HKUST Alumni, Winter 2016

Abstract



HKUST Alumni Winter News 2016

contents 01 I Foreword President's Message 02 I Feature Increasing numbers of alumni are choosing careers in creative industries - Jessica Ho and Jane U are both immensely popular presenters with Commercial Radio 08 I The HKUST Edge Division of Life Science researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough that will help in the fight against diseases such as autism and schizophrenia 1 O I Giving Back HKUST receives a record HK$100 million donation from an alumnus - here's how you, too, can make a contribution, however big or small 12 I Global Horizons 14 I lnsight Student Leung Oi Man is one of Hong Kong's top young show jumpers - and enjoyed a successful summer in the saddle New Alumni Association President Dicky Yuen introduces his vision for the next two years 16 I Event Roundup 19 I Class Notes 22 I New Look Upcoming developments on campus THE HONG KONG UNMRSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Published by Development & Alumni Office The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2358 6158 Fax: (852) 3743 0939 Email: aJumni@ust.hk http://aJum.ust.hk I was thrilled to meet many enthusiastic alumni at the 25th anniversary celebration banquet - the highlight of our celebrations. Foreword Dear alumni, T he celebrations for our 25th anniversary are continuing, and I have particularly enjoyed the opportunity to meet up with alumni at various events, including the banquet in June. It is very important for us to keep in touch with alumni, and it is always fascinating hearing your news of what you have achieved since graduating. Strengthening the bonds between our graduates and the University is essential, and the Alumni Association has a critical role to play here. We recently welcomed a new committee, and I'd like to congratulate Dicky Yuen for being elected President for the next two years. My heartfelt thanks go to Alvin Lam who led the Alumni Association for the past four years. Our alumni force is not only growing in size, but in strength, too. HKUST has risen one place to 13th worldwide and No. 1 in Greater China in the annual Global Employability University Ranking this year. I am very proud of our alumni, who continue to be ranked amongst the most competitive and desirable employees in the global job market. The giving spirit of our alumni is further heightened by the recent donation of HK$100 million to the University - a very generous gift from an alumnus from the School of Business and Management, who prefers to remain anonymous. This is the biggest single donation made by any HKUST alumnus, and everyone at the University is impressed by his dedication and unfailing support. Our cover story for this issue features two alumni with whom many of you may be familiar: Jessica Ho and Jane Li are now both high-profile, popular radio presenters. It is another indication of the growing power of our alumni that our talents are moving Into diverse careers - and that the all-round education provided by the University helped nurture their enthusiasm to develop and willingness to work hard. It just remains for me to convey to you all my warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and Chinese New Year! Best regards, Professor Tony F Chan President HKUST Alumni News 2 016 1 Feature BROADCASTING Their Success HKUST is well known for nurturing talents in the fields of business, science and technology, but there are a growing number of alumni who have forged careers in a very different direction - show business. Jessica Ho and Jane Li are both highly regarded presenters with Commercial Radio, with big followings for their respective popular programs. 2 HKUST Alumni News 2016 HKUST Alumni News 2016 3 4 HKUST Alumni News 2016 ost students after completing their studies find a position within the industry or academia most relevant to their degree, which at HKUST means M either in business, technology or the sciences. But for others, a different path opens up. Jessica Ho (BSc Chemistry) and Jane Li (BBA Marketing) are two such alumni - and, by coincidence, both are working in show business as presenters with Commercial Radio. They may not be specifically using knowledge gained from their time at HKUST. but both nevertheless appreciate the experience of having been students at the University, and are able to use principles learned here in their new lives. Jessica's professional name is Jessica Tse Sai Ka (~tiOl), and she is best known for presenting the weekday show Ultimate Song Chart Awards, along with Sai Ka Air Travel on Saturdays. She is also assistant director of 903 at the radio station, responsible for coordination and liaison behind the scenes, and is an avid traveler who has published travel books, has a travel app and used to own a bed & breakfast (B&B) business in Taiwan. 'My original plan was to study journalism, as it is most helpful for a job in broadcasting, but my exam results weren't good enough,' says Jessica. 'I got a good grade in chemistry, so it seemed natural to study that. HKUST is well known for its science programs and I am proud to be a science alumna. One of the aspects I really appreciated was the program of minor subjects; I took topics such as cultural studies and logical thinking - and got better grades than in my major!' Armed with her chemistry degree, she began her working life in a pharmaceutical company - until a DJ competition tweaked her interest. VALUABLE LESSONS 'One day I noticed Commercial Radio was organizing a DJ competition, which only required participants to write a self-introduction and to record a music demo. So I took part and unexpectedly won!' Jessica is now a well-established show business figure, who has many years of experience behind her - she is like the DJs she loved listening to in her childhood. 