The Consulate General of Israel in Hong Kong jointly
organized the forum with the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, with three panel
discussions on innovation and technology, medical sciences, and finance and
economy.
The forum serves as a unique platform to connect the
elites and younger generation of women in Israel and Hong Kong, to inspire,
empower and celebrate the achievements of women, to create incredible networks
and to enhance the relations between Israel and Hong Kong.
Consul General Ahuva Spieler (above photo) said in her
opening remarks that it is her role to connect and build people-to-people
bridge between Israel and Hong Kong. This women forum is first of its
kind in Hong Kong and in Asia. She mentioned that she came up with the
idea of this women forum since her arrival in the city two years ago as the
first female Consul General of Israel to Hong Kong.
It was also the same time when Hong Kong has Mrs Carrie
Lam swore in as the first female Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
In her keynote address, Mrs Lam, being a working woman
herself in the public service since 1980, agreed with Consul General Spieler
that Israeli and Hong Kong societies are blessed with strong, determined,
brilliantly accomplished women leaders and innovators - and in every
profession, sector and societal role. She also said that Hong Kong looks
to Israel because Hong Kong is committed to rise as an innovation and
technology leader, and because Israel is an international leader in I&T
development, a high-tech role model for Hong Kong and for the world.
On the first panel (above photo) on women leadership in
innovation and entrepreneurship, the two Israeli speakers are Esther Barak
Landes, Founder of Nielsen Innovate Fund & Incubator, and Yali Harari, CEO
of Innovesta Technologies.
Besides being leading figures in the technology sector,
they are also active in their respective social organisations, ProWomen, a
not-for-profit organisation that provides unique programmes for outstanding
students in Israel's leading academic institutions, and Supersonas, a social
organization dedicated to paving the way for a balanced presence of women in
influential and decision making positions.
On the second panel (above photo) on ageing and brain research
are Israeli professors Michal Schwartz, Professorial Chair in Neuroimmunology
of the Weizmann Institute of Science, and Mouna Maroun, from the University of
Haifa, who is the first Arab woman professor for Neurobiology. They gave
us good reasons to have a healthy lifestyle for a stronger immune system to
avoid memory lost and to delay brain ageing.
On the third panel (above photo) on global finance, Dr.
Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg, who is until recently the Deputy Governor of the
Bank of Israel, pointed out the characteristics of Israel’s small market and
risk-taking business culture. She believes that Hong Kong, being more diversified
in languages and culture, is a good Asian partner for Israeli business.
From the Hong Kong side, the lineup of nine speakers and
moderators, also all female, includes like-minded professionals and top
entrepreneurs. With their singular perspective, experience and challenges
that come with being high-achieving career women, they are the role models for
the younger generation.
Students of the Elsa High School, and universities and
secondary schools in Hong Kong were sponsored to attend the forum.
Photo: Hong Kong Federation of Women hosted a luncheon
for the Israeli speakers (from left: Yali Harari, Esther Barak Landes,
Chairperson of Hong Kong Federation of Women Pansy Ho)
During the 3 days in Hong Kong, the Israeli speakers have
dialogues with their counterparts from the Hong Kong Federation of Women (photo
above), Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association and Better
Hong Kong Foundation.
They also spoke to teachers and students at universities
on STEM development and gender issues, attended the annual event of the Jewish
Women's Association of Hong Kong and gave media interviews.
Consul General Spieler hopes all these academic and
business connection and exchanges will grow into further collaboration.
Photo: Esther Barak Landes speaking at the University of
Hong Kong on STEM development and gender issues
Photo: Esther Barak Landes and Mouna Maroun at the
University of Hong Kong
Photo: Seminar at the Division of Life Science at the
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - Mouna Maroun (third from
left), Consul General Ahuva Spieler (fifth from left), HKUST President Wei Shyy
(sixth from left), Michal Schwartz (seventh from left), HKSAR Executive Council
Member Fanny Law (eighth from left) and HKUST representatives
Photo: Media interview of Michal Schwartz (right) on her
research of the ageing of the brain and immune system