[SDG Forum Series 2024/25 Session 7] Sustainability in Business: Education and Innovation

Speakers

Dr Meike Sauerwein, a Lecturer at the Division of Environment and Sustainability at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), is a passionate educator dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability. Her research and teaching focuses on the holistic assessments of the environmental impacts through life cycle assessment (LCA) and how such knowledge can be utilized for sustainable product and circular system design, sustainable finance, consumer education as well as policy making.

Meike's commitment to interactive and engaging teaching has earned her recognition, including the Interdisciplinary Programs Office Teaching Excellence Award 2020 and the Common Core Course Excellence Award 2021 and the Times Higher Education Award Asia 2023 (Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year). One of her innovative approaches is the development and incorporation of educational games such as ‘The L.O.O.P.’ and ‘MilkCo. - The Life Cycle Challenge’ into her classes.

Meike is the academic lead of the HKUST Life Cycle Lab, and leads the Sustainability Education Community at HKUST as well as the Sustainability Education Working Group of the Hong Kong  Sustainable Campus Consortium.

Ms Anushka Purohit is a passionate, proactive, and perseverant young entrepreneur who is also a polyglot, being able to speak 5 languages including Cantonese and Mandarin. Anushka is the CEO and Co-founder of Breer, a food upcycling startup that collects surplus bread from bakeries and restaurants and uses it to brew local craft beer. For her work in furthering the cause of women empowerment and making a difference, Anushka has been awarded the Student of the Year Award by SCMP, awarded the Indians of the World Award 2023 at the House of Lords, UK, was crowned Young Achiever of the Year in 2021 by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, was listed as a Gen T Honoree by Tatler and has been featured on the coveted Forbes 30 Under 30 List Asia 2023.

Moderator

Dr Kenneth Li is a Lecturer in the Office of University General Education. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr Li has been teaching GE at CUHK which includes GE Foundation, University GE, and College GE courses. In recent years, he has endeavored to promote education for sustainable development in GE, and has produced the animated story series ‘SDG Law Firm’ to disseminate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Dr Li has received several awards, including Exemplary Teaching Award in General Education, Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award (General Education), University Education Award (Teams), and Positive Workplace Award (Individual Award).