HeForShe Conference 2019
Gender equality is an issue that affects us all and the business community in Hong Kong has taken notice.
That was certainly clear on 5 March 2019 as we welcomed 500 high-level business executives to celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 at our conference in support of HeForShe, a global United Nations initiative. This year’s event – now in its third edition – was organised by the French Chamber in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited (HKEX), with the support of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and The Women’s Foundation.
“Gender equality is not just a social issue – it is after all also a key business issue,” said Mrs Rebecca Silli, President of the French Chamber, in her welcoming speech. She likewise noted the strong turnout of men at the evening – who are central to HeForShe’s mission of making men agents for change – before handing over to Mr John Killian, Group Chief Financial Officer at HKEX.
We were likewise delighted to welcome Ms Theresa Cheng, GBS, SC, JP, Hong Kong Secretary for Justice, as our Guest of Honour to deliver her keynote speech and offer her perspective regarding gender equality in the legal community.
This set the stage for the evening’s powerful experience-sharing and insights from a number of prominent business players regarding the concrete measures to improve female advancement in the workplace.
And it’s just the beginning. The French Chamber will organise – as it has done in the past two years –a series of follow-up workshops to share best practices for workplace gender equality in the coming months. Stay tuned and spread the word that you’re #HeForShe.
Thank you to our generous sponsors: Capgemini, Colliers International Hong Kong, Kering, Swire, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Mazars, Natixis, Pernod Ricard Asia, Societe Generale, Suez NWS, Veolia.