HKUST Alumni, Winter/Spring 2020

Abstract

Foreword Feature Giving Start something Alumni eCard New eats on campus Insight World stage Happenings Class notes

President Professor Shyy Greetings Dear Alumni,

I’d like to start by welcoming the class of 2019 to our alumni community. You are now part of a 77,000-strong network of graduates around the world – a network of leaders, mentors, and friends all supporting each other in the pursuit of dreams and the achievement of goals.

At HKUST, we take special pride in our alumni. Our graduates are highly regarded in the world, according to the latest Global University Employability Ranking 2019 and other measures. And it is heartening to see the way our diverse alumni community consistently supports their alma mater in various ways, including helping graduates with career opportunities. It was thanks to your collaborative efforts that we were able to navigate through these difficult times and get our operations back on track.

With the spring term commencing in early February 2020, we look forward to seeing a bustling campus once again. We’d like to thank you for your understanding regarding the cancellation of the last session of the Congregation and the annual Alumni Reunion in November 2019. We hope to see you all at our forthcoming events. Moving forward, I trust that the values of openness and consideration that have brought us this far will continue to be treasured. As ever, we rely on your ongoing partnership to see us through these times.

On the subject of openness and consideration, in this issue we meet two noteworthy alumni who chose to diverge from mainstream corporate career paths and pursue their passion for uplifting the community instead. Luke Tam founded a social enterprise called Kaifong Tour to boost links between Hong Kong’s diverse communities. And Mavis Ho’s determination to make a positive impact inspired her to become a divorce counselor, helping families through their darkest hours. I hope both these stories inspire you to continue serving your communities in your own unique ways.

There are also several campus developments I’m keen to share with you. The Jockey Club Global Graduate Tower will be ready for our postgraduate research students by the second quarter of 2020, and the University is planning to build a new hostel for undergraduate students by September 2023. In addition, the much-anticipated Shaw Auditorium is set to be in use by the third quarter of 2021 and will provide a high quality, multi-purpose venue for hosting cultural activities, student and academic events, as well as campus-wide ceremonies.

The year ahead will bring new challenges to us all, but with a little love and understanding, I have no doubt we’ll get through them together.

Yours,

Professor Wei Shyy President

Building a better world through love, care, and connection Success is defined as the accomplishment of goals. And at HKUST, we gage the University’s success by our alumni’s success. With such a diverse community, it is always interesting to see the wide range of goals our alumni are working towards. Some in particular have chosen unusual career paths that have led them in unexpected directions. Here, we talk to two such alumni, Mavis Ho and Luke Tam, who have both diverged from mainstream career paths to follow their hearts and serve the community.

Mavis serves at the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society as a social worker for divorced families. Luke is the founder of Kaifong Tour, an award-winning social enterprise that promotes understanding between Hong Kong’s disparate and diverse communities. While they contribute to society in very different ways, the thread that connects them is their determination to make a positive impact.

In fact, the two first became friends through HKUST Connect, when Mavis was working as a full-time coordinator and Luke joined the Public Service Leadership Program as a student. Their unique career paths are a testament to the strong sense of social responsibility that exists within our alumni community.

Mavis HO A chat with Mavis HO 2010 BEng Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Social Worker, Hong Kong Family Welfare Society

A keen sense of concern Mavis has always felt a keen sense of concern about the well-being of the planet and the people around her. She chose to study chemical and environmental engineering at HKUST, not from a pure interest in science or future-proofing her career, but from a desire to protect the environment. She saw the pollution caused by industrial development and pursued her studies with one question in mind:

How can we as humanity fulfil our needs in a more responsible and sustainable way? The more she studied, the more determined she was to make a difference. In 2008, Sichuan was struck by a devastating earthquake which took the lives of more than 69,000 people and left millions without shelter, food, or water. Mavis, only in her first year of university, felt the shock of this horrific incident keenly, and was desperate to help. She and her friends did what they could to raise awareness on campus and send donations to the affected areas. After that, she made sure to keep up with current affairs, not just in Hong Kong, but across the globe.

“As I learned more about the environmental problems facing the world today, I realized they all stem from human problems,” Mavis says. “And the only way to make a real difference is to address the social issues that lie at the root of everything.” In that moment, her focus shifted from math and engineering to social services. She joined the University’s Christian Fellowship to start taking action, eager to find a way for communities to live happily together without destroying the earth they live on.

Taking action In her third year, the University started a social initiative called HKUST Connect with the aim of partnering with various organizations in advancing justice, hope, and basic goodness in the community. Based on the concept of “service-learning”, HKUST Connect helps students deepen their understanding of societal needs and how they can help disadvantaged groups through meaningful projects. One of the first projects organized was a trip to assist with teaching in Sichuan’s makeshift schools. Mavis signed up immediately.

