The 17th seminar in the Finance Seminar Series of the City University of Macau was held on February 13, 2025, at the Ho Yin Conference Center on the Taipa campus. The event featured Mr. Bernard Li, Macau Office Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers, as the speaker. The theme of the seminar was "Cautious Optimism, Reshaping the Future: Q4 2024 Economic Insights and Business Outlook for CEOs and Investors" Attendees included Dean Cheung Wai Kong Adrian and Associate Dean Khong Yueng Wah Eva of the Faculty of Finance.

Mr. Bernard Li, Macau Office Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers, has over 20 years of experience in audit and business consulting, specializing in capital market transactions, corporate restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. He has assisted numerous companies in successful IPOs and has played a significant role in the financial markets of Macau, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. Mr. Bernard graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and previously served as an Audit Manager at PwC London, where he gained extensive international experience. Additionally, he is the Vice Chairman of the Macau Society of Certified Public Accountants and actively participates in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Young High-End Talent Training Program for Certified Public Accountants, dedicated to advancing the development and innovation of the accounting profession.

The seminar began with an analysis of the global economic landscape in the fourth quarter of 2024. Mr. Li discussed the challenges and opportunities in the current economic environment. He noted that despite global economic pressures such as inflation and macroeconomic volatility, investors should maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook. He emphasized that companies must be agile in responding to crises and should rethink how they create, deliver, and capture value in the context of technological change, government regulation, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Mr. Li also shared key findings from the 28th Annual Global CEO Survey, highlighting that 85% of investors consider a company's crisis response capabilities a critical factor in investment decisions. Furthermore, he mentioned that over 70% of investors believe technological transformation is the primary driver of corporate change, particularly the application of generative AI (GenAI), which presents opportunities in scalability, return on investment (ROI), and workforce impact.

Regarding climate change and sustainable development, Mr. Li stressed that 71% of investors believe companies should integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations directly into their corporate strategies. He pointed out that investors are particularly focused on companies' climate transition plans, especially governance structures, capital expenditures, and roadmaps to achieving net-zero commitments. Companies should enhance transparency and provide reliable climate-related disclosures to strengthen trust among investors.

During the interactive Q&A session, students actively engaged with Mr. Li, who shared insights from his accounting studies, extensive international experience, and career planning and development. The lively discussion and exchange with faculty and students left a lasting impression. The staffs and students of the Faculty of Finance expressed their sincere gratitude to Mr. Li for his insightful presentation, which deepened their understanding of global economic trends and corporate transformation. This seminar not only broadened the horizons of future finance professionals but also inspired students to consider how to enhance their competitiveness in a rapidly changing economic environment.