Mr Lee has over 20 years' experience in environmental and engineering consultancy, leading and managing the EIA studies for a number of major infrastructure and urban development projects. Mr Lee is a founding fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals and the Secretary General of the Marine Ecology Enhancement Fund and the Fisheries Enhancement Fund. |
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Mr Nikola Xing Nikola Xing is Head of Climate Action at Cathay Pacific since April 2022 and is responsible for climate change related affairs including carbon market、sustainable aviation fuel、climate risk as well as scope 3 emissions. Before joining Cathay, Nikola took part in Guangdong Pilot Emissions Trading Scheme ("ETS") and the China National ETS Aviation Sector Task Force as well as EUETS and CORSIA during his previous tenure with China Southern Airlines. Nikola is also very active in a number of industry working groups devoted to aviation climate change issues, including the ones at International Air Transport Association ("IATA") and International Civil Aviation Organisation ("ICAO"). |
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Ms Maria Tsolaki Strategic leader with 20 years of experience in corporate governance, sustainability, and regulatory compliance, specialising in driving revenue through ESG solutions, data solutions, and cross-sector high-impact partnerships. Adept at designing project strategies and leading stakeholder engagement strategies. Extensive history in NPOs, government affairs, law enforcement and financial compliance across multiple jurisdictions. |
