Hand-selected C-suite leaders from finance, healthcare, technology and manufacturing sectors gain unprecedented access to China's green transformation strategies through in-depth partnership with China Three Gorges International.
City University of Hong Kong's Business Innovation Education (BIE) expresses deep appreciation to China Three Gorges International Limited (CTGI) for opening the doors to one of the world's most significant engineering achievements and sharing strategic insights behind this world-class project. This unprecedented openness and candid executive dialogue made possible BIE's inaugural cross-industry experiential learning programme at China's Three Gorges Project from 25-28 May 2025, marking a new paradigm in how business leaders learn about sustainable transformation.
Unlike traditional single-sector study tours, the "Energy, Sustainability and Green Transformation" programme brought together a meticulously curated cohort of C-suite executives and senior decision-makers from diverse industries – creating an exclusive learning ecosystem where only the most forward-thinking leaders were invited to exchange insights across sectors.
Group photo upon arrival at Three Gorges Project in Yichang, China (CTGI Board Office’s representatives, Student participants and BIE’s management)
Visit to Three Gorges Project Museum (三峡工程博物馆)
Prof. Wilton Chau explored the Three Gorges Project Museum with the students.
Visit to the 82 platform panorama (82 平台) in the Three Gorges Dam Area
Executive-Level Access Drives Strategic Insights
The programme's highlight was direct engagement with CTGI's top management. Mr. Qin Guobin (秦国斌), Executive President of CTGI, and Mr. Guan Jie Lin (关杰林), Director, provided candid insights into managing ESG challenges at scale – discussions rarely accessible even to senior executives. Their willingness to share real-world challenges and solutions exemplified the spirit of knowledge exchange that BIE seeks to foster.
Mr. Brian Ip (叶伟卓), Partner at a professional accounting firm, emphasized the strategic value: "The executive-level briefings weren't theoretical – they were about real boardroom decisions involving billions in investment and millions of stakeholders. As someone who advises companies on governance, these insights are invaluable for guiding my clients through green transitions."
From Theory to Boardroom Application
The programme's success was made possible through CTGI's exceptional openness and warm hospitality, providing exclusive access to restricted areas rarely seen by external executives. Led by Prof. Wilton Chau, CityUHK Adjunct Professor and BIE Co-Chair, alongside Prof. Chak Fu Lam, MBA Programme Director, this elite group observed operational facilities at the double-line five-level ship lock system, visited the Fish Conservation Centre and Rare Plant Research Institute to witness ecological protection practices, and engaged in strategic discussions with CTGI's senior leadership.
Ms. Sylvia Wong (黄敏诗), Director at eFLO UROLOGY, found immediate business applications: "As a healthcare executive, seeing how Three Gorges balances massive infrastructure with ecological preservation gave me a blueprint for sustainable healthcare facility management. I'm already implementing operational strategies inspired by what I learned."
Visit to the Yangtze River Rare Plant Research Institute (长江珍稀植物研究所)
Visit to the Yangtze River Fish Conservation Centre (长江珍稀鱼类保育中心)
Setting New Standards for Executive Education
The programme's unique structure included visits to the Yangtze River Rare Plant Research Institute and Fish Conservation Centre, demonstrating the integration of biodiversity protection with industrial development. This carefully orchestrated itinerary, made possible by CTGI's comprehensive arrangements, also included cultural heritage exploration at Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall, helping executives understand how sustainable development must respect local communities.
Mr. Leung Chi Hung (梁赐鸿), Managing Director of Hai Yue Power Investment Company Limited, reflected on the comprehensive approach: "BIE's programme showed me different dimensions – from community engagement to biodiversity metrics. This will fundamentally change how we evaluate future investments."
Cross-Industry Innovation Creates New Learning Dynamic
"What sets BIE apart is our highly selective approach to participant curation," explained Prof. Tina Choi, BIE Founding Director. "We don't just gather executives – we strategically select visionary leaders who can contribute to and benefit from cross-sector dialogue. When leaders from different industries collide and share perspectives, breakthrough thinking emerges."
This innovative model proved transformative for the carefully chosen participants. Mr. Alfred Chang (張宇澄), Sustainable Investing Strategist at BNP Paribas, noted: "I've attended numerous ESG programmes, but BIE's cross-industry format was revolutionary. Learning alongside hand-picked executives from aviation leasing, biotechnology and telecommunications gave me insights I would never have gained in a finance-only setting."
Lecture by Mr. Guan Jie Lin (关杰林), Director of CTGI
Lecture by Mr. Qin Guobin (秦国斌), Executive President of CTGI
Technology Meets Sustainability
For technology sector participants, the programme offered unexpected revelations. Mr. Ho Tsz Chung (何子聰), Vice President at HGC Global Communications Limited, shared: "The digital infrastructure supporting Three Gorges' operations is extraordinary. I gained practical knowledge about integrating IoT and AI into sustainable operations."
Beyond Learning: The Journey to Surpass
BIE's philosophy goes beyond traditional executive education. As Mr. David Liu (廖俊偉), Security Architect at Fidelity International, articulated: "BIE embodies the progression of '學習、模仿、超越' (Learn, Imitate, Surpass). While conventional programmes stop at learning best practices, BIE challenges us to surpass what we've seen. This trip wasn't about copying Three Gorges' model – it was about understanding the principles and creating something even better in our own contexts."
This approach resonated deeply with the select group. Ms. Ding Lin (丁琳), an expert with extensive experience in venture capital and private equity, captured the emotional and intellectual impact through poetry:
"千里驭风三峡赴，直抵百年梦想核，大国重器密码破。香港启航路，千公里征途，零距离触碰世纪工程骨！三峡坝顶独家入，四维深义全解读：技术登峰处，环境平衡术，民生万里图，战略定天柱。磅礴伟力撼肺腑，世代赤心铸精魄！"
"The verse reflects how this experience transcended business learning," Ms. Ding explained. "From my venture capital perspective, I've evaluated countless sustainability projects. But standing on the dam top, witnessing the four-dimensional balance of technology, environment, livelihood, and strategy – this gave me a new framework for assessing breakthrough innovations."
Looking Forward: A New Model for Asia
The success of this inaugural programme positions BIE as a pioneer in experiential executive education. Unlike conventional programmes that separate participants by industry or seniority, BIE's model creates an exclusive learning environment where only the most innovative leaders from diverse sectors come together to drive transformation.
"This is just the beginning," concluded Prof. Chau during the closing ceremony. "We're cultivating an elite network of business leaders who understand that sustainable transformation requires thinking beyond traditional boundaries. When carefully selected executives from different sectors learn together, they return to their organizations not just as implementers, but as innovators who can surpass existing models."
The programme has already sparked interest from other leading companies seeking similar cross-industry learning experiences, with BIE planning to expand the model to cover digital transformation, AI governance, and circular economy topics in 2025-2026.
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Students actively interact with the CTGI guest speakers. -
BIE’s management presents a certificate of appreciation to Ms. Jin Zheping (金哲平女士), representative of the Board Office of China Three Gorges International Limited -
Presentation of certificates of completion to students by Mr. Qin Guobin (秦国斌), Executive President of CTGI
