City University of Macau (CityU) recently held a lecture themed on finance at the Ho Yin Convention Centre, Taipa campus. The event featured Bernard Li Ching Lap, Macao Office Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), as the keynote speaker. Under the theme “Cautious Optimism, Reshaping the Future: Q4 2024 Economic Insights and Business Outlook for CEOs and Investors,” Li engaged with faculty and students to discuss global economic trends and corporate transformation strategies. Dean Adrian Wai Kong Cheung and Associate Dean Eva Yueng Wah Khong of the Faculty of Finance attended the lecture.
Bernard Li Ching Lap, as Macau Office Leader of PwC, has over 20 years of experience in auditing and business consulting, specializing in capital market transactions, corporate restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. His career spans across Macao, Hong Kong, mainland China, and London, where he has assisted numerous companies in successful IPOs. He also serves as vice chairman of the Macau Society of Certified Public Accountants, actively promoting the development of accounting professionals.
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The lecture began with an analysis of the global economic outlook for the Q4 2024. Li pointed out that the global economy faced inflationary pressures and macroeconomic volatility, which required investors to maintain a “cautious optimism” attitude. He highlighted that companies must develop agility in crisis response and rethink how to create, deliver, and capture value amidst technological advancements, government regulations, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Citing data from the 28th Annual Global CEO Survey, he emphasized that 85% of investors prioritized a company’s crisis management capabilities, while over 70% viewed technological innovation as a core driver of corporate transformation, in particular, generative AI (GenAI) in driving scalable development, improving return on investment (ROI), and revolutionizing workforce structures.
On the topic of sustainable development, Li stated that 71% of investors required companies to integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) into their strategic core. He urged businesses to enhance the transparency of their climate transition plans, outline governance structures, capital expenditures, and roadmaps for net-zero commitments, and provide verifiable climate-related disclosures to earn long-term investor trust.
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During the Q&A session, Li drew on his extensive international experience to address students’ enquiries, engaging in an in-depth dialogue from accounting studies and adapting to the global workplace to financial career planning. The faculty and students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Li for his insightful sharing, noting that the lecture provided them with a deeper understanding of global economic trends and corporate transformation. This event not only broadened the horizons of future finance professionals but also inspired students to reflect on how to enhance their competitiveness in a rapidly changing economic environment.
Source: FOF
