Social Enterprise Research Academy
Social Enterprise Research Academy (SERA) was established in 2014, formerly known as Social Enterprise Research Institute. It was renamed in 2017 under the testimony of Raymond So Wai-man, former Under Secretary of the Transport and Housing Bureau.
SERA is operating under their SCP Framework which consists of 6 principles, through organising international summits, seminars and inviting guest speakers for sharing, SERA aims to promote continuing education and a knowledge exchange platform that enhances the business community’s awareness and professional standards in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).[1]
SERA’s key services primarily include the following three categories:
- Fellowship Qualification Assessment Scheme
- Social Caring Pledge
- ESG Leader Online Program CESGL®
Founder
Bonnie Liao, founder of Social Enterprise Research Academy, BA(HKU), MFA(CityU). Upon graduation, she worked at a digital solutions company specializing in AR & VR, later moving into communications and marketing roles. In these roles, she was responsible for partnerships with non-governmental organizations, managing numerous events and fundraising initiatives. This work sparked her interest in social enterprise.
She subsequently pursued a part-time MBA at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she deepened her knowledge of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and began following the field's development globally and in Hong Kong.[2]
In 2014, she founded the Social Enterprise Research Institute, aiming to build a bridge between NGOs and the business sector. This organization was formally established as the Social Enterprise Research Academy in 2015, serving as its Executive Director.[3]
Liao Sheung Kwan was invited to join SERA’s board in 2015 but was not involved in the daily operations. Later in 2019, he resigned and has no subsequent affiliation with SERA.
Past Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | In April, SERI hosted the inaugural ceremony for the Social Caring Pledge Scheme. The ceremony presented 2 major awards, namely, Outstanding Social Caring Organization Award and Asian Social Caring Leadership Award.[4]
In November, SERI held the "Disabled Person Employment Forum" [5]at the Harbour Plaza Resort City in Hong Kong. The forum featured distinguished speakers including former Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Stephen Sui; the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Barrister Mr. Stephen Wong, etc as guest speakers. |
| 2016 | SERI organized multiple in-person ESG professional certification courses, aiming to help corporate managers gain a deeper understanding of the ESG requirements proposed by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and their relationship with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems).[6]
In January, the "Green Economy Forum" [7] was held at the Harbour Plaza Resort City in Hong Kong. The forum featured distinguished speakers including then-Legislative Council President Jasper TSANG Yok-sing, GBM, GBS; former Under Secretary for the Environment Christine LOH Kung-wai, SBS, OBE; Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Care Asia, Mr. Albert LAI; Founding and Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Energy Engineers, Mr. Stephen YIN; and Chairman of Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong), Dr. Winnie WONG, among others. Additionally, the "Future Leadership Summit" was held in April, followed by the "Sustainable Development Summit" [8] in September. These summits explored critical global corporate development issues related to ESG, invited businesses to sign commitment pledges to promote and practice corporate social responsibility, and recognized outstanding leaders and enterprises in the field of ESG. |
| 2017 | In February, the "Responsible Investment Forum" was held, featuring guest speakers from the Principles for Responsible Investment Association and CLP Group. The forum revolved around corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, encouraging individual and corporate investors to integrate sustainability, investor responsibility, and community investment into their decision-making processes.[9]
In July, the "Future Lighting Campaign" was launched, focusing on environmental protection to embody one of the core principles of the SCP Framework.[10] In August and November, SERI organized the first and second "Social Caring Pledge Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony" as part of the "Belt and Road Leadership Summit." These summits explored ways to promote social inclusion, environmental awareness, and local sustainable development in regions along the Belt and Road Initiative.[11][12] The institute drafted the policy proposal "Actively Promoting Social Innovation to Decrease the Poverty Gap" In September, members of the Board of Directors met with Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip to exchange ideas on addressing Hong Kong’s social issues through social enterprise models.[13] |
| 2018 | SERA held its inaugural ‘Fellowship Qualification Scheme’ where judging panel awarded Honorary Fellowships and Fellowships based on applicants’ backgrounds, academic qualifications, experience and dedication to promoting ESG and contributions to society.[14][15]
In May, the "To Infinity & Beyond Charity Summit" was organized, featuring Nobel Laureate Professor Takaaki Kajita, Hong Kong Observatory Director Shun Chi-ming, and MIT PhD candidates as guest speakers. The lecture aimed to share the perseverance in research and positive energy of Nobel laureates with secondary school students.[16] In December, the World Social Entrepreneurship Summit was held, with participating speakers including international social entrepreneurs from Mexico, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Indonesia.[17] |
| 2019 | In July, SERA held its 5th Anniversary Celebration, inviting former Senior Spokesperson of the World Food Programme, Mr. Hervé Verhoosel, and Chairman of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Mr. Luigi Cabrini, as guest of honour. Together, they explored topics including: (1) Sustainable development strategies and goals for addressing global famine; (2) Frameworks and practices for sustainable tourism development; and (3) The inspirational journey of athletes reaching world No. 1 rankings.[18]
In September, the Future Leaders Training Program (Project M.I.) was launched, facilitating interaction between students and corporate executives.[19] |
| 2020 | SERA collaborated with former WTO Deputy Director-General Jesús Seade to share insights on CSR trends in the post-pandemic era through the CSR Vision column.[20]
Starting in June, SERA launched a six-episode online webinar series titled "Post Covid-19 Business Transformation Pioneer Series Introduction," held every Wednesday and Friday.[21] |
| 2021 | SERA launched their ESG O2O platform, and promoted ESG through various activities.
