Both inside and outside of China, the landscape for Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) compliance is quickly shifting. All signs point to ESG becoming an increasingly core component of business operations and strategy for companies across all sectors. Maintaining responsible business conduct (RBC) is, at the same time, becoming more complex. Companies can increasingly be exposed to risks if they do not stay on top of changes to both regulatory and social expectations in their operating environment.

Risk profile has skyrocketed for foreign business in China, where regulatory frameworks have started to include RBC factors. Within China, ESG awareness and reporting is growing, driven in part by the need to accelerate China’s low-carbon economy transition. Chinese customers are also demanding greater transparency about the sustainability of the products they are sourcing. Further, China’s government views sustainable development as both a domestic growth issue and an opportunity to enhance its global image. Canadian firms must understand the differing ESG requirements between their home market and China.

In response to growing interest and a need for clarity, the Canada China Business Council, in partnership with PwC China, at 10 am EDT on April 7, 2022, launched Extending our Horizons: Business and ESG Integration in China, a new report designed to help Canadian companies become better prepared to comply with evolving ESG and RBC standards. CCBC members and guests who attended this session gained a better understanding of China’s ESG policies and regulations, key stakeholders (consumers, domestic supply chain partners, etc.) and potential ESG risks.

Registration was free for CCBC members; $25+tax for non-members. Simultaneous French interpretation was available for this session.

Sponsor: 

CCBC thanks CanExport Associations for partial funding support for this program.

The link to the video presentation is available upon request. Please contact your regional Chapter Director to request access:

• Atlantic: Edward Dai
• Quebec: Philippe Jeanneau
• Ontario: Jeff Zhang
• Prairies: Philippe Jeanneau
• BC: Philippe Jeanneau
• Beijing: Noah Fraser
• Shanghai: Edward Dai

About the speakers:

Justine Hendricks
Senior Vice-President and Chief Corporate Sustainability Officer, Sustainable Business and Enablement
Export Development Canada

Since her appointment in May 2019 as Senior Vice-President, Sustainable Business and Enablement, Justine Hendricks’s focus has been on supporting continuous improvement within EDC’s business lines to be more agile, efficient and effective, while also embedding sustainable business principles and practices for the environment, human rights, social welfare—into every EDC business transaction. Ms. Hendricks joined EDC in 2006. In her previous role as Vice-President Working Capital Solutions, she led a cross-Canada team devoted to meeting the working capital needs of small- and medium-sized companies. Prior to this, she led the transformation of EDC’s Financing and Investment groups, which accounts for more than 80% of the net revenue Export Development Canada generates annually. Prior to this she led teams serving small businesses and investors in widely varied sectors, from fisheries and agriculture, to health sciences and light manufacturing.

Ms. Hendricks earned an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor of arts in urban studies from Carleton University. She holds a Certified Financial Planner Designation and, in 2007, received EDC’s Excellence in Team Leadership Award. Since 2013 she has been Chair for the Forum for Young Canadians, a foundation that provides young people with first-hand access to the minds, the procedures and the energy of Parliament Hill. In 2017 Ms. Hendricks received the Telfer School of Management Trudeau Medal, the highest honor awarded to alumni in recognition of their leadership, initiative and contributions to the business world, the community and their alma mater.

Callum Douglas
Corporate Sustainability Director, China and Asia Pacific
PwC

As PwC China and Asia Pacific Corporate Sustainability Lead and PwC Global Lead for Net Zero Measurement & Disclosure, Callum Douglas works collaboratively to deliver PwC’s local and global community and environment ambitions, including PwC’s Net Zero 2030 commitment. He is passionate about sustainability and supporting business, government and non-government organizations to take a lead in creating positive social and environmental impact.

Before joining PwC China in 2008, Mr. Douglas worked with NGOs in capacity building and corporate partnership roles, then for UNDP China as a United Nations Volunteer on a project aimed at strengthening volunteerism for development in China.

Mr. Douglas holds a BA in Chinese and Asia Pacific Studies from Leeds University and a postgraduate diploma in Economic Principles from the University of London. He has been living in Beijing since 2006.

Qian WU
Partner, Climate and Sustainability
PwC

Qian WU is a Partner of PwC China, based in Beijing. With 16 years’ work experience, she is part of the Sustainability Consulting leadership team with extensive experience in helping clients from Fortune 500 in clean-tech investment, corporate sustainability strategy, and supply chain resilience. Qian was the lead author of green finance policy recommendations for Business-20 Summit in Hangzhou in 2016 and has advised Chinese banks and government departments developing their green finance strategies. She is also active in carbon market development under the capacity of IETA China Working Group co-chair.

Prior to PwC, Ms. WU worked for the Energy and Climate Change Section in the British Embassy in Beijing and a European-based clean energy consultancy. She holds a B.A. from University of International Business and Economics, and a Master in Public Administration (M.P.A) from Columbia University.