“We visited sites that were devastated by the earthquake and I’ll never forget the suffering I saw – this time in person, not just on TV,” Mavis reflects. “I’ll also never forget the smiles on the students’ faces when we played games with them and showed them scientific experiments at school. I was amazed they could smile at all while living in such difficult conditions.”

Mavis visited Sichuan three more times after that, each time doing everything she could to help the people recover, and each time reflecting on the experience. “In service-learning projects, we debrief at the end of every day with the four F’s of active reviewing: facts, feelings, findings, and future,” she explains.

This kind of self-reflection is very valuable: I started to rethink my own perspectives. I started to see that my actions could make a real difference. And I started thinking about my future career. After such unforgettable experiences in Sichuan, Mavis was convinced that service-learning was the way to go. So, after graduating, she became a full-time coordinator for HKUST Connect, keen to help students realize their own important role in making society a better place for everyone.

Becoming a leader During her four years with HKUST Connect, Mavis was instrumental in expanding the scope of projects and changing the focus from one-off activities to long-term services for greater impact. She organized a variety of service-learning projects for students, such as visiting the elderly, helping mentally handicapped people, writing stories for cancer patients, building houses, and leading educational tours. “We created a year-long leadership training program to help students initiate and organize community activities themselves,” she says. “This program helped lay the groundwork for Connect Ace, the University’s Ambassador for Community Engagement initiative.”

One of the most memorable projects for her, which turned out to also be a steep learning curve, was a trip she organized to a school they had never worked with before in Sichuan. “It was a tough trip for many reasons,” she laughs. “Firstly, it was a very remote school and the bus journey was difficult. Secondly, there were no showers! Thirdly, we had to be ready to change our teaching schedule at a moment’s notice, because the staff were not used to working with us. Also, it was one of my first times leading students who weren’t much younger than me. They all had different ideas and strong opinions!” Part of her role as a coordinator was to look at the big picture and help guide the students to understand each other, stay calm, and find a solution together. She learned that commitment was the key to overcoming challenges.

And the hugs and smiles from the students we were teaching made it all worth it!

It was experiences like this that changed Mavis and helped her grow as a person. “As an engineering student, I had a problem-solving approach to life. But I quickly found this approach to be inadequate when dealing with people,” she says. Through every project, she learned to be more sensitive, empathetic, and understanding towards others. Still, she wanted more training in how to help people solve their problems effectively.

This training came in the form of a Master of Social Science in Social Work degree at CUHK, which she studied part time during her last year at HKUST Connect. After that, she wanted to make more of an impact by devoting her attention to one specific need instead of many different ones. “I’m someone who always looks for the root cause of any given problem,” she explains. “I knew environmental problems are often caused by social problems and most social problems start at home. Our family shapes the way we feel, think, and act. And one of the hardest things for a family to go through is divorce.”

Shining the light of hope In 2016, Mavis joined the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society as a social worker for divorced families, where she continues to work today. “We provide counseling and assistance for couples every step of the way, whether they’re trying to keep their marriage together, or going through a divorce, or dealing with a custody battle,” Mavis explains. Her care and concern are almost visible. “My goal is to provide a safe space for them to express themselves, deal with difficult emotions, and work through problems in a healthy way.”

HKFWS Logo When asked how she manages the emotional toll of her work, Mavis reflects for a while before answering. “I have to keep reminding myself of what I can be grateful for. The little things that brighten my day. The incremental improvements my clients make. That’s what gives me courage to face such difficult situations every day.”

She sees her experience at HKUST – both as a student and as a coordinator – as highly instrumental to her work today. It taught her invaluable communication, leadership, and conflict resolution skills. “The mentoring work I did with HKUST Connect benefited me greatly, just as all teachers learn from their students.” She adds, “Also, my time as an engineering student helped me communicate with men more easily. At the Society, we have cell groups for fathers who’ve lost custody of their children. They find it difficult to express their emotions, so I help them communicate in ways they’re more comfortable with.”

Being someone who cares deeply about the community, Mavis has not gone through these experiences unscathed. “My perspective of the world has changed,” she remarks. “When I was young, I thought I could save the world. I saw things as simply good or bad. Now I understand the complexity of what it is to be human. I’ve seen how two people can have completely different views of the same issue, how love can be intertwined with hate, how both partners are responsible for every marital problem, and how couples who want a divorce still miss their partners afterwards.”

