Daily FT-Colombo University MBAA ESG Summit kicks off today with HSBC as strategic partner

HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor (second from left) presents the strategic partnership to Colombo University MBA Alumni Association President Chandima Samarasinghe (right). Co-Chairs of the ESG Summit Chamila Cooray (left) and Pavithra Samarasinghe are also present 

– Pic by Lasantha Kumara

The second annual ESG Summit organised by the Daily FT and the Colombo University MBA Alumni Association and HSBC as strategic partner will be held today from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo.

HSBC is supporting the Summit for the second consecutive year given the importance of promoting best practices in environment, social and governance in the country, especially in the private sector as ESG metrics are increasingly linked to performance than solely to compliance.

Environment Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe will inaugurate the summit as the Chief Guest. HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor will deliver the keynote address.

Session one will focus on “Simplification of ESG” with the main presentation by Brandix Lanka Group Sustainability Engineer Vinura Jayewardene. It will be followed by a panel discussion involving UNDP Sri Lanka Country Economist Dr. Vagisha Gunasekera, DIMO Director and Chief Financial Officer Suresh Gooneratne and Virtusa Senior Vice President and Global Head of Facilities and Sustainability Denver De Zylva. The session will be moderated by Daily FT Editor Nisthar Cassim.

The Summit will also showcase three success stories of ESG implementation. The presenters are HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Head of Wholesale Banking Kevin Green, MAS Foundation for Change Executive Director Sharika Senanayake and John Keells Holdings Vice President Nilusha Fernando.

The final session of the Summit will focus on sustainable financing, a critical component in any ESG implementation. The presenter will be HSBC Commercial Banking Asia Pacific Regional Head of Sustainability Sunil Veetil and the panelists are IFC South Asia Energy and Infrastructure Principal Investment Officer Kamal Dorabawila, KPMG Sri Lanka Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, Global Assurance, Family Business and Board Governance Piyumi Sumanasekera and Energy Council Chairman and National Chamber of Commerce General Secretary and Regen Renewable Ltd. CEO Dr. Lakmal Fernando. This session will be moderated by HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives Head of Communications Tharanga Gunesekera.

A. Baur and Company and Brandix are corporate sponsors of the ESG Summit and Sarva Colombo is the creative partner.