#38 2015
CK Hutchison Group
Discover CK Hutchison Strong Brew: Women Rising 16 Sommelier to China 22 Download Sphere online Hutchison Travel: Unbound 25
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” - Benjamin Franklin
Sphere Magazine #38 WELCOME July 2015
Cover Illustration By Don Mak Onwards and upwards! Our avatar surveys the world of CK Hutchison. From ports At CK Hutchison, there is no shortage of have his insatiable curiosity and thirst for and telecommunications progress and growth to rob meaning from experimentation. firms to retail, energy and infrastructure, our Group and our achievement and success. This is our people span the globe. evident in the breadth of the Group which The travelling diplomat Franklin would The CKHH lens helps to show surprises even our veterans of decades definitely have partnered with Hutchison things in sharp relief and also reveals opportunities and a who are amazed to discover new lines of Travel to make his international jaunts. The bright future. business, new scientific breakthroughs and company — formerly known as Hutchison- new humanitarian efforts. You can discover Priceline — wants you to know that they the same in our overview of the Group in want to work with you, the CK Hutchison this issue of Sphere. family, given their new freedom to do business around the world. Growth and Benjamin Franklin, the American Founding progress are at the top of their agenda as Father, inventor, author, statesman and they go global with their new brand. scientist, would have appreciated the progress of women in the private sector — Old and new brands of wine are making trailblazers in engineering and international inroads into China as its wine industry relations, just like him. Unlike him, however, expands at a stunning rate. Watson’s they have succeeded in career paths not Wine’s success in educating China on traditionally welcoming to their gender. the old world wine culture is also helping Sphere looks at their breakthrough stories. modern China to establish its own wine culture. It is that kind of past achievement While Franklin served as a young printer and success that is supporting the future in London and as ambassador to Paris, growth and progress of CK Hutchison he might have enjoyed a trip to Sweden people and companies. Onwards and to enjoy hobnobbing with the innovative upwards! engineers of 3 Sweden’s 3Labs, who
Published by CK Hutchison Editor Designed and CK Hutchison Holdings In-house Editorial Team Andrew Work Produced by Limited Laura Cheung Writers Magazine All rights reserved. No part of this magazine 22/F Hutchison House Jeremy Lau Media Group Ltd. may be reproduced without written permission Calvin Lam 10 Harcourt Road Hans Leung Michael Wong Tel: +852 2565 2222 of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited. Opinions Central Erica Liu expressed herein are those of the writers and do Alex Fok Editorial Hong Kong Wendy Luk Charlotte Mulliner not necessarily reflect the opinion of CK Hutchison Ada Chan Printing Holdings Limited. All currency conversions Available on bigboXX.com Limited Daniel Creffield www.ckh.com.hk Feedback & Enquiries are approximations. Creative Consultant Creative Team [email protected] Pierre Pang ©2015 by CK Hutchison Holdings Limited Mike Hung thewhamagency.com Illustrations Don Mak Production Team Yan Man Joyce Wu Kelly Cheung
01 CONTENTS
04 News Bites 10COVER STORY Ports and Related Services Retail Telecommunications Infrastructure Energy Discover And more! CK Hutchison From the green pastures of New Zealand to 08 the radio waves of Sweden and the ports of Tanzania, CK Hutchison’s services are found Telecommunications Focus all over the world. Join us on a global journey through the vast operations of the Group.
3Labs – Impactful Innovation At 3 Sweden, a monthly event allowing staff to take a full day to work on whatever they like has become part of the culture and has brought about a positive impact on its operations.
Sphere #38 2015 02 16 22
Enterprise Feature Retail Focus
Strong Brew: Women Rising Elevating Wine Culture in China Even in the modern world, Having become one of the fastest- some professions are still male- growing markets for wine, China is dominated. A look at some women still learning what wine to pair with leading their industries and breaking sweet and sour pork. Watson’s Wine new ground in non-traditional is here to help. careers within the Group.
25
Travel Focus
Hutchison Travel: The Next Voyage The newly rebranded Hutchison Travel has an ambitious plan to expand its business across the globe. It will thrill consumers and the CK Hutchison family alike.
03 Sphere #38 2015 NEWS RETAIL Let’s celebrate
A S Watson Group (ASW) recently marked celebratory milestones in Taiwan, The Netherlands and Poland. Watsons Taiwan unveiled its 500th store in Ximending, a popular district with Taipei’s Gen Y customers. ICI PARIS XL opened its 300th store, in the Dutch town of Wijchen, where it aspires to offer greater interaction and a heightened shopping experience to appeal to young customers. Looking to the East, Rossmann Poland launched its 1,000th store, in Warsaw. 恭喜, Gefeliciteerd and Gratulacje! TELECOMS
HGC mining data – and gold
HGC Cloud Audience Analytics, Hutchison Global Communications’ innovative analytic tool, was awarded the “Best Smart Hong Kong Gold Award” for Big Data at the Hong Kong ICT Awards hosted by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.
Ahead of the pack with Flexi Pass
Hong Kong is known for speed and style. 3 Hong Kong delivers both, making sure its customers have the most up-to-date and stylish smartphones with “Flexi Pass”. A first in Hong Kong, Flexi Pass allows customers to return an old smartphone, upgrade to the latest model and even terminate the old contract for a nominal fee.
Hutch Connect connects the world Yes I can! Happy 35 years!
Hutch Sri Lanka’s new IDD/roaming App The pursuit of excellence and exemplary Trekpleister, The Netherland’s fastest- “Hutch Connect” enables customers sportsmanship were in the spotlight as the growing health and beauty retailer for to call any overseas number at up to 40 ASW Hong Kong Student Sports Awards the past two years, is celebrating its per cent savings while not requiring the (HKSSA) celebrated its 10th anniversary. 35th anniversary. The neighbourhood receiving party to have the same App. The annual theme of “Yes I can!” reflected drugstore is widely praised for its warm A ‘must pack’ item for Sri Lanka the aim of developing a generation of customer service, which is an impressive travellers going overseas! young people who live an active and feat given that they serve more than half a positive lifestyle. With the participation million customers a week. of more than 85 per cent of schools in Hong Kong, HKSSA presented honours to a record-breaking 941 student sports elites.
