Integral
Conversation

Oct 26 – 28, 2023
Integral, Guilin

The Future of Sustainable Growth from an Asian Perspective
Thursday Oct 26
16:30 - 18:30
Registration & Cocktail
17:00 - 18:30
Optional: Integral Site Visit
18:30 - 19:30
Welcome Dinner
19:30 - 19:40
Welcome Remarks

Dee Poon

Member of the Board
President, Brands and Retailing
Tessellation Group

19:40 - 21:00
Keynote Opening: Fireside Chat with Siddharth Chatterjee

Siddharth Chatterjee

UN Resident Coordinator in China

Moderated by: George Lam

Chairman
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Sustainable Business Network

Friday Oct 27
08:30 - 09:30
Registration and Networking
09:30 - 09:35
Opening Remarks

Teresa Yang

Vice Chairman, Esquel Group

09:35 - 09:45
Message from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Government

Ms. Yang Yanyan

Chairperson of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Guangxi Committee, Secretary General of China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) Secretariat

09:45 - 10:45
Keynote Speech - Philanthropy's Role in Creating Social Sustainability in Asia

The 2019 social unrest in Hong Kong, COVID-19, Ukrainian and Gaza conflicts in rapid succession have reminded the world how life as we had taken for granted could be upended so quickly and fundamentally. The associated setbacks and challenges call for deep soul searching and a strategic revaluation of priorities as a society. At this critical crossroads, the role of philanthropy in catalysing social innovation and maintaining sustainable growth has become more vital than ever. How should philanthropy harness our collective transformative power to drive positive change and promote resilience?

Gabriel Leung

Executive Director, Charities and Community
The Hong Kong Jockey Club

10:45 - 11:05
Tea Break
11:05 - 12:05
CEO Panel:
CEO Perspectives – Corporate Role in Sustainability

The importance of sustainability is increasingly recognized by companies, with more environmental and social considerations integrated into business strategies. The impact of COVID further accelerates the driving forces, with the emergence of new technologies, the growing threat of climate change, and the impact of demographic shifts in economics and employment. To forward-thinking company leaders and management, the need to integrate sustainable development goals into strategic plans and operational activities is becoming ever more apparent. Today’s challenges for sustainable development are complicated and interconnected, requiring collaborations across different sectors and industries to form a cohesive ecosystem to achieve common sustainability goals.

The panel will explore how business leaders and corporates can work together to create opportunities for sustainable development by revisiting their strategies and business models. With Asia’s unique blend of cultures, traditions, and innovation, companies in the region are well-positioned to lead the change in sustainable growth.

Aloke Lohia

Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Indorama Ventures PCL

Belinda Wong

Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer, Starbucks China
Executive Vice President, Starbucks

Ronald Lu

Founder and Chairman, Ronald Lu & Partners

Moderated by: Hau Lee

The Thoma Professor of Operations, Information and Technology, Stanford Graduate School of Business

12:05 - 13:15
Lunch
13:15 - 13:45
Recreational/ Engagement Activity (for Panel 1)
13:45 - 15:00
Panel 1 (Parallel Session)
Panel 1A:Social and Economic Development

Asia's rapid economic growth over the past few decades has been a double-edged sword, lifting millions out of poverty and creating new opportunities for prosperity while also exacerbating environmental degradation, social inequality, and other challenges. As we look towards the future, the outlook for Asia is mixed with both opportunities for growth and significant challenges ahead. Asia’s rich cultural heritage is deeply rooted in the philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature, which reflects a longstanding pursuit of sustainable growth by striking a delicate balance between economic development and environmental and social responsibilities.

The panel will draw inspiration from this philosophy and delve into social development initiatives and policies, economic outlooks, and how to fight the challenges ahead, driving sustainable growth and benefiting all stakeholders of the societies.

Khunying Kalaya Sophopanich

Deputy Minister of Education, Thailand

Lu Zhi

Professor, School of Life Sciences and Institute of Ecology, and Executive Director, Center for Nature and Society, Peking University

David Wei

Chairman and Founding Partner
Vision Knight Capital

Moderated by: Christine Loh

Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

13:15 - 15:00
Panel 1B: Experience-based Dialogue on Sustainable Fashion – China’s Natural Dye

This immersive experience is designed to provide a unique exploration opportunity to discover the world of sustainable fashion and traditional Chinese minority group heritage - China Blue Natural Dye which has been used by several minority groups in China for centuries. The technique involves using natural indigo dye to create a deep blue color that is distinctive and highly sought after.

