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KPMG China Holds Launch Events at Five Offices to Mark Release of Our Impact Plan FY2022

By
Laotian Times
-

Firm is making ESG a watermark running through the organisation

  • Launched the internal carbon price (ICP) to contribute to the national ‘dual carbon’ goals
  • Supported freshwater and wetland projects to promote a greener Greater Bay Area
  • Collaborated with local non-profit organisations to support rural revitalisation

    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – On 26 April, KPMG China held offline and online launch events in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong to mark the release of its third environmental, social and governance (ESG) report, Our Impact Plan FY2022 (“the OIP Report”). The OIP Report highlights the firm’s ESG commitments and progress across four key pillars – Governance, People, Planet and Prosperity – as well as the firm’s determination to continue to commit to ESG principles and practices.

    At KPMG China, we are committed to promoting high-quality and sustainable economic and social development by supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and aligning ourselves with key national strategies such as the ‘dual carbon’ goals, rural revitalisation and Chinese modernisation. In 2022, KPMG China implemented an internal carbon price (ICP) to charge for greenhouse gas emissions related to its business travel. We also funded freshwater and wetland conservation programmes to protect the natural and ecological environment and promote a greener Greater Bay Area. In addition, we collaborated with local non-profit organisations (NPOs) to enhance their capability and ultimately promote rural revitalisation.

    Honson To, Chairman of KPMG China and Asia Pacific, said:

    “In the face of significant challenges, such as extreme weather, energy crises, geopolitical instability and more, we remain steadfast in our belief that putting ESG into practice is a core responsibility of the business community. In doing so, we have incorporated ESG principles across our company strategy, business operations and services, creating positive impacts for our people, our clients, the environment and society. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. KPMG China will strive to lead by example and take the necessary steps to put our commitments into action. In the future, ESG will continue to be the watermark running through our organisation. Together with our stakeholders, we aspire to be proactive in initiating change as we build a sustainable and promising future.”

    Tracy Yang, Head of Corporate Affairs, and Senior Partner of the Eastern and Western Region, KPMG China, said:

    “KPMG China has grown and flourished amid China’s rapid economic development. As we continue to grow our business in China, where we are deeply rooted, we remain grateful for the support of our communities. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has called for a new era of achievement to drive high-quality development and promote green and low-carbon development across society. As it embarks on this new journey, KPMG China will continue to fully support the country’s national policies through Our Impact Plan and different key strategies, in an effort to contribute to a bright future for China.”

    Commenting on the release of the OIP Report, Wilson Pang, Head of Our Impact Plan, Senior Partner of Advisory in the Southern Region, and Board Member of the KPMG Foundation, KPMG China, said:

    “Driven by Our Impact Plan, KPMG China is actively integrating ESG into its daily operations and striving to create a corporate culture that centres sustainable development. While assisting clients in achieving their own sustainable development visions, the firm is leading by example by committing itself to acting as a responsible corporate citizen, protecting the environment, helping communities in need, and supporting national strategies such as ‘rural revitalisation’ and the ‘dual carbon’ goals. Going forward, we hope to see more like-minded individuals join us on this journey so we can all play a role in building a more sustainable future.”

    Governance: Values-led corporate culture

    As a professional services firm, our purpose – to inspire confidence and empower change – guides how we do business. To safeguard the firm’s corporate governance, all partners and staff are required to complete anti-corruption training, and all of the firm’s board and Executive Committee members have completed anti-corruption training as well. We take a rigorous approach with the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) process to identify and manage potential top risks. We have also established an independent and dedicated investigation unit to receive and systematically handle cases of misconduct. We act with integrity and maintain independence, transparency and open communication with our stakeholders, and hold ourselves accountable for our actions. All of these efforts contribute to the development of a positive brand image for the firm.

    KPMG China is also committed to driving purposeful business to help our clients achieve their sustainability goals through our multidisciplinary services, including our ESG services. As part of its on-going efforts to promote green and low-carbon development in the market together with our business partners, in 2022, KPMG China signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the China Carbon Emissions Registration and Clearing Co., Ltd. (CCERC), as well as officially joined the China Carbon Neutral Action Alliance (CCNAA), led by the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange, as a council member, for the transformation to the green economy

    Wei Lin, Head of Environmental, Social and Governance at KPMG China, said:

    “More and more companies realise the necessity of integrating strong ESG practices into their operations, and they are moving quickly to determine how they can best turn these practices into a competitive advantage. Similarly, regulatory frameworks are evolving and expanding so that ESG is top of mind for many of our clients. This is translating into greater demand for our services, both existing and new. At KPMG, we are fully committed to delivering for our clients and achieving our own internal ESG goals and targets.”

    People: Respecting individuals and embracing diversity

    At the core of the People pillar is our goal of creating a caring, inclusive and values-led culture for our people. Incorporating ESG principles into our corporate culture and people strategy is a key priority. We strive to promote a gender inclusive and equitable workplace by upholding the values of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE). By 2025, globally, KPMG aims to have at least 33 percent of its leadership, including partners and directors, comprised of female professionals. At KPMG China, we take pride in achieving and going beyond this target. Specifically, 66% of our total workforce are women and 42% have taken on leadership roles (partners and directors)[1]. We continue to take actions to level the playing field for female employees so that they can meet their full potential and thrive in their careers.

    One of the ways in which KPMG engages with its young people, and encourages them to express their views and make their mark, is through our Next Generation Council (NGC) programme, which aims to develop the firm’s next cohort of future leaders. The members of the NGC act as the firm’s young “think tank” and provided our leadership with fresh views and ideas about Our Impact Plan during FY2022.

