What is your role as a governance professional?

‘I am a Hong Kong-qualified fund formation lawyer. I advise fund managers and sponsors on structuring, establishing and launching their funds with various investment strategies, and on their ongoing compliance matters. I also assist investors with their subscription in, and exit from, various funds. I have also been involved in government consultancy projects on fund-related laws and regulations that aim to strengthen Hong Kong as a funds hub and attract fund managers and their funds to domicile in Hong Kong.’

What was your career path to your current role?

‘I graduated with a law degree, passed my PCLL and completed my traineeship with an international law firm. Motivated by the mentors of The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries (the Institute) and my experience working with listed companies and financial institutions in IPOs, M&As, banking and funds transactions during my traineeship, I took the Institute’s qualifying exam and became a Chartered Secretary and a Chartered Governance Professional. I have since specialised in fund formation in my legal practice. The investing public, especially institutional and other sophisticated investors, look for a lot more in fund managers and sponsors than their track records in performance and compliance. Understanding governance enables me to address and solve clients’, and their investors’, issues from another perspective.’

What value does governance bring to organisations and to wider society?

‘Governance is the conscience of an organisation. While law sets the baseline standard of human behaviour in a civilised community that embodies rule of law, governance entails expectations from different stakeholders on how an organisation should be managed and operated. It is beyond the black letter law of what must and must not be done. The balance of meeting and managing stakeholder expectations, while upholding the conscience of organisations and the wider society, brings value.’

What qualities do you think are needed to be a successful governance professional?

‘Conscience, integrity and persistence. When balancing the different expectations of various stakeholders, there will inevitably be conflicts and challenges. There are principles and values which should not be forgotten, even under the most difficult circumstances. Conscience, integrity and persistence helps one stand up for the principles, values and practices that should be upheld.’

How do you think governance will evolve in the future?

‘‘The public will be more engaged with governance and the compliance environment will be more stringent. In addition to listed companies and the private sector, the government and NGOs will also be expected to have good governance. Emerging sectors, such as fintech and virtual assets-related industries will actively pursue and invest in good governance to build and reinforce the trust of the investing public in them.’

What inspires you in your life and work?

‘Passion and dedication to improve myself, excel in the work I do, bring joy to others and make our world a better place to live in.’

How do you fill your time outside work?

‘I cook for my family and friends, and design my own dresses and jewellery.’