Hong Kong Conference Highlights
2024 Cornerstone Conference
50 Years Reaching New Heights
Hong Kong
November 2024
Our 50th Anniversary Cornerstone Conference, Reaching New Heights, convened 300 members, guests, Leadership Fellows alumnae, and sponsors from 26 countries in Hong Kong.
We heard from inspirational and influential women about topics of particular relevance in the context of Hong Kong, including capital flows, the interdependence of supply chains, how traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine can work together to create a healthier world, and the rising Asian influence on one of the world’s most beloved forms of entertainment: film.
From a fabulous Dragon Dance to thought-provoking plenary sessions to energizing Tai Chi sessions to a colorful Paint the Night Orange celebration, this conference was a memorable way to close out our 50th anniversary year.
Day 1
We had an incredible first day together in Hong Kong.
Delicia T., CEO of Edelman Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area shared the Edelman Trust Barometer, previewing changes in Trust of different institutions through the years, highlighting that while we’ve seen a rise in trust overall, there is still a significant gap in gender differences in trust in our Advanced Leadership Workshop.
Then, to officially kick off our 50th Anniversary Cornerstone Conference in Hong Kong, we joined Vivian Lau and the Women of our Hong Kong Forum at the Hong Kong Palace Museum for an evening of food and festivities. We are excited for the next several days of insights and discussion with our members! hashtagIWFHongKong24 hashtagIWF50
Day 2
Today IWF President Carolyn Carter and our hosts IWF Hong Kong set the stage with an “Awaken the Dragon” ceremony, a sign of luck, prosperity and fortune.
We heard from The Honorable Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region about Hong Kong’s progress and strengths, and the initiatives the government is undertaking to support the city’s strategic growth. They include the distinct advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, the new horizons in financial services, investments in innovation and technology, and the development of Hong Kong as a global hub for traditional as well as emerging regional and global partners.
We continued with The Future of Global Financial Markets, with Luanne Lim, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong HSBC and Vanessa Lau, Co-Chief Operating Officer & Group Chief Financial Officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX). They discussed the importance of Hong Kong’s resilience and vibrancy as an International Finance Center and in their role in progressing sustainable finance and board diversity, and as a connection point for global investors.
In The Disruption and Interdependence of Global Supply Chains with Jenny Paurys, SVP Global Intelligence and Analytics Supply Chain, S&P Global Market Intelligence, Joanna Li , Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, Hactl – Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited. Along with moderator Vivian Lau, Chair and Group CEP Pacific Air Holdings Limited, they discussed the importance of building resilience as companies take on challenges to global supply chains such as security concerns, tariffs and evolving trade partnerships. They noted that sustainability and AI are areas for innovation for larger companies, but smaller ones may still struggle to build resilience in the long-term.
In Graying Societies, Nancy Ip, President, The The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology spoke of her research in neuroscience, including a groundbreaking blood test that can detect the presence of Alzheimer’s Disease, allowing for earlier diagnoses and improved health outcomes. Ana Munoz, Non Executive Director Tubos Reunidos Group spoke with Janice Chia, Founder & Managing Director, Ageing Asia, Dr. Nancy Jecker, Professor, University of Washington – School of Medicine, and Dr. Sarah Salvilla, Group Chief Health Officer, FWD Insurance about evolution in aging and health care, extending independence and health for the elderly, resetting our thinking to focus on biological age vs. chronological.
In The Future of Femtech, Joyce Winnecke, Advisor and Board Leader IWF Chicago spoke with Maaike Steinebach, Founder and CEO, FemTech Future Limited and Anca Griffiths, CEO and Co-founder, OM Marketing Experts about the persistent need for advancement and funding in the rising field of Femtech to address the unique health needs of women.
Day 3
Day three of our Cornerstone Conference in Hong Kong started with Bridging Worlds: What Modern Medicine can learn from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and we heard from Dr. Vivian Taam Wong, Honorary Professor, University of Hong Kong, about the rich history and research of TCM which is steeped in principles of balance, harmony and connection between body and mind. We also heard from Dr. FONG, Ho Ching Edmund, Assistant Director (Chinese Medicine), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region about how AI and technology can help improve on TCM development and practice, while Dr. Wong Wendy, Director, Yat Hei Medical Center spoke to the importance of quality research and standards for integrated medicine.
Our Ideas Remaking the world recipients shared their groundbreaking work from Trish Barbato and her work on the Menopause Works Here campaign to raise awareness and education about menopause, to Paloma Merodio and her work with the geospatial cube of Mexico using AI and data to analyze how the environment is changing over time, to Anita Nowak, PhD, founder of Purposeful Empathy by Design and her leadership in helping us understand empathy as the superpower it is, our honorees were remarkable.
In our last plenary, A Golden Age for Asian Filmmaking, we discussed the impact that shifting audience tastes, global streaming, and a rise in women in the industry are having on Asian Filmmaking with Cora Yim, Co-Founder S11 Partners Limited, Karou Matsuzaki, Senior Producer, Fuji TV Network, and Anadil Hossain, Founder and CEO Dillywood, and Mellissa Fung, Journalist, Author and Filmmaker.
We ended the day with a conversation with Yip Wing-sie about her incredible career in music, from her father’s encouragement of her passion for music to her paving the way for future female musicians as the first female conductor to take the helm of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. She inspired us with her journey and inspired us to find ways to bring the next generation into classical music.
What a truly inspiring event hosted by our IWF Hong Kong forum, thank you to everyone who made it happen!