'I loved how DJs always talked about which movies they had watched or where they'd had good food,' she says, admitting she used to think that working as a DJ would be easy. 'Obviously this was my misunderstanding. Now I know they have to do lots of research and information gathering for the job.' After this competition success. Jessica's career path changed, but that does not minimize the impact of attending HKUST. 'The three years I spent at the University totally changed me. I was shy and quiet, but living in the dormitory there were many chances to communicate with others. The boys and girls who lived on two floors would cook together, and we always gossiped about what Feature was happening on campus. Now, when I reflect on why I love traveling so much, I would say it's because I very much enjoyed my life in the dormitory. And this is why I owned a B&B in Taiwan - it is like a dormitory for travelers.' She also appreciates the connections she made through her tertiary education. 'The classes were smaller in those days and so everybody was very close to each other. Now when I meet someone who also graduated from HKUST, I feel doser to them because we have that oonnection.' Another valuable lesson Jessica learned at HKUST was to be adaptable. ''When I travel it's impossible to plan everything aiead. You have to keep adjusting acoording to different situations.' GETTING THE TRAVEL BUG As for traveling, she says it is an extension of the same selfdiscovery process when studying. 'I love traveling as it is also a lifelong learning process. You learn a lot. Traveling will change you and help you grow.' She admits that opening the B&B business in Yi Ian was risky. 'At first, when I asked my father to stay there. he told me the location was too remote to attract visitors. But the scenery is very good - I didn't think about making money, but merely for satisfaction. It is a challenge I gave myself.' Jessica has hosted a number of lV programs featuring countries including Fuji, Turkey, Inner Mongolia and India, and recently finished shooting in Argentina. 'Northern Europe is my next destination and I'm now planning the itinerary. My dream is to travel to the Amazon rainforest to visit the indigenous people,' she says. Sai Ka Air Travel's app was at one point the most downloaded on the internet in Hong Kong. Her latest project is D-escape, an online collaboration with Commercial Radio to be launched in 2017. 'It is to encourage people to 'dare to escape'. It has some special travel ideas such as a trip to Bhutan or a river cruise, which offers insights to people keen on traveling,' she says. She has also published a number of travel books, which are in the form of travel notes about her unique travel experiences, rather than conventional travel guides. She offers her advice to today's students: 'I want to tell young graduates that it doesn't matter what they study, the most important thing is to expand their horizons. They have to know that they shouldn't set any boundaries for themselves, and they shouldn't limit themselves to the choice of the opportunities for their future.' HKUST Alumni News 2016 5 Feature AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT It is understandable why Jane U, known by her Chinese name that translates as 'Watermelon' (WJ]. ), has flourished in a business that depends on communication - she is cheerful and talkative, and is a natural with young people. Although she is low key about her connections, there is show business in her blood: her mother is singer, producer and radio personality Sandy Lamb, her uncle Jan Lamb is a hugely popular presenter, pop singer and actor, while her uncle Jeny Lamb and aunt Lily Hong are also artistes. Not surprisingly, she has loved pop music since she was very small! At HKUST she majored in Marketing at the School of Business. 'I realized that it was very competitive to get a management trainee post. I discovered I was not an ambitious business person, whereas my classmates were very determined to get into PR firms or advertising agencies.' A job application to the marketing department of Commercial Radio brought an unexpected result. 'Maybe they thought I didn't look like a smart businesswoman, so they asked if I was interested to try a position associated with creativity,' says Jane. 'That's how I started working in Skyhigh Creative Partners, a social enterprise supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, St. James' Settlement and Commercial Radio to nurture creative young talents.' Six months later, she joined Commercial Radio online marketing, and soon got the chance to work as a presenter. Currently she presents Hey, Learners!, an early morning weekday show for youngst ers and students, and Wondermelon, a Saturday program showcasing pop songs from around the world. One might not think that there is a link between marketing and being a radio presenter, but Jane points out that her studies have proved useful. 'I took the BBA program as the first step to get to know more about society. There are plenty of programs that talk 6 HKUST Alumni News 2016 mainly about theories, while the BBA is half about theories and half about implementation. Thanks to this program, I acquired a good sense about marketing, such as positioning, targeted markets and so on. Marketing is about how to implement your thoughts, how to present your ideas to your customers, while the presentations must be short and precise. When I prepare for my radio program, besides making my listeners happy, I think about what kind of audience I attract. I prepare topics for my targeted audience. I am applying what I learnt from the University to my job.' ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS She is diligent and well-planned, and is always seeking to improve herself and be more competitive. Apart from being a presenter, she often takes up other roles such as event emcee and dubbing work. 'I am always encouraged by the positive reactions of my listeners. It reminds me that my role is to give others a comfortable feeling, to let them know there is hope in every day. I need the audience to remind me of my value. Sometimes people on the street say thank you to me, or people leave a positive comment on Facebook, and I am satisfied. I don't mind even if it is a criticism, as this could push me to improve.' The habit of doing an annual appraisal, recommended by Business School professors, has proved useful. 'When I reflected what I did and what I set as my goal for this year, I realized I must be more sensitive to the market and the audience. The broadcasting indust ry is very competitive and very challenging, it is important to enhance my own competitiveness, to help leverage the company, to engage my audience.' Jane also wishes to offer a few words to today's students and new graduates. She enjoyed her time at HKUST and is still in touch with many of the friends she made there. 'I'm not as young as a newcomer to the industry, but I'm still hosting a program for students. So this is my advice to students: ask yourself questions as to how you can improve yourself, what do you need to make yourself more competitive, such as should I continue studying, should I learn another language, should I explore more of the world? These are ways to make oneself more valuable in your life and your career.' Feature The HKUST Edge A breakthrough that contributes significantly to the understanding of how neuropsychiatric disorders occur has been achieved by researchers from the Division of Life Science. T earn leader Prof Mingjie Zhang talks abt>ut the work that led to-this discovery, what inspired him to study the human brain and the role played by HKUST. B HKUST Alumni News 2016 A research team led by Prof Mingjie Zhang, Kerry Holdings Professor of Science of the Division of Life Science, has achieved a breakthrough that provides insight into the causes that can lead to the development of various neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, intellectual disorders and schizophrenia. The potential benefits of this discovery are significant as hopefully it will lead to greater understanding of and treatments for these disorders. Neurons in the brain are wired via micron-sized connection units called synapses; each synapse contains a layer of densely packed, protein-rich compartments called postsynaptic densities (PSD), which is responsible for brain-signal processing and transmission. While the existence of PSDs has been known to scientists for 60 years, how PSDs form and change in response to brain activities is poorly understood. Unexpected Findings In Prof Zhang's study, the team discovered that two abundant protein molecules in PSDs - SynGAP and PSD-95 - that are known to cause autism when genetic mutations alter the molecules' interactions, can form an autonomously assembled network structure. Most surprisingly, the protein assembly can form stable 'oil-like' droplets in living cells via a phenomenon called phase transition - Prof Zhang likens this to how vinegar acts when dropped into olive oil. Importantly, the team also found that defects of the proteins identified in brains of autistic patients alter the formation of these so-called droplets and thus change the synaptic signaling activity of neurons - a mechanism that may explain the cause of the genetic disease. 'Our studies led to an unexpected finding that sees a very fundamental physical phenomenon called phase transition in living neurons to place different functional units at specific cellular locations,' Prof Zhang says. 'Our work also provides insights into why genetic mutations altering the interactions of proteins can contribute to a spectrum of central nervous system diseases that currently have no treatments.' Prof Zhang, an internationally renowned structural biologist published extensively in prestigious journals including Science, Cell and Nature Structural Biology, has been working on this area of research since he came to HKUST 20 years ago. 'We've been working on it one step at a time, to understand how these protein interactions happen and to understand their structures. We are working on this one pair at the moment - but we need to find out if it represents a general underlying principle and we need to validate it and find more underlying principles. Ultimately, we want our research to be useful to people - we hope our work can be used as a foundation for clinicians and drug companies.' Inspired by Life's Complexities While this aspect of his research is important to Prof Zhang, he also acknowledges that what really inspires him in his work is the beauty of life. 'It is this beauty, this complexity that attracts me to life science. It has taken billions of years of evolution for life to get here today, but only in the last few hundred years has the discipline of science sought to understand it - and modem molecular biology as a discipline is itself only about 60 years old. I have a great curiosity - why I have two eyes, why my two eyes allow me to perceive this colorful world with such precision and speed, how my brain interprets pictures viewed by The HKUST Edge my eyes, etcetra - and if I can spend my career trying to understand some of these things, then that is my key motivation.' Prof Zhang grew up in a poor farming family in Ningbo. 