Sphere #38 2015 04 Only two years after the Rush Lake project was sanctioned, it has ‘rushed’ to produce its first oil.
OTHERS
Ready to serve Australian Farming
Accensi, a CK Life Sciences wholly-owned ENERGY subsidiary, opened its AUD20 million facility in Lara, Geelong, in Australia in May. The company is the largest Rush Lake’s first oil A Rose for Jeanne d’Arc independent toll manufacturer of crop protection products in Australia. The new Only two years after the Rush Lake Husky Energy successfully facility will be a boon to the creation of project was sanctioned, it has ‘rushed’ to implemented the South White Rose sustainable jobs in the region. subsea satellite tieback - a means of produce its first oil. Lit up like a firefly on connecting new oilfields to existing the Saskatchewan prairies, it is part of oil extraction infrastructure - to the company’s moves deploying low- extend the life of White Rose oil field risk, modular construction templates and maximise efficient use of the SeaRose FPSO (floating production, and thermal technologies that allow storage, and offloading) vessel. Smart for solid returns even in a low oil price use of new connecting technologies is environment. The 10,000-barrel-per- extending the life of current projects in day development is expected to reach its the Jeanne d’Arc Basin and offsetting natural declines in production in the nameplate production capacity around region to max out production at 15,000 the end of 2015. barrels a day.
telecoms
3Plus parties on 3 Italia @ Expo Milano 2015
3 Ireland has launched a new customer loyalty programme At Expo Milano 2015, look for 3 Italia! The telecom company called 3Plus. Customers get exclusive access to the has its own booth at the China Corporate United Pavilion country’s leading festivals and concerts with pre-sale and is supporting their staff with Wi-Fi access to highlight tickets available for purchase 48 hours before public their partnership with the Chinese business community. release. Furthermore, 3Plus will make available “money- In addition, 3 Italia is the official technical partner for can’t-buy experiences” for rugby and football events as well the associated event Aquae Venezia, offering Aquae staff as offers from top Irish brands. smartphones and tablets for more efficient service support.
05 Sphere #38 2015 NEWS
PORTS Millions and millions: Maximum milestones
On 30 April, Internacional de Contenedores Asociados de Veracruz in Mexico handled its 10 millionth TEU during a call from Hamburg Süd’s vessel the Cap Ines.
And on 27 March, Ningbo Beilun International Container Terminals in China received and delivered its 25 millionth TEU since beginning operations in 2001.
TELECOMS
Smartphones can ‘Rosk’ on! and mean smart people share with the world
3 Ireland has entered into a three- 3 Denmark signed a two-year partnership year charity partnership with Virtual with Roskilde Festival, the biggest Community College. This online and and most popular festival in Northern mobile education initiative empowers Europe. More than 125,000 international young people in the Emerald Isle with music lovers will be able to top up their an aim to eradicate poverty and social 3 prepaid SIM cards at 13 reloading inequality by making education more stations during the festival. It is expected accessible through the use of mobile up to 175,000 credit top-ups will be made devices. Over 1,000 students from so that Roskilders can share the festival disadvantaged backgrounds are with the world. expected to benefit.
OTHERS
GAMECO’s game in 2015 Asia’s first global winner
GAMECO has had a great start to 2015. The Hutchison Logistics Services Limited company received the “AAA Harmonious (HLS) was the first Asian recipient of Labour Relationship Enterprise” award from the “Best Regional Distribution Centre the Guangzhou city government, commending Award” at the BMW Global Logistics their good relations with employees and local Conference in Munich, Germany. The unions. Happy employees get great results. Global Logistics competition sees 45 GAMECO ascended into the “Top 10 Airframe warehouse logistics partners around the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul)” world awarded points for performance organisations globally as awarded by Aviation on their KPIs, an index of efficiency and Magazine. Even better, the company was cost control, and results in customer nominated as one of the best four companies satisfaction survey scores. This year, in the world for “Best Airframe MRO” in this HLS, operator of the BMW Foshan year’s ATE&M award ceremony in London, facility, came out on top, the first- Credit: GAMECO colleague, Xin Xin the “Oscars” of aircraft maintenance and ever winner from Asia! Congratulations repair. Keep up your game, GAMECO! to HLS!
Sphere #38 2015 06 CORPORATE Core n Vac revolutionising gas leak detection
We care The “2015 Gas Industry Innovation Awards” saw the judges enthusiastic In March, 122 Cheung Kong Group companies were awarded the title of about Northern Gas Networks’ Core n Vac Caring Company by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. A fine example technology, which is used in conjunction with its acoustic camera to revolutionise of this caring is a recent event where volunteers worked as crew members to the way gas leaks are located and repaired. educate the public and raise awareness for dementia care in Hong Kong. The Using technology from outside the Cheung Kong Group comprises CK Hutchison, Cheung Kong Property and industry to develop a whole new technique their subsidiaries. has led to reduced disruption to the public in repair works on roadways.
The winning formula: Caring
Construction sites can be a pain for anyone living and working around them. The Considerate Constructors Scheme National Site award recognises firms particularly considerate of “local neighbourhoods and the public, the workforce, and the environment” in their building work. This year, two awards (a Silver and Bronze) went to Northern Gas Networks for their caring ways at two of their projects in Victoria Place, Carlisle and in Bishop Auckland.
Caring for customers is what netted the company two prestigious Institute of Customer Service 2015 Customer Satisfaction Awards – the “InMoment Customer Commitment Award” and the “Quality Service Provider Award”.
