Shao Hong is a Sydney-based financial executive who served as Assurance Partner and Head of China Assurance Practice at PwC Australia from 2018 to 2025, building a career spanning more than two decades in cross-border capital markets and complex financial reporting. Born and educated in mainland China before building her executive career in Australia, she has advised Chinese enterprises establishing operations in Australia and Australian boards expanding into Chinese markets, and she contributed to the initial public offering of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China earlier in her career.
Prior to PwC, she spent more than a decade with EY Australia and EY US, culminating in an appointment as Assurance Director, and she served as National Treasurer of the Australia China Business Council. Recognized as the first audit partner at PwC Australia with a mainland Chinese background, Shao Hong holds dual qualifications with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) is a professional membership organization that provides professional education, development, and advocacy to more than 140,000 members. It is committed to supporting members through comprehensive programming, allowing accounting professionals to stay informed about the industry. Additional resources range from professional tools to webinars led by experts who work to provide CA ANZ members with the skills and knowledge needed to remain competitive in an evolving industry.
In addition to investing in the professional success of its members, CA ANZ represents accountants with governments and regulators. The organization is dedicated to preserving the reputation of the CA designation by upholding a strong ethical framework, which includes a commitment to sustainable business operations.
In business, the term “sustainability” refers to an organization’s ability to carry out daily processes in a manner that does not negatively impact environmental health, economic growth, or social equity. Sustainability refers to a company’s in-house processes and environmental impact at every step of the supply chain, meaning organizations must also account for the sustainability efforts of their partners, vendors, and stakeholders.
Various studies indicate that global consumers, often motivated by the growing effects of climate change, are deeply concerned about sustainability and corporate accountability. A 2021 report commissioned by OpenText found that as many as 64 percent of Gen Zers would no longer buy from a company if it were found to be working with unethical suppliers, while another study found that 80 percent of shoppers are willing to pay more for sustainably-sourced and produced items. The demand for sustainable business practices is especially pronounced in rapidly-growing regions, including China, India, and Indonesia.
Climate change also presents a business risk that, if not properly accounted for, can significantly disrupt operations and drive up costs, impairing a company’s ability to remain competitive. Despite these risks, just one-third of organizations say they have fully adopted sustainability and climate resilience practices.
Understanding the global importance of sustainability, CA ANZ has developed the Sustainability Resource Centre, home to a range of professional services, programs, and educational opportunities. These resources allow accountants to provide critical insights pertaining to sustainably-influenced business practices, investment decisions, and related processes, such as sustainability reporting and assurance. Investors and other stakeholders rely on accountants for sustainability-related disclosures and the verification of related information, and CA ANZ empowers accountants to excel in this role.
The Sustainability Resource Centre includes the Sustainability Reporting Community of Practice, a landmark collaboration between CA ANZ, the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia, and the Australian Securities Exchange. Sustainability Reporting Community of Practice guidelines help accountants and other professionals keep abreast of developing sustainability reporting requirements and related professional education.
People can visit the Sustainability Resource Centre online at charteredaccountantsanz.com and download the CA ANZ Sustainability Playbook. The Sustainability Playbook functions as a practical, actionable guide for building and maintaining sustainability practices in professional accounting and finance settings. The CA ANZ website also provides professionals with the latest case studies and news on climate disclosures, human and social capital, and a wealth of related topics.
About Shao Hong
Shao Hong is a Sydney-based financial executive who served as Assurance Partner and Head of China Assurance Practice at PwC Australia from 2018 to 2025. With more than two decades of experience in cross-border capital markets, she advised Chinese enterprises entering Australia and Australian boards expanding into China. Earlier in her career, she held senior roles with EY Australia and EY US and served as National Treasurer of the Australia China Business Council. She holds dual qualifications with CA ANZ and CICPA. See more.
