The Faculty partnered with the Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA) and the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG), HKU, to co-host the Sustainability Sharing Seminar: Best Practices on Effective Environmental Measures and Sustainability Development on October 21, 2025. Opened by Mr Samuel Lee, Chairman of the HKRMA Sustainability Task Force and Managing Director of Watsons Hong Kong, alongside Professor Eric Fong, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), the event gathered over 60 leaders from 26 corporations, SMEs, and non-profits in the Social Sciences Chamber to share insights and strategies.
Professor Fong hailed this inaugural collaboration as a milestone in connecting academic knowledge exchange with the frontline ESG challenges faced by the retail industry—ranging from supply-chain decarbonisation to community engagement. Ms Elsa Lam, Director of Experiential Learning, delivered a keynote on talent development, showcasing how internships and reflective projects foster ESG-ready graduates. Her insights complemented corporate strategies from Giormani, Meiriki Japan, Watsons Water, Café de Coral, and Lawsgroup, focusing on circularity, eco-materials, and transparent supply chains.
The seminar drove dialogue on integrating ESG into corporate culture, commercialising green innovation, and fostering mutual learning between managers and interns. A panel discussion highlighted actionable takeaways: establishing strong internal governance, pursuing purpose-driven operations, leveraging ESG for business opportunities, and harnessing youth perspectives to drive change.
This collaboration reinforced FOSS’s mission to transform classroom knowledge into societal impact, equipping students to lead Hong Kong’s retail sector toward a resilient and sustainable future.