Abberton Scheme officially launches
INFRASTRUCTURE The Abberton Scheme, an expansion of CKI’s Essex & Suffolk Water-owned Warm Hubs, warm hearts reservoir, was graced at its launch by Sir David Attenborough. The reservoir now Northern Gas Networks, a Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI) member holds an immense 41 billion litres – a 58 company, has joined local partners to launch the “Warm Hubs” scheme in the per cent expansion. This GBP 150 million UK. Fuel poverty has been identified as a major community challenge. This project provides an enormous increase in project provides a place for warmth, hot meals and socialising for vulnerable water capacity and created more than 200 locals in conjunction with the National Health Service and charities like Age hectares of habitat for important wildlife. UK and Community Action Northumberland.
07 Sphere #38 2015
Telecommunications Focus
aDVANCEMent 3Labs = innovation
Labs has begun! operations of the company and to have a With that announcement, hugely positive impact. the monthly innovation whirlwind kicks off at Humble beginnings 3 Sweden. 3Labs started off with the IT department contemplating how they could achieve 3Labs, also known as 3 Sweden’s company- 3 Sweden’s vision – “Mobil kommunikation wide innovative event, allows participants på kundens villkor” which translates to take a day from work to collaborate with as “Mobile communication on the anyone they want and work on anything customer’s terms”. they want, however they want. “We knew what we wanted to achieve and The rules are simple enough: their projects whom it would involve, but the ‘how’ was must be related to the business operations a work in progress. Someone within the of 3 Sweden, and the teams must share IT department mentioned ‘hackathons’ their results the next day. Sonia Ling, IT (events where computer programmers Project Manager and member of the team collaborate on software projects over a very known as the 3Labs Crew, says, “The whole short time), where staff would be given idea is to try out something you believe is the time and space to work on ideas they good, work on it for one day, and receive are passionate about. After management feedback on its merits. The key is, you agreed to give it a go – with some ground challenge yourself, you share your results, rules – we pulled out the parts of the and everyone’s a winner.” process that would apply to the company, and created 3Labs,” says Ms Ling. The day after the innovative event, a ‘marketplace’ is set up in a conference “We want to be Sweden’s best IT room, where each 3Labs team department and that requires room for new Every time 3Labs is held, an effort is made to demonstrates their innovative solutions. ideas and innovation. It’s about smart, small transform the space into a hub of excitement Visitors are given three Lego blocks each changes, new technologies, or completely and limitless possibilities. as they enter, which they use to vote for different ways of doing things,” says Ms their favourite demonstration. After the Ling. 3Labs provides the environment and visitors cast their votes, the team with the the people make it happen. highest stack of Lego blocks wins. Not only does the team keep the trophy until “It began as an initiative to boost the next event, but their idea also has a innovation within the IT department,” she chance of being implemented in the daily continues. Today it is a cross-department
Sphere #38 2015 08 <<
Getting Graphic: 3Agile Architecture Visualisation Out of the innovative kitchen of 3Labs came a game-changing application – 3Agile Architecture Visualisation has changed and improved the company’s way of working.
And so it was born 3 Sweden’s IT department designs software to facilitate the company’s business workflow, and these software systems depend on smooth interactions with one another to function. As these intertwined systems continued to grow, it became increasingly difficult to track how they were connected to one another, and in which part of the business chain they were involved.
3Labs welcomes staff from across the company 3Labs was the perfect place to find a to work either as individuals, or together in large solution. groups, to collaborate and innovate. The idea was simple: Visualise the ecology of the systems in the form preparatory work. A potential mobile app of a graph so that a user can see how that has come out of 3Labs will ideally tell all these systems are connected to customers the state of their mobile device’s one another. Product lead times cut from Internet service, including performance features such as speed and reception. Picture-perfect six months to two weeks. The 3Agile Architecture But what if some of the ideas coming out Visualisation tool does just that. are failures? Ms Ling replies, “There are The tool provides a graphical view no failures with 3Labs. Only challenges. of which systems are involved in the Everyone’s a winner, and by working with business flow and in which subset of ideas, we disrupt and cause paradigm the integration each system is used. event where people from IT, Network, shifts in the pattern of our thinking, Product, Operations, Marketing, Customer allowing us to be more creative. Just being Versatile Service and Digital Channels come to a part of 3Labs is a success.” Born out of 3Labs, the application collaborate. “We didn’t anticipate this has dramatically improved becoming a company-wide event. But Bright future productivity, helping 3 Sweden to that is exactly what it is today. 3Labs has The success of the programme is due to work faster, and smarter. become an event for anyone at 3 Sweden.” its dedicated 3Labs Crew, the backing from the management team and all the The tool allows business analysts, Serious business staff who have taken part in the event. architects, developers, testers and Over the past two-and-a-half years, 3Labs “Together, we have built the spirit of operations support to efficiently has generated over 140 innovations. 3Labs,” says Ms Ling. visualise – and subsequently identify These ideas vary from trying out a new – business requirements to fulfil and tool, system or platform, to delivering The hard part comes next. “Our work in problems to solve. new apps, test-automation suites and embedding the spirit deeper into operations management. Some have been 3 Sweden’s culture has just begun,” says In the past three years, 3 Sweden implemented to help make the operations Ms Ling. “But the 3Labs Crew is up to the has consistently cut down the time of 3 Sweden much more efficient and challenge and we see a future where the needed to deliver new products. The productive. One example is 3Agile numbers of both the participants and the team reduced its lead time for new Architecture Visualisation, a web-based Crew will continue to grow.” product release from six months tool for visualising the company’s systems to two months, and is now on the integrations and architecture in a more 3Labs has pushed, and continues to verge of cutting the delivery time interactive way. push, 3 Sweden. Lots of ideas have come further to an amazing two weeks. An out of it. More importantly, its spirit – impressive feat, in which 3Labs has Other good prospects are in the pipeline experimentation and innovation – has definitely played its part. and will undergo planning and other become part of 3 Sweden’s future.