Her understanding of marriage has also changed. “With the rise of individualism, people are finding it harder than ever to compromise in their relationships. Yet, independence is still important in every marriage – it’s a delicate, fragile balance. I think people often underestimate the work it takes to have a happy marriage.” Relating these lessons to her own marriage, she adds, “When I’m angry, I ask myself which is more important: my relationship with my husband or the argument I’m having? I try to sit down and talk things through after expressing my feelings. I want to show my husband that I treasure our marriage.”

Through it all, one thing holds true for Mavis: the importance of positive thinking. “No matter what we’ve gone through and what we want to achieve, we have to cultivate an ability within ourselves to see the good in all things and to always find a way forward.”

HKUST Connect is a community engagement initiative that develops sustainable partnerships with the wider community to deepen a sense of social responsibility in our students.

A chat with Luke TAM 2015 BBA Marketing

Co-Founder, Kaifong Tour

A different question The question at the top of mind for most graduating students is, “How do I get a good job at a big company?” The last year of university is usually spent writing and rewriting resumes, attending interview after interview, and vying for the most reputable job opportunities. But not for Luke Tam. He was concerning himself with an entirely different question:

How can I use my business knowledge to contribute to the community? This question led him down a very different path to that of his peers. After graduating with a degree in marketing and information systems in 2015, Luke could have easily built a successful corporate career for himself. However, he had chosen this subject for a different reason. “I saw the power of marketing to connect people,” he explains. “I knew this skill would be crucial for community projects.”

In fact, connection was the driving force behind many of Luke’s life decisions, including the decision to start his own initiative, Kaifong Tour, in 2017. Today, Kaifong Tour is an award-winning social enterprise that organizes local neighborhood tours to facilitate connection and understanding among the diverse communities of Hong Kong. The work is as fulfilling as it is challenging. “As a social entrepreneur, you have to be flexible,” Luke smiles. “The work I do changes every day, depending on what situation arises.” Still, as rewarding as being a social entrepreneur is, not everyone would choose it over a stable corporate job. What inspired Luke to want to change the world in the first place?

Sparking a life-long flame It all started when Luke’s family received support from the government’s Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme when he was young. “I experienced firsthand what a difference community services make. I always knew I wanted to do something with my life that would help others,” he says.

His first opportunity to help others came at secondary school, when he joined the Sham Shui Po Outstanding Students Association, which brought together about 20 student leaders from different schools. “We did leadership training, held district forums about social issues, and organized activities to help disadvantaged groups,” Luke explains.

And the hugs and smiles from the students we were teaching made it all worth it! Today, he works with secondary school students through Kaifong Tour, helping them realize the impact they can make in society – even as teenagers.

Credit: TVB

Although Luke knew he wanted to help others, he wasn’t sure how. At HKUST, he explored different options to find the right direction to take. He joined HKUST Connect where he initiated and led two projects: Handicraft with Women and the Hong Kong & Macau Joint University Service Camp. While on a week-long trip to Cambodia with the French NGO Aide et Action during his first year at university, he saw how much work there was to be done in the world. “Seven days was not enough,” he says. He wanted to find a more sustainable, long-term way to make a difference.

Finding a way forward In his third year at HKUST, he found one. As part of the Nurturing Social Minds program, funded by The Yeh Family Philanthropy and the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund, he joined a student consulting team tasked with helping social enterprises get funding. “I saw how combining social initiatives with business acumen could make a bigger impact, and I decided that social enterprise was the way to go.”

Armed with hope, Luke concentrated on building his social entrepreneurship skills. He took several edifying internships with charitable organizations including The Good Lab, a social innovation consultancy, and Teach for Hong Kong, an NGO that increases access to quality education by enlisting university graduates to serve at underprivileged schools.

After graduating, he joined the Golden Age Foundation, which advocates active ageing in Hong Kong. He then worked as a project manager at The Good Lab, helping NGOs and government groups make use of design thinking for public services and finding ways to bring disparate groups together to achieve communal goals.

Building a social enterprise Through it all, an idea was forming at the back of his mind. “I saw that many problems in society are caused by misunderstandings and disconnection between different groups,” Luke explains. “I wanted to find a way to bring more understanding into the world.” He organized a few projects with friends that won mini social enterprise competitions. Then, he officially founded Kaifong Tour in 2017 and gained funding from the government’s Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership (ESR) Program and the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund. “The first person to join my team was Jonathan. He is an HKUST alumnus, too!”

