Mike Kilburn

Developing, resourcing, managing and communicating multi-stakeholder research and engagement campaigns on environmental and governance issues to help policymakers to plan & execute environmental policy in the public interest.

Founding Board Member (pro bono)

Hong Kong Countryside Foundation

February 2011– Present (1 year 8 months)Hong Kong

Key adviser on governance structure, implementation strategies and advocacy.

Founding board member with:

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive-elect: CY Leung,
former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong: Sir David Akers-Jones
former Director of Planning: Patrick Lau
former Director of Hong Kong Observatory: CY Lam
Chairman of Jebsen: Hans-Michael Jebsen
Ruy Barretto SC

Vice Chairman (pro bono)

Hong Kong Bird Watching Society

1994– Present (18 years)Hong Kong

Board-level oversight of affairs of HKBWS. Leading advocacy, stakeholder engagement determining social licence to operate for Government and major housing and infrastructure developers and utilities.

Successful campaigns include:

1. Transforming illegal landfill incursion into country park into 40 ha increase in park area.
2. Convening 12 HK-based NGOs in first successful EIA challenge in Hong Kong, forcing railway to avoid a wetland at an extra cost of HK$ 2 billion.
3. Refining development footprints to avoid flight lines & minimize ecological impacts.
4. Stopping use of perverse incentives to legitimize development of ecological hotspot

Public Policy Analyst

Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden

2002– 2008 (6 years)Hong Kong

Advocating sustainable development and nature conservation via policy research and stakeholder engagement. Leading public consultations on sustainability, environmental legislation and development projects.

Account Executive

Hill and Knowlton Asia Ltd

1993– 1995 (2 years)

Publications

Principles and Measures to Improve Air Quality: Policy Recommendations for a New Administration
- Civic Exchange
- January 2012

Authors: Mike Kilburn

Air pollution remains the most serious and persistent threat to public health in Hong Kong. This paper sets out seven principles for more effective control of air pollution. It also proposes seven measures that can swiftly and significantly reduce those emissions that threaten us most – roadside emissions. This paper proposes a framework and measures that could be adopted by an incoming…more

Air Quality Report Card of the Donald Tsang Administration (2005 -2012)
- Civic Exchange
- January 2012

Authors: Mike Kilburn

This paper reviews how the Tsang administration has tackled air pollution in Hong Kong since he took office in March 2005, to determine where progress has been made, and where it has not. Some of the difficulties to achieving substantial improvement come from long-entrenched systemic “disconnects” in the way that air pollution is addressed, but new and fundamental problems have also emerged.

Nature Conservation: a new policy framework for Hong Kong
- Civic Exchange
- January 2011

Authors: Mike Kilburn, Dr Roger Kendrick

This report sets out a new strategic framework for nature conservation based on the Convention on Biological Diversity, to which Hong Kong became a party in May 2011.

Hong Kong Headline Indicators for Biodiversity and Conservation: 2011 Report
- Civic Exchange
- October 2011

Authors: Mike Kilburn, Cheng Nok Ming

This report assess the performance of Hong Kong against its responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity according to a set of indicators developed in collaboration with environmental NGOs, consultants, academics, current and former Government officials.

Skills & Expertise

Education

University of Durham

Jt Hons, Chinese and Management

1989 – 1993

Sherborne School, Dorset UK

1984 – 1989

Additional Information

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