09 Sphere #38 2015
Cover story Discover CK Hutchison
With the evolution of Cheung Kong and Hutchison Number of into the new CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, it is a Countries: 50+ great time to discover more about the Group. From CK the UK to New Zealand, the Group’s footprint can Hutchison Global Staff: be found on every continent except Antarctica. 270,000
ow well do you know Operating countries the Group? Let us take you on a journey through the latitudes Ports Retail energy Telecoms Infrastructure Hand longitudes of CK Hutchison’s operations. Ports, retail, energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, and many other parts of the Group that add to its legendary status are here for you to discover. 26 21 4 11 8 2.6 21,678 Litres TEUs of cargo handled 333 of drinking 20 strokes quality water GBs BY OIL PUMPS Every supplied of data used on 148 second 3 Europe’s networks Products sold
happy customers
1 82 MyHusky million million 1,456 1,577 loyalty million members Telecom million UTILITIES customers customers 38 Global million Retail customers customers
Sphere #38 2015 10 >>
Energy: Power to the People Paramount in ports 319 340,100 berths Barrels of Oil Equivalent 82.9 million TEUs Produced per day handled in 2014
Infrastructure: Essential utilities
Power networks 374,140km
Global Retailer Telecommunications: CONNECT THE DOTS
THE MARIONNAUD PERFUME SHOP SAVERS DROGAS WATSONS
SPEKTR SUPERDRUG FORTRESS ICI PARIS XL ROSSMANN
WATSON’S PARKnSHOP TREKPLEISTER KRUIDVAT WINE million products , sold 12retail000 stores in 2014
11 Sphere #38 2015 << Cover story
CanadA
United States of America
Mexico
Panama Denmark
United Kingdom
Germany
Ireland The NEtherlands
Belgium Austria
France Luxembourg
Switzerland
Portugal The BahamaS
Spain
Morocco
Argentina
Sphere #38 2015 13 Sweden
Latvia Lithuania
Poland
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Hungary Ukraine
Romania Italy Turkey Albania
PakistaN Israel United Arab Emirates Egypt Myanmar Saudi OmaN Arabia
Sri LankA
Tanzania
14 Sphere #38 2015 <<
Russia
Mainland China
South Korea Ports
Retail
Hong Kong Infrastructure
Macau Taiwan energy
Telecommunications
Vietnam The Philippines Thailand Other Investments
Malaysia
Singapore
indonesia
Australia
New Zealand Enterprise Feature
Achievement Strong Brew: Women rising
Eleanor Roosevelt was a fantastically accomplished woman who represented her country at the United Nations and fought for the rights of women, minorities and refugees on the American and world stage. For all that, she is probably still best remembered as the longest serving First Lady of the United States. She accomplished many of her greatest achievements after her husband passed away, but the bias towards putting men in the spotlight persists from her time into ours.
“A woman is like a tea bag — you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”
Eleanor Roosevelt, Politician, diplomat and feminist activist
Sphere #38 2015 16 >>
omen are rising above that softens her former official police-style ancient bias and coming into mannerisms to match her current job. the spotlight in different As soon as she arrived at FCP, events businesses and industries from years before began to transform the “Focus on respect for the Waround the globe. Sphere security profession forever. takes a look at a top-notch scientist, two title and position, not the accomplished engineers and a former top Shortly after she joined the Group in 2004, gender.” cop turned security expert, all of whom the US government’s Transportation are succeeding in the Group. Security Administration and the International Maritime Organization Top cop worked their way through to determining Denise Tynes, Denise Tynes was tested in hot water new security upgrades that would be Head of Security, during her career in law enforcement and required for port and airport operators in Freeport Container Port security in the tropics. She now presides the wake of the 9–11 bombings in America. over the Security Department of Freeport Container Port (FCP), Freeport Harbour The implementation of new protocols was Company Limited and the Grand Bahama a demanding task, requiring a great deal of Airport Company. rapid institutional change. Ms Tynes’ strong character, built during her time in the RBPF, She was able to earn the respect of her Her prominent background as the first helped her to bring the new procedures and peers by “demonstrating the ability to deal female Inspector, first female Forensic equipment online in record time. with tough situations with confidence and Scientist and first female Deputy grace, having a ‘learning attitude’ … being Commander in the history of the Drug Her discipline, eye for detail and deep humble, direct, self-motivating, taking Enforcement Unit of the Royal Bahamas understanding of international security myself seriously and, most of all, by loving Police Force (RBPF) means that she has norms and local conditions enabled her what I do.” Ms Tynes told Sphere how she no problem dealing with the toughest law to execute the implementation in short rose through the ranks in the RBPF despite enforcement officials and criminals that order. Her skills and experience served the fact that women were rarely seen. At regularly cross her path. Nowadays, she her well, and she successfully adapted FCP, however, change is afoot. her management style to work alongside private sector colleagues. Asked how she arrived at her current role in the top job in the industry, she answers, Speak up “By standing by my decisions and my work, One thing she did demand while serving as not being afraid to speak my mind, not a police officer was respect for the role. being afraid of failure, asking for help when I needed it, being a team player and just “Anytime I was in a situation where I being myself.” Ms Tynes has high praise wasn’t being treated fairly, I pointed it for the company’s policy of rewarding good out, bringing the focus back to respect performers and ensuring that gender is for the title and position, not the gender.” never a barrier to advancement.
