ONLINE EVENT

Conducted in Cantonese 
以廣東話進行

The world is rapidly changing, and so is the landscape of work and employment. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), 50% of today’s jobs could be automated by AI and machines by 2055. The pandemic also accelerated the growth of remote work, gig economy, entrepreneurship, e-commerce and automation.  Both technology and the pandemic have transformed the skills required in an increasingly competitive and inter-disciplinary study and work environment. Based on WEF research, 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 to adapt to the latest technological advancements. It also indicates the top skills required by  2025  include analytical thinking and innovation, active learning and complex problem-solving. As reskilling and life-long learning become essential, our mindsets and attitudes need to be more flexible and adaptable, so as to collaborate with diverse people. Entrepreneurial spirit, resilience and learning from failures are indispensable attributes in problem-solving. To equip students with future skills, we need to bridge the gap between what students are learning and the practical skills required by employers. How can students better prepare themselves to meet the expectations in the workplace? What should students keep in mind when selecting their course of study at university and preparing for the future? Furthermore, how can parents guide and inspire their children?  This seminar will explore the tools necessary to be future-ready, and the paths towards finding one’s passions and interests.

Ronna Chao is CEO of Novel Investment Partners Limited, Chairperson of Novetex Textiles Limited, and a Director of NovelparkInvestments Limited. Her responsibilities in these various capacities cover investment and portfolio management, property redevelopment, and textile manufacturing.
Prior to joining the Novel Group, she began her career in New York first as a Mergers & Acquisitions financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, and then as an associate in the Licensing Department of the lifestyle and apparel company Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.
Ms. Chao is also CEO of Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI). Initially funded by the Chao family’s Bai Xian Education Foundation (BXEF), and with the support of five founding members, BXAI was established in 2014 to oversee the development and implementation of the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP). Today, BXAI supports up to 100 scholars each year to study away from their home country or region at one of its 6 partner universities.
Ms. Chao serves as CEO of Bai Xian Education Foundation (BXEF), Council Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, External Advisory Board of the Campus Asia Program at Waseda University, Special Counsellor of Our Hong Kong Foundation, Member of the Board of Directors of Mother’s Choice, Ordinary Member and Director of the Yeh Family Philanthropy Limited, Board Trustee of Asia Society Hong Kong Center, Advisory Board Member of GoImpact, and Advisory Council Member of the Washington Institute for Business, Government and Society. In addition, she was a Court Member of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 2010 to 2016. Ms. Chao is a Standing Committee Member of the 12th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Hong Kong CPPCC.
Ms. Chao has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Brown University, and earned her M.B.A. from Stanford University. She also spent a year as an undergraduate at Keio University in Tokyo.

Kai-ming Cheng is Emeritus Professor at the University of Hong Kong. He taught Physics and Mathematics at St Paul’s College 1979-1982, after he closed Elementi College, a school which he founded in deprived Shaukiwan. He then did his PhD at the London Institute of Education, now under UCL. He started his academic career with research in rural areas in China, India and Africa. He has been consultant for most major international agencies, working for various countries. He is active in the international arena of education, being member of global advisory boards. His current attention is on change in society and challenges to various aspects of education.

S.K. Fung was formerly the Managing Director at AC Nielsen Asia, the global market research and information company. His other positions include being the President of NBC Asia which launched the CNBC business news channel in Asia; General Manager at TVB, Hong Kong’s leading television broadcaster; and Vice President, Far East at Wyeth, a U.S. multinational in pharmaceuticals and consumer products. He has sat on the boards of companies listed in Hong Kong and the NYSE, was a member of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and Chairman of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia. S.K. has an MBA from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from the Sloan School of Management at MIT (moderator).

Co-Organizer

Got Questions? Ask them here in advance (beginning March 19) or during the program:   
https://app.sli.do/event/6H22wMBWnkcr7vTFywPrbF (code: # SPCWORKEDUCATION)

The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and participants and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, do not reflect the opinion, position or official policy of Asia Society Hong Kong, its members, or its committees. Asia Society Hong Kong does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for the content of the information presented.