Press Release

We are thrilled to announce that our students have won Champion, 1^st Runner-up, 2^nd Runner-up, and Merit award in HKSI Institute Case Competition 2025!

The HKSI Institute Case Competition is an annual business competition organised by the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute. The theme of this year competition is Sustainability. Collaborating with over 20 sponsoring companies, HKSI Institute presented participants with real-life sustainability and finance-related cases for research and case cracking. In the final round, the 5 finalist teams presented their initiatives for developing Hong Kong as a new sustainable finance hub.

Among a competitive pool of 480 students, our students stood out by demonstrating deep understanding on sustainable finance and exceptional case cracking skills, and won Champion, 1^st Runner-up, 2^nd Runner-up, and Merit award in the competition. Congratulations!

Find out more about the competition: https://www.hksi.org/en/membership/outreach/case-competition-2025/

Champion

Team Name: Billionaires

Team Members:

Mr. Chen Franco, BEcon&Fin, Year 1

Miss Kwok Hei Tung, BFin(AMPB), Year 1

Miss Lu Jingqi, BFin(AMPB), Year 1

Mr. Yiu Ho Ching Bevis, BFin(AMPB), Year 1

1^st Runner-up

Team Name: VRJK Consulting

Team Members:

Miss Goyani Venisha Satish, BBA(IBGM), Year 2

Miss Luo Regina, BBA(IBGM), Year 2

Mr. Pang Hoi Yin, BBA(IBGM), Year 2

Miss Tam Ka Ioi, BBA(Acc&Fin), Year 2

2^nd Runner-up

Team Name: HAXS

Team Members:

Miss Dong Fangyu, BBA, Year 4

Mr. Fong King Fai Andrew, BBA(IBGM), Year 1

Miss Jhaveri Heer Hemal, BBA(IBGM), Year 1

Mr. Chiu Xenon Bezalel, BEng, Year 1

Merit

Team Name: JiMNS

Team Members:

Miss Li Yan Ying, BEcon&Fin, Year 3

Miss Li Yu Sheung, BBA(Acc&Fin), Year 2

(The team comprises 2 team members from other university.)

Student Sharing:

Champion – Team Billionaires

“Participating in this competition provided invaluable lessons about implementing sustainable finance solutions. The experience revealed that effective proposals must address investors’ actual constraints rather than wishful thinking. Working with our BNP Paribas coach helped us understand that family offices’ real hesitation stemmed from concrete concerns about risk management and return profiles, not a lack of environmental awareness.

The most valuable learning was recognizing how successful sustainable finance mechanisms must align with existing decision-making processes. We discovered solutions gain traction when they incorporate familiar investment frameworks while introducing ESG elements gradually. Another key takeaway was the importance of building verification systems directly into proposal designs rather than treating them as afterthoughts.”

(by Mr. Chen Franco)

“Participating in the competition was an invaluable experience that greatly enriched my understanding of ESG topics, particularly carbon credits and sustainable business practices. This journey challenged me to think critically, collaborate creatively, and refine my ability to communicate complex ideas—skills that will undoubtedly benefit my future career.

Through our initial research project, I gained profound insights into the intricacies of sustainability, such as the role of carbon credits in decarbonization strategies. The semifinals pushed us to think outside the box as we crafted compelling pitches that balanced feasibility, impact, and innovation.

Winning the competition was a rewarding milestone, but the true value lay in the process – collaborating with my team, receiving feedback from judges, and refining our ideas under pressure. This journey has inspired me to continue exploring and advocating for solutions that address environmental challenges in the business world in the future.”

(by Miss Kwok Hei Tung, Samantha)

“The mentorship from our BNP Paribas mentor was particularly precious, from whom I learned a lot about how the industry approaches ESG integration. Winning the championship was a thrilling achievement, but the deeper reward was seeing our proposals, especially my contributions to ESG talent remodelling and carbon innovation, resonate with judges and professionals.

As the lead for the remodelling of the ESG talent program section, I focused on the development of the youth force as preparation for future professionals. Throughout the research process, I was able to gain insights into the existing talent programs while coming up with my own creative thoughts, which enabled me to delve deep into the industry, enhancing my understanding of the importance of the role of ESG in the future, while prompting me to explore and experiment with different innovative ideas.

All in all, this experience was truly rewarding, transforming my understanding of sustainability as a cross-disciplinary challenge. My biggest takeaway and advice to future participants is to think ambitiously, but back up and support those bold ideas with solid research and justifications.”

(by Miss Lu Jingqi, Murphy)

“I first joined this competition to experience more and learn more about the world of ESG through our mentorship with BNP, but in the beginning, I never expected our results to turn out like this. This journey was very rewarding for me as I was able to meet and experience many new things within the sustainability and ESG sectors by both researching and interacting with specialists within the field.

This experience rewarded me with many core memories of our victory and our struggle to get there. My advice for any future participants would be to take more risks and trust in your teammates as it worked for our team.”

(by Mr. Yiu Ho Ching Bevis)

1^st Runner-up – Team VRJK Consulting

“Beginning with a comprehensive analysis of sustainability research, our experience in the HKSI Institute Case Competition 2025 laid the groundwork for tackling complex financial challenges. Advancing through the stages, we developed innovative strategies that aimed to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as a leader in sustainable finance. The competition proved to be a rewarding challenge, compelling us to collaborate closely and engage in critical thinking at every turn. Ultimately, the knowledge gained has deepened our commitment to fostering positive change within the industry.”

(by Miss Goyani Venisha Satish)

“Throughout the HKSI Institute Case Competition 2025, I had the opportunity to delve deeply into the stability disclosure practices of leading financial organisations worldwide and explore innovative strategies aimed at transforming Hong Kong into a global green and sustainable finance hub.

One of the key lessons I learned was the importance of being inquisitive. I actively sought guidance from our project sponsor, our BBA(IBGM) Programme Director, Prof. Matthias Buehlmaier, and several professionals within our network. Their insights were invaluable in shaping our approach and enhancing our understanding of the complexities involved in sustainable finance.

Additionally, I developed a more practical mindset in strategy formulation. This involved not only theoretical research but also applying real-world considerations to ensure our proposals were actionable and impactful.”

(by Miss Luo Regina)

“Our journey in the HKSI Institute Case Competition 2025 began with defining best practices for IFRS S2 and TCFD disclosures adopted by leading organizations in the early stages of the competition. Building on this foundation, we advanced to the finals, where we proposed innovative yet practical solutions to position Hong Kong as a sustainable finance hub. This experience has been both challenging and rewarding, pushing us to think critically at every step.”

(by Mr. Pang Hoi Yin, James)

“Participating in the HKSI Case Competition 2025 was an unforgettable experience that challenged me to grow. From working with the project sponsor during the coaching period to analysing cases in the semi-finals and the final round, every step was a valuable learning opportunity. Despite moments of doubt, our team worked tirelessly to research and craft innovative solutions. Along the way, I learned so much about sustainable finance and how it applies to real-world challenges. Achieving 1^st Runner-up was a proud moment that highlighted the importance of teamwork and determination. This experience taught me to never doubt myself and to always remain open to learning opportunities.”

(by Miss Tam Ka Ioi, Kathy)