The Kaifong Tour team lead groups of primary, secondary, and university students, as well as professionals, around local neighborhoods in Hong Kong, introducing the history and culture of the area with interactive activities, while sharing stories from shopkeepers and residents. “People want to connect with the communities in a personal way,” Luke observes. “Each tour begins with an introduction and ends with a debriefing session to help people consolidate what they experienced. Self-reflection is very important.”

When asked about the challenges of running a social enterprise, Luke doesn’t hesitate: “There are so many!” he exclaims. “At first, we wanted to change the world. But soon, we realized there was a lot of groundwork to do. We had to start by connecting people one by one and build up from there.”

One challenge was building trust with local shopkeepers and residents, who were often suspicious of the team’s exploratory questions when preparing tours. “We adapted quickly: instead of our team leading tours, we trained residents to lead the tours themselves. They knew the area better, were trusted by their neighbors, and had great stories to tell!” This helped the team build a more long-term solution, as local guides could gain a sense of ownership over their own tours and take a more active role in uplifting their own communities.

“We try to find guides with great stories,” says Luke. “Like this Nepalese lady who owns a store in Jordon. She is very nice and participants love listening to her stories about Nepal and Hong Kong. Stories bring people together.” He continues, “Another popular tour is by a resident in the rainbow Choi Hung Estate, who plays table tennis with the participants! We always want people to interact as much as possible, as this facilitates real connection and empathy.”

Still, they face new challenges every day. “Sometimes we only have two or three people show up for the tour. But we will always run the tours, whether for two or 20 people,” he says. Plus, their tours are tailormade for each group and each tour guide. “For example, if the tour guide is elderly, we’d need to ensure there’s a place to sit down and rest,” he says. Their goal is to create more understanding of the abilities, not disabilities, of different groups. Rather than asking for donations, the team create opportunities for interaction, to build an attitude of appreciation and respect in the community. “We believe everyone has something valid to contribute. The elderly, for example, have so many stories we can all learn from,” he explains.

Luke also faced personal challenges, such as getting his family on board. “They were worried about me and encouraged me to get a well-paid job instead,” he says. “They didn’t understand why I was taking this path. So, it was my responsibility to communicate my motives and goals with them to help them understand.” Happily, they are now fully supportive of his work. “My sister freelances with us and my mom has even led tours herself!” Luke laughs.

Building a social enterprise Kaifong Tour now has 30 trained tour guides and 20 NGO partners, with tours mainly in four districts in Hong Kong: Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, Yau Tsim Mong, and Sha Tin. Looking fondly at a group photo taken earlier this year, Luke recalls, “This was a very special moment. All our tour guides, volunteers, staff, and community partners came together to celebrate our collective achievements. It touched me to see how many people we’ve brought together already.”

Going forward, Luke would like to expand the tours to more districts and perhaps change Kaifong Tour to an NGO status, so they can support more tour guides. “Alternatively, we could aim to become a Certified B Corporation. Either way, we want to make our services more sustainable and impactful,” he says, with determination.

KaiFong Tour Logo

In addition to running Kaifong Tour, Luke provides social innovation consulting services for the government and various NGOs. He sits on the advisory committee for the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged under the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth, and contributes to the Hong Kong Economic Journal, providing insights into sustainable community development issues.

And his contributions have not gone unnoticed. Luke has been awarded the Roy To Community Service Award, the Alumni Endowment Fund Community Service Award, the Mrs Choi Ma Oi Kuen Public Service Leadership Award, and the Dean’s Service Award in recognition of his remarkable commitment to community service.

Reflecting on his journey, Luke says, “The advice I’m given by NGO owners is to hope I can quit my job one day,” he smiles. “Because the work exists as long as the problem exists. If we do our jobs well, maybe in a few decades’ time there’ll be no need to organize tours to help disparate groups connect with each other.”

My dream is that one day, everyone in Hong Kong, no matter how different they are, can live together with empathy, understanding, and trust.

The Nurturing Social Minds program aims to develop and support social entrepreneurs in finding innovative ways to address community problems.

Make your mark on campus We are greatly encouraged by the support we continue to receive for the HKUST Alumni Endowment Fund (AEF), which benefits students by supporting a variety of life-enriching activities that would not otherwise be available to them.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of our dedicated alumni, the AEF has had a profound impact on the lives of many students since it started, the impact of which is beyond measure.

Any level of participation in giving is highly appreciated by everyone at HKUST, especially the students whose futures are made brighter by your generosity. To recognize your warmhearted contributions, the University offers various naming opportunities as tokens of our gratitude.

