Wizpresso is proud to have enabled a historic milestone for the HKICPA Best Corporate Governance & ESG Awards 2025 as the official AI partner and sponsor. This year’s initiative screened over 680 HKEX-listed companies against HKICPA’s latest governance and ESG checklist, harnessing AI to set new standards for objectivity, efficiency, and industry impact in the awards evaluation process.
Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence
Marking its 25th anniversary, the 2025 Awards recognized a record total of 39 exemplary organizations—including nine first-time awardees and two new Most Sustainable Organization (MSO) winners—demonstrating the ongoing commitment of Hong Kong’s listed companies and public sector organizations to high standards in corporate governance (CG) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
AI-Driven Breakthroughs
For the first time, AI technology powered the initial screening of more than 680 annual and ESG reports, making the review process not only significantly faster, but also more objective. Wizpresso’s AI-driven analysis helped benchmark companies’ practices in areas such as board diversity, climate risk transparency, sustainable finance adoption, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement. This partnership has been pivotal in enabling HKICPA’s judging panel to focus on deeper qualitative evaluation, supported by robust data-driven insights.
Photo: SFC Chairman, Dr WONG Tin Yau, Kelvin, SBS, JP, gives the opening remarks at HKICPA CG and ESG Awards Ceremony.
Award Highlights
- 39 awardees celebrated for exceptional achievements across all categories, with increased recognition for emerging leaders and first-time winners, as well as two organizations earning the “Most Sustainable Organization Award,” the highest honor in the competition.
- The addition of an “Elite Past Winners” section promoted healthy competition among established leaders, while a “newly-listed companies” category emphasized the importance of robust governance and ESG from the outset.
- A record 66% of Hang Seng Composite LargeCap Index constituents reported Scope 3 emissions, up from 50% the previous year, with 62% of large companies setting carbon neutrality or net-zero targets.
Raising the Bar for Corporate Reporting
Hong Kong companies are making notable progress in governance and sustainability, but further advances are encouraged by the HKICPA, including:
- Greater modernization and diversity in board structures
- More comprehensive risk management and transparency in internal control disclosures
- Enhanced Scope 3 GHG emissions reporting and interim ESG targets linked to credible frameworks such as SBTi
Wizpresso’s ongoing innovation as AI partner aligns directly with HKICPA’s call for broader, more integrated, and more transparent disclosure standards under local and international sustainability frameworks.
Wizpresso is honored to play a critical role in supporting the HKICPA’s vision and the city’s evolution toward global leadership in sustainable business practices, resilience, and investor trust. This year’s initiative has set a new bar for CG & ESG recognition, with industry-wide benefits for all stakeholders—investors, boards, and the wider community.
Photo: HKICPA Organizing team led by Mr. Peter Tisman, Director, Advocacy and Practice Development and Wizpresso Founder, Calvin Cheng
Wizpresso congratulates all awardees, and looks forward to accelerating the next wave of responsible business leadership in Hong Kong.
Read more: HKICPA Press Release