    We also foster a culture of lifelong learning by encouraging our people to continue to learn and improve their professional skills. To this end, we offer professional ESG training to all our people to empower them to become a formidable force in our ESG transformation.

    Planet: Supporting a low-carbon and greener future

    KPMG China is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and building a sustainable and resilient future. Starting from 1 October 2022 (FY23), KPMG China implemented an internal carbon price (ICP) to support the firm in reaching KPMG’s global net-zero climate goal and contribute to China’s ‘dual carbon’ goal. The ICP, which applies the ‘polluter pays’ principle, is a fee charged to responsible departments based on business travel emissions from air travel, rail travel and hotel accommodation. In FY22, KPMG China purchased 100% renewable electricity by buying renewable energy certificates (RECs), continuing a commitment that we have fulfilled since FY21. In terms of building selection and leases, we prioritise buildings with green certifications. Currently, 68% of our office floor area is located in buildings with green and/or wellness-related certifications.

    Improving nature and biodiversity is one of our key commitments. To this end, we have collaborated with many local and global NPOs to support conservation projects that bring positive impacts to the environment. For example, we participated in a mangrove wetland restoration programme that aims to improve the ecological habitat of migratory birds and protect local wetland resources and promote a greener Greater Bay Area. We also supported a freshwater project that is protecting water resources in the Dongjiang Basin in Guangdong province. This project reduced the environmental impact caused by sewage discharge, resulting in an improvement of the rural living environment and therefore contributing to rural revitalisation.

    Prosperity: Collaborating closely to promote sustainable development

    The OIP report shows that, in line with our three-year strategy, we continued to pursue our regional penetration strategy during FY22 by setting up five new offices, as well as a KPMG Digital Ignition Centre (KDi) in Dalian. As at 30 September 2022, we had a presence in 30 cities[2] across China with a headcount of over 15,000 people, representing a 15.3% increase from the end of the firm’s previous financial year. Our regional penetration strategy provides a major channel for us to attract and recruit new professional service talent, while also creating more job opportunities, empowering local talent pools and fostering economic growth in China.

    At KPMG, we believe in lifelong learning, and for this reason, we have launched the global ’10by30′ strategy, which aims to economically empower over 10 million disadvantaged young people by 2030 through education, employment and entrepreneurship. Under this programme, we are equipping disadvantaged youths with future-ready skills and a work-based learning experience so that they can adapt and be competitive in their future careers. Meanwhile, KPMG China runs the STEM is HER Future programme, which aims to encourage promising female students to pursue STEM careers. In 2022, the programme was recognised by UN Women at the National Women’s Empowerment Principles awards as the winner of the Community Engagement and Partnerships category, acknowledging KPMG China’s contribution to promoting gender equality in the community. Since 2022, KPMG China has collaborated with the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) to support human capital development. We are utilising our strengths to provide professional volunteering services to empower social organisations in less developed areas through CFRD. This collaboration will help improve the financial management of social organisations, promoting standardised management and professional development, thus contributing to rural revitalisation.

    [1] As of 30 September 2022

    [2] As at 31 March 2023, KPMG China expanded its presence to 31 cities in China.

    • Hashtag: #KPMGChina

    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

    About KPMG China

    KPMG China has offices in 31 cities, with more than 15000 partners and employees in Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dongguan, Foshan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi’an, Zhengzhou Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region. Under the close cooperation of these agencies, KPMG China is able to efficiently and quickly mobilize various resources to provide high-quality services to customers.

    KPMG is a global organization composed of independent professional members, providing professional services such as auditing, taxation, and consulting. KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) is a member of KPMG that conducts business operations for the brand and provides professional services. KPMG can refer to an independent member firm within a KPMG global organization, as well as one or more KPMG member firms.

    KPMG members are located in 143 countries and regions worldwide, with over 265000 professionals. Each member is an independent legal entity, and their description of themselves is also the same. Each KPMG member independently assumes their own obligations and responsibilities.

    KPMG International Limited is a UK private guarantee limited liability company. KPMG International and its affiliated entities do not provide any customer service.

    In 1992, KPMG became the first international accounting firm approved for Sino foreign cooperation in mainland China. On August 1, 2012, KPMG became the first of the four major accounting firms to switch from a Sino foreign cooperative system to a special general partnership. KPMG Hong Kong was established even earlier in 1945. The pioneering opportunity to enter the market and our relentless pursuit of quality have accumulated rich industry experience. Many well-known Chinese companies have long hired KPMG to provide professional services in a wide range of fields, including auditing, taxation, and consulting, which also reflects KPMG’s leadership position.

    Garment Innofacturer® TAL Apparel Receives its First ‘Caring Company” Commendation

    By
    Laotian Times
    -
    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – TAL Apparel today has joined the ranks of a niche but growing range of socially and environmentally conscientious companies in Hong Kong by sweeping up the “Caring Company Logo” 2022-2023 for its resolute effort and dedication to its people, the community and the environment. Organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), the Caring Company Program aims to foster strategic partnerships between the business and social welfare sectors to promote corporate social responsibility while building an inclusive society.

    “Winning the ‘Caring Company’ award is a testament to TAL Apparel’s unwavering commitment to our employees, the environment, and the communities we serve. We have always aimed to lead change in how the world sustainably clothes itself and believe that the positive and lasting changes a company creates can measure its true success. This recognition fuels our determination to continue fostering this culture of care and compassion.” said Roger Lee, CEO of TAL Group.