Named seat at Citi Lecture Theater (LTA) Accumulated donations of HK$10,000 or above

Named desk at Library Chevalier Learning Commons Accumulated donations of HK$50,000 or above

Named tree at walkway near Lo Ka Chung University Center Accumulated donations of HK$100,000 or above

Various campus buildings and facilities Accumulated donations of HK$1,000,000 or above

Your generosity makes it possible for students to change their lives and the lives of those around them for the better. Every dollar makes a difference. Change a life by donating today.

Make your mark on campus Entrepreneurship has always been a top priority at HKUST. We want to do everything we can to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit on campus and beyond, so more students and alumni can make their ideas a reality. Here are a few ways alumni entrepreneurs like you can get the support, funding, guidance, and inspiration you need to see your venture succeed. We believe in you!

Full Circle @ HKUST

Take your next step where it all began.

To keep our entrepreneur community active and vibrant, we regularly invite alumni to showcase their businesses on campus for the benefit of the HKUST community. Not only is this a great promotional opportunity for entrepreneurs, it also helps inspire students to start their own ventures in future.

So far, 24 alumni businesses have participated in Full Circle @ HKUST, which was launched by the Development and Alumni Office in 2019. At our most recent event, the University’s first ever Alumni Market, entrepreneurs presented their creative products and services on campus for the community, who were impressed by the wide variety on display, including specialty coffee products, healthy soups, personal care products, an app with personal chefs for hire, and much more.

Contact us to get involved!

Full Circle @ HKUST

Entrepreneur Circle The HKUST Alumni Association’s Entrepreneur Circle connects alumni start-ups with experienced mentors, professional resources, and investment opportunities to help them grow. If you’re an entrepreneur looking for a supportive community, sign up today!

Entrepreneurship Center The HKUST Entrepreneurship Center runs various activities and funds with the aim of cultivating a risk-taking, value-creation mindset in students.

One of its key initiatives is the annual One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition, which now runs in seven regions: Hong Kong, Beijing, Foshan, Guangzhou, Macau, Shenzhen, and Zhongshan. The competition evaluates new business plans created by students, alumni, faculty, and staff teams, and awards winners with seed money to fund and further their own ventures.

If you'd like to enter or support the competition, scan the QR code to find out how.

Technology Transfer Center The HKUST Technology Transfer Center (TTC) serves as a bridge between the University's research community and the business sector. Recently, it set up an HKUST Entrepreneurship Fund (E-Fund) to support the development of HKUST start-ups in early stages. The E-Fund has an initial HK$50 million committed and is projected to continue investing in HKUST start-ups for the next five years at least.

Eligible entrepreneurs are welcome to contact the TTC for more information.

Student Start-up Grants Starting a business is never easy. Even though many people dream of making their ideas a reality, very few take the risk. That's why the Alumni Endowment Fund (AEF) offers Student Start-up Grants. With guidance, encouragement, and financial support, more students can take that first step towards fulfilling their aspirations.

If you’re keen to support the leaders of tomorrow, you are welcome to donate any amount, large or small. Every dollar counts.

Tell us your ideas! We are constantly looking for new ways to support our start-up community, and if you’d like to help, please take a few minutes to fill in this online survey. We very much appreciate your contribution to making our entrepreneurial community even better!

New eats on campus To cater to our ever growing student community, we’ve opened new food outlets all around campus and renovated old favorites. Come and enjoy the variety of cuisines here as you catch up with staff, students, and fellow alumni on your next visit!

American Diner Chia-Wei Woo Academic Concourse

Passion Chia-Wei Woo Academic Concourse

Hungry Korean Chia-Wei Woo Academic Concourse

TT Veggie LG7

LG5 vending machines LG5

The UniBar Lo Ka Chung University Center

Giving students a head start At HKUST, we believe that giving students early business experience is an invaluable way to boost their career prospects. And the HeadStart@HKUST (HeadStart) program does just that. By connecting our first- and second-year undergraduate students with reputable organizations for internships and mentoring, we can equip them to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.

The success of this program has been due, in a large part, to the enthusiastic partnership of alumni entrepreneurs like BBA Marketing alumna Fanny Suen, founder of the innovative personal chef platform MobiChef. This year, we talk to her intern Joanne Ma, a second-year marketing student who worked at MobiChef this summer and has continued participating in ad hoc company projects since then.

Insight main banner What did the internship involve? Joanne: As a foodie, I really enjoyed working at MobiChef. It’s an online platform that connects diners with professional chefs for gourmet meals at home. During the internship, I participated in all the company’s marketing activities: I wrote blogs, translated menus, did photoshoots, and produced videos. This gave me well-rounded experience in creating engaging marketing content.