'I simply wanted to go to college so I wouldn't have to work in farming. But then when I was studying, I started to see interesting things. I majored in chemistry at first, but then changed to life science for my PhD studies.' He opines that the biggest challenges in science are in life science, and that brain research is the biggest challenge in life science and medicine. 'This is the frontier,' he says. 'When I came to HKUST, I decided to pick an area that is most fascinating and also extremely challenging - and that is our own brain.' Scientific Excellence His team's research has helped put HKUST's Division of Life Science in the forefront of the international research community; they are already collaborating with researchers at Johns Hopkins University, MrT, Duke University, among others. 'HKUST has been very encouraging in giving me the opportunity to pursue my interest,' he says. 'Here there is an intellectual environment that supports scientific excellence. Young scientists can grow a career at HKUST.' He notes that as a young institution itself, the University is willing to take on challenges and is also able to attract very good students. 'This is crucial. I have more than 10 graduates who have now established their 01Nn labs in different parts of the world - it is important to provide training for these young scientists to flourish.' As the named Kerry Holdings Professor of Science, Prof Zhang is also eager to highlight the assistance given by Kerry Holdings Limited. 'I'd like to thank founder Mr Robert Kuok for his generosity in allowing me to pursue something not bounded by conditions. Sometimes you have to take an unconventional approach, you just have a hunch, so this is very useful. It has helped me build a team of top-notch people.' While all members of the current team make invaluable contributions, Prof Zhang likes to highlight one person in particular - Dr Zeng Menglong, who obtained his PhD degree just a couple of months ago and has made key contributions to the project described. 'I recruited him a little over five years ago from Shanghai. His grades weren't the best, but from the interview I knew I wanted him. He is exceptional and smart, with a desire to pursue unknowns, eager to experiment something new.' Prof Zhang knows that Dr Zeng will, in turn, move on into the wider scientific community - but he is proud to have been able to help an exceptional student on his way. That, after all, is part of the beauty of life! HKUST Alumni News 2016 9 Giving Back Your SupP,ort Helps Us Grow! Here is thril ling news: an alumnus from the School of Business and Management recently donated HK$100 million to HKUST! This is the biggest single contribution made by any alumnus ever in the history of the University. I n other encouraging news, we have already reached our target for the Alumni Endowment Fund (AEF) - over HK$25 million has been raised in celebration of HKUST's 25th anniversary. The strong cohesion and concerted efforts of our alumni community is in evidence, and will go towards supporting an array of initiatives for the benefit of students. HKUST would like to thank all alumni donors who make the effort to give back to their alma mater in one form or another. All share a common passion to enhance the University's global vision. With the growth of the AEF, alumni are offering support and having an impact in a variety of ways. Among the latest initiatives are: Fund Establishment The Yeung Wing Yee Entrepreneurs Fund: Alumnus Yeung Wing Yee established this fund to support startups initiated by HKUST students at an early stage of their businesses. It is an acceleration seed fund that aims to help HKUST students to jumpstart their entrepreneurship dreams. Corporate Matching Workplace giving program: Companies encourage staff to contribute to the community by matching their donations; among those showing support to AEF are Google and Goldman Sachs. Every contribution, no matter how much, has value in making a difference to the lives of students while they are at the University. AL END FU MNI WMENT Act now! HKUST needs your support to help it grow! D 10 HKUST Alumni News 2016 Enhance Anniversary Celebrations with Your Own Gift! Giving Back Donate Now! The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Alumni Endowment Fund Donation Form Donor's Particulars Family Name ______________ Given Name--------------------- 8nail ________________ Mobile ______________________ _ D I wish to remain anonymous in all donor ristings. Donation Amount I would like to donate 0 HK$ ________________ _ O One-time D Monthly for __ months D Monthly until further notice Donation Method I would like to pay the above donation by (please choose one): D Credit Card 0 Visa D Master Cardholder's Name------------------------ Card No.------------------------------------- Card Security No. ___________ Last 3 digits to the right of signall.re box Expiry Date _______ (Month) _______ (Year) D Crossed Cheque • Please make the cheque payable to 'HKUST'. • Please mark your full name and contact phone number on the back of your cheque and mail it to us together with t his donation form. 0Telegraphic Transfer' D Bank Transfer· ·11 you choose to pay by Telegraphic Transfer or Bank Transfer. our staff member will contact you and give you further details. Please email, fax or mail this donation form to us: 8nail: give2ust@ust.hk Fax: (852) 37 43 0939 Address: Development & Alumni Office, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Enquiry: (852) 2358 8131 Thank you for your donation! The personal data oolec!ed wil be treated h suiclest oon1oentl31ty. n-e l.hl.8r9ty wl not d.sdose 8l'f personal data pn:M:led by 1UJ to W'¥ external txdes a: o,g:anzations trless ~ have 0081 ~ irormed. l11S peraooal da1a wl be used by the Development and Mimi Office as wsl as nl6!nal depa1ments tJr <h ct rna,1'.etr1g and non-dract rna,ketng puposes. We v,1 do 1hls Online Donation: http://alum.ust.hk/supporting-hkust/alumni-endowment-fund •~ ·. • HKUST Alumni News 2016 11 Global Horizons China Celebrates The 25th Anniversary celebration of HKUST has moved into mainland China! Following the festivities in London and San Francisco, the Beijing celebration was held on September 24 at Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast. The event kicked off with an inspiring conference entitled ''The New Role of China in the World Economy', hosted by the School of Business and Management; It was followed by a cocktail reception and dinner. President Prof Tony Chan and Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Dr Eden Woon joined with over 250 distinguished guests, alumni and students in China in celebration of HKUST's birthday. Special thanks go to global event sponsor OJI and Beijing event partner HNA Tourism Group for their generous support. The finale of the anniversary celebration will be held in Singapore on January 14, 2017. We look forward to your participation! Variety Is the Spice of Life A dozen special interest groups have been established in Shanghai, featuring a diversified array of programs. A jointuniversity jazz concert, in collaboration with several globally renowned universities and featuring legendary jazz musicians Michael Tracy and C. Winton Reynolds, was held in May. A visit to the Shanghai Tower in July was attended by a large group of alumni from those universities. The great triumph gained at the interuniversity badminton competition in August was a big boost for sports lovers. their managerial and entrepreneurship experiences on different occasions in September and November respectively. 12 HKUST Alumni News 2016 Peak Presentation q, Global Event Sponsor HN/Jt ;ijj lilffi ~ Beijing Event Partner Alumni in Shenzhen were treated to an exclusive screening from the Banff Mountain Film Festival during its run in the city. This is the third consecutive year that this signature program has been held, and the fun-filled gathering in July attracted nearly 100 alumni and family members. This festival, which is one of the world's most prestigious international film competitions, is an annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and environment. Hard Work Pays Off The alumni network in Singapore has been expanding fast in the past year, thanks to the hard work of the dedicated executive committee members responsible for a host of different activities, including the Asia Economic Outlook in June and Brexit Talk in September, as well as a recruitment-focused event hosted by Kellogg EMBA in November for members. The committee is keen to explore collaboration opportunities with other leading university alumni associations so as to establish greater synergy among themselves. Stay tuned for upcoming events, including the HKUST 25th anniversary celebration alongside the AGM In January 20171 Time for Tea King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and HKUST have been in long-term collaboration for several years. On August 25, alumni who are either studying or teaching at KAUST, together with their families and staff members, caught up with each other at a joyful and cozy tea gathering. Global Horizons Mid-Autumn Meet Up Alumni in Atlanta warmly welcomed HKUST students, currently exchanging out at Georgia Tech, to a dim sum lunch just before the Mid-Autumn Festival. This semester marks a record high of 10 exchange-out students. They were delighted to reunite and celebrate this festival together. Packed Agenda 2016 has been a vibrant year for alumni in Northern California. Among the events were dinner meetings with Hong Kong government officials, namely Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, and Mr Eddie Ng, Secretary for Education, and a Startup Founders Forum and Dinner featuring alumnus Roman Khan, as well as monthly family dinners, Mid -Autumn Festival reunion, hiking and BBQ gathering. Don't miss out on their upcoming events, including the 2017 spring banquet, Make It Happen program and much more. HKUST Alumni News 2016 13 When did you start riding? I was six and attending a summer camp in Pokfulam - I thought I would give it a try. I really enjoyed riding the ponies, and I liked animals anyway. My parents let me continue; first I had one lesson a week, and as I got older, I rode more often and moved to a riding school in Tuen Mun. I became a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Junior Equestrian Training Squad in 2010 and moved my horses to the centre at Beas River. How long have you been riding competitively? When I was 13, I began competing in show jumping, dressage and eventing, and started to have some success. I got my first pony at that age, too - and it all took off from there! Tell us about your horses; what makes a good show jumping horse? Currently I have two horses - Noble Boss and Polymer Power. They are both former HKJC racehorses. Noble Boss is already 17 years old, I've had him since he was 14. He's actually small for a show jumper at just 15 hands [about 1.52m). Polymer Power is younger and I've had him 18 months; he will gradually take over from Noble Boss. A good horse has to have the heart - it must want to jump. They also have to be really brave - the fences can get very big! I like horses that fight for me. Noble Boss may be small, but he always tries his best. When I jump overseas we use 'borrowed horses' - we don't take our own horses with us. 14 HKUST Alumni News 2016 You achieved great results this summerl I was one of three Hong Kong riders