17 Sphere #38 2015 << Strong Brew: Women rising
Sometimes you have to ask Ms Honsberger is zealous in describing her job and industry activities but she stresses “Work hard, be confident that, as a woman, being passionate about and ask for what you want.” your job is not enough to advance. “Sometimes, as women we become overly focused on doing really good work and forget to build our network,” she explains. “Another Elaine Honsberger, mistake women make is that we sit at our Chief Geophysicist of Husky Energy desk, and hope that someone will notice we are doing great work. But typically, it is the men who will move forward and ask for promotion and ask for more challenging or better positions, while women hope Tremendous suppport to be a leader at Husky Energy. They have that someone will come and ask them. So The discipline and focus needed in law provided me with all kinds of opportunities sometimes we get left behind.” enforcement also serves those working for training and learning. I have a mentor in the rough-and-tumble world of mining, and a coach. Plus I can work with a network Ms Honsberger adds, “For women, if we oil and gas. In Canada’s far north, Elaine of similar leaders in the organisation where feel we are coming in at a disadvantage, Honsberger is the top scientist at Husky we can learn from each other.” the very important first step is to build Energy, arriving there after a successful people’s faith in our competency. Whether career working in the field, labs and There is even a Women’s Leadership male or female, we have to prove that we boardrooms in the US and Canada. Network programme at Husky Energy are good at what we do.” The advice she to connect female staff with leaders. Ms gives to young women entering Roosevelt’s Ms Honsberger became the Chief Honsberger herself is a mentor to young ‘hot water’ is to “work hard, be confident Geophysicist at Husky Energy after earning men and women both within and outside the and ask for what you want.” the respect of her peers in the industry. company. She has also been a member of According to her former colleagues, it’s her the Board for the Association of Professional Next Gen relentless work ethic, sharp intellect, team Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, Sometimes that confidence is earned spirit and sense of humour that has helped and the Canadian Society of Exploration during a long career. It can also be her rise through industry giants including Geophysicists. It was this board experience nurtured from a very young age. Alfreda Encana, Enerplus and Shell Canada. While that helped build her early leadership skills Ng’s bonding with Hongkong Electric she started her career in mining, she made and gave her the confidence to fulfil her Company Limited (HK Electric) started the switch to oil and gas in the 1980s career aspirations in the energy sector. before she could walk. and never looked back. She joined Husky Energy two years ago.
“I really like the fact that when you are in Rocky times have been the best times for Elaine Honsberger. the energy and mining industry, it’s really about us changing the world. We change the world and we find energy to keep people alive,” she says.
It was the collaborative environment in Husky Energy that attracted her and she found that the company provides ‘tremendous support’ for women.
“The company recognises that they have very few female leaders and they have stepped up their support for building the skills in women who have the potential to be leaders,” says Ms Honsberger. “I have really benefited and feel very privileged
Sphere #38 2015 18 >>
HK Electric. Her father was very supportive at every step and even asked his friends working in the industry to offer career advice. “I want to follow in my father’s footsteps,” Ms Ng says.
Follow she has. Today, Ms Ng is a Protection Engineer at HK Electric, responsible for the design, commissioning and maintenance of the protection system which safeguards the electricity transmission and distribution network. If a cable or transformer breaks down, the protection system will detect the fault and signal the circuit breaker to isolate it to keep the remaining network functioning.
She started in the Transmission and Distribution Division/ Technical Services Department after completing the company’s graduate trainee programme. She was the only female operations staff member in the department and remains so today. However, she never felt uneasy in an all-male- environment. She became accustomed to being ‘surrounded by boys’, as she was when studying at the University of Toronto. She was among the few women who studied Electrical Engineering and has made more male than female friends over the course of a lifetime.
Ms Ng sensed a little bit of doubt from some of the veterans when she first joined the company. There was a sense of uncertainty as to whether a woman could do the job properly. “They didn’t say it, but I could feel it,” she recalls. Trying to prove herself, she doubled her efforts at work and successfully earned the respect of her seniors and colleagues alike.
She easily blended into the team and claims that it is “nothing special” being the only woman in the team or being the only female manager in the department, and she puts this down to a good team spirit.
Office and field One challenge for women can be the field work. Before she was promoted to managerial level, she used to spend half of each day at worksites hauling heavy gear in stiflingly Field work is women’s work too in the high-tech electrical engineering business. hot temperatures. While building a primary substation, it took her around 20 minutes to climb up stairs to the ninth floor where her workplace was. The expansive ceilings meant the nine When she was small, Ms Ng was fascinated by machinery floors were actually equivalent to more than 20 stories in and electronics and loved to dismantle broken things and a normal building. All this while sharing the weight of carrying discover what had gone wrong. She didn’t grow up playing with a ‘test set’ that weighed the equivalent of two to three bags of Barbie dolls but preferred model cars. She volunteered to help rice (about 15 kg). her father chop firewood, renovate their basement and even to fix the toilet when she was small. In all these interests, she received Fortunately, Ms Ng didn’t let the hard work faze her. “I am easy- the unstinting support of her father, a passionate architect at HK going and outgoing, and I am able to do a job that I like, so I’m Electric before the family moved to Canada in the mid-1980s. not bothered by all these challenges.”
