It is my great honor to be the President of the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) HKUST Chapter. BGS presents a symbol of high principles and superior achievement. I am delighted that since its inception in 2000, the BGS HKUST Chapter has steadily grown into a network of over 2,000 high achievers that unites top students, graduates, faculty and distinguished leaders of the community.

Each year we welcome a new group of elite students, faculty, professionals and business leaders to connect with this “Best in Business” network. This year I am pleased to welcome 118 newly inducted members to join this prestigious society that recognizes academic excellence and provides opportunities for interaction with a wider community.

As a new member, you are encouraged to not only take full advantage of the BGS global network, but actively participate in activities arranged by our local chapter. For instance, you will be invited to our BizInsight Presentation Series Seminars, where our faculty and/ or industry practitioners will share insights on topical issues. These talks allow students and other participants to see for themselves how the School, through its cutting-edge research, forges closer business-academia ties and inspires business executives.

My warmest congratulations again to our newly inducted honorees and members of the Beta Gamma Sigma HKUST Chapter. We will continue to extend the reach and network of our local BGS Chapter and foster exchanges among its members and with the business community.

Ms Anita Fung is an independent non-executive director of Hong Kong Exchange & Clearing Limited (HKEX), with other positions held with HKEX included chairman of Project Oversight Committee, deputy chairman of Derivatives Market Consultative Panel, member of Audit Committee, Investment Advisory Committee and Nomination Committee. She is also a member of Disciplinary Appeals Committee of the Hong Kong Futures Exchange Limited, an independent non-executive director of China Construction Bank Corporation and Hang Lung Properties Limited.

Ms Fung has over 30 years of experience in the banking sector. She is the first woman CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in Hong Kong. Prior to this role, she was the treasurer and head of global banking and