at the World University Equestrian Championship in Sweden in late June to early July - the first time Hong Kong had competed in this event. I came fourth out of 54 in show jumping - I had no idea that I would do so well. In fact, the Hong Kong team as a whole performed unexpectedly well. One week later, I represented Hong Kong in the Young Rider category at the CSI-Y Tehran International Show Jumping Competition in Iran. I won gold in the individual event - I was the only rider to finish faultless over the two rounds. In the team event, I teamed up with an Iranian rider and we won silver. Apart from winning medals , what else do you enjoy about riding and competing? I love working with horses. They are intelligent animals. I like the partnership between rider and horse, the communication with the horse and working as a team. How do you balance studying and riding? I am at the stables at Beas River six days a week for three to four hours at a time. It is difficult, and I have had to sacrifice a lot of social life. But I've been doing this juggling since high school and I am used to it. You have to be disciplined with time - but it means I don't waste my time on pointless things! Riding keeps me focused and I don't give up on difficult things easily, so it is good for me. I spend the summers training in Gennany, thanks to funding from the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation. What are your future plans? I would love to follow riding as a career, but you need a lot of funds, so I will ride in Europe for one year after graduating, and carry on if I can get sponsorship. Otherwise I will probably study for a master's degree. Insight HKUSTALUM ASSOCIATIONH Dear fellow alumni, It is my honor to be elected to serve you as President of HKUST Alumni Association. I pledge to do my utmost over the next two years to fulfill the expectations of fellow alumni, and work with my A 1 team to benefit alumni in both professional and personal development aspects. My first task is to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my predecessor Alvin Lam. He has selflessly devoted himself to HKUSTAA over the past four years, and worked hard ner 2016 alongside his team for all of us. Under his presidency, the Alumni Association has gone from strength to strength and accomplished remarkable achievements for alumni. He will continue to serve as our Immediate Past President. Thank you, Alvin! Our alumni come from diverse backgrounds and have developed in many different ways. To extend A 1 's vision and take this to an even higher level, our goal Is to leverage on this even further so we can all learn and grow w,lth each other. We have identified a four-pillar structure that we will use as the foundation for achieving our goal: Community Service team; Entrepreneur Circle; Alumni Engagement team; and Career Advancement team. These pillars form a dynamic and multi-faceted platform bringing together alumni of different generations and interests, whom we hope will inspire and be inspired by each other. For example, through our extensive network, alumni can enhance their professional development, find out about voluntary and social service projects, join in a range of sports and other general interest groups, and be supported in entrepreneurship ventures. To kick this off, we are organizing a host of programs that leverage on the expertise of some of our members. For example, the Wine Association was Initiated by one of our Exco members, Jennifer Luk, who brought together a group of wine lovers she met through our activities. If you are interested in meeting alumni with similar interests, take a look to see if we already have a relevant group - if not, why not reach out to fellow alumni ~ HKUS T and establish your own group. Let us know how we can help you achieve this! Website ) ALUMNI Yours sincerely, Dicky Yuen President, H KUST Alumni Association Session 2016-18 HKUST Alumni News 201 6 15 Event Roundup Memories Are Made of This! I Prograris .... The Alumni Engagement Team of the HKUST Alumni Association has delivered several fabulous activities to alumni recently, including test driving with a renowned European car brand, a coffee latte art workshop, and a Japanese craft beer factory visit. The Community Service Team has been working closely with various local secondary schools on the A1 Social Leaders Program. More than 40 alumni have been paired up with secondary students and they meet up regularly and join in dfferent community services. To deepen the understanding of alumni on environmental protection, a hiking workshop was organized in November. As well as hearing about the reduction of solid waste disposal in the countryside, our alumni also obtained practical skills in protecting the habitat, such as proper water disposal, camping with a minimal footprint and being a responsible environmentalist. Oleck out the upcoming events! 16 HKUST Alumni News 2016 Dragon Boating Secrets ... The Dragon Boat Team of the MBA Alumni Association hosted a spectacular Open Day on campus in late August to help alumni gain a deeper understanding of dragon boating. CNer the years, the MBAAA Dragons have achieved exceptional results at various competitions. Alumni learnt a great deal about gin at the MBAAA Happy Hour In August from Amanda Wan, a veteran bartender who shared the tastes and uses of this classic and popular spirit in mixology. 