She grew up on a steady diet of HK Electric and other Another challenge she took on is an achievement that stands engineering stories recounted by her father and his colleagues. today. She directed the implementation of the protection system She chose to study Electrical Engineering at the University of for a new primary substation in the heart of Hong Kong’s busy Toronto, and then decided to return to Hong Kong and join and power-hungry Wan Chai District. It also serves the ‘Wall
19 Sphere #38 2015 << Strong Brew: Women rising
Street of Hong Kong’, the Central District. For the stability of Asia’s premier financial market, the reliable supply of electricity is of paramount concern. For three years “I want to follow in my from the design stage to commissioning, she led a team working long hours to father’s footsteps.” ensure that financial activities would remain robust and not be threatened by electricity failure. While the task was challenging, she remembers the project Alfreda Ng, fondly as the team spirit was high and Ms Protection Engineer of HK Electric Ng established a close rapport with her team. Her dedication in the field served her well and Central and Wan Chai are still the districts lit up 24–7, giving Hong Kong its reputation as the city that never sleeps. Ms Du joined Guangzhou Aircraft Ms Du set out to show her colleagues Maintenance Engineering Co Ltd that she was a true professional, spending Airplane wings, not fairy wings (GAMECO) after she graduated and extra hours learning about every aspect of Engineering fathers aren’t the only source started her career as an Avionics not only her job, but of those of the people of inspiration. For Mayy Du, growing up in Mechanic working in the component around her. “I try to learn, observe and Guangxi province, it was the stories told by repairs section. She later became a Senior understand as much as possible,” an ex-Chinese People’s Liberation Army air Reliability Analyst, then an Electronics she says. force pilot, her neighbour, which captivated Engineer and is now a manager in the the child’s imagination. Ms Du traded in Software Development and Management On women as engineers a little girl’s dreams of fairy wings for real Section in the Engineering Department. After getting past the hurdle of convincing aircraft wings and pursued a Bachelor’s her colleagues that she was every bit their degree in Instruments and Equipment at As a woman in an industry dominated by equal, people began to see what she could Nanjing University of Astronautics and men, she was never overtly discriminated really do. Aeronautics. In a still-conservative society, against. However, there was a time her parents were concerned about her when she felt her colleagues from other “If you don’t mind working hard and decision, but supported her in following departments questioned her abilities as taking on the same technical tasks as her dream of working in aeronautics. “If they thought she knew little about their men, women are well-suited to this other people can do it, so can I,” she told jobs. “I could feel it from their attitude and kind of work.” Ms Du even believes that her parents. the way they talked.” women can be better engineers than men.
Sphere #38 2015 20 <<
Mayy Du shows her colleagues how it’s done in modern aviation.
“Women are more attentive to details and before family. But there are times when are more thoughtful,” she says. Engineering family cannot be denied. Fortunately, requires its practitioners to be earnest, her superiors and colleagues rose to the detail-oriented and responsible. She “Women are more attentive occasion, working closely with her and believes women fit the bill, giving them an accommodating the difficult situation she advantage in engineering work. to details and are more found herself in. thoughtful.” Training is another crucial factor in an Strong brew engineer’s career advancement. Ms Across the Group, women are taking top Du says she owes her success to the Mayy Du, positions and proving their value in sectors company’s policy which offers the same Manager, Software Development traditionally dominated by men. They training opportunity to men and women and Management Section, GAMECO haven’t done so by ignoring reality, but by alike. Early on in her career, when training tackling it head-on. Their strength, even resources were scarce, Ms Du was when in hot water, has shown their worth. chosen three times to be trained at the The Group has a commitment to ensuring headquarters of both Boeing and Airbus. that gender should never be a barrier to Now, as the company expands its in-house years ago, her mother was hospitalised success. As staff across all levels support training programme, more women workers because of cancer and she had to take days their colleagues, irrespective of gender, the in GAMECO will benefit from it. off to provide care. There was no one to Group will continue to be a place where replace her at such short notice on a new determination, teamwork and commitment What happens at work is, of course, project she had only just begun. are rewarded. important to how a career progresses. However, anyone with even a little life Ms Du managed to communicate with experience knows that one’s personal life her team from the hospital through emails can throw the best-laid plans off track. and phone calls. “Everyone talks about work-family balance but, inevitably, Duty: Family versus work we have to make sacrifices.” When Ms Du believes the most challenging part she faces a dilemma, she opts for the of being a female engineer is to strike a choice with the most urgent demands, balance between work and family. Two meaning that sometimes work will come
21 Sphere #38 2015
Retail Focus
culture Elevating wine culture in China With the massive Mainland China market growing rapidly, it’s easy to forget that some tastes in the middle kingdom have only been acquired in the last decade, and none more so than a taste for wine. According to a survey conducted by International Wine and Spirit Research in 2013, the Mainland market consumed 158 million nine-litre cases of all types of wines, making it the fifth- largest consumer of wine in general. With every cork that pops, Watson's Wine is growing alongside the Mainland's taste for the great gift of the vine.
Sphere #38 2015 22 >>
he more sophisticated “The huge variety of different cooking markets in Europe and North styles across China requires more America have had centuries knowledge of the dish rather than just to learn the nuances of wine what ingredients are used,” says Mr Lai. Tculture. The Mainland on For example, a light red wine will be the other hand, has done it overnight. selected to pair with Shanghai-style fried crab with rice cake in heavy sauce. Or a Votre sommelier: low acidity, sweet rosé or white wine to go Monsieur Watson with a Sichuan-style poached beef in chilli Since its entrance into the Mainland market soup, rather than the traditional matching in 2007, Watson’s Wine has contributed to of a red wine with red meat. “We need building wine culture. In that time, Chinese to consider more factors when we do consumers have evolved dramatically in wine pairing to match the more diverse terms of their preferences and knowledge of and complex flavours of Chinese food,” wine. A generation of cultured consumers continues Mr Lai. has emerged, hungry for a better experience and thirsty for pristine wines. It is not just the cooking method that differentiates Chinese cuisine from the Watson’s Wine in China has worked traditional food and wine-pairing culture. through different channels to educate The Chinese market for wines also and empower consumers to make more typically distinguishes between first-tier sophisticated choices when it comes to (e.g. Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou), picking wine. This includes retail stores, second-tier (e.g. Changsha, Wuhan, on-trade (hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, Chengdu) and third-tier cities (e.g. clubs), off-trade (super/hypermarkets, Urumqi). convenience stores), wholesalers and e-commerce. “We work with our The first-tier city consumers are quite trade partners including hoteliers and knowledgeable about wine. “We are restaurateurs to provide tailored wine already seeing wine being the first selections to meet their customer needs,” choice, replacing baijiu or spirits at says Johnny Lai, General Manager of dinner functions,” says Mr Lai. This is Watson’s Wine China. “We also support no doubt due, in part, to the efforts of our wholesalers and other trade partners Watson’s Wine. with professional wine training and recommendations to meet the needs of Second- or third-tier cities, on the other each type of end consumer.” hand, can be quite different. Customers in these cities usually share a number of Their efforts seem to be paying off. While different wines over a traditional Chinese less expensive domestically produced wine round table meal instead of pairing still takes up the lion’s share of the market, separate glasses with each course. demand for better quality imported wines has been increasing rapidly. “There has Watson’s Wine has also organised guided been a big increase in entry-level everyday food and wine-pairing sessions through wine consumption,” says Mr Lai, indicating its education team, helping customers the switch to a more private consumption- maximise the enjoyment of fine wines with driven market. their meals. During these wine events, the host will take the lead throughout a meal Food and wine pairing and each course will come with a pre- An important topic on which Watson’s assigned fresh glass of wine. The host will Wine has helped educate consumers explain the rationale behind each selection, on is wine pairing. Matching wine with such as the right combination of flavours Western food is well established and well- and textures that would complement documented: You select a white wine to the course being served. An engaging pair with Western-style seafood, or a red Q&A discussion follows afterwards. “Our Credit: Kwan Cheuk Heen, Harbour Grand Hong Kong wine to go with a red-meat dish. But what customers enjoy this as they are able to about Chinese cooking? learn a lot,” says Mr Lai.