    To qualify for the award, companies are required to have made specific contributions to the community, environment, and their employees. In the past year, TAL:

    1. Donated over 100,000 pieces of personal protective equipment and over 1,000 Enro masks, which were a dire requirement of the communities locally.
    2. Partnered with selected NGOs and charities to address specific needs, including charity donations through TAL’s ‘Hearty Bags’ programme with the Christian Action.
    3. Organized the Green Hero Challenge to clean up Hong Kong’s hiking trails in collaboration with The Green Earth.
    4. Organized ‘Move for Good’, where 38 participants walked over 13 million steps a month with the winning teams to nominate charities that received HK$2,000 each from TAL.
    5. Encouraged 31 employees to complete 36-hour professional training and obtained the Certificate of Competence in First Aid.

    Please download the imagery from this link.

    Hashtag: #TALApparel

    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

    About TAL Apparel

    First established in 1947 in Hong Kong, TAL Apparel is one of the largest garment operations in the world, driven by a simple formula of combining quality garments, on-time delivery and product innovation. Today, TAL Apparel is best known as the supplier of one of every six men’s dress shirts sold in the U.S. market, producing technologically advanced garments that combine superior styles, comfort, and functionality.

    DETERMINANT Spring/ Summer ‘23 Collection

    By
    Laotian Times
    -

    The Gelato-fueled Flash Sale with Venchi

    Scoop Up Your Style This Summer


    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – As summer approaches, we celebrate the exuberance and vibrancy of the season. However, the humid and hot weather in Hong Kong may be hindering us from enjoying summertime to the fullest.

    But fear not. DETERMINANT is proud to present the all-new Spring/ Summer ’23 collection. Featuring a range of must-haves – from dress shirts to T-shirts, the minimal designs are paired with outstanding functionalities, keeping you cool, dry and comfortable, and ready to take on any challenges.

    All eyes be on the InstantCool series, VISDRY™ series, and items equipped with “Moisture Management” technology, which effectively get rid of the frustrations brought on by the heat and sweat.

    The InstantCool series provides a refreshing summer experience that’s unlike anything else.

    • It features a special blend of mentha extract infused into the fibers, transforming sweat into a cooling sensation. Pairing with moisture management technology, and natural antibacterial properties, this series rapidly evaporates sweat and moisture to help you stay dry, cool, and comfortable throughout the day. Whether you’re commuting to work or reveling in your leisure time after hours, you can enjoy summer – undistracted.

    VISDRY™ special fabric surfaces free you from sweat and sweat stains – the only embarrassing things about summer.

    • The hydrophilic inner surface absorbs moisture quickly, then is spread out to evaporate faster, making the fabric feels great and dry on your skin. ​Meanwhile, the hydrophobic outer surface serves as the gatekeeper of resistance, wicking away showers of rain, and bringing any lingering sweat to a dead stop. Hiding your underarms sweat marks perfectly.

    To celebrate the launch of DETERMINANT’s all-new Spring/ Summer ’23 Collection, DETERMINANT is partnering with Italian Choco-gelato Master Venchi, to bring you the most irresistible offers*, for an icy start of this exciting summer!

    Nothing beats the feeling of the warmth of the summer sun, while savoring an icy goodie. DETERMINANT has taken this opportunity to join hands with Venchi, to let you experience how InstantCool allows you to stay cool, dry and comfortable, and indulge in Venchi’s signature gelato.

    Visit DETERMINANT’s stores at Festival Walk and MOKO this weekend (29/4 & 30/4), sign up for The DETERMINANT Club, and complete simple tasks, to enjoy a complimentary scoop of Venchi’s gelato, 50% off all T-shirts, and 30% off all other items.

    Event Details
    Date: 29th April 2023 (Festival Walk) & 30th April 2023 (MOKO) ​
    Time: 12:00 nn – 6:00 pm ​
    Location: DETERMINANT Festival Walk Pop-up Store & DETERMINANT MOKO Store

    *Terms and conditions apply. Complimentary gelato only available while stocks last.

    Hashtag: #DETERMINANT #The61S


    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

    About DETERMINANT

    DETERMINANT specializes in providing simple yet functional menswear and accessories. The brand turns years of research into simple essentials, so that its customers can focus on the things that matter. Their cutting-edge technologies enable them to produce shirts that are wrinkle-free, anti-odor, anti-bacterial, and highly breathable – gearing men up every day in no time.

    DETERMINANT Online Shop and Store Details

    MOKO Store
    Shop 166, 1/F, MOKO, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mongkok, Kowloon
    59693709

    SOGO Causeway Bay
    Shop 5-20D, 5/F, SOGO, 555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
    28318527

    Eslite Spectrum Tai Koo
    G026, Shop 74, G/F, Eslite Spectrum, Cityplaza, 18 Tai Koo Shing Road, Tai Koo Shing
    98191951

    Eslite Spectrum Tsim Sha Tsui
    L318 & L319B, 3/F, Eslite Spectrum, Star House, 3 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
    94141056

    Festival Walk (Pop-Up Store)
    Kiosk H, LG2, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong
    53382214

    Zuellig Pharma Recognised with A Score Of “A-” On CDP Supplier Engagement In Industry First

    By
    Laotian Times
    -

    Recognition further affirms company’s decarbonisation efforts, having been awarded the CDP Climate Change score of “B” for 2022

    SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – Zuellig Pharma, one of the largest healthcare services groups in Asia, has announced its score of “A-” for Supplier Engagement from global carbon disclosure platform CDP, making it the first and only company worldwide in its activity group to receive this recognition. This comes on the back of scoring “B” on CDP Climate Change earlier in the year. Zuellig Pharma first participated in this voluntary disclosure in 2021 and has improved their Climate Change score from “C” to “B”, and their Supplier Engagement score from “B” to “A-” within a year. Their improved scores set them well above the global, Asia and industry averages and is a testament to their long-standing commitment to sustainability and driving climate action across the value chain.

    CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impact.

    “These ratings affirm our decarbonisation efforts in an industry where 70% of greenhouse gas emissions sit within the value chain. We are proud to receive recognition and are grateful to our suppliers for their commitment to sustainable business, which has enabled us to navigate the complexity of coordinating these efforts in an operationally diverse environment. We will continue working closely with our clients, customers and suppliers to drive our sustainability agenda and make a positive impact on the communities we serve,” said John Graham, CEO, Zuellig Pharma.

    Active engagement with suppliers to reduce carbon footprint
    Zuellig Pharma is the first and only company worldwide in their activity group (Road Transport) to make it to the A-list for CDP’s Supplier Engagement Rating (SER). The SER acknowledges that purchasing organisations have the potential to incentivise significant environmental changes in their supply chain through supplier engagement best practices. A significant portion of Zuellig Pharma’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions focuses on Scope 3 emissions[1] through procurement policies. The company incorporates sustainability criteria within its supplier selection processes and contracts and prioritises working with suppliers that demonstrate commitment to reducing their carbon footprint. Suppliers are required to report the carbon impact of activities, and the company’s largest suppliers have environmental targets that Zuellig Pharma maps against its own carbon reduction targets.

    Sustainability initiatives with suppliers to reduce Scope 3 emissions include the use of biofuel and newer generation engines, driver training and monitoring to promote emission-reducing driving habits, innovative insulation in cold trucks to reduce the use of aircon blowers, aerodynamic improvement to achieve fuel savings, and constant refinement of asset utilisation rates and routes. These efforts are tracked and assessed on the IntegrityNext platform, which provides insights on suppliers’ sustainability practices and enables Zuellig Pharma to flag improvement areas and mitigate issues through ongoing dialogue and education.

    In addition, Zuellig Pharma runs Sustainability Development Programmes to drive concrete and timebound actions to improve sustainability performance. It also works with suppliers on one-off sustainability initiatives, such as co-developing the use of solar panels to power refrigeration units in delivery vehicles in Malaysia and launching an electric-powered fleet in South Korea to reduce its carbon footprint and increase fuel efficiency.

    Organisation-wide commitment to reducing greenhouse gases recognised by CDP
    The score of “B” on Climate Change awarded by CDP for 2022 recognises Zuellig Pharma’s commitment to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 42% as well as a 25% reduction in absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 2030, in addition of its goal to be carbon neutral in its own operations by that year. These targets have also been validated and approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company has gained a comprehensive view of its total direct, downstream and upstream GHG and identified opportunities for emissions reduction by screening all Scope 3 categories listed by the GHG Protocol to identify those relevant to its activities. This has enabled it to initiate actions such as:

    • Reducing energy use from IT infrastructure by moving most of its regional services from on-premises hosting to cloud-based Microsoft Azure data centres, achieving greater energy efficiency of up to 93% and greater carbon efficiency of up to 98%.
    • Rolling out solar panel installation starting in Taiwan and Vietnam with installation planned for Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia in 2023. This has so far generated 5.4M kWh, covering 5% of electricity needs.
    • Switching to electric vehicles – The company is actively moving towards greener transport fleets in selected markets. By 2030, internal combustion engine (ICE) delivery vehicles will be phased out in Singapore, while Korea will use electric vehicles for all short-distance deliveries.

    Apart from CDP ratings, Zuellig Pharma’s sustainability efforts have also been recognised with the EcoVadis Platinum certification for two years running, placing the company at the top 1% of all assessed companies worldwide and ranking it #1 globally in their industry amongst 2,800 logistics leaders. Its latest Sustainability Report can be found here.

    [1] Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions generated by operating vehicles or computers. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions caused by the energy purchased and consumed by an organisation. Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions produced when customers use the company’s products, or when suppliers manufacture products used by the company. Source: What are Scope 3 emissions and how it differs from Scope 1 and 2 | World Economic Forum (weforum.org). Accessed: 6 Apr 2023

    Hashtag: #ZuelligPharma #Sustainability #Healthcare #ESG #Pharmaceutical #Scope3 #GHG

    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

    About Zuellig Pharma

    Zuellig Pharma is one of the largest healthcare services groups in Asia, and our mission is to make healthcare more accessible to the communities we serve. We provide world-class distribution, digital and commercial services to support the growing healthcare needs in this region. The company was started a hundred years ago and has grown to become an over US$15 billion business covering 16 markets with over 13,000 employees. Our people serve over 350,000 medical facilities and work with over 500 clients, including the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.

    Hong Kong’s First Resin Art Exhibition by 90s Artist Rolland Cheung

    By
    Laotian Times
    -

    Features Three Exhibition Areas Combining Multimedia Installations, Large Resin Artworks, and Earliest Works.