'Making the Workplace Work - Corporate Real Estate as a Career Path' brought alumni an informative session on corporate real estate and careers in the industry in October. Event Roundup Go f .. and More! Members of the EMBA Alumni Association have been keenly supporting its various events. In August and October, golf lovers competed fiercely with counterparts of other universities at the International EMBA Business School Annual Golf Tournament in Harbin and the China Top Business Schools EMBA Golf League CIFI Cup in Shanghai respectively. In late August, members gathered at the HKUST Shenzhen IER Building to celebrate the official opening of the EMBA Alumni Association Investment Club, while others joined the thank you dinner of the HeadStart@HKUST program. Raising a Glass o nq q -a en The Alumni Wine Association was officially inaugurated on October 14! The executive committee strives to engage alumni through wine appreciation and promote entrepreneurship through wine culture. If you want to join as a life member, fill in the form now. Dr Eden Woon, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, Mr Benjamin Fok, Director of Henry Fok Group, and Mr Leung Pak To, Chairman of The Chamber of Hong Kong LJsted Companies, joined 120 alumni and guests at the inauguration ceremony of the third council and cocktail party of the Mainland Alumni Association (MAA). Since its establishment, MAA has been working hard to unite the growing number of alumni from mainland China through a wide array of events. The most recent included visits to OJI and Kuang-Chi Institute of Advanced Technology, the Golf Fun Day jointly presented with Oxford Hong Kong Alumni Association, and a sharing session held with the HKAORS on the study on A Dream of Red Mansions. The EMBA Alumni Table Tennis Club brings together lovers of the sport who undergo professional training regularly under the instruction of Wang Jia. Since its establishment in 2015, they have participated in different tournaments. HKUST Alumni News 2018 17 Event Roundup Startup • ice Establishing a startup has become a trend among graduates. On October 7, the Dual Degree Program in Technology and I!]·' [!] Management Alumni Association invited two alumni to come IA back and share their ups and downs along their entrepreneurial journey with students. This career insight workshop is organized regularly to enhance the professional development of students. ... oasting Success This year marks the seventh anniversary of the MBA Alumni Toastmasters Club - and members Kitty Cheung and Mercy Uu received praise for wiming tlird place at the English and Mandarin Humorous Speech Contests of Toastmasters Hong Kong. The Demo Meeting at Business School Central was a huge success in attracting many alumni interested in public speaking. The Toastmasters Club 'ctNays welcomes alumi of diversified backgrounds to join the regular meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. lnspira+ional o ie'l ~ Strengthened TiPS The ties among mechanical engineering alumni were further strengthened as about 300 alumni and their families, faculty and students spent a wonderful day together at the Mechanical Engineering Graduates' Association Homecoming Day, tts highlight annual reunion, on October 15. Proceedings started with a career-sharing session, followed by the basketball and soccer competitions of the MECH Cups, a family carnival, and concluded with a dinner party. ... Public Sector Careers Advic In response to students' desire for career advice from alumni, the inaugural Conversations with Alumni was hosted in September and was also simultaneously broadcast as a webinar. Speakers Jenny Yeung from the Geotechnical Engineering Office and KK Li from the Customs and Excise Department had a lively discussion moderated by final year biotechnology student Chris Chan about pursuing a career in the HKSAR government. Please stay tuned for more career sharing by alumni from different industries! The Biochemistry Alumni Association recently invited two prominent alumni to share their success stories through the Biochemistry Alumni Interview Series. Eddy Wu, Regional Director of a global pharmaceutical leader, shared insightful tips on embarking on a career in this industry, while Vincent Cheng, a dedicated teacher, impressed participants with his strong commitment to enhancing the all-round development of his students. 18 HKUST Alumni News 2016 In partnership with the IELM Department, The Engineering Enterprise Management Alumni Association welcomed the new batch of students at the Residential Program at Regal Oriental Hotel in late August. This all-day orientation significantly helped the newcomers to prepare for their studies and provided them with valuable information and advice on how to enhance their learning experience. Class Notes Lffi you, focnc, classmstes know abru thenew business ventures, awards, sporting achievements and other professional and personal milestones. Contact us by • - • filling in the online form at alum.ust.hk/your-networks/share-your-news or email alumni@ust.hk [!l · ., Stanley Au 1993 MPhil CHEM I was one of the first batch of master graduates. I'm now residing in Ottawa Shirley, my wife, and Lisa, my girl. I love this capital city as it is less crowded compared with Vancouver and Toronto. And I enjoy conducting research at the National Research Council Canada Thank you HKUST for your Wu Su 2009 MSc CIEM We obtained our taught postgraduate degrees in the same year. Two years after graduation, . , we started our new life together. Koji Suzuki 2009MBA I am thrilled to let you know that Wendy and I got married on April 16, 2016 and had our wedding photos taken on campus! Hi fellow alumni, just a quick update of myself - I am married with three kids who are five, eight and 1 O respectively. I'm working in BNP Paribas in the Credit Risk Control field. I also import boutique champagne for functions and friends at import price. So if you are interested, give me a shout! HKUST Alumni News 2016 19 Class Notes I was excited to welcome Ethan to our family in July 2016! Katherine Lee 2009 BEng ELEC I became a yoga teacher upon graduation. With strong passion, I see it as my lifelong practice and career and hope to spread the joy of yoga to everyone. Namaste! 