23 Sphere #38 2015 >> The white wines Baijiu is translated literally as “white wine”, but the Chinese product is very different from its Western namesake. From its place in traditional culture and the way it is produced, to the way it interacts with your palate, the differences are immense.
As China’s ‘national drink’, baijiu has been the traditional choice for state- level banquets. It is often enjoyed during family celebrations, business negotiations and holiday festivities, especially among second- and third-tier cities. Western wine, on the other hand, only began catching on in China in the past decade or so. White wine in particular has only just Watson’s Wine has trained professionals to guide customers through their begun to grow in popularity among inventory of over 6,000 wines and spirits. more sophisticated drinkers.
The roadshow about other wine options, we are seeing an Baijiu is a distilled alcohol made Watson’s Wine has been at the frontier of influx of New World wines, particularly at from grain, generally with alcohol developing wine culture in second- and third- the entry level,” says Mr Lai. by volume (ABV) of 40–60 per tier cities. After seeing that first-tier cities cent. It is normally served at room already had a wealth of wine exhibitions, But Watson’s Wine can’t claim all the temperature in a small ceramic the company began running roadshows in credit, Mr Lai explains. “In general the bottle, and then poured into a small the second- and third-tier cities. “In these market has been normalising in the past cup or shot glass. Western white cities, consumers are less knowledgeable two years. Consumers are beginning to wine, however, is made through about wine, but interest is growing. Wine look for value for money rather than just the fermentation of grapes, with a education remains the key to growing wine picking out the most expensive wine on maximum ABV of 15 per cent, and, culture in these areas,” Mr Lai adds. the list.” unlike red wines, the juice of the grape is separated from the skin These events provide a valuable This hunt for value has led to more before fermentation. opportunity to introduce the different experimentation with non-French wines, brands and winemakers to second- and helping fuel the growth of consumption of The flavour of white wine ranges third-tier city consumers, and to discuss New World wines. Even dessert wines – from dry to sweet, and it must be the qualities of different wines and wine such as Canada’s icewine varietals – often chilled to be in the best condition pairing with local food. have a bigger following in China than their for drinking, although it must not be home countries. served with ice. Baijiu on the other At each of these roadshows, Watson’s hand, represents an entire category of Wine invites representatives from some of Experimentation must be paired with spirits, and its flavour depends on the the biggest wineries around the world to essential education from organisations like choice of grain or proportions used. host booths and interact with customers. Watson’s Wine. “With more education But no matter what variation, the drink Visitors can go directly to the source for in- and understanding of wine being part of can be strong, somewhat fiery and, depth knowledge about the products they food, there will be many opportunities for to the uninitiated, sometimes quite are sipping right at that moment, and can pairings involving New World wines and unpleasant. explore the flavour, the texture, or even the white wines,” says Mr Lai. grapes or process the wine was made with. With the wine market booming “This is an annual activity to bring wine Maturing gracefully rapidly and wine becoming culture to end consumers in second- and While the Mainland has rapidly become increasingly popular third-tier cities,” explains Mr Lai. the world’s fifth-largest consumer of wine, in China, the Chinese wine culture there, like wine itself, will need now have white wines Brave new world time to age gracefully. for all occasions. Due to its dominant share of imported Gan bei! (Cheers!) wines, French wine has traditionally been “This shift is not going to happen overnight. the first choice for new wine drinkers. It takes time and effort by players like us to As part of their mission to elevate wine continue to drive the wine culture through culture, Watson’s Wine tries to open the the provision of more wine education and eyes of consumers to different and exciting product training. The more informed the possibilities. They introduce consumers to consumers become, the more confident other wine regions outside of the dominant they will be to choose their own wine for French selection, including European different occasions,” says Mr Lai. options like Italian and Spanish wines as well as New World options such as Chilean, “This will continue to fuel both the growth Argentinean and Californian wines. “As of wine culture in the Mainland and consumers become more knowledgeable opportunities for Watson’s Wine.”
Credit: Kwan Cheuk Heen, Harbour Grand Hong Kong Travel Focus >>
Globalisation H utchison Travel: The Next Voyage CK Hutchison finally has a global travel group it can call its own: Hutchison Travel Limited.
utchison Travel is the new incarnation of Hutchison- Priceline, rebranded after CK Hutchison repurchased the equity interest from the US travel group to acquire full ownership. The company comprises two brands that encompass the best of all possible worlds: Hutchison Corporate Travel aims to provide a full travel service to corporate clients, while hutchgo.com is an online travel agency (OTA) targeting multiple audiences. Unifying the divisions under the Hutchison Travel brand strengthens their business reputation and broadens company recognition.
