THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Marc -Castagnet
Director
Marc -Castagnet
Marc Castagnet, permanent Hong Kong resident, Director of ICS, holds MBA degrees from both France and USA. After a career in banking in New York and starting his business in China in 1989, he started SgT Group in 1990’s in Hong Kong and sold it in 2009. Since 2009, Marc shifted his time and investments on Social impact issues or organizations and strongly believes that overall social and environmental issues especially marginalized communities can only be solved through sustainable and hybrid systems and organizations within an entrepreneurial frame work. He has been a director and shareholder of Suntransfer (solar energy production and distribution for BOP for marginalized communities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Philippines), He is an advisor to one Earth design (Solar energy cooking & purification) and advisor to Genashtim for many years. He is also director of a HK foundation dedicated to digital learning. On the Educational Field, He is a board member of the largest French group of mainly non-profit French universities specialized in professional academic studies, continuous training and education for jobs for the BOP, including being the representative board member of their training centers in Senegal, Morroco, Ivoiry Coast). He has been a board member of the English School Foundation (ESF) in Hong Kong. Marc has also invested into organic food in Thailand and he joined its partners into Hill Tribe Organic (HTO) as shareholder and board member, HTO is producing and distributing organic egg in order to triple the income of Hill tribes in Northern Thailand. Marc holds several official positions at different trade, community and business organizations. Namely, he is a Member of YPO Gold (Young President Organization) and he is the past Chair of the North Asia Region. He is panellist at Ashoka Globalizer event and different conferences related to social enterprise and supply chain. Marc holds multiple directorships or board seats in entrepreneurial companies in Asia, Europe, and USA.
James Lo
Executive Director
James Lo
James was born and raised in Hong Kong. An honours graduate from City University of Hong Kong, he spent most of his career working for large multinational companies, mostly focussing on business development in China, as well as other parts of Asia. He started his career with KPMG in Hong Kong, before spending more than 10 years with Asea Brown Boveri. He was then Director in Asia for UK Listed company Rexam plc for 16 years.
Benedict Chang
Director
Benedict Chang
Ben is originally from Malaysia, and with an Engineering Degree from the UK, he started his engineering career in Singapore. Then for 13 years, he developed and grew Havi’s Asian businesses, which provided end-to-end supply chain services to McDonald’s Asia Pacific. He then joined Li & Fung in 1999 and led IDS, their HK-listed distribution and logistics arm, with operations in more than 10 countries. Ben is now on the main board of Fung (1937) Holdings Ltd. The HK-based Fung Group employs 40,000 people across 40 economies, with total revenue exceeding US$ 25 billion.
BOARD OF ADVISOR
Thomas Ng
Advisor
Thomas Ng
Thomas Ng, the founder and CEO of Genashtim Innovative Learning, ventured into a for-profit social enterprise to give opportunities to the people that the corporate world had left behind. After spending 25 years in senior management and leadership roles in various European, Asian, and Australian based multinational companies, he established Genashtim in 2004, to provide online learning and support services globally. Operating 100% remotely, the diverse and inclusive company offers employment opportunities for people with different disabilities, refugees, LGTBQ and seniors across more than 10 countries, in line with Genashtim’s mission, to Leverage on Technology and the Internet to Connect Marginalised Communities to the Global Economy. Over the years, Genashtim received recognition from many international organizations like The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), The Nippon Foundation, The ESSL Foundation, and the Young Presidents Organization. With a purpose-driven vision and mission, Thomas believed in business as a force for good and Genashtim was certified a B Corp in 2015. In 2018, Genashtim was appointed as B Market Builder representing the B Corp movement in Singapore & Malaysia. A year later, Genashtim partnered with the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center (MaGIC), to promote B Corp certification in Malaysia. Besides Genashtim, Thomas also serves in leadership positions in the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and the ASEAN Responsible and Inclusive Business Alliance (ARAIBA). He is also one of the Founding Global Advisors for The Knowledge Pledge. grew Havi’s Asian businesses, which provided end-to-end supply chain services to McDonald’s Asia Pacific. He then joined Li & Fung in 1999 and led IDS, their HK-listed distribution and logistics arm, with operations in more than 10 countries. Ben is now on the main board of Fung (1937) Holdings Ltd. The HK-based Fung Group employs 40,000 people across 40 economies, with total revenue exceeding US$ 25 billion.
THE MANAGEMENT TEAM
James Lo
Executive Director
James Lo
James was born and raised in Hong Kong. An honours graduate from City University of Hong Kong, he spent most of his career working for large multinational companies, mostly focussing on business development in China, as well as other parts of Asia. He started his career with KPMG in Hong Kong, before spending more than 10 years with Asea Brown Boveri. He was then Director in Asia for UK Listed company Rexam plc for 16 years.
Bahman Mehryar
Executive Director For Indonesia
Bahman Mehryar
Bahman Mehryar has always been an independent services renderer in his work career and has been working at higher positions in the field of training development, graphic designing, marketing management with the creativity to build more experience as an immaculate employee to strive for quality and apply process and discipline among his colleagues in the numerous national and international companies and organizations. His strong hold in IT troubleshooting has always been complimented and took initial steps towards success of the projects.
Mariecell F. Esguerra
Executive assistant
Mariecell F. Esguerra
Mariecell from Davao, Philippines is visually impaired and this has not hindered her from conquering work for a span of 11 years and counting. She has been with Genashtim since 2010, landing a job as a Secretary for the Executive Director then eventually, she was promoted as an HR Manager and has been for more than 7 years. While doing all these amazing works, she is also an Executive Assistant here at DG-Bridge. She also keeps up with her career development by attending seminars, trainings, and volunteer work all throughout the years. It just goes to show that with sheer motivation, persistence, and hard work, you can achieve a lot in life. Mariecell is happily married and has a beautiful daughter.