Alumni in Conversation
Leading the way
in testing times

Resilient and resourceful, six remarkable CityU alumni in Hong Kong and overseas, demonstrate how they have proactively turned the coronavirus crisis into fresh capabilities for themselves and others.

Dr Bessie Chong
莊珮珊

PhD (Economics & Finance)
Director, Group Training & Talent Management, Esquel Group
哲學博士(經濟及金融)
溢達集團培訓及人才管理總監

Talent manager boosts digital transformation

Dr Bessie Chong is part of the senior management at Esquel Group, a global leader in the textile and clothing sector. Just two weeks after Covid-19 started to impact Hong Kong in January 2020, the group had used its expertise in cotton textiles to begin manufacturing reusable masks, helping to alleviate pressing demand and becoming the talk of the town.

Bessie’s job is to oversee talent training and development for the group, which has 35,000 employees in six countries and regions. She has been coordinating with and enhancing the group's digital transformation for the past six years.

She has assisted the implementation of Esquel's programming campaign that teaches employees to use simple coding to write mobile apps and helps them improve their critical thinking skills. Coronavirus-related travel restrictions have also led some senior marketing colleagues to become YouTubers, enabling them to successfully promote the company.

Bessie has been pleased to see Esquel take the initiative in using digital technology, as this has improved the group's operational efficiency.

She explained that undertaking a PhD at CityU had enabled her to take a macro view of industry prospects in her area of expertise as a leader. At the same time, her studies equipped her with the knowledge and skills needed in the human resources market, allowing her to nurture talents and assign people to roles suited to their abilities and values, as well as develop the necessary training.

Employees learn simple coding techniques to write mobile apps, as Dr Bessie Chong believes lifelong learning is important for staff development.
在「溢起編程」計劃下,員工學會掌握利用簡單編碼,編寫手機應用程式的數碼技能。

By actively looking for new opportunities and utilising technology, we can find sustainable solutions to get us through this crisis. At the same time, you always need to remind yourself of your personal abilities and values, and keep moving forward.

現代人才管理   帶領數碼轉型

莊珮珊在全球領先的紡織及製衣企業溢達集團任職培訓及人才管理總監。去年疫情爆發初期,集團在短短兩星期將自家研發的生產棉紡織品專長,轉移至製造重用口罩以解社會燃眉之急,成為城中佳話。

莊珮珊一直肩負重任,為這間在六個國家合共聘用約35,000名員工的大型集團,構思適切的人才培訓及發展方向,早於約六年前已配合集團的數碼轉型方針,協助推展「溢起編程」計劃,學習利用簡單編碼編寫手機應用程式,協助員工提高思考能力解決問題。有資深營銷同事更在旅遊限制下,化身YouTuber拍攝和剪輯短片,成功為公司對外推廣,莊珮珊喜見團隊樂意主動運用數碼科技,協助提升集團的生產效率。

莊珮珊坦言,在城大攻讀哲學博士(經濟及金融)的學習經歷,讓她作為培訓及人才管理的領袖,能更宏觀地審視行業前景,同時了解人力資源市場需要的知識和技能,從而安排適切的配對及培訓

Dr Bessie Chong often hosts training courses, enabling her to communicate directly with employees.
莊珮珊除了為公司構思人才培訓及發展方向之外,亦經常親自主持培訓班,與員工直接交流。

我們可嘗試以正面樂觀的態度,面對疫情為生活上帶來的轉變及挑戰,積極尋找新的機會,利用科技找出能夠超越危機的可持續方案。同時需要時刻提醒自己,了解個人的能力及價值,並向前邁進。

Elsa Kwok
郭詠琴

EMBA
Associate Wealth Management Director, AIA Company Limited
Japan Pastel Hope Art Association (JPHAA) Certified Instructor
行政人員工商管理碩士
友邦保險(國際)財富管理副總監
日本和諧粉彩高級正指導師

Fostering harmony with pastels and hope

Ms Elsa Kwok has enjoyed a successful career in media and public relations for more than 20 years. She previously worked in the news department of two major local TV stations, with the news programmes she anchored winning top ratings. After leaving television, she set up her own consultancy, providing event planning, video production, corporate training, and other services.