    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – The first resin art exhibition in Hong Kong “time” has opened in Sham Shui Po. — Presented by Agape Design Limited (Hong Kong’s first resin art brand) ,the first solo exhibition of Rolland Cheung in Hong Kong. Rolland Cheung’s first resin art solo exhibition will be on display for a limited three-week period in May. The theme of the exhibition is about time, showcasing Rolland’s three latest large-scale resin art pieces and twenty pieces mixed media resin works. Also, He special present a “new media” digital art installation and combined with unique interior setup experiences. Rolland first times showcase his earliest work from 2016 – “flourish”, which is the only piece has been preserved. Recently, he created large-scale paintings and restaurant art concept for some of the Mirror’s members, making Rolland widely known by the public.

    The 90s Young Artist Rolland Cheung First Solo Exhibition —— 《Settle : wind, tender and speed》, explores the theme of time as a human construct. It combines unique spatial design and music to achieve an ethereal state that to “sattle” and into the paintings. The exhibition hall is divided into three areas: “Wind,” “Tender,” and “Speed,” representing the essence and stages of three types of time. It combines Western philosophy, Japanese aesthetics幽玄, and Chinese aesthetics留白, with resin art as the main medium. The exhibition aims to inspire visitors to reflect on and explore the authenticity of time.。The exhibition features three exhibition areas, for which contemporary Japanese calligrapher Youna Matsushita has created calligraphy titles.

    The exhibition will be held from May 5th to May 21st at the Parallel Space Gallery, located at 202 Dai Tai Street in Sham Shui Po, and will be open to the public free of charge from noon to 7 p.m. The calligraphy on the “Entrance to the Painting” leaflet was personally created by Rolland. During the exhibition period, a limited edition of 100 copies of the poetry collection “Imaginings” published in 2021 will be available for purchase. In addition, there will be a “limited edition” of English poetry made with food printing technology, which will be available for sale in the form of keto chocolate or gummy candy.

    Resin The Art “Time” Exhibition Introduction
    《Settle : wind, tender and speed》
    Rolland Cheung First Solo Exhibition
    Time flies too fast? I wish there were 25 hours in a day? Hurry up…time is running short!
    Albert Einstein said : “Time is not condition of existence, time is an illusion.”

    Time and space is a model for thinking, but humans are always struggling against time.
    “Settle” yourself and into the paintings to experience your own time zone, a time of forgetting time. Using the wind, tender and speed to paint the time of memories.

    Three large resin artworks, earliest work, and more than 20 medium-sized resin artworks

    The three large pieces use the latest painting techniques and have no obvious color contrast or strong directional texture composition. The purpose is to reduce all strong languages and allow viewers to ” Settle ” in the warmest way possible using monochromatic tones and low contrast. The entire ” Tender ” area is made up of newly created works from 2023 and is painted in a monochromatic blue tone.

    Among the medium-sized works is ” Flourish ” (300mm dia., resin on wood), which is Rolland’s earliest batch of works from 2016. At that time, there were only eight pieces, and this is the only one remaining. It is very precious, as it has recorded the earliest creative techniques and mindset that cannot be replicated today. Its value is $400,000 HKD, and it is the first time it has been publicly exhibited. The other piece (250mm x 330mm, oval shape) is a three-dimensional work created with fabric and resin, and is presented in a contrast between softness and hardness with a specially made stainless steel oval frame.

    The exhibition combines multimedia installation art

    The exhibition will feature a circular work of 800mm dia. The content is a pattern that generates randomly and endlessly without repetition. The cost of creating this multimedia art installation alone exceeds $200,000 HKD, which is truly precious. The work aims to show the state of the world at the beginning of the universe, when there was no time, only light, water and oxygen. From a distance, it looks like a rotating sun, and up close it looks like a mass of gas or water flowing endlessly. It will expand and contract with time, change color with dawn, noon and night, and imitate the existence of the sun and moon. All changes will not be repeated, just as time flows, it will only go forward. The scene in front of you is unique every time, which is a life time programme digital artwork.

    The exhibition process is recommended to begin at the entrance

    Viewers should prepare themselves to ” Settle.” They should then proceed to the ” tender” area on the ground floor, where they can step on soft ground. Walking forward through a narrow entrance, they will enter the semi-dark “wind” area, where they can view up close three large circular paintings that Rolland frequently uses. Going up the stairs to the first floor, they will enter the all-black “Speed” area, where the floor is covered with semi-reflective black cloth, reflecting the multimedia installation art in the farthest corner. It looks like a rotating sun, symbolizing something that will not stop or reverse. Along the sides of the space are works resembling picture frames that symbolize memories.

    1)《tender》

    Symbolism: Transcending Time – Settle

    Wrapping all visible objects with cloth, sealing all items with “time elements,” and covering time traces to influence the immersion in the painting. Stepping into a soft space, the focus is on tactile and visual senses, accompanied by ethereal music to enter the painting. Breaking the inherent inertia of space and creating a viewing experience from different angles to facilitate immersion into the painting. Each work in the ” tender “area is accompanied by a short poem to present the artistic conception of the painting.

    2)《wind》

    Symbolism: Time that Never Ceases

    Time is affected by “entropy” and can only increase, not decrease, irreversible. Through the response of flowing tangible objects and space, the structure of time is experienced.