In this session, you will be introduced to its rich cultural history in traditional textiles. As part of the experience, you will have the chance to learn the process of creating natural dyes and experiment with different techniques to produce your own unique designs. We will also take you to our natural dye plantation to see how these plants are cultivated and harvested. By exploring the world of sustainable fashion and traditional dyeing techniques, you will gain a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural history and craftsmanship that goes into creating sustainable fashion.

Wang Qiong

Senior Experimenter and the Team Leader of the Plant Dyeing Team, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences

Zhou Liming

R&D Director of Esquel Group, Professor level Senior Engineer

15:00 - 15:15
Short Break
15:15 – 16:30
Panel 2 (Parallel Session)
Panel 2A: The Future of Work

The world of work is undergoing a seismic shift, with the future of work in Asia poised to be shaped by a confluence of technological advancements, changing demographics, and evolving employee preferences. As automation and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, the demand for a knowledge-driven, data-savvy, and digitally fluent workforce is set to skyrocket.

Against this backdrop, the panel aims to explore innovative strategies that enable us to navigate the rapidly changing working environment and co-create a more sustainable future workplace – one that provides fair and meaningful work, implements new technology ethically and responsibly, and operates with high levels of empowerment, transparency, trust, equitability, diversity, and inclusiveness.

Helen Meng

Patrick Huen Wing Ming Professor of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (SEEM), The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Tommie Lo

Founder and CEO, Preface

Tuan Q. Phan 

Associate Professor
Marketing, Innovation & Information Management
The University of Hong Kong Business School

Moderated by: Chetwyn Chan

Vice President (Research and Development) and Peter T. C. Lee Chair Professor of Psychology
The Education University of Hong Kong

15:15 – 16:30
Panel 2B: Experience-based Dialogue on Environmental Sustainability in the Fashion Industry

Different stakeholders in the industry must play a proactive role in influencing consumer behavior and driving innovation in sustainable practices, focusing on minimizing the industry’s environmental footprint and promoting ethical and responsible businesses.

This panel will explore the vast and complex landscape of environmental sustainability in fashion. It will address the wide array of applications from culture and heritage preservation, technology utilization, sustainable arts and design, and the use of materials that will shape the sustainability of the industry.

In this session, you will have a chance to have a dialogue with the industry stakeholders in different areas to discover how they make sustainable fashion come alive through digitalization, innovation, and conservation and preservation of art and craftsmanship. As part of the experience, you will have the chance to interact with different digital and physical displays to allow you to have an immersive experience from the rich history and culture of Indian art, design, fashion, craftsmanship, and artisanal spirit to the modern and future technology for sustainable business practices, operation processes, and lifestyles.

Radhikaraje Gaekwad

Vice President, Maharani Chimnabai Stree Udyogalaya
Trustee, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
Director, CDS Art Foundation
Fellow, Aspen Global Leadership Network

Edwin Keh

CEO
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel

Moderated by: Herman Chan

Director of Symmpix, Tessellation Group

16:30 - 16:45
Short Break
16:45 – 17:30
Dialogue with Young Generations

The young generation holds the key to a sustainable future. This session provides a unique platform to hear their voices and perspectives on the critical issues of our time. Looking back at the insights shared by the young generation over the last decade on Integral Conversation, value diversity, equity, inclusion, well-being, and environmental concerns are some of the keywords widely mentioned. It is essential to understand from these topics what changes and gaps have emerged in the past and present and what the future will look like for Guilin, China, Asia, and beyond. It is also key to consider how the reflection of COVID has sharpened the young generation’s value system and lives and how it influenced their aspirations for the future. As we answer these questions, we are working towards building a sustainable future for the generations to come.

Holly Ming and Students

Headmistress, Diocesan Girls’ Junior School, Hong Kong

17:30 - 17:45
Announcing the integral institute

Hau Lee

The Thoma Professor of Operations, Information and Technology
Stanford Graduate School of Business Founding Faculty Director
Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies
Co-Director
Stanford Value Chain Innovations Initiative

Closing Speech

Edgar Tung

Chief Executive Officer, Tessellation Group

17:45 - 19:30
Cocktail + Dinner
19:30 - 21:00
Evening Performance < Free Man From The South > by BeijingDance/LDTX - Choreography by Willy TSAO
Saturday Oct 28
08:30 - 12:00
Bike Tour
09:00 - 12:00
Experiential Workshops/ Site Visit

Integral Conversation

Oct 26 - 28, 2023
Integral, Guilin

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