Respectable leaders of different professions with outstanding social service accomplishments will share their personal insight, experience and advice to enhance our Scholars’ philanthropic aspirations, broaden their global perspectives and enrich their network.
The Hon. Bernard Chan, GBS, JP has a BA in Studio Art at Pomona College, the noted liberal arts college in the US. He is the President of both Asia Financial Holdings and Asia Insurance, which has gained a reputation as one of the financially strongest insurers in Hong Kong. Mr. Chan is substantially involved in public services: he is a Hong Kong Deputy at the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China and the former Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council, HKSAR. With sharp business acumen, Mr. Chan is also Chairman of the Hong Kong-Thailand Business Council encouraging the development of trade and investment between the two places. Concerned about the plight of the disadvantaged and the lack of social cohesion in Hong Kong, Mr. Chan serves as the Chairperson of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service striving to build meaningful bridges between the business world, the welfare sector and its clients.
Mr. Ronnie Cheng is Headmaster of the Diocesan Boys’ School (“DBS”) in Hong Kong and has been a teacher for 17 years. Growing up in a family under financial strain, Mr. Cheng received encouragement and support from his own headmaster, which inspired him to “pay it forward” to the next generation and became a teacher. Academic pressure is very high in China and Hong Kong, with deleterious results on students’ mental health, but Mr. Cheng has paved the way in trying to take a more rounded approach to education – focusing on the journey of learning as well as the results in examinations. He has given appropriate and measured support to students in an increasingly tense political environment. Nonetheless, DBS is one of the top schools in Hong Kong and under Mr. Cheng’s direction, it has produced a #1-world-ranked male choir, winning many international championships over the last few years. Many students have gone on to become professional musicians and some have even returned to teach music at DBS to help a new generation. For underprivileged students, Ronnie has set up the DBS Foundation to enable students to be supported even if in financial or medical difficulty. This has been made possible by Ronnie’s excellent relationships with alumni.
Mr Jat Sew-Tong, SBS, SC, JP has been in private practice as a barrister since 1990. He graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1987 and University of Oxford in 1989. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1988 and the Hong Kong Bar in 1989, and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2002 at the age of 36. In 2014 he was appointed Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and a Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court from 2006 to 2014. Active in public service, he was formerly Chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Chairperson of the Minimum Wage Commission, Chairman of the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Boards, Chairman of the Review Committee on Trust Fund for SARS, Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Appeals Board, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Review (Inland Revenue Ordinance) and other public bodies. In 2014, he was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in recognition of his public service.
Mr. Lam is a certified accountant. He has over 35 years of experience in real estate development in Hong Kong and overseas.
Mr. Peter POON is currently the Chief Program Officer of The D. H. Chen Foundation and the Adjunct Associate Professor of the Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Prior to his work in the Foundation, he was the Executive Director of the Kwai Ching District Health Centre and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. Peter is a health care professional by training and has devoted his professional life in community health, empowerment and compassionate care development both in program, organizational and system levels.
Ms. Doris Choi graduated from the University of Hong Kong and started her career in private trust with HSBC in the 1970s. She has vast professional experience of working with family trusts in strategic planning and solutions.
Dr. CC Luk is the Cluster Chief Executive of Hong Kong East Cluster and the Hospital Chief Executive of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, St. John Hospital and Wong Chuk Hang Hospital. He has been a health care executive in the public sector since 1990, serving in various positions in the then Hospital Services Department of the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. Dr. Luk has been actively involved in public and community works serving at various organizations including The Medical Council of Hong Kong, The Community Chest of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
Ms. Candice Leung is a Solicitor in a leading law firm in Hong Kong. She has been actively involved in public services and is dedicated to fostering preservation and promotion of arts and culture, in particular Cantonese Opera. Ms. Leung is currently a member of the Advisory Committee on Arts Development, Xiqu Centre Advisory Panel of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee. She had also served as a member of the Cantonese Opera Advisory Committee and the Chinese Traditional Performing Arts Panel of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. In 2016, she was awarded Certificate of Commendation by the Secretary for Home Affairs for outstanding contributions to the development of arts and culture.
A dedicated Buddhist, Mr. David Yeung co-founded Green Monday, an innovative social venture that takes on climate change, food insecurity, health issues and animal welfare with a diverse platform that shifts individuals, communities and corporations towards sustainable, healthy and mindful living. Awards and recognitions won by Mr. Yeung include “100 Most Creative People in China”, “Asia 100 Pioneers” and “Ten Outstanding Young Persons Hong Kong”. Mr. Yeung is also a Director of Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI), Hong Kong AIDS Foundation and Hong Kong Buddhist Association.
Mr. Gilbert Lui is a certified accountant and a devout Buddhist, currently a Director and/or an Hon. Adviser of several Buddhist associations in Hong Kong. He also often appears as a lecturer on Buddhism at The Buddhist Alumni Association.