In 2018, Elsa graduated from CityU’s Executive Master of Business programme (EMBA), going on to join the CityU EMBA Association Executive Committee, where she served as Chief Secretary. She is currently at AIA Company Limited, where she assists clients with asset allocation.

Cheerful and optimistic by nature, Elsa is always ready to meet a challenge. With the pandemic causing many promotional events to be cancelled or postponed, Elsa has made the most of the additional time to become a Japan Pastel Hope Art Association (JPHAA) Certified Instructor. This unique method of painting is a form of artistic healing through colour and art, which she hopes can help students regain a sense of harmony and joy.

While graduates may feel confused and concerned about their prospects in light of constant social and environmental changes, Elsa's message to today's generation is to seize every opportunity to better equip themselves to handle the future. Such opportunities include reading widely or studying online courses. She also suggests trying different types of work when young to build up life experience and deepen personal development.

Elsa Kwok used the additional time created by the pandemic to train as a JPHAA Certified Instructor.
郭詠琴把握疫情期間的空檔,考取了日本和諧粉彩高級正指導師資格。

Always be brave when you face changes or adversity at different stages of life, and accumulate diverse experience so you can continue to grow.

指尖輕抹粉彩   心境豁然和諧

郭詠琴曾在本地兩大電視台新聞部任職,擔任主持的新聞節目更獲得最高收視率,迄今已在媒體及公關行業工作超過20年。早年離任電視台後,她自立門戶開設顧問公司,提供活動籌辦、影片製作、企業培訓等服務,並於2018年修畢城大行政人員工商管理碩士課程,之後更加入城大EMBA同學會理事會擔任秘書長,現職友邦保險(國際)財富管理副總監,協助客戶進行資產配置。

郭詠琴個性開朗樂觀,無論身處順逆境一樣敢於接受挑戰。疫情持續令不少公關活動被迫取消或延期,郭詠琴趁此空檔,考取了日本和諧粉彩高級正指導師的資格。她解釋這種簡單而獨特的繪畫方式具有藝術療癒的作用,期望能以藝術及繽紛色調,讓學員重拾心靈和諧及喜悅

畢業生面對瞬息萬變的社會環境,或會對前景感到迷茫擔慮。郭詠琴寄語師弟妹要把握每個裝備自己的機遇,例如涉獵更廣闊的閱讀題材,或選取感興趣的網課進修,求職時亦不妨趁年輕嘗試不同工作類型,累積人生歷練再蛻變成長

Elsa Kwok served as a part-time lecturer at CityU and also served as an associate columnist for the Hong Kong Economic Journal.
郭詠琴公餘在香港城市大學兼任講師,亦是《信報》副刊專欄作家。

以勇氣迎接轉變,豁然面對人生
的順境或逆境,累積歷練蛻變成長。

Dr Anna Lau
劉沛兒

BEng (Hons) Electronic and Communication Engineering
PhD and MPhil (Electronic Engineering)
Chief Executive Officer, Laxcen Technology Limited
電子及通訊工程學榮譽工學士
電子工程哲學博士及碩士
立芯科技首席執行官

Applying RFID to fight the pandemic

Dr Anna Lau graduated from the Department of Electronic Engineering in 2005. Five years later, she had completed her master's and doctorate, focusing her research on antenna systems. During her studies, she applied for a number of patents, including RFID applications for library systems.

Anna now works in Singapore for Laxcen Technology Limited, an electronics company headquartered in mainland. Its main business is the design and production of RFID tags and AI equipment. In the past, she often needed to travel for work, but once the pandemic began, she quickly adapted to the new normal of online meetings and remote working, as she also leads a Shenzhen-based team in antenna design research.

In the early days of Covid-19, domestic and international orders dropped significantly, according to Anna. More recently, the production line has faced a shortage of chips and other raw materials. To create new opportunities, she has encouraged her team to adopt innovative thinking.

This has seen the team adapt RFID technology-based robots to serve as touch-free, automatic disinfection equipment, with the robots later purchased by the Singapore authorities. Further initiatives have helped libraries and hospitals improve their smart bookshelf and medicine shelf capacity, respectively, enhancing disease prevention and control.

Thus, despite the difficulties, the pandemic has prompted many businesses, government departments and organisations to accelerate the introduction of fully automated equipment, Anna believes. This, in turn, is spurring smart city development.