    3)《Speed》

    Symbolism: Time of Memories

    The speed of time is affected by memories, mood, and feelings. Time can be fast or slow depending on personal preferences (happy is fast, sad is slow). Matter comes before time; time is only a mental concept. The reflection of time appears in memories, which are irreversible.。

    The “Speed” area features a series of framed works (250mm x 330mm, 5pcs, oval) combining elements such as cloth and metallic paint, as well as the “Flower Core” work (300mm dia., 2016) with flowers as the theme. These works focus on tangible objects because objects are prior to time; only with tangible objects can time be revealed. Objects are closely related to memories. Memories are the expression and synthesis of time (past, present, and future). Additionally, 250mm x 330mm, 3pcs showcases three works drawn in “the fastest time possible” to explore how to draw a painting in the shortest time and counter the claim that making time-consuming artwork is valuable.

    The 90s Young Artist Rolland Cheung previously collaborated with Mirror member Jer to design a restaurant featuring a massive 2.5-meter resin art piece

    Finally, the large resin painting “風華風景之一” by Jer, a member of the Mirror boy group, is currently on display at Root Cafe, standing at 2.5 meters tall. Its name was inspired by a calligraphy piece by Wucius Wong, and it is one of the scenery pieces, but the only one that represents the wind. The wind is visually present but invisible, and the white appears to be leaves but is not, leaving room for viewers to imagine. The inspiration comes from Japanese woodblock prints of slanted rain and a close-up style, highlighting the contrast between white and green, as well as the contrast between the primitive and the bright, leading viewers into the painting.

    What is Resin Art?

    Resin art is an art form that typically involves using resin and pigments on canvas or other flat media to create artwork. Resin is a high-transparency, high-viscosity material that can provide shine and depth to the artwork. The process of creating resin art involves mixing resin and pigments together, pouring them onto flat media, and using various tools and techniques to create interesting patterns and textures. The finished product of this art form typically has vibrant colors, rich textures, and depth, and has uniqueness and value.

    About Rolland Cheung

    Rolland Cheung founded Agape Design Ltd in 2017, which is Hong Kong’s first resin art brand with extensive media coverage. Agape is a Greek word that means divine love. He has collaborated with well-known brands such as the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Marriott, K11, Hong Kong Jockey Club, HK property developers…etc. Focus on large-scale resin art paintings and installations.

    《Settle : wind, tender and speed》— Rolland Cheung First Solo Exhibition Introduction
    Venue: Parallel Space Gallery
    Address: 202 Tai Nan St, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
    Date: 5-21 May 2023
    Time: 12:00 – 19:00
    Entrance Fee: Free
    Ｗebsite: https://agape-resin.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resin.agape
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agape_design

    Hashtag: #張滙希 #時間主題畫展 #樹脂畫藝術 #樹脂畫 #首個樹脂畫畫展 #樹脂畫藝術展 #90後藝術家 #個人展 #藝廊 #多媒體裝置藝術 #張滙希個人畫展 #樹脂藝術 #免費開放 #深水埗大南街 #大南街 #樹脂 #parallelspace藝廊 #parallelspace #resinart #agapedesignlimited #agapedesign #RollandCheung #Mirrorcafe #agapedesign #rootcafe #resinartexhibition #sattle #TaiNanStreet #hkresinart #soloexhibition #shamshuipo #resinartworks #multimediaart


    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

    Undergrads from SP Jain’s Class of 2022 land international jobs

    By
    Laotian Times
    -

    Students of this latest class secured job offers from Australia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, and the US.

    SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – Australian business school, SP Jain School of Global Management, which has campuses in Singapore, Dubai, Sydney and Mumbai, announced today the successful placements for its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students – Class of 2022.

    The graduating class has students securing job offers across nine countries: Australia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, and the USA. Australia emerged as the top international destination with 45% of the graduates who secured jobs opting to stay in Australia after the completion of their degree.

    Top recruiters this season include global companies such as Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Australian Marketing Institute, State Bank of India, ClickedOn, Dell Technologies, and British American Tobacco. The marketing, finance, sales and business development fields accounted for a majority of the overall offers. The average starting salaries for this latest class range from AUD 55,000 to AUD 65,000 per annum.

    Speaking of the success of the Class of 2022, Dr Vaidyanathan “Vaidy” Jayaraman, Dean – Undergraduate Programs at SP Jain said – “I am immensely proud of our BBA 2022 graduates for their remarkable achievements in securing job offers at top global companies across nine countries. Their success is a testament to the high-quality education and comprehensive global learning that we provide through our multi-city model. By living, studying, and interning in leading business cities such as Singapore, Mumbai, Dubai, and Sydney, our graduates have developed the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in today’s global business landscape. The multi-city model of our program has equipped them with cross-cultural communication skills, the ability to work effectively in diverse teams, and a deep understanding of international business practices. We have no doubt that they will continue to make a significant impact in their respective industries and we are thrilled to have played a role in their success.”

    “Being able to spend four years of my bachelor’s degree in four different cities – Mumbai, Dubai, Madrid (on an exchange partnership), and Sydney was very conducive to my personal development. The exposure to other cultures gave me the space to explore things I wouldn’t have otherwise – I ended up learning from legislators working with the EU during my exchange at IE, for example. SP Jain gave me a platform to start Girl Up Sydney, which culminated with me being invited to share my fundraising experience at the United Nations, and I’ll always be grateful to have had the opportunity to go beyond my comfort zone at each step. Working in management consulting requires a certain level of comfort with ambiguity & an appreciation for variety – both of which I developed as a result of the dynamic nature of my BBA degree.” shared Pooja Agrawal from the Class of 2022. On completing her BBA program last year, Pooja started working as a Graduate Consultant with Levant Consulting, Australia.

