“We are honoured to partner with the IUCN Academy to bring world-class conservation education to Hong Kong,” said Simon Mak, Chairman of the Ascent Partners Foundation. “This collaboration reflects our shared belief that knowledge and action belong together. By directing all net proceeds from our work to local conservation efforts led by IUCN’s NGO members in Hong Kong, we hope to create a lasting impact that reaches far beyond the courses themselves.”
|Hong Kong
Press ReleaseConservation Education Comes to Hong Kong: IUCN Academy Partners with Ascent Partners Foundation
Territory Partnership Agreement | Hong Kong, 8 July 2026
IUCN AcademyConservation EducationProfessional CertificateHong KongNature-Based SolutionsBiodiversitySustainability
The IUCN Academy, the professional education programme of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Ascent Partners Foundation Limited (APF), a Hong Kong registered charity, have announced a partnership to bring professional conservation education to Hong Kong. Under the Territory Partnership Agreement, signed on 25 June 2026, APF will serve as the dedicated Territory Partner for Hong Kong — building on the Memorandum of Understanding the two organisations signed in April 2024 — creating opportunities for conservation professionals and the wider community to access world-class training.
Through this collaboration, APF will connect Hong Kong professionals with the full IUCN Academy portfolio — from free introductory courses to Professional Certificate programmes — broadening access to conservation education across the region. All net proceeds from the partnership will be directed to conservation projects led by IUCN’s local NGO members in Hong Kong, so that the benefits extend beyond the classroom to the ecosystems and communities this partnership aims to protect.
Key Highlights
“Ascent Partners Foundation came as a natural partner in Hong Kong for the IUCN Academy. It is already active in the field of conservation and works closely with IUCN Asia. With this partnership, the Academy will be able to reach new audiences, helping pave the way for sustainable change. We look forward to seeing the impact of our collaboration and are grateful for Ascent Partners Foundation reinvesting their proceeds in local conservation action.”
Outcomes and Next Steps
Implementation planning is now underway. APF will connect professionals in Hong Kong with IUCN Academy’s Professional Certificate programmes and free introductory courses, with the first cohort expected in the second half of 2026. Hong Kong professionals and organizations interested in the courses may contact the Foundation for enrollment details. APF will also work with the IUCN Academy to explore options such as live sessions led by local experts and study groups tailored to Hong Kong.
APF acknowledges the leadership and support of the IUCN Academy team, whose dedication to advancing professional conservation education has made this partnership possible.
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