200 Finance Leaders Attend WCE HK Summit Highlighting Diversity

• Over 200 finance leaders gathered in Hong Kong for the first WCE Summit
• The event focused on the importance of diversity in financial services leadership
• The summit was to advance discussions on women’s leadership

More than two hundred financial leaders came to Hong Kong for the first WCE Summit as diversity rises in financial services leadership.

This summit promises to move discussions on women's leadership forward and reinforce Hong Kong's position as a global financial hub committed to progress and inclusion.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan began the forum by pointing out that the progress made in gender diversity by the city is thanks to an endeavor from all segments of society.

While almost all the listed companies in Hong Kong now have at least one female board member, he added, diversity should be recognized as a strength supporting good governance, innovation, and resilience.

A new report by WCE, The Women's Foundation, and KPMG indicates a significant improvement in the number of women holding senior positions within the financial sector, with 45 percent of women holding senior leadership roles and 37 percent holding board positions, an increase from figures in 2018.

The joint report, "Tipping the Scale – Hong Kong's Leading Role in Advancing Gender Leadership Opportunities in Financial Services," enumerates the key drivers for these changes: powerful women as role models, a meritocratic culture, and supportive family systems.

Co-sponsored by HKEX, Standard Chartered Bank and UBS, the Summit is the largest event of its kind in Hong Kong.

WCE was established in 2018 by current and former women CEOs in finance, and has continued to promote female leadership with a focus on advocacy, mentorship, education, and strategic partnerships.

Speakers, many being senior leaders at leading global financial institutions, spoke of the importance of having supportive networks—mentors, sponsors and allies—in order to grow leaders.

UBS, Standard Chartered, and HKEX reaffirmed how important inclusive corporate cultures and diverse leadership teams are in building robust, competitive organizations.

Overall, the Summit demonstrated Hong Kong’s increasing leadership role in advancing gender diversity in the financial sector and was an active participant in the global conversation around the importance of inclusive leadership.