    The BBA of SP Jain is a 4-year multi-city program that is accredited by Australia’s Tertiary Education Quality & Standards Agency (TEQSA). Students travel to Singapore/Mumbai for Year 1 of the program, Dubai for Year 2 and Sydney for Years 3 and 4, graduating with an Australian degree.

    SP Jain launched the BBA program in 2010 and has since attracted students and faculty from around the world. The latest graduating class includes students from countries such as Bolivia, Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Spain, Mexico, Mauritius, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

    As an international student, you may be able to continue to live and work in Australia temporarily, following the completion of your undergraduate degree at S P Jain. While graduating students can apply for a post-study work visa, it is not a guaranteed outcome of the program. For eligibility and more information, please visit: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

    Hashtag: #SPJain

    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

    ABOUT S P JAIN SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT (SP JAIN)

    S P Jain School of Global Management is an Australian business school that provides modern, relevant and practical global business education. With campuses in the dynamic business hubs of Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney, S P Jain is renowned for its multi-city undergraduate and postgraduate programs as well as doctoral, executive and short-term online programs. For its flagship Global MBA program, the School has been ranked by reputed international publications such as , , and .

    S P Jain is registered as an Institute of Higher Education by the Australian Government’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Upon graduation, students receive a degree conferred by SP Jain School of Global Management, Australia. The School is registered as a Private Education Institution (PEI)* by the Committee for Private Education (CPE), Singapore, and permitted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Government of Dubai, UAE. Click to read more.

    *Name of PEI (Private Education Institution): S P Jain School of Global Management. Committee for Private Education (CPE) is part of Skills Future Singapore (SSG) Registration Number of PEI: 200516544Z | Period of Registration: 09 May 2017 to 08 May 2023.

    Organisations in North Asia urged to leverage the power of security automation as security incidents increase

    By
    Laotian Times
    -
    • 32 per cent of firms in North Asia have seen a significant increase in serious security incidents across their entire IT stack in the past 12 months
    • One in five North Asian firms have dealt with a security breach
    • Only 24 per cent of regional organisations are ‘advanced’ in leveraging security automation


    TAIPEI, TAIWAN / BEIJING, CHINA / HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – Telstra, a leading global telecommunications and technology company, today published research in partnership with research and advisory consultancy Omdia, exploring how companies are leveraging security technology for resilience and innovation in North Asia.

    Working with Omdia, Telstra surveyed 250 senior technology decision makers at the end of 2022, to understand the state of Security Operations (SecOps) in North Asia, assessing security automation maturity across a range of complex technology environments and threats[1].

    The purpose of the survey was to discover how organisations secure and defend their business from threats through automation, by exploring security automation maturity across the technology stack and end-to-end threat management. The newly launched whitepaper aims to arm security executives with the insights they need to bolster their organisational cybersecurity resilience and support their ongoing digital transformation projects.

    “There is a real opportunity for organisations to leverage automation to drive operational efficiency and address known security incidents, allowing operational teams to focus on higher risk threats. This has the potential to reduce staff burnout and better safeguard vital business assets,” said Paul Abfalter, Head of North Asia at Telstra.

    The survey found that 32 per cent of firms have seen an increase in cyber-attacks over the past 12 months across their entire IT stack, most notably endpoints, network and operational technology devices. 66 per cent of organisations that experienced significantly increased serious security incidents also observed a surge in serious breaches.

    The research also revealed 40 per cent of firms lost revenue due to these attacks, whilst 38 per cent suffered reputational damage and 34 per cent sustained operational downtime. However, security leaders are confident that with better security automation, they could reduce nearly 50 per cent of all serious security incidents. The research found that only 24 per cent of regional organisations are advanced in leveraging security automation, confirming that the rate of security automation is relatively low in North Asia, with limited use across the region.

    “Security is becoming a growing concern, and a potential constraint to digital ambitions in the region. Security automation is vital to address this challenge. Leveraging automation in SecOps can enrich threat telemetry, unify toolsets, and harness AI/ML advancements to better protect, detect and respond to advanced persistent threats. However, technology alone won’t solve the problem. Third party expertise is critical to address people, process and tool impacts within each firm’s industry context, regulatory requirements, and corporate objectives.” Adam Etherington, Senior Principal Analyst for Digital Enterprise Services at OMDIA.

    Although many organisations are investing in additional cybersecurity platforms to overcome rising incidents and breaches, this has resulted in sprawling toolsets that generate a higher volume of alerts and false positives. The survey found that a large volume of threat alerts, alarms, tickets, and possible incidents generated by various security tools are causing issues for security professionals.

    The false positives overwhelming security teams are caused by a dramatic increase in the attack surface as more operational technology (OT) devices become integrated with IT systems, lagging patch and device management across legacy technologies and a wide variety of non-integrated toolsets.

    “Security executives must continually assess their organisational cybersecurity resilience to support ongoing digital transformation, leverage the right cyber partner and unlock value from security tools. Reaching optimised automation can be a long journey. It is important to work with experienced and trusted specialists to discover the best adoption and operational model for your organisation,” Paul Abfalter added.

    For more details, please click on the link below to download the research report:
    http://www.telstra.com/security-automation-whitepaper

    Download Country factsheet (Taiwan): https://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/355421
    Download Country factsheet (China): https://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/355434
    Download Country factsheet (Hong Kong): https://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/355441

    [1] 50 per cent of those surveyed were IT executives, including CIO, CTO and CISO, and 50 per cent were senior technology leaders and senior consultants. 50 per cent of the organisations had 100-999 employees and 50 per cent had 1000+ employees. The key sectors focused on were BFSI, Transport & Logistics, Retail & Wholesale, Manufacturing and Healthcare.