25 Sphere #38 2015 << Hutchison Travel: Unbound
“Whenever a hotel or an airline offers us a discount, we announce it on our website and social media within four hours. ”
It also means that Hutchison Travel beautiful hotels or local guesthouses can grow to its full potential. While with distinguished characteristics the previous company was limited to rather than some random hostels,” Asian markets due to its relationship says Mr Ma. with Priceline, Hutchison Travel has the freedom to elevate the travel experience hutchgo.com crafts comprehensive for globetrotters everywhere. packages incorporating flights, hotel rooms, theme park tickets, rental cars, hutchgo go go! travel insurances, pocket Wi-Fi – and hutchgo.com is the new brand that is going soon – travel accessories and tourist SIM to compete on a global scale. Fresh, young, cards. It offers not only high-value travel and free to cater to a worldwide audience, experiences, but also high-value customer the growth of this newly branded OTA, as experiences. This means including a it enters new markets, will be driven by the multi-channel customer offering. Many decade-plus experience and network of are happy to complete their transactions Hutchison Travel. online only, but some want to have a real person to speak to over the phone, often It may surprise some in Europe or the while looking at their computer. Americas to learn that the travelling Asian public can be extremely particular and Hutchison Travel is totally committed more brand conscious than their Western to the user experience and ensures that counterparts. Tony Ma, CEO of Hutchison when clients visit the website they have Travel, explains that people in Hong Kong, the best possible buying experience. The Singapore and Taiwan often forego lower same goes for those who transition to, or prices in order to maximise convenience, mix their browsing experiences with, a and to stay at their favourite hotels and fly phone call. While scrupulously following with their favourite airlines. local rules and norms regarding privacy, hutchgo.com delivers not only the travel “People have a preference for which experience but also an enjoyable buying airlines and hotels they pick, choosing experience.
Sphere #38 2015 26 >>
Like lightning Hutchison Travel works hard to deliver on quality, price and speed to market. “Whenever a hotel or an airline offers us a discount, we announce it on our website and social media within four hours. This way we can ensure that our customers will always be informed of the latest updates,” says Mr Ma. “You can’t do that in a traditional travel agency operation since there will always be a lag of one to two working days while the information is circulated within the company, and is then published in print.”
Mr Ma adds, “In today’s fast-growing e-commerce market, it’s not the big that beats the small, but the fast that beats the slow. We think and act fast, measuring our speed by time-to-market.”
Speed to market and multi-channel commitments. However, the Hutchison The parent company’s name association customer contact are huge assets for brand is well known to consumers and will serve the Hutchison Travel brands hutchgo.com. While these elements may industry players (professional providers well as they target English and Chinese be part of the raison d’être for all OTAs, of travel services, such as hotels and language markets. The English-speaking Hutchison Travel combines this intelligence airlines). They know the broader CK public globally includes attractive markets with an advantage that competing OTAs Hutchison Group is a solid, professionally like the US, Australia, Canada, the UK don’t have – the Hutchison brand. run outfit synonymous with quality and and more. Hutchison Travel can work reliability. with more hotels, airlines, rental car hutchison trusted providers, leisure and entertainment While OTAs do well in quickly delivering “With Hutchison in the name, you know venues and others to deliver incredible low-cost options, savvy consumers now that Hutchison Travel is trustworthy. You travel experiences. While it has no limits know that once they close the deal online, know it’s worth it to buy a ticket from us as to whom it can partner with, Mr Ma is other OTAs may hand off responsibility since there is always support from the especially keen for Hutchison Travel to for delivering the travel service to another sales team,” says Mr Ma. The buying public work with like-minded, reliable partner company. Small operators may suffer from knows that CK Hutchison stands by its companies in the CK Hutchison family. financial problems and renege on their travel companies.
27 Sphere #38 2015 >>
Keep it in the family Mr Ma believes such cooperation is strategically important and provides benefits in many dimensions.
First, Hutchison Travel can provide direct travel services to more companies within the Group around the world. Companies in Asia have worked closely with the old Hutchison-Priceline for years. Now, all of our corporate family across the world can work with Hutchison Travel.
Second, the company is free to devise joint marketing campaigns to attract clients by partnering with businesses in the Group. For example, the first partnership is with MoneyBack, the Group’s retail customer loyalty rewards programme. Purchases from hutchgo.com now also reward customers with MoneyBack points, increasing loyalty to Hutchison Travel and making MoneyBack more valuable.
“We can achieve more synergies and provide a wider scope of services through hutchgo.com : to know it. The name lets travellers cooperation with other CK Hutchison eyes on the world know that they will have a hassle-free companies,” Mr Ma says. hutchgo.com is the new online travel experience, allowing them to get on agency that is ready to take on the with having a real adventure at their Retailing and telecommunications in Asia global heavyweights. Deep experience, travel destination. As a veteran in the will be among the first partners in the Group a wealth of data in its traditional home travel industry and with the backing of to conduct co-marketing with Hutchison markets, and the Hutchison name all tell the CK Hutchison Group, hutchgo.com Travel. That success can then be replicated the world that this new player has its can take care of all the little extras that in other markets as the company expands. eye out for opportunity. use up ‘experience time’ at a destination – getting a local SIM card, renting a car, “In the industry, you can link up with all That ‘eye’ isn’t just a metaphor – booking tickets and much more. types of businesses. In fact, we used to it’s part of the brand. The new logo’s ask our colleagues to randomly pick a ‘o’ is a stylised eye, showing the Immerse yourself in the energy of CK Hutchison company on the map and new firm’s ability to see through the hutchgo.com and just hutchgo go go on encourage them to think of possible deals consumers’ eyes to start them on a your journey! that we can make with these companies,” journey of discovery. The brand is Mr Ma says. meant to convey a sense of energy through its use of colour and lively, “This is a global business under a youthful, design elements. unique brand – anything you can imagine can happen,” he enthuses. There are The Hutchison name brings reassurance limitless opportunities for CK Hutchison that this is not some newbie learning the Group firms and the global tourism ropes. After all, if you have experience industry. World – watch out! Here comes and muscle, it is better for consumers Hutchison Travel!
Sphere #38 2015 28