The best part was, I had a lot of creative freedom. I could choose what topics to write about and how to film and edit the videos – and it was so exciting to see my work published! There were steep learning curves, too. I quickly learned how important it is to pay attention to small details when planning a shoot, so everything runs smoothly on the day. I also learned to communicate regularly to ensure both the chef and the marketing team were happy with the recipes and storyboards for each video.

What did you gain from the HeadStart program? Joanne: This invaluable program has equipped me with hard and soft skills that couldn’t be gained elsewhere. I was able to apply marketing techniques to real-world situations, use video equipment and photography software, and gain insights into the world of professional filming. I also got to experience what it takes to organize a project successfully and work together as a team. Communication really is key! All of this will help get my career off to a good start.

I’m not sure what I want to do after graduation yet, but thanks to the HeadStart program, I can make a more informed choice. In fact, I think I’d like to work in the food and beverage industry because I love sharing the joy of delicious food with others!

What was it like working with an HKUST alumna? Joanne: Fanny is very friendly and patient. She was always happy to give me advice and help whenever I needed it. She also trusted me to handle my own work and contribute creative ideas. During my time there, I saw that building a start-up is not easy – it takes skills, knowledge, leadership, devotion, and enthusiasm. Still, my colleagues were always nice and welcoming. And Fanny’s adorable pug Puzzle would often visit the office and make us all laugh! MobiChef is a warm and fun family.

After only two years at HKUST, I can already see that the alumni community has a lot of innovative young entrepreneurs who are keen to encourage us students in pursuing our dreams. I’m very grateful for their support!

If you have a business and would like to support this program, please contact us at alumni@ust.hk.

America California time Members of the Northern California Alumni Chapter enjoyed an eventful 2019. In June, they organized a Personal Emergency Preparedness workshop to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. In August, they mingled with 80 EMBA students and HKUST guests at a Thought Leaders Cocktail Mixer, co-organized by the HK Association of Northern California and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office SF. And in September, they relaxed over a sumptuous dinner in celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival.

Giving thanks Alumni in New York spent a joyous night out in October, reconnecting with each other over dinner in the city. The following month, they gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving at Harold’s private cabin, warming their hearts with good food and festive cheer.

Australia Sydney sun In Sydney, alumni met for a relaxing lunch in November. They enjoyed hearing updates from each other and were impressed with all the new developments happening at the University. Look how proud they are of their alma mater!

Canada Picnic in the park Members of the Ontario Alumni Chapter had a lovely picnic with peers from other universities, hosted by the Hong Kong Joint Universities Alumni (Ontario) at Sibbald Point Provincial Park in June. They played fun games together and even came second in the relay race! They also had weekly table tennis training with a volunteer coach to stay fit.

In October, as Ontario showed off its autumn colors, alumna Christina shone on stage in front of more than 200 people at the Joint University Talent Show 2019, with her erhu ensemble performance of “Coloured Clouds Chasing the Moon”. The show was followed by a gala dinner sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

China Break a sweat The past couple of weeks have been all about fitness for the Shanghai Alumni Chapter. They organized a number of sports events including golf, yoga, and tennis training, and thoroughly enjoyed the chance to connect with each other while staying active!

Big names in the bay To keep up with the latest developments in the Greater Bay Area, alumni visited Shenzhen for a forum hosted by the Development and Alumni Office and BlueBay Incubator in September. After a panel discussion led by alumni entrepreneurs, participants had the rare opportunity to visit large corporations including China Resources, DJI Technology, Royole, and Tencent. The Shenzhen Alumni Chapter also inaugurated their new executive committee this year.

Starry symphonies Members of the Beijing Alumni Chapter were treated to a spectacular midsummer night’s concert at the distinguished TiensTiens café in Sanlitun, as part of the joint university program presented by the Alumni Alliance of Hong Kong Tertiary Institutions in Beijing. Much-loved masterpieces performed by renowned musicians filled the audience with wonder. Afterwards, they chatted long into the night over drinks at a gathering co-organized by USC and other overseas universities.

India December in India While the MBA team were in India for a fair in December, they organized dinners to connect with alumni in Mumbai and New Delhi. Alumni enjoyed this opportunity to catch up with each other’s news and meet new friends.

Singapore Singapore sights Alumni, students, and corporate partners gathered for a mixer in Singapore in October, as part of the annual MBA Career Trek initiative run by the MBA career team and full-time MBA students. Participants enjoyed swapping stories about the ups and downs of their career paths and sharing lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Switzerland Warm memories The number of alumni living in Zurich is growing every year. In November, they got together to meet new friends and reminisce about those good old student days in Hong Kong, while tucking into a hearty Chinese dinner.