    Hashtag: #Telstra

    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

    About Telstra

    Telstra is a leading telecommunications and technology company with a proudly Australian heritage and a longstanding, growing international business.

    Today, we operate in over 20 countries outside of Australia, providing services to thousands of business, government, carrier and OTT customers. Telstra Enterprise is a division of Telstra that provides data and IP networks and network application services, such as managed networks, unified communications, cloud, industry solutions and integrated services.

    Telstra Purple, our professional and managed services business in Australia, Asia and the UK, brings together people and innovative solutions to define and deliver a clear vision of our customers’ transformation journey, network foundation, and the protection they need to thrive.

    These services are underpinned by our subsea cable network, one of the largest in the Asia Pacific region, with licenses in Asia, Europe and the Americas, and access to more than 2,000 Points-of-Presence around the world.

    For more information, please visit .

    Early Learning’s Fun Preschool Reduces Staff Turnover and Boosts Retention Rates

    By
    Laotian Times
    -

    Local preschool’s creative strategies foster a positive work culture

    SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 27 April 2023 – High staff turnover rate has always been a topic of concern in Singapore, especially more so in the early childhood education sector. One preschool, however, is bucking the trend of high turnover rates with its enviable staff retention numbers, with over 50% of its staff having served in the school for 10 years or longer.

    Andy Teo and Staff from ELF Preschool


    Early Learnings’s Fun Preschool     (ELF) is a small and independently owned Preschool that was founded in 2009 by local optometrist and entrepreneur, Andy Teo, and has since been engaging families and children in the upper Bukit Timah area with 60-70 students at any point in time. As a developmental optometrist, he conducts regular annual eye screenings for his students from 18 months to ensure that his students are able to see clearly.

    With reasons such as long working hours, a stressful working environment, lack of a work-life balance, high emotional demands and many others, it comes as no surprise that the turnover rate in the early childhood education sector in Singapore has been between 10 – 15 per cent over the last few years, in a workforce of about 23,000 people. From this, it is worth noting that while passion is essential and praiseworthy in such an industry, it is not enough to retain educators in this industry.
    While Andy Teo, director of ELF Preschool does recognize the importance of ensuring the happiness of the children, he also places equal emphasis on the satisfaction and well-being of the educators. Currently, over half of his team, most of which are locals, have worked alongside him for a decade or longer, with some having been with him since the school’s founding. On average, each staff member has been with ELF Preschool for 8 years.

    Andy Teo, therefore, recognises that early childhood education is a physically demanding job with a high level of burnout and continues to find interesting ways to foster staff retention.

    ELF Preschool instils a sense of family and togetherness in the workplace, the staff members are more inclined to support each other in various situations, such as aiding a colleague with their lesson planning, or taking over their class, if the colleague is absent due to various circumstances. This strong sense of bonding amongst colleagues has been a source of comfort, ensuring that everyone can take time off when needed, with the assurance that their colleagues will step in to provide support and maintain work-life balance.
    Andy Teo, who takes pride in seeing happy teachers and happy children in the school, believes that replicating this close-knit familial atmosphere may not be easily achievable. “Currently, there are no plans for a second school,” says Andy Teo. “Instead, we wish to focus our efforts on enhancing the current school’s standards and maintaining the nurturing environment that has been cultivated over the years”.

    ELF Preschool continues to consult with and identify the needs of their staff, which have aided in their efforts to retain staff, leading Andy Teo to invest in the development of an app to further reduce the staff’s workloads, assisting them through tasks such as creation and organisation of lesson plans, evaluation, quantitative analysis of child’s development and report writing so that staff can work more efficiently and reduce administrative efforts.

    At ELF Preschool, staff take ownership through creative problem-solving and critical thinking, and are given autonomy to make individual or collective decisions, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction. Major decisions are also discussed with the staff, rather than a top-down system, which further encourages unity and cooperation.

    In addition, ELF preschool has implemented two rounds of salary increments in the year 2022, once in June and another in December, providing an increment of 8% to 12% for the full year. ELF Preschool has adopted several government initiatives that have allowed the school to raise the reemployment age to 65 and offer part-time reemployment for senior staff. Furthermore, a host of schemes from Work Pro such as Time Banking and Flexi Place have been implemented to bring about a more stable work life balance to the staff and educators.
    Current staff members attest to the positive impact of these strategies and acknowledge the value of working in an organization that prioritizes their well-being. Mrs Prem, Principal says, “Working at the school makes me happy because I know I am allowed to make decisions that can help the school run smoothly. I truly find it rewarding to know that I can make a positive impact and watch our children and educators grow!”

    According to Mdm Chen, a Chinese preschool educator, “As an educator in our school, I appreciate the close attention our management pays to our needs and well-being. They actively communicate with us to ensure our happiness at work and have introduced several initiatives aimed at striking a balance between work and personal life, all while maintaining the smooth running of the school.” The educators in ELF Preschool share a common sentiment and expressed their delight in witnessing the growth and progress of their toddlers to preschoolers and finally getting into primary school, further stating that they hope the children will adopt good values from their time at ELF Preschool.

    For more information, please contact 6466 4045, admin@elfpreschool.com.sg or visit their official website at https://www.elfpreschool.com.sg

    Hashtag: #EarlyLearningsFun #ELFPreschool #AndyTeo #EarlychildhoodEducation

    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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