Highlights

This webinar will explore Hong Kong’s framework for sustainability disclosures and the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC)’s consultation on a proposed regulatory framework for sustainability assurance, in the context of the city’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. Ms Janey Lai, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the AFRC, will deliver the opening remarks, followed by a briefing on the proposals by Ms Venus Kong, Director of Policy, Registration and Oversight. The programme will also feature a panel discussion and Q&A with the AFRC, moderated by Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah, JP.

Speaker(s)

Ms Janey Lai, CEO and Executive Director, AFRC

Ms Janey Lai is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the AFRC since April 2024.  Ms Lai joined the AFRC in August 2022 as the Head of Inspection and took on the additional role of Acting CEO in October 2023.

With decades of experience in Mainland China and Hong Kong, her background includes auditing, talent development, and business transformation. Ms Lai has extensive knowledge of regulatory frameworks and cross-border compliance.

Before joining the AFRC, Ms Lai was a Partner of two leading international accounting firms for over 17 years. She has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney and is a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and CPA Australia.

Ms. Venus Kong, Director – Policy, Registration and Oversight, AFRC

Ms. Venus Kong is a Director of Policy, Registration, and Oversight at the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC), where she leads the oversight of specified functions performed by the HKICPA and drives the initiative to develop a sustainability assurance regulatory framework in Hong Kong. She also contributes to policy research related to auditing, financial reporting, and corporate governance.

Before joining the AFRC, Ms Kong worked at an international accounting firm. She is a Certified Public Accountant and has extensive professional experience in providing auditing and continuing professional development services.

Moderator: 

Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah, JP 

Dr Hon Webster is a Fellow Certified Public Accountant (Practising), Chartered Tax Adviser and Registered Six Sigma Champion.  He obtained his Doctor of Business Administration degree from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2025 and currently be Legislative Council Member representing the Accountancy Functional Constituency.

Dr Ng is the founder of Webster Ng & Co., Managing Director of AC CPA Limited and Senior Partner of Uniontax (Shenzhen) International Tax Agent Firm Co. Ltd. He is currently the Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Audit Committee of two listed companies.

Dr Ng has been a member of the Sixth Election Committee (Accountancy), an Advisory Committee Member of Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC), Past President and Council Member of the Society of Chinese Accountants and Auditors (SCAA), Past President and Advisor of the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong (TIHK), Director of Accountancy Development Foundation Limited and Accountancy Caring Alliance Limited. Additionally, he is a member of Tax Policy Committee of the TIHK and has been appointed as Honorary Council member of the China Certified Tax Agents Association (CCTAA), Research Committee Member of China International Taxation Research Institute and Accounting Consultant of the Department of Finance of Guangdong Province.

Dr Ng has held various positions in accountancy sectors, and is currently a member of the Small and Medium Practices Committee of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) and SME committee member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).