As the global energy landscape accelerates toward decarbonisation, the real driver of transformation is no longer technology alone — it is policy. Regulation, capital markets, and corporate finance mechanisms are now deeply intertwined in shaping how the energy transition unfolds.

On the evening of 17 March, The University of Manchester China Centre will host a Manchester Global Part-time MBA Open Lecture featuring Ning Gao, Chair Professor of Finance at Alliance Manchester Business School.

Key Takeaways

In this masterclass, Professor Gao will examine how policy frameworks influence capital allocation, corporate strategy, and market valuation — and how firms can strategically position themselves amid structural change.

Drawing on cutting-edge research and global case evidence, the session will explore:

• How policy mechanisms transmit through capital markets to shape energy transition pathways
• The role of sustainable finance and environmental risk in corporate valuation and governance
• Strategic opportunities in M&A, financing, and long-term investment positioning
• How leaders can build forward-looking decision frameworks in an era of regulatory uncertainty

Highlights

• Masterclass ExperienceLearn directly from internationally renowned scholars and immerse yourself in the authentic classroom environment of Alliance Manchester Business School.
• Peer Networking PlatformEngage face-to-face with elite professionals from various industries in Shanghai, spark intellectual exchange, and expand your high-quality professional network.
• Preview of the Manchester Global MBAGain an up-close understanding of the programme’s distinctive curriculum, teaching approach, and international learning experience.

Who Should Join?

• Investors and professionals focused on energy, ESG, and sustainable finance
• Corporate leaders in strategy, finance, and M&A
• Executives navigating regulatory and policy-driven markets
• Ambitious professionals interested in experiencing the Manchester Global MBA learning environment

If you want to move beyond reacting to policy shifts and instead understand the financial architecture behind them, this session is for you.

Register

Time：19:00 – 21:00, Tuesday 17 Mar. 2026

Venue: The University of Manchester China Centre, 2901, L'Avenue, Changning District, Shanghai

Language: English

Free event, seats are limited. Please scan the QR code to register. A confirmation email will be sent upon successful RSVP.

RSVP

About the Professor

Ning is a professor of finance (chair) at the Alliance Manchester Business School, the University of Manchester, where he also serves as the deputy director for the Centre for the Analysis of Investment Risk (CAIR). His research interests include corporate finance, sustainable finance, ESG risks, mergers and acquisitions, information in the financial system, and corporate governance and his works frequently appear in world-leading and internationally reputable journals. He is a member of the ESRC review college, an editor of the Journal of Sustainable Finance and Accounting (Elsevier), an advisor to the Manchester China Institute, and a founder and organizer of the Annual Corporate Finance Conference in the UK. He completed his Ph.D. at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Ning served on the programme review committees of EFA and FMA and as a Principal Investigator for the Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC). He also served as a reviewer for 20 plus world-leading and internationally reputable journals in the fields of finance, accounting, and management. Ning’s teaching portfolio includes Advanced Corporate Finance (Ph.D.), Sustainable Finance and Accounting (MSc), Corporate Finance (Global MBA), Empirical Finance (UG), Financial Markets and Institutions (UG), Mergers & Acquisitions Negotiations (Full-time MBA).

Agenda