Taiwan Mountain climbers The newly formed Taiwan Alumni Chapter is already very active in organizing fun get-togethers for members. They had dinner at a popular restaurant in July, and hiked up Jinmian Mountain with alumni professor Emily Nason during her visit to Taipei. It was a perfect day for hiking, and a great way for alumni to get to know each other better while keeping up with HKUST news. Stay tuned for their next gathering!

Alumni unite! The EMBA Alumni Association held several impressive events to bring members scattered across mainland China together. Its signature annual meeting in Zhuhai in November saw 240 alumni, entrepreneurs, and industry experts gather for a two-day forum about challenges facing the Greater Bay Area. Over the two days, they also held a kick-off ceremony for the Gobi Challenge, a mini marathon, a golf tournament, a company visit to Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligent Technology, and a gala dinner!

Always active What a fabulous year 2019 has been for the MBA Alumni Association! They've had investment and fintech experts share valuable insights with members at their first Friday happy hour event. They’ve organized get-togethers with alumni of other institutions such as LSE, UCLA, CEIBS, University of Wisconsin, and IESE. Every Wednesday, they hold various fitness activities to help members stay healthy – in addition to regular kayaking and dragon boat practice. Members also enjoyed the Storytelling for Leaders session and the YDC secondary school career coaching sessions this year. Don’t miss out on their wide array of activities coming up!

Career talks and the community The HKUST Alumni Association (HKUSTAA) had a very eventful summer. In August, alumni discussed “Turning your creativity into a career” with guest speakers Uncle Siu (蕭叔叔), founder of Uncle Siu’s British English Club, and Sixtycents (六毫子), founder and CEO of Manner Culture Ltd.

While a dragon boat training session was held in early August, the community service team organized several social service programs: peer reading sessions with primary school students in collaboration with Kids4Kids; visiting the elderly with the Regeneration Society; and giving mid-autumn gifts to single families to share the joy of the festive season.

A friendly reminder for 2019 graduates: You’re eligible for a 50% discount when you join HKUSTAA. Visit our website for more details!

Conquering land and water Calling themselves “birds without legs”, the Alumni Dragon Boat Club has not stopped soaring since it was formed 21 years ago.

In addition to local races, they’ve competed in five international races since 2010. This year, they took on two major challenges in Japan: climbing Mount Fuji and training with the Tokyo Dragon Boat Club, the country’s most elite team. They learned a lot from their systematic training program and sportsmanship. At the end of the training, the Tokyo team took them on a secret rowing route near the famous Skytree tower – an experience they’ll never forget!

Green heat Members of the Environmental Management and Technology Alumni Association got together to visit T-Park, one of the largest modern waste-to-energy facilities in Asia, in July. After a guided tour, they relaxed at the T-Spa, with pools heated by waste energy from the sludge incineration process, while enjoying seamless sea views of Deep Bay.

After their AGM in July, a new executive committee was elected. Stay tuned for their upcoming 10th anniversary celebration events for the Division and the Program in 2020!

Made by us HKUST’s very first Alumni Market opened on campus from September 23 to 25, celebrating the creativity and versatility of our alumni entrepreneurs. The HKUST community was inspired by the wide variety of amazing products and services created by alumni, ranging from specialty coffee and healthy herbal soups to cosmetics and a platform of personal chefs for hire.

A sip and a smile The Alumni Wine Association has organized many exciting and educational events for wine enthusiasts this year, including a Japanese Koshu wine-tasting workshop with Mr. Micky Chan, co-founder of Hong Kong Wine Academy, in March.

They also collaborated with the UCLA Alumni Hong Kong Network to bring people together for free-flow drinks and networking at a California Wine Night, and enjoyed quality wines at the fun Spanish Fiesta Wine Party, organized in partnership with Myicellar.

Every month, they have a pop-up happy hour – a great opportunity to socialize with fellow wine enthusiasts – and everyone is welcome to join!

Summer sun Making the most of the beautiful summer weather, the Mainland Alumni Association went for a cruise in Sai Kung in September. It was a wonderful opportunity to relax and reconnect. They’ve also held a number of career sharing sessions to help members tap into their potential and find the right career path.

Ten years of toasting The MBA Alumni Toastmasters Club is excited to be celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, with more inspiring speeches, business workshops, and public speaking training to come.

In November, they invited an entrepreneur to share her inspiring journey from starting a business in her home to now owning a retail store in a top-tier shopping mall. At the Club Speech Contest, alumni Yuki Wong, Raymond Wong, and Andrew Lam advanced through to the Area K4 Contests which will be held in February.