From August to October, SERA initiated the social sustainability research project titled "Tomorrow is Now," inviting its Fellows, industry advisors, and Board members to conduct studies focusing on six major industries in Hong Kong.[22] |
| 2022 | SERA organised multiple online seminars titled "Chill From Home" engaging with various industry experts to discuss diverse issues arising from the pandemic.[23]
In April, SERA collaborated with the Hong Kong Courier Association, Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power, and the Hong Kong Single Parents Association to launch an anti-epidemic support trilogy campaign, providing assistance to families undergoing home quarantine or isolation. From August to September, in partnership with Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power, SERA conducted a questionnaire survey among persons with disabilities and their caregivers to understand the employment-related pressures and other challenges they faced during the fifth wave of the pandemic. The survey revealed severe emotional distress among respondents, leading to recommendations for the government to increase resource support. During the pandemic, SERA participated in and moderated multiple Horasis Global Meetings. |
| 2023 | The Social Enterprise Research Academy collaborated with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Asia CEO Community, and other organizations to conduct industry consultations on the Hong Kong SAR Government's policies regarding ESG economic development and application. Based on the consultations, they proposed policy recommendations and published the "3 Recommendations on the HKSAR Government's Leadership Role in Promoting ESG Economic Development"[24]
In February, SERA invited its Fellows to host multiple online industry seminars. Later that year, SERA co-organized the "ESG Leadership Summit" with Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power, under the theme "Collaboratively Advancing Hong Kong's Development Towards a Sustainable Future." The summit attracted nearly 300 participants from listed companies, private enterprises, social enterprises, non-profit organizations, and other sectors. In May, the "Green Shipping and Hydrogen Development Seminar" was held to explore the development and application of "hydrogen fuel cells for ships" in Hong Kong. |
| 2024 | In July, SERA launched the two-year "Wagachi Orange Tree Adoption Program." The Wagachi oranges are cultivated through an eco-friendly planting system that minimizes environmental impact. A total of 10 Wagachi orange trees were adopted to celebrate the SERA's 10th anniversary.
In August, SERA co-organized the "SE Circle – SE in town · ESG a Chance" forum with the Hong Kong General Association of Social Enterprises, featuring products and services from 10 social enterprises. In the same month of August, SERA hosted the 2024 Fellowship Celebration Dinner and 10th Anniversary Gala, which included a special seminar on Hong Kong's short-to-medium-term economic outlook. |
| 2025 | In January, SERA moderated a discussion session at the "IFII 2025 International Impact Investment Forum," exploring how to use "Development Impact Bonds" to address social issues in Hong Kong and surrounding regions.
In April, SERA supported as a co-organizer of the "12th Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power Outstanding Employees with Disabilities Awards Ceremony." In July, SERA supported the forum "Social Enterprise Circle: How to Achieve Sustainable Development of Social Enterprises Amid Economic Challenges," hosted by the General Chamber of Social Enterprises. In August, SERA assisted in promoting the "Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power Kowloon District Flag Sale Day," raising funds to support disability development projects and the organization's operational expenses. In September, SERA held its Autumn Banquet under the theme "The International Organization for Mediation: Unleashing Hong Kong's Potential." |
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- ↑ "關於我們 | 推廣企業社會責任（CSR）及環境、社會及管治（ESG）" (in 中文). 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ "相信美好就會更好 社會企業研究院總幹事廖珮而". eastweek.com.hk. 21/4/2024. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Public Announcement of Social Enterprise Research Academy". 22 August 2025.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2015-04-15). "第一屆社會關愛企業計劃頒獎典禮 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ seraasia (2015-09-14). "第二屆社會關愛企業計劃頒獎典禮 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ seraasia (2016-10-25). "ESG專業認證課程 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2016-01-18). "綠色經濟論壇 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2016-04-13). "未來領袖峰會 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2017-02-28). "有責任性投資論壇 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ seraasia (2016-07-06). "光 . 膽『雙』照」全城慳電膽回收大行動 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2017-08-31). "第一屆「一帶一路」先鋒系列：地方可持續發展峰會 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ "葉劉淑儀湯家驊出席社會企業研究院主辦之《一帶一路峰會》". hk.prnasia.com (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ sera-editor (2017-06-05). "遞交政策意向書 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ seraasia (2018-05-04). "2018年度院士榮譽及獎項頒授典禮 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ seraasia (2018-05-04). "2018年度院士榮譽及獎項頒授典禮 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2018-05-05). "宇宙之旅公益講座 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2018-12-18). "國際社會企業領袖峰會暨社會關愛企業約章推動禮 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ marketing, digital (2019-07-29). "社會企業研究院5週年暨院士慶祝晚宴 - SERA" (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ "Project M.I.計劃 - SERA" (in 中文). 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ www.prestigeonline.com https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/people/leading-corporate-social-responsibility-in-a-post-covid-world/%7CLeading. Retrieved 2025-10-27. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "社會研究及專題項目 - SERA" (in 中文). 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ "社會研究及專題項目 - SERA" (in 中文). 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ "社會研究及專題項目 - SERA" (in 中文). 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ seraasia (2023-10-11). "香港特區政府在領導ESG 經濟發展的3個方案 - SERA". SERA - Social Enterprise Research Academy (in 中文). Retrieved 2025-10-27.
