The forum commenced with a welcoming address by Prof. Nancy Y. Ip, President of HKUST, who expressed her appreciation to the attendees and highlighted HKUST’s dedication to advancing research and education. She emphasized that the forum serves as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, exploration of development trends, sharing experiences, and fostering innovative thinking for the sustainable growth of family businesses and family offices in Hong Kong and beyond.

HKUST Foundation Board members Mr Anthony Cheong and Mrs Helen Kan, who played key roles in organizing the event, stated that this forum marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue. They expressed their eagerness to create more opportunities for idea exchange with the attendees in the future.

During the forum, Prof. Roger King, Senior Advisor and Founding Director of the HKUST Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office, delivered a keynote speech titled “From Family Business to Business Family to Family Office,” delving into the transition from family businesses to family offices, with a focus on wealth preservation, family harmony, and legacy. He highlighted the challenges of shorter business life cycles and the importance of professional management, proposing family offices as the “glue” to maintain family values and unity, especially for high-net-worth Chinese families.

The panel discussion that followed, moderated by Prof. Winnie Peng, Director of the HKUST Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office, centered on “Embracing Values and Social Impact of Family Businesses and Family Offices.” It featured insights from Ms Kam-shim Lau, Executive Director of Lifestyle International Holdings Limited; Ms Joy Lo, Chairperson of the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation Donation Committee; and Mr Samuel Wu, Co-founder of Chartwell Family Partners and Co-founding Executive Director of Malvern College Hong Kong.

The forum concluded with remarks from Prof. Kai-Lung Hui, Acting Dean of Business and Management, who emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in family offices and businesses. He announced that HKUST Business School will launch Asia's first MSc in Family Office and Family Business in 2025/26 to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in this field.