In ESG Forum Part 1, we focused on setting Science-based Targets for financed emission, recommending companies to formulate a low carbon strategy so as to becoming climate resilience and at the same time meeting the net-zero goal by 2050.  Towards the end, we learned from the latest BDO ESG Reporting Performance survey that there is a distinct gap in the current level of environmental reporting against those required under the TCFD Recommendations in preparing their ESG reports.  The disclosure of the climate-related information, in general, are lacking under climate governance, strategy, risk management and metrics and targets.

ESG reporting as well as performance are under close scrutiny of stakeholders including regulators and investors.  Apart from meeting disclosure requirements, companies are expected to create constructive impacts towards solving global environmental issues.  In the second part of the Forum, we will look at ESG from investors' perspective and put our focus on communicating organisations' impacts on crucial sustainability issues to stakeholders through ESG reporting, how ESG performance can drive for better ESG ratings and the overall approach of assessing ESG risks and opportunities. 

We have invited the representative from the standard setter and our colleagues from BDO to give us an overview on the following topics:

• GRI's recent development and the trend of future impact reporting
• Enhancing ESG ratings through better ESG performance
• ESG Risks and Opportunities: Understanding the ESG landscape

Speakers

Dipankar Ghosh, Partner and Leader of Sustabilability & ESG, BDO in India

Dipankar has more than 30 years of experience in leading solutions and teams around the subject matter of sustainability and human development, climate change, ESG, resource efficiency, sustainable technology, renewable energy and climate financing.

He has worked with clients across geographies including corporates, governments, multilateral & bilateral agencies as well as not-for-profits and has experience across sectors including Metallurgy & Mining, Power & Utility, Oil & Gas, Chemicals & Fertilisers, Cement, Pulp & Paper, Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Automotive, Real Estate, Health Care, Telecommunication, Transportation, Construction, Biofuel.

Prior to joining BDO in India Dipankar was associated with an engineering consultancy, he subsequently led the sustainability practice at a large professional services firm in India and later MENA and an entrepreneurial venture in creating a sustainable development advisory firm.

He is a respectable thought leader on the subject and often speaks at conferences and works with industry associations for policy advocacy.

Verna Lin, Head of Greater China Regional Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Verna Lin is an experienced sustainability and investment management professional. Her knowledge and exposure in capital market equips her to interpret ESG disclosure from investors’ perspective. GRI helps businesses and governments worldwide understand and communicate their impacts on crucial sustainability issues. Verna, representing GRI in the region, seeks continuing collaborations with policy makers to further advance global sustainability agenda. Verna is a CFA charter-holder.

Vivian Chow, Principal of Risk Advisory, BDO in Hong Kong

Vivian is an experienced professional drawing upon a background that includes corporate governance, regulatory and compliance, consulting, and audit and financial reporting in Hong Kong, China and the United States. Vivian has worked with a diverse group of clients from non-governmental organisations to multinational public and private companies across several industries in providing corporate governance, risk management, internal audit, and regulatory and compliance review and readiness.

Qualifications and professional affiliations

• US Certified Public Accountant

Details are as follows:

Date	:	Thursday, 4 May 2023
Time	:	14:00 – 17:00
Language	:	English
Fee	:	Free of charge
CPD Units*	:	3 hours (*The recognition of CPD hours by your professional organisations is subject to their CPD policies.)
Remarks	:	1. For any enquiries, please contact contact Ida Cheung at +852 2218 3714 or idacheung@bdo.com.hk.
		2. Login information will be sent to you by email after successful registration.
		3. BDO reserves the final right of acceptance of registration.