Emma Sherrard Matthew

Born in Singapore and educated in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Britain, Emma’s career began in New Zealand before moving to London in 2000 to join prestigious Mosimann’s Events, where responsibilities involved managing exclusive events for prominent clients: including Heads of State, the British Royal Family and Hollywood stars at locations from 10 Downing Street to the Tate Modern Gallery. This followed a return to her roots in Hong Kong and securing the role of Business Development Manager at The British Chamber of Commerce to oversee commercial delegations to China and promote British business in the region.

 

In 2005, Emma was approached by Quintessentially (www.quintessentially.com) to launch the luxury lifestyle group in Asia - Pacific, with the first office in Hong Kong and was instrumental in building the business and company profile globally - she was promoted to Global CEO from 2011-2015 and Non-Executive Chairman – Asia Pacific up until April 2021.

 

With her entrepreneurial flair, extensive global address book and a clear life’s purpose to help drive positive change, Emma and her husband, Steven, set up STEM Innovations (www.steminnovations.co) in 2015: their Hong Kong based family office and impact investment platform focused on early -stage businesses. STEM Innovations currently has a portfolio of over 45+ companies, across a variety of sectors, mainly supporting female entrepreneurs and/or businesses with strong potential impact to improve how we live our lives. 

 

Emma is also an active Board Director or Advisor to the following:

 

• Non-Executive Director of Mandala Group (www.mandala.global); 

 

• Executive Board Member to Heaven’s Portfolio (www.heavensportfolio.com); the only representation company that offers strategies in sales, PR, marketing and social media across all Asian markets for travel brands and experiences;

 

• Board Advisor to Insignia Group of Companies (www.insignia.com); the world’s leading luxury financial and lifestyle management group;

 

• Board Member to Sweet Farm (www.sweetfarm.org): Based in upstate New York, the first non-profit sanctuary in the world to address the global climate impacts of factory farming across animals, plants and the planet and their for-profit fund: SNØCAP (www.snocap.vc); 

 

Advisor to Shiza Shahid who co-founded the Malala Fund and ‘NOW Ventures’ 

(angel.co/company/now-ventures); the first AngelList backed fund created to invest in, enable, and amplify exceptional startups that are disruptive and have a positive impact.

 

Advisor to climate positive movement - Earthly (www.earthly.org); helping companies invest in nature through high quality nature- based solutions that remove carbon, restore biodiversity and improve livelihoods;

 

Advisor to environmental Edu-entertainment platform - Earth Cubs (www.earthcubs.com); Interactive resources, stories and games that inspire kids to learn the world;

 

Previous appointments:

Non-Executive Director of breathwork audiomask Silentmode (www.silentmode.com) 2019-2021;

Non-Executive Chairman of Private Family Members’ Club: ‘Maggie & Rose’ 

(www.maggieandrose.com) 2017-2021;

Director: ‘Quintessentially’ 2011-2013;

 

Emma has a strong sense of commitment to social responsibility and has also been involved in a number of charitable fundraising activities and educational and mentoring workshops over the years. She previously sat on the Hong Kong Board of ‘Women Helping Women’ 2017-2019 and ‘The Women’s Foundation’ from 2011-2015. Emma is also a founding member of Development Board of Somerset House in London (www.somersethouse.org.uk). 

 

Emma is an active member of YPO London (Young President’s Organisation) and sat on the EXCO Board Pan-Asia from 2016-2019. She has recently accepted an invitation join Alma Angels (www.alma-angels.com) whose mission is to level the playing field for female entrepreneurs seeing early-stage startup funding and also is a Honorary Board Member of Johara Global (www.joharaglobal.com) whose mission is to accelerate female leadership and to promote cross-cultural integration across the Arabian Gulf and globally.

 

Emma holds a BA (Hons) in History of Art and Tourism from Oxford Brookes University, England. She is a proud wife of her Aussie husband Steven, mother of Willa and Arthur, and is passionate about living life to the fullest. Her wanderlust keeps her exploring the globe as well as participating in a range of competitive sports and challenges, including running the Great Wall, London and Hong Kong Marathons, hiking the 100km jungle Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea and Annapurna Circuit in Nepal and climbing Mt Kinabalu, Ben Nevis and Mt Kilimanjaro. In 2019, Emma participated in Challenge Africa – 100 people hiking 100km in 4 days: raising nearly 400,000 USD for Laureus Sports for Good Foundation, in 2021 she participated in the 30KM Million Meals March raising funds to buy much needed food for Balinese families and in 2023 completed the Jurassic Coast Challenge in UK.

Emma, a Resident in HK and holds a Golden Visa in the UAE, and her family recently relocated to the UK (Somerset & London) having spent the past couple of years in Bali, Indonesia where her children attended Green School (www.greenschool.org) whose origins are committed to educating for sustainability in a natural environment through their purpose –driven curriculum.