Chair Message
Mrs Rebecca CHOY YUNG
Chair, Organising Committee of Social Enterprise Summit
Welcome to the 16th Social Enterprise Summit (SES), and let me invite you to go along a path of hope and positive changes in a world still grappling with the profound challenges unleashed by the pandemic.
SES is a collaborative platform formed by a community of change-makers dedicated to making our world a better place. This year, our theme, "Sustainable Wellbeing+," invites you to embark on a transformative journey, exploring the multifaceted dimensions of holistic wellbeing and its pivotal role in forging a thriving and sustainable society, with the “+” symbolising a steadfast commitment to social innovation.
We have invited over 70 distinguished speakers from various sectors worldwide. As we return to a full physical format, so with its more immediately interactive mode, SES can be a more effective platform where civil, business, government, and academic sectors converge to foster cross-sector collaborations to address pressing social challenges. Recognising the intricate interplay between social, economic, and environmental dimensions, our discussions are revolving around social inclusion, business wellbeing, environmental sustainability and technology for social impact.
I am excited to share with you that we have a good number of heavy-weight keynote speakers this year, including Ms Winnie Ho, Secretary for Housing, Dr Romina Boarini of the OECD WISE Centre, Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the M+ Museum, and Mr Laurence Li, SC, Chairman of the Financial Services Development Council. On the first day, these distinguished leaders will share their insights on Hong Kong’s “Well-Being” design guidelines, globally sought-after wellbeing metrics, the integral role of art and culture in society, and the key elements of a successful social impact investment and financial trading center.
The second day offers three tracks: "Business & Finance," "Art & Culture," and "Technology & Innovation." The Community Engagement session delves into the relationship between individuals and the community, in forging a sustainable society. On Day 3, we proudly present the Concluding Session: 'I SAY' Youth Entrepreneurship Networking Day, where budding social entrepreneurs can present initiatives and foster connections. Additionally, there are three distinct networking opportunities to instigate cross-sector exchanges, along with two post-summit online masterclasses. All are welcome to join.
Our year-long Community Programme has spanned 10 districts throughout Hong Kong, championing local social innovation and encouraging collaboration in the areas of Northern Metropolis, Energising Kowloon East, Regenerating Old Districts, and DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) initiatives.
The phenomenal growth of SES stands as a testament to the enduring trust and support granted to us by our Advisors, Sponsors, Co-organisers, Partners and Supporting Organisations. I am also deeply grateful to the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the SIE Fund for their unwavering commitment, which has successfully demonstrated how public and social sectors can ignite powerful and positive social change.
Standing in front of us is a golden opportunity to reshape our world, elevating Sustainable Wellbeing+ from a mere convention to an aspiring partnership of different sectors to build up a different future!