Accelerating the transition to a sustainable future

Professor Elvis Au, BBS, is the former Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR Government with over 37 years of experience (including 32 years in the Government) in environmental protection, sustainability, climate and energy, green procurement/buildings, green finance/bond, cross-boundary collaboration, smart city, sustainable campus initiatives, environment research, environment fund/research/education programme for schools.

He is an Adjunct Professor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), teaching climate change and energy, sustainable waste management, urban planning, environmental assessment and sustainability for undergraduate and master degree students. He is also an Adjunct Professor of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, teaching public policy for master degree students and eco-design for undergraduate students.

He is the Former President of the International Association for Impact Assessment (with members from over 120 countries), the former Chairman of the Environmental Division of Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE, with over 5000 members) and the former Chairman of the HKIE’s Green Finance Task Force.

He studied at HKU, University of California (Berkeley), Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, London University and Tsinghua University.

Caitlin Shem is a Regional Sustainability Lead at JLL with over eight years’ experience in the sustainability sector throughout Asia Pacific. She specialises in the development and implementation of decarbonisation targets and strategies for operational carbon.

Caitlin leverages her international expertise collaborating on projects at a grassroots to corporate level in Asia and Australia for commercial real estate and industrial assets to drive measurable outcomes for occupiers.

Matt has 15 years of experience in the education sector across Asia, working in positions across school operations, training and consulting. As Vice President of Operations at Guidepost Hong Kong, he works on the global Montessori education organization’s growth in Hong Kong, opening six locations in the past two years in the city. Previously, he worked on the organization’s international expansion and business development initiatives, working on school openings in Europe and across the Americas.

Prior to Guidepost, Matt set up Seeds Training’s business entity in Asia and worked with schools, corporations, and non-profits to develop education programs for students, teachers, and parents. He consulted for The Nature Conservancy, building their educational programs in Hong Kong, including the flagship Nature Works Hong Kong program, and establishing the Education and Sustainability Educators’ Network.

Matt is the co-chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee and on the board of the Hong Kong International School Alumni Association. Raised in Tokyo and Hong Kong, Matt holds a BA in History and East Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his MA in Asia-Pacific Studies from the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto.

Brett Girven has been the principal of the Arbor School Dubai since 2019 and has more than ten years of experience in the Middle East. Having moved to the UAE from his native New Zealand, Brett has a critical eye for detail, an in-depth understanding of the Dubai and UAE educational climate, and a relentless drive to ensure a high-quality education is provided for every child.

His expertise lies in assessment design and moderation, strategic deployment of technology to accelerate and enrich learning, macro and micro-level curriculum review and design using research-based methodologies and leadership.

Amy is a Year 9 student at The American School Hong Kong. To her, being a TASS ambassador is an opportunity to reflect upon and take action on many areas of sustainability. Ever since learning of the UNSDGs in a school project tracking the changing temperatures in Hong Kong, she has been inspired to take actions to address climate change. In the future, she will ensure far more sustainable systems are in place at her school.

Anna is a year 11 student at Victoria Shanghai Academy. She has worked with organisations such as Plastic Free Seas, Makerbay, and FeedingHK, and is honoured to be part of the first Youth Asia Pacific Ambassadors Programme cohort where she started her own organisation. Recently, she also worked with the ITS Youth Advisory to host the first International Youth Day event.

Annabelle is a student at the Prince of Wales Island International School. In the upcoming year, she will be the president of the school’s eco committee which aims at promoting sustainability and environmental awareness within the local community.

To her, being a TASS Ambassador means that she is able to bring her knowledge and passion towards  climate change to a higher level and share it with people that have the same perspectives towards our future. The ability to influence others is her motivation to keep on moving forward on the path towards a greener, better future.

Ava is a student at the Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS) in Penang, Malaysia. She is actively involved in the POWIIS Secondary Eco Committee, where she has dedicated her time for almost two years. The committee was formed at the start of 2021 and has already made a significant impact on the school and wider community, specifically in the area of waste management.

Emma is a junior at Shekou International School, Shenzhen. A third culture kid, she has also lived in Hong Kong and Singapore. In her free time, she enjoys writing, cycling, and is passionate about science. As a TASS ambassador, she hopes to learn more about sustainability, and help members of diverse school communities use their varied interests to make an impact.

To me, sustainability means a future. A future that will only exist for so many of us if we change the way that things are right now. Sustainability means being accountable for everything you do and how that will affect your environment and your future. The time to act is now. The world needs to wake up and realise what is happening. If everyone starts contributing, even in the smallest of ways, we might have a future to look forward to.

Jacob is a year 9 student at Kellett School, The British International School in Hong Kong. He has always been intrigued by nature and our environment, and exploring new ways to tackle climate change has always been a personal goal of his. Alongside other ambassadors, he is committed to persuading powerful individuals to find climate-friendly solutions on to prevent climate catastrophes.

Jade is a year 12 student from the Chinese International School in Hong Kong. She has previously been involved in her school’s decarbonisation initiatives and interned at TASS during the CIS Project Week in 2022. She has also been actively involved in the sustainability sector, engaging with leaders and changemakers, writing about different initiatives and publishing articles on various channels. All of this has enabled her to share her passion and promote sustainability to a wider audience.

As a TASS Student Ambassador, she hopes to share her ideas with the youth community, collaborate with students locally and globally to develop projects, lead initiatives and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Joyce is a Year 12 student at Chinese International School in Hong Kong. As a member of DITO—the school’s sustainability society, and a summer intern at Metanoia, Joyce has always been interested in improving environmental issues by making small changes within the community.

Lavina is a Year 10 student currently studying at Victoria Shanghai Academy. As a TASS ambassador, she looks forward to taking part in the journey of creating a more sustainable future for the students in our school community and advocating for systems change while walking hand in hand with other schools.

Lorelei is a year 10 student at Kellett School, The British International School in Hong Kong. She wants to drive positive change in our community while also recognising what she can improve in herself.

Sarah is a year 12 student at Canadian International School of Hong Kong, an executive of the school’s Eco-Action Club, and a member of the School’s Environmental Education Development committee. In these initiatives, she advocates for the implementation of greener policies whilst increasing environmental awareness within the school community. She is also interested in ways that biological science can be used to better manage our environmental systems and resources.

Summer is part of the Class of 2025 at Shekou International School in Shenzhen. As a TASS Ambassador, she hopes to learn more about promoting sustainability and help implement various practices in schools around TASS’ five focus areas of sustainable school food, uniforms, buses, buildings and education for sustainability.

Valerie is a student at the Canadian International School of Hong Kong. She has always had an avid interest in scientific applications for sustainable change, and in learning more about local biodiversity.