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Alaya Consulting is a specialist consultancy focusing on ESG reporting, pre-assurance and sustainability training.
Alaya Consulting is a specialist consultancy focusing on ESG reporting, pre-assurance and sustainability training.
Associate consultant
Ruby Fang joined Alaya Consulting as an associate consultant in hopes to promote corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. Her main role includes day-to-day client communication, data management and preparation of reports. She graduated from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with a major in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Social Sciences. Ruby has also completed the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) accreditation training.
Associate consultant
I joined Alaya Consulting with an interest in environmental protection and sustainable development, hoping to provide better solutions for different companies, promoting sustainable development and achieving carbon neutrality. I was mainly responsible for data collection, environmental disclosure, carbon audits and assisting in the preparation of reports. I am fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. I graduated with a master’s degree in environmental engineering and management from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science from Nanjing University. I am also a yoga enthusiast.
Associate consultant
Xiaotong is responsible for handling data collection, writing ESG reports, and day-to-day client communications. She also assists with ESG disclosures and client support. She obtained her Master of Chemical Engineering in Shenzhen University, with a longterm focus on environmental pollutant assessment.
She also graduated in Bachelor of Engineering Science from Chang’an University, majoring in water pollution management.
Intern
Alisa Lam is an intern working at Alaya consulting during her gap year. She plans on studying Politics, International Relations and Global Sustainable Development at Warwick University in 2022. She has a keen interest in understanding what makes the best sustainability report, promoting corporate social responsibility and learning how to tailor sustainable strategies for different companies. She understands that implementing environmental and social policies is crucial in building a successful and resilient enterprise in today’s world. She is responsible for writing and revising reports as well as doing research for Alaya.
Management Trainee
Gabriel joined Alaya Consulting as a management trainee, responsible for conducting ESG advisory and reporting along with assisting the business development and marketing team.
He graduated from The University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree of science majored in Environmental Science. Gabriel understands that working towards improving environmental and social issues is fundamental to building a sustainable and successful business. He would like to make a positive impact by joining the ESG advisory industry.
Associate consultant
Better ESG management shapes a more resilient and sustainable future.
Responsible for handling social data collection and analysis; Assist in preparing the sustainability report and daily communications with clients; Advise clients on ESG- related issues to optimize ESG disclosure and improve ESG performance.
Graduated from Uppsala University in Sweden with a master's degree in business and economics. Master thesis themed in green finance.
Associate Consultant
Eason joined Alaya Consulting as an associate consultant, responsible for preparing ESG reports. He is passionate about sustainability and eager in helping enterprises to improve their ESG performance. He graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in science, major in Earth System Science and minor in Biology. Eason’s hobbies are playing table tennis and playing the guitar.
Consultant
Alva Yeung is keen in helping companies create sustainability strategies to help mitigate environment and social impact. Coming from an international relations background, she is familiar with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, UN Global Compact and other international initiatives. She is also responsible for social data analysis, facilitating stakeholder communication, ESG report writing and day-to-day client communication. Alva has completed the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) accreditation training.
Alva obtained her Master of International Relations and Public Affairs in University of Hong Kong and Bachelor Degree in City University of Hong Kong, major in Asian and International Studies.
Business Development and Marketing Manager
Sunny joined Alaya in 2020 with a goal to bolster ESG and sustainability in Hong Kong.
He works with Alaya to develop and promote its initiatives such as HERA and ESG Newswire.
He also works with existing and new partners to collaborate and host events promoting ESG strategy and disclosure.
Sunny has great plans to design and develop Alaya’s own ESG rating system in the coming future.
Born in India, bred in Hong Kong, and a bachelor’s degree from NYU, Sunny comes from a rich and diverse range of experiences.
He majored in Finance and Marketing and minored in Social Entrepreneurship.
He co-founded his own social enterprise, Grounded Upcycling, in New York that upcycles spent coffee grounds into soap and face masks.
In his free time, Sunny likes to go hiking, read, or play Squash!
Founder
Tony is the founder of Alaya Consulting Limited. With more than 16 years of experience in advising C-suite executives, both in-house and from the client side, he is particularly experienced in the development of corporate sustainability strategies, training, communication and ESG reporting approaches.
Tony works with client companies to help them improve disclosure levels and ESG ratings. Recent clients include AAC Technologies, CIMC, Panda Green Energy, Chiho Environmental Group, Integrated Waste Management, Baguio, MicroPort, Tianjin Port and others. Recent projects include organising the Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards, contributing to the development of industry best practices.
Tony is a Chartered Company Secretary, a GRI Nominated Trainer, a carbon audit professional accredited by the Association of Energy Engineers, a Practitioner of Institute of Environmental Management Association and a certified sustainability assurance practitioner. He has also successfully completed the practitioner training of Integrated Reporting.
Prior to setting up Alaya, Tony assumed senior roles in various leading communications agencies and a Fortune top 10 financial services group. Before embarking on his career in communications, Tony spent a number of years in banking and financial journalism. He received a master’s degree in Corporate Governance from Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a bachelor’s degree in International Business from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
HKEX Updates Listing Guidance Letter on ESG Compliance
The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) updated Guidance Letter GL86-16 for new IPO applicants in July, adding requirements on ESG disclosures. In particular, the Guidance Letter states that “it is important for applicants to put in place mechanisms that enable them to meet the Exchange’s requirements on ESG well in advance so that they are in compliance upon listing.” Before the update, disclosure of ESG risks were broadly being narrated in the “Risk Factors” section, description of some of the key and emerging ESG risks such as climate change, cyber security and infectious diseases, etc. was lacking. To ensure compliance upon listing, applicants now have to make sure all critical management approaches are in place subject to the ESG risks faced by the applicants. The time needed to make this happen will be similar to preparing an annual ESG report.
Alaya Consulting is supportive of HKEX actions on enhancing management of ESG by corporates. This is the natural next step following the more stringent ESG disclosure requirements introduced last year. As a member of the Sustainable Stock Exchange, HKEX is well positioned to benefit from becoming the frontrunner for being an ESG investing hub.
The Guidance Letter also states that “The board of directors of an applicant is collectively responsible for its management and operations, including the establishment of such mechanisms. Directors are expected to be involved in the formulation of such mechanisms and related policies. Applicants are therefore recommended to appoint directors, including independent non-executive directors, as early as possible so that directors can engage in the formulation of the necessary mechanisms and policies on corporate governance and ESG.”
Legal and auditing experts traditionally play a significant role in preparations for listing by new applicants and this update of the Guidance Letter ensures that applicants appoint an ESG expert to advise on compliance on disclosure of environmental and social management approaches. Appointment of directors to ensure ESG compliance and the level of their involvement in formulating management approaches to key ESG topics may pose challenges to listing applicants. Judging from the existing ESG disclosure requirements for issuers, board involvement remains the least touched upon area due to a lack of perceived value from ESG.
As a leading ESG advisory, Alaya has been advising leading listed companies to extract value from ESG reporting, including overhaul of management systems, attainment of improved ESG ratings, inclusion in renowned sustainability indexes, as well as receiving industry accolades for ESG reporting. We are determined to advise listed companies to generate further value from ESG by optimizing their management approaches on material topics and at the same time, bringing positive outcome to both the company and the environment and the community.
The most recent update complements HKEX previous policies on ESG reporting issued in May 2019. To ensure listed companies reach better social and governance performance, the HKEX required new applicants to disclose additional information on a broad diversity policy.