Dr Anna Lau (second left) regularly represents her company at international conferences, and serves as AIM Asia chairperson.
劉沛兒(左二)代表公司及以亞洲自動識別與移動技術協會主席的身份,前往世界各地出席國際會議。

Let’s meet the challenge of the pandemic with positive energy. Let's embrace the flexible, hard-working, and stick-to-it attitude of Hongkongers. Let’s look at ever-changing social trends with a clear mind and eyes so that we can adjust and adapt to the diverse challenges in our environment.

天線研究新應用   引入RFID助抗疫

劉沛兒在2005年畢業於城大電子工程系,五年後在母校相繼完成了碩士及博士課程,專注研究天線系統。在學期間已申領了多項專利權,當中包括研究射頻識別技術(RFID)應用於圖書館的借書系統中。現時在新加坡工作,職責包括代表公司出席國際會議,同時帶領以深圳為基地的團隊鑽研天線設計。

劉沛兒所屬的公司從事電子行業,總部設於內地,主要業務包括設計和生產RFID標籤及人工智能設備。以往她經常需要出差工作,至於疫情期間則跟大部分上班族一樣,改為網上會議及遙距辦公,迅速適應疫下工作新常態。

過去一年疫情持續,劉沛兒面對的挑戰亦接踵而來。她解釋,疫情初期海內外訂單曾一度大幅減少,近期生產線更面對芯片及其他電子原材料短缺問題。為了在危機中開拓機遇,她積極帶領團隊運用創新思維,例如將採用RFID技術的機械人改造成免觸式自動消毒設備,最終獲得新加坡相關部門採購;同時為當地圖書館及醫院提升將智能書櫃和藥架的功能作出提升,加強衛生防控效果顯著。她認為,今次疫情促使不少傳統企業、以至政府部門及機構團體等,均加快引入全自動化設備,從而配合日常營運及恆常抗疫的各種需要,朝著智慧城市的方向發展

就讓我們一起以正能量迎接疫情挑戰,發揮香港人靈活變通、刻苦耐勞的獅子山精神,用一顆清澈的心和一雙明亮眼睛,感受和察看瞬息萬變的社會趨勢,從而調節自己,適應周遭環境中的各種考驗。

Grace Lau
劉慕裳

BSc (Hons) Creative Media
Full-time Athlete/Hong Kong Karatedo Team Member
創意媒體榮譽理學士
全職運動員及香港空手道代表

Strengthened and ready for the Olympics

Ms Grace Lau began learning karate, boxing, and taekwondo at the age of 11. After being selected for the Hong Kong team, she was admitted to the School of Creative Media through CityU's Student Athletes Admission Scheme and awarded a Dr Herman Hu Outstanding Sports Talents Scholarship.

At CityU, close support from Student Development Services helped Grace balance studying with her training and competition schedule. Meanwhile, under her leadership, the CityU women's karate team went on to break the monopoly that other universities had long held in intermural competitions.

In August 2018, the young athlete made her debut at the Asian Games. She won a bronze medal in the women's individual kata karate, becoming the first to gain a medal in the event in Hong Kong history. In November that year, she also won a bronze at the World Karate Championships, marking another first for Hong Kong. Since then, she has gone on to win many international competitions.

After the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed a year due to the pandemic, Grace decided to spend nine months’ training in the United States to improve her skills. Since returning to Hong Kong, she has been living behind “closed doors” at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, with her daily training routine – indeed whole life – carried out there. Even family and friends can only meet her through video conferencing!

Despite the difficulties, Grace feels this been a valuable learning period, from which she and her karate have significantly benefited.

Training is key to be in peak condition for the Tokyo Olympics.
劉慕裳現正積極備戰東京奧運,期望以最佳狀態出賽。

While it is yet to be seen if I will be successful in the Olympics, I have adjusted my mentality. I train with a calm mind each day, and feel ready to face sudden changes with resilience.

