When? September 16, 2022
Where? Hennessy Room at the Conrad hotel
Who? Colleen Yu-Fung, Marisa Yiu, Victoria Tang-Owen, Joyce Tam, Heidi Lee, Alia Eyres, Vivien Khoo
Here’s what you missed:
Founded by Tamara Gillan, The WealthiHer Network champions women on a global scale by equipping them with the financial knowledge, tools and confidence to prosper. Though Covid-19 restrictions prevented Gillan from being in Hong Kong, a pre-recorded message gave guests a warm welcome to an inspiring afternoon ahead.
Since 2019, Gillan’s platform has interviewed thousands of men and women across Asia. The result is The Changing Faces of Women’s Wealth in Asia, a report that explores the attitudes and behaviours of high-net-worth women in Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China towards their finances. “[You cannot empower and advance women on a global stage] without deeply understanding what motivates women, what makes them different, and what is holding them back. We do this through research. I’m very proud to launch the report here tonight,” Gillan said.
Key findings from the study were presented by Angelina Kwan, CEO of Stratford Finance, vice-chair of The Women’s Foundation and ambassador of The WealthiHer network. “Forty per cent of global female wealth is in Asia. If we hold up half the sky, then bloody hell, we should be having half the wealth. Financial freedom is one of the most important skills [women can have]. It’s something women need to train for, work hard for and be inspired to win at because it’s for our future,” Kwan said.
A fireside chat on funding female entrepreneurs and investing with impact with Helena Fung, head of sustainable investing at the London Stock Exchange, and Fan Cheuk Wan, managing director, chief investment officer for Asia, Global Private Banking & Wealth, HSBC, got each guest’s cogs turning. With moderation by Front & Female’s regional content director, Rachel Duffell, the women spoke about how impact investing has changed over the years; the differences between men and women’s approach to investing; and the challenges of investing with impact and advice for people looking to invest better.
Afterwards, it was time to mingle. Sarah Vee, founder of The Women of Hong Kong networking group, Olivia Cotes-James, founder and CEO of Luüna, and Tatler’s chief financial officer Michelle Lombard were spotted recreating the Charlie’s Angels pose for cameras on stage. Elsewhere, Heidi Lee, executive director of the Hong Kong Ballet, chatted with Ines Gafsi, co-founder of Female Entrepreneur Worldwide, about the work they do to inspire other women.
The buzzing room was filled with laughter and women revelling in the opportunity to connect, learn and grow. From advice from peers and sharing experiences to planning for potential collaborations, it was easy to see—there was a mighty network in the making.
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