The 16th Social Enterprise Summit (SES 2023) International Symposium adopts the theme of “Sustainable Wellbeing⁺”, exploring cross-sectoral roles in holistic wellbeing in the efforts to shape a flourishing and sustainable society. Social inclusion, business wellbeing and environmental sustainability are the key focus areas in the international symposium. Over 70 speakers from various countries and regions, including famous social entrepreneurs, leaders from the business, non-profit organisations, government bodies as well as academic sectors, gathered in Hong Kong to explore different dimensions in rebuilding the society in the post-pandemic era, and to focus the way forward for a sustainable future for our society that aligns with wellbeing.

The three-day "International Symposium" featured engaging discussions and unique activities covering a wide range of topics. The inaugural "Dialogue⁺" fostered interdisciplinary conversations, while the "Community Story" is guided by Hong Kong Olympic athletes who share their authentic stories and experiences. The "I SAY: Youth Entrepreneurship Networking Day" provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and projects.

Through these interactive experiences and exchanges, delegates can connect with passionate individuals from the social innovation and other sectors to reshape social inclusion, promote businesses for good, ensure environmental sustainability, and enhance community inclusiveness and the quality of life for citizens.

Mrs Rebecca CHOY YUNG, Chair of Social Enterprise Summit Organising Committee, said: “The pandemic in the last 3 years has served as a poignant reminder of the urgency to accentuate the importance of wellbeing for every individual. In the quest for economic recovery, the wellbeing of the citizens often falls to the wayside after the resumption of normalcy. Hence, the International Symposium focuses on "Sustainable Wellbeing⁺". In the spirit of cross sectoral collaboration, SES advocates a comprehensive and inclusive approach to sustainable wellbeing and explores how holistic wellbeing can contribute to creating a thriving and sustainable society by recognising the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental issues, with the “+” symbolising a steadfast commitment to social innovation.”

The Guest of Honour, Ms HO Wing-Yin Winnie, the Secretary for Housing of the HKSAR Government, mentioned that she first participated in the Social Enterprise Summit (SES) out of curiosity about the concept of social enterprise in around 2012. Social enterprises serve as a bridge between the government and the business sector. Ms HO cited transitional housing as an example and emphasized that social enterprises bring about positive changes for individuals in need within society. She also highlighted the significance of transitional housing and simplified public housing, which provide numerous opportunities for needy families to swiftly improve their living conditions and escape from impoverished environments.

Another Guest of Honour, Mr LEUNG Wang Ching, Clarence, Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, mentioned that in recent years, more and more young people have become interested in social innovation and developing social enterprises. The Government is delighted to see youths joining and promoting social innovation by breaking the traditional business framework.

The Grand Opening was followed by the "Dialogue⁺" session. Keynote speaker, Ms HO Wing-Yin, Winnie, the Secretary for Housing, shared the concepts and details of the "Wellbeing Design" guidelines formulated by the government and how community design can contribute to the mental and physical wellbeing of residents with improved living environment. She had an in-depth dialogue with social innovators from different fields who explored creative methods to improve the quality of life in response to the changing needs of the community.

Furthermore, the event featured several social innovation pioneers from different fields who explored creative methods to improve the quality of life in response to the changing needs of the community. The speakers included Ms Cindy WONG, Chief Operating Officer of the Golden Age Foundation; Ms Tracy WONG, Co-founder of Nature Bathing; Ms. Ophelia LIN Founder and Managing Director of Meiriki Japan; Mr Harold YIP Man-ki, Co-founder of Mil Mill; and Mr LI Kin Man, Principal of Salesians of Don Bosco Ng Siu Mui Secondary School.

The "Keynote Speech cum Thematic Session" held in the afternoon consisted of two sessions.

In the first session, Mr Bernard Charnwut CHAN, Chairperson of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and Chairman of M Plus Museum, along with Dr Romina BOARINI, Director of the OECD Centre for Well-Being, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Equal Opportunity, and Mr Donald CHOI Wun-hing, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Chinachem Group, HK, shared experiences from OECD member countries' wellbeing approaches and discussed practical initiatives implemented in Hong Kong.

The second session featured Mr Laurence LI, Chairman of the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council, Dr LIU Suyi, General Manager of China Tianfu (Sichuan) Joint Equity Trading Centre, and Ms Roshini PRAKASH, Chief Knowledge Officer of the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network. They discussed "Building a High-Quality Social Impact Investment and Financial Trading Center," elaborating on the standards for sustainable development in the financial industry and financing for social enterprises. This discussion shed light on the potential for Hong Kong to establish a high-quality investment and financing exchange center for social impact.

Day 2 of the International Symposium focused on three main topics. Track 1, "Wellbeing⁺ Business & Finance," invited business leaders and investors to explore innovative strategies, trends, and opportunities in impact investing. Track 2, "Wellbeing⁺ Art & Culture," discussed innovative approaches to harness the transformative power of art and culture for social wellbeing. Track 3, "Wellbeing⁺ Technology & Innovation," explored how generative AI can assist marginalised communities in improving their lives and promoting social inclusion.

On Day 3, the Social Innovation Visits provided an immersive experience through three routes: Sustainable Route, Art & Culture Route, and Slow Living Route.

The Concluding Session, entitled "'I SAY' Youth Entrepreneurship Networking Day," showcased innovative ideas and projects from young social entrepreneurs to partners from various sectors. The session aims at fostering an empowering environment and encouraging continued support for youth social entrepreneurship.

You may re-visit the Summit by subscribing to our YouTube channel “SESummitHK” and get the latest updates from our social media pages.

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