「封閉式訓練」迎京奧   鬥心無懼變數

劉慕裳11歲便開始學習空手道、搏擊和套拳,其後入選香港隊,更透過城大「學生運動員計劃」,獲取「胡曉明先生優秀運動專才獎學金」入讀創意媒體學院的理學士課程。2018年8月,劉慕裳首度出戰亞運會,勇奪女子空手道套拳賽銅牌,成為香港首位空手道個人型(套路)獎牌得主;同年11月更在世界空手道錦標賽中首奪銅牌,創下港隊歷來最佳成績,其後她亦屢次在國際賽事中獲勝,為港爭光。

於城大修讀期間,城大學生發展處為了讓她能在學業和頻繁的練習與比賽之間取得平衡,經常與她保持緊密聯繫,關切她的成績及學習進度。她亦曾率領城大女子空手道代表隊,在大專空手道賽事取得「零的突破」,打破其他大學多年在學界比賽奪標的「壟斷」局面。

經年累月的高強度集訓及比賽經驗,塑造出運動員克服逆境的特有韌性,即使眼前面對嚴峻挑戰,仍然從容不迫、了然自若。因應原定去年舉辦的東京奧運延期舉行,劉慕裳改為在美國接受為期九個月的訓練,把握這段不用頻繁出賽的時機調整技術。回港後她更在香港體育學院展開「封閉式訓練」,日常操練和起居作息都留在院內,就算跟家人和親友也只透過視像見面,雖然難免感覺艱苦,但同時讓她更專注於訓練過程,自覺實力顯著提升

「儘管現時仍未能確定能否順利參加今年的東京奧運,但我早已調整心態,每天以平常心繼續裝備自己,就算遇上甚麼突如其來的轉變,也能以充足韌性從容應付。」

Frederick Poon
潘紹慈

BA (Hons) and MA Teaching English as a Second Language
Principal, St. Paul's Co-educational College
英語教學文學士及文學碩士
聖保羅男女中學校長

Lessons in embracing the new normal

Mr Frederick Poon, who became head of St. Paul's Co-educational College in 2017, will never forget announcing the suspension of face-to-face instruction in early 2020 in response to the pandemic. Frederick then sought to start real-time online classes as quickly as possible, rapidly adapting the school's “bring your own computer” programme to enable teachers and students to collaborate virtually. This meant both could keep to the pre-Covid-19 class schedule, minimising the impact of the school’s physical closure on teaching and learning.

In his role as school leader, Frederick also decided to hold the annual fundraising walk, graduation ceremony, and anniversary celebration as live or pre-recorded events. The flexible and positive approach helped boost teachers’ and students’ morale and deepen the sense of belonging to the school, enabling the century-old institution to embrace the new normal.

Frederick has wanted to teach since he was a child. His excellence in English enabled him to pursue an undergraduate degree at CityU, and a year after graduating, he obtained his Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in preparation for a teaching career. The following year, he decided to return to CityU to undertake an MA.

Since then, Frederick has been able to pursue and achieve his lifelong goal of working in education and nurturing future leaders of society, making him highly appreciative of his foundational CityU training and experiences.

As head of the school, Frederick Poon had to rapidly adapt to the suspension of in-person classes while boosting the morale of teachers and students.
身為一校之首,潘紹慈以迅速反應帶領師生迎接疫下教學新常態。

Despite Covid-19, St. Paul’s 2020 graduates maintained their diligence and enthusiasm, and achieved strong public examination results. CityU has also faced challenges from the pandemic, and I hope alumni will work together with their alma mater to tackle all future challenges with solidarity and positivity.

停課不停學 學習進度無阻

潘紹慈自2017年起獲邀擔任聖保羅男女中學校長,回顧去年初本地中小學相繼宣佈暫停面授課堂,為了應對有可能急轉直下的疫情發展,他旋即率領教職員團隊採取行動,在極短時間內啟動實時網上教學,並配合校內的「自攜電腦」 上課計劃,讓師生透過虛擬通訊協作,按照原有上課時間表安排線上授課,將關閉校園對教學進度的影響減至最小。此外,身為學校的掌舵人,他更決定將年度步行籌款、畢業典禮、週年慶典等校內盛事轉為現場直播或預錄播放,提振教職員士氣和增強師生歸屬感效果顯著,最終成功帶領這間知名百年的學府轉危為機,迎接疫情下的教學新常態

