Changes at the Board of Directors for a strategic future

Today (22 August 2017), Support! International Foundation, registered as Support International Foundation Limited, announces the appointment of Mrs Abigail DeLessio, Mrs Anna Lo, Ms Bonnie Ngan, Mr Gary Liu and Ir Wai Chi-Sing, GBS JP, to the Board of Directors. Biographies of the new Directors can be found below.

With each of these individuals representing a different industry, within which they have had a rich and successful career, the Foundation is better placed to fulfil its strategic priorities and objectives in the medium to long term. They are appointed to 5-year terms, with the option of renewal for another term after the current expires.

Founder Joseph Wan highlighted his delight for the new additions to the Board, “Each of these individuals collectively embody a spirit of collaboration that is foundational to our organisation.” Chairman of the Board of Directors Ming-Wai Lau, GBS JP, commented, “Abbi, Anna, Bonnie, Gary and C S bring to the Foundation significant experience in the areas of human resources, fundraising, public service and innovation.” He continued, “Jacquline and I are confident in their ability to contribute to our continued growth.”

They will join Chairman Ming Wai Lau, GBS JP and Ms Jacqueline Lam, who have both served as Directors since the Foundation’s registration (9 May 2017) and advisor since early 2016.

At the same time, the Foundation announces the retirement of Dr Ted Faunce from the Board of Directors, as he plans to reside in Europe. The Board wishes to extend its sincere gratitude for Dr Faunce’s sound oversight and active participation in the establishment of the Foundation.


**************************************************************************

Abigail DeLessio

Mrs Abigail DeLessio is currently the Senior Consultant APAC at Triangle Associates, an education consulting firm that specialises in teacher and administrator hiring, fundraising and development, and governance and strategy. She has previously been the Director of Development at Watchdog Early Childhood Centre, leading its fundraising and communications operation. Mrs DeLessio is also an experienced non-executive director. She has been the Chair, Vice Chair, Advancement Committee Chair, and Member of the Board of Managers of Hong Kong International School. Currently, she serves as Education Committee Vice Chair at the American Chamber of Commerce, Nominating Committee Member at The American Club of Hong Kong, and Director of the Asian University for Women (Hong Kong) Support Foundation.


Anna Lo

Mrs Anna Lo is a retired highly-experienced human resources professional. Before her retirement from full-time work in 2013, Mrs Lo was the Director of Human Resources at The University of Hong Kong. In this role she was tasked with setting up the entire human resources infrastructure at HKU. She has also previously been the Head of Human Resources and Administration at Airport Authority Hong Kong, and Head of Human Resources at The Hong Kong Jockey Club. Through her various chief human resources officer roles, Mrs Lo possesses vast knowledge of and experience in succession planning, talent development and relations, human resources administration, and reward operations. Her non-executive roles include Director and Chair of the Finance and Human Resources Committee at the Society for the Aged. Mrs Lo has also been an Honorary Careers Advisor at HKU.


Bonnie Ngan

Ms Bonnie Ngan is currently the General Manager, Corporate Communications Department at Henderson Land Development Company Limited. In this capacity, she oversees the group’s public engagement, media relations, branding and communications, community relations and corporate social responsibility functions. Ms Ngan has previously held other senior roles in the media and communications industry including General Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Hong Kong Tourism Board. Her non-executive roles include memberships of the Management Committees of the HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College and HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School. Ms Ngan is also a Standing Committee Member of the Hong Kong Pei Hua Foundation.


Gary Liu

Mr Gary Liu is the Chief Executive Officer of South China Morning Post, tasked with leading the newspaper’s digital and technological transformation. Before being appointed to this position, Mr Liu was the Chief Executive Officer of Digg, a New York-based content and news aggregator, where he was responsible for tripling revenue and significantly increasing traffic. He has also been the Head of Labs, and Global Director, Ad Product Strategy, at Spotify; and Director, Sales Operations and Strategy (Local) at AOL. Mr Liu has also worked at Google. His non-executive positions include Advisory Committee Member of the Student of the Year Awards and Advisor to startup Roger. Mr Liu holds a BA in Economics from Harvard University.


Wai Chi-Sing, GBS JP

Ir Wai Chi-Sing is presently the Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the semi-private body responsible for overseeing the gentrification of the city’s neighbourhoods. Before being appointed to URA, Ir Wai has had a distinguished record of service in the government civil service. Over the course of his more than 30 years with the government, Ir Wai has risen to various senior offices, including Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Director of Highways, and Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works. In addition, he is an Advisor to Our Hong Kong Foundation and Honorary Professor of Civil Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His previous other roles have included Non-Executive Director at MTR Corporation, Non-Executive Director of Ocean Park Corporation, and Member of the Hong Kong Housing Society and Construction Industry Council.

**************************************************************************