The club meets twice a month and will host a 2020 demo meeting on February 12 at a brand new venue in Causeway Bay. All are welcome to join and improve their public speaking skills or simply have a taste of Toastmasters!

To a tee Thanks to our enthusiastic golfers, the HKUST Alumni Endowment Fund (AEF) Golf Day, which took place at the Shenzhen Mission Hills Golf Club in June, was a resounding success! After an enjoyable day on the course, participants sat down to a well-earned gala dinner. The event was one of AEF’s largest fundraising events since it began in 2012, and was co-organized by the Development and Alumni Office, the Alumni Golf Club, and the EMBA Alumni Association Golf Club.

Together for life In May, the Life Science Alumni Association (LSAA) organized their first alumni reunion in collaboration with the Division of Life Science. Alumni of different generations gathered to hear from professors about the latest developments. And three alumni guest speakers, Johnson Leung, Bird Tang, and Gerald Wong, shared fun stories about university life plus valuable tips on career development with attendees.

Stay tuned for upcoming events on the LSAA Facebook page!

Under the stars Members of the Engineering Enterprise Management Alumni Association spent a pleasant weekend on campus for a BBQ gathering in November. They made the most of this rare occasion to reconnect by sharing fond memories of their alma mater and updating each other on their different journeys since graduation, all the while admiring the beautiful sea view exclusive to HKUST.

Welcome, new graduates! A graduation isn’t a goodbye, it’s an invitation to stay involved, connected, and engaged. We were delighted to welcome graduates from the Class of 2019 to our alumni community at the Congregation, and we look forward to seeing you at our events in future!

Keep up with your classmates’ news Time goes by so quickly. One day you’re enjoying a carefree life on campus with your friends, and the next you’re juggling a career with family responsibilities, wondering how you got here! Here, we bring you updates from your former classmates scattered far and wide, so you can find out what they’re up to and how they’ve changed.

Marriages Births Career achievements Marriages Conrad Lok 997 BBA MARK

Hannah and I started a new chapter of our lives together as husband and wife on September 16, 2019. It’s never too late for true love – it’s all about faith, trust, and hope!

Roy Yim 2004 BSc CHEM

Ching Man and I tied the knot in 2014 and we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in March 2019. Ching Man was based in Guangzhou before but has been living and working in Hong Kong since 2018. We both love it here and we love HKUST!

Births Lell Luk 2002 BSc BIOL

We’re all excited to welcome a new addition to our family, Aki, who was born in June! Hanz is thrilled to be a big brother now, and in November, we went to Tokyo for our first family trip.

Career achievements Michael Huen 2000 BSc BICH

2002 MPhil BICH

I’m truly honored to take on my new role as professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Hong Kong. I look forward to contributing to quality education and research in Hong Kong.

Anthony Wan & Albert Wong 1997 BBA ACCT-FA | 2005 BBA IS

We both work at King & Wood Mallesons: Anthony as partner and Albert as a senior associate. And we share similar backgrounds, having both begun our careers in auditing at one of the big four accounting firms, then advancing to become corporate finance lawyers in Hong Kong. We’re now experienced law practitioners, responsible for corporate matters such as IPO listings, mergers and acquisitions, and listing rules.

Larry Lam 2005 BBA ACCT

After working at large corporations including PwC, HKEx, ICAC, and Morgan Stanley for more than 10 years, I decided to started my own venture, KaChick. We connect photographers and videographers with corporates and travelers all around the world. Currently, we have over 2,000 visual creatives in our community and our clients include Cathay Pacific, Cyberport, Grand Hyatt, KKDay, and more.

Dennis Tang 1998 MPhil MECH

I recently released a new book, “Invest, Work & Live in China”, co-authored with Ms. Camille Hui. This book serves as a guide for foreigners expanding their businesses to Mainland China, helping them navigate obstacles and understand the country’s legal system and judicial practices. In it, I share my near 20 years of experience as a practicing lawyer working with the senior management of foreign-invested enterprises in Mainland China.

Ghost Chan 2012 BEng COMP

As one half of Ghost and John, a Hong Kong contemporary art duo based in London, I was delighted to present our recent multimedia ensemble work "Meniscus". This was a cross-continental collaboration of 26 artists who gathered to create an immersive event as an outcry of urgency towards the social, environmental, and political instability of our times. Since we are both from computer science and biology backgrounds, our works span a wide range of topics, from algorithms to symbiosis.

Have you recently got married, set up a new business, landed a promotion, run a marathon or welcomed a new family member? We’d love to hear from you!