潘紹慈自小立志投身教職,大學選科時憑著英文科的優異表現,順利獲得城大取錄,修讀英語教學文學士。畢業翌年先取得教育文憑資格,其後一年為了進一步裝備自我,決定再次重返城大,修讀英語教學文學碩士。直到現在,他仍十分感謝城大當年的悉心栽培,讓他在畢業後能追逐理想,全心全意在教育界服務,多年來以無私的精神為培育未來社會棟樑作出貢獻

「儘管學習受到疫情干擾,去年聖保羅的應屆畢業生仍能保持勤奮和熱情,在公開考試中取得佳績。我相信擁有同樣核心價值的城大,在疫情危機中面對的挑戰亦絕對不輕,寄望師弟妹也能迎難而上,戰勝逆境,與母校同心同行,一起克服未來的考驗。」

Dr Kenneth Tong
湯建輝

BEng (Hons) and PhD (Electronic Engineering)
Associate Professor,
University College London
電子工程學榮譽工學士及哲學博士
英國倫敦大學學院副教授

Antenna expert tunes in to challenge of Covid-19

Dr Kenneth Tong, who has worked in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at University College London (UCL) since 2005, sees the testing times of Covid-19 as a valuable learning experience.

Kenneth is an eminent researcher and lecturer, undertaking leading antenna, microwave, and millimetre-wave technology research. When UK universities suspended in-person classes in 2020, he had to rapidly create new materials for teaching online. Thankfully, his students quickly adapted to the new mode.

He also hurriedly relocated certain equipment to his home before the campus was closed. In this way, he could continue to do basic lab work. To his relief, this meant his research did not have to completely shut down.

Kenneth has loved making electronic gadgets from childhood, and chose to join then young CityU as the University was energetic and dynamic. His doctoral thesis involved the application of broadband microstrip antennas in wireless communications, going on to be published in international academic journals and to have a significant impact on global mobile communications.

After graduation, Kenneth joined CityU’s Department of Electrical Engineering, and was a member of the team, led by Professor Luk Kwai-man and Professor Chan Chi-hou, that successfully developed low-cost broadband base antennas for 2G and 3G mobile communication systems.

He then moved to the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Japan, serving as an expert researcher in photonic information technology and millimetre-wave technology, before securing his post at UCL. At UCL, he has continued to broaden and deepen his teaching and research horizons, including extending his antenna research to medical applications.

Wireless sensor network technology can monitor outdoor environments, including issues such as environmental pollution.
無線感應器網絡技術能應用於戶外環境,負責環境污染監測。

The on-going pandemic has been a challenge, but it has also strengthened people’s resilience amidst adversity.

天線專家英國執教鞭   迎教學新常態

湯建輝2005年加入倫敦大學學院電子電機工程學系,並一直在該校執教及從事全球頂尖的天線技術研究。回想去年3至9月,英國的大學因應疫情停課,他為了配合校方採取的線上教學安排,用了不少時間製作新教材,慶幸見到學生都能因此迅速適應新的學習模式。研究工作方面,湯建輝早於校園暫停開放之前,已趕忙將部分儀器搬到家中,繼續一些基本的實驗室測量,並笑言研究工作總算未至於完全「停擺」!

湯建輝自小熱愛親手製作電子機械玩意,大學選科時選擇了相對年輕的城大,覺得這間創新的研究型大學予人一份充滿朝氣的活力和拼勁。當年他的博士畢業論文是研究寬頻微帶天線在無線通訊之中的應用,更獲得國際學術期刊刊登,這項極具前瞻性的研究為日後全球的流動通訊發展帶來了重要影響。

畢業後,湯建輝加入由城大兩位電磁學及天線專家陸貴文教授、陳志豪教授帶領的團隊,擔任電子工程系的研究員,成功研發適用於2G及3G流動通訊系統裝設的低成本寬頻帶基站天線。隨後他遠赴日本,加入專門研發高端資訊技術領域的機構(NiCT),在光子信息技術小組及毫米波設備小組中擔任專家研究員,躋身國際級頂尖天線研究學者之列。

Dr Kenneth Tong tests the receiving range of his wireless sensor in London.
湯建輝在倫敦亞歷山德拉宮附近測試他所設計的無線感應器接收距離。

「持續的疫情為我們帶來磨練,但同時也增強了我們應對逆境的韌性,隨著疫苗成功研發,我對在短期內回復正常生活充滿希望。」


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