Natalie Sum Yue Chung was elected a Board of Director of PBEC in 2024. She is a climate advocate, researcher, and entrepreneur born and raised in Hong Kong. Inspired by a polar explorer at the age of 11, Natalie has dedicated her life to climate action. She is the co-founder of V’air Sustainability Education, a social enterprise providing nature-based climate change education for schools and corporations. Natalie is recognized by Eco-Business and The Japan Times as one of the most impactful sustainability leaders in Asia Pacific. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy at Princeton University, jointly supervised by Professors Michael Oppenheimer and Eric Tate.
Natalie’s professional experience with the World Bank on a Pacific Island environmental project led her to realize the life-and-death consequences of extreme weather for vulnerable communities, sparking her research interest in climate resilience. During her time at Princeton, Natalie aims to develop an evaluation model that integrates scientific and human elements to support nature-based adaptation. She is the researcher and host of the RTHK TV documentary series “Climate Insight”, where Natalie captured the journey of climate adaptation in Fiji and insights from COP28 in Dubai through fieldwork, community engagement and expert dialogues.
In recognition of her climate research and advocacy efforts, Natalie has been appointed by the Hong Kong government as the Deputy Convenor in Youth and Capacity Building at the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, member at the Green Tech Fund Assessment Committee and the Country and Marine Parks Board to advise on policy decisions. As a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Natalie initiated the Lead for Sustainability Mentorship program. She also served as the sole Hong Kong representative at the Dr. Sylvia Earle Antarctic Climate Expedition, advocating for the ocean-climate crisis through launching a follow-up multimedia exhibition entitled “Climate Witness: Changing Polar Landscapes” at the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change.
Natalie holds an MPhil in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University and a BSSc in Geography and Resource Management from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the clarinet, Chinese painting, and hiking.