20 HKUST Alumni News 2016 Dino Lam 2002 BEng CPEG 2005MSc/T Our love story began in 1999 on campus, and we got married in 2010. Our family of two has now become lour -our boy, Aiden, is three years old, and our girt, Andrea, arrived in February 2016. Yuen Ka Keung 2002 BSc CHEM I was honored to be appointed by the International Gymnastics Federation as one of 1he Asian Category I Men's Artistic Gymnastics judges at the Rio 2016 Olympic Garnes! I started my international judging career during my University studies and I am now a gymnastics coach, sports adrrinistrator ~ sports researcher. Before Rio, I had already judged several important international mutti-sport events, including two consecutive Olympic Games (London 2012 and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics) and Asian Games (Guangzhou 201 O and lncheon 2014). Jason Sin 2000 BBA ACCT My little gir1 Angela is already two years old! Calvin Kong (left) 2004 BEng IETM My friends and I recently launched our first mobile app - 'Join-a-Ride Foli!.A. '. It can help you search for 'riders' who will then share the taxi or car fare with you. By reducing traffic jams and improving air quality, this car-pooling Is environmentally friendly. Dennis Tang 1998 MPhil MECH I am presently Partner Attorney at Yingke, the largest law firm in mainland China. Earlier this year, I published a book giving tips on the necessary legal knowledge for Hong Kong people to live, work and invest in the mainland. Zhang Xiaowu 1999 PhD MECH There is no greater happiness than striving for one's ideal in the world. I have revitalized British heritage shoemaker NPSSolovair in Hong Kong. Taking advantage of the 020 (online to offline) business model, I am able to offer the best value for those 'Made in England' sole-of-air or leather sole shoes. Mak Kin Fai I am delighted to share with you that I have received the 2015 IEEE CPMT Exceptional Achievement Award in the 2.50/30 ICs Field for my contributions 2005 8Sc PHYSPM Presently Assistant Professor of Physics at The Pennsylvania State University, I am honored to receive the 2016 Packard Fellowship tor Science in the area of 2 .50/30 integration. My research focuses primarily on process development and reliability, and stress sensor technology. and Engineering from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. My research employs electrical and optical probes to explore the unusual electronic properties of atomically thin materials and their heterostructures. I recently enjoyed a fabulous get-together with my HKUST buddies at a unique place. It was a wonderful vacation with lots of laughter and sharing. Victor Manuel Ruiz Sanchez cond right) 2013KHEMBA Class Notes Andrew Lau (left) 2010 BSc APHYMS This picture captures the joyous moment when I was awarded the Distinguished Salesperson Award - Centaline Property. This program and the awards are globally Sun Handong 1999 PhD PHYS It is my honor to be elected as Fellow of the American Physical Society in recognition of my outstanding contributions to optoelectronics with novel characterization and deep understanding of photonic materials and structures, leading lo practical high- I am overjoyed to share that actiMirror, a company I oo-founded, has been named Technology Company of the Year-Startup category at the Co1T4=>uterworld Hong Kong Awards 2016. ActiMirror is a platform of connected dat~ring intelligent mirrora, offemg 'YOUnique' customercentric experiences for the reta~. hospilafity, heaHh care and exhibition verticals. Ouroore t eam, ha~ of whom are HKUST graduates, has an incredible mix of talents of different nationalities. As our company keeps on expanding, we hope to have more talents from HKUST to join our team. ~~ - HKUST Alumni News 2016 2 1 WHAT'S COMING TO OUR CAM PUS To meet the remarkable advancement of HKUST, new facilities are set to open all around the campus in the near future. These new major infrastructure projects will enhance and upgrade the campus in order to provide a better learning and living environment for our students. Stay tuned for the developments regarding our new look! North Entrance WATER FRONT This facility right on the water's edge will encompass a boathouse, boatshed with lifeguard tower, windsurfing center, terrace-style amphitheater with shelter and other facilities. INDOOR SPORTS CENTER With a gross floor area of 1 ,900 sqm and in close proximity to student residences, the Indoor Sports Center will comprise a high-celling sports hall, multi-purpose room, gym room and other supporting facilities. RESEARCH POSTGRADUATE TOWER With a total of 500 bed spaces, the RPg Tower promises to be a lively hub for sharing and exploring Innovative Ideas by Integrating research postgraduate students from different geographical and ethnic backgrounds. This 1,000-seat auditorium will become a state-of-the-art venue for a wide variety of events including concerts, theatrical performances, large-scale meetings, lectures and seminars. student events and other University functions. 91NNOVATION BUILDING Providing incubation facilities for startups, and space for various entrepreneurship-related programs and activities, this venue will house several cross disciplinary research institutes and centers, as well as serving as a platform for collaboration with industry. South Entrance As well as the above new developments on the main campus, the Jockey Club Hall, our new undergraduate hall in downtown Tseung Kwan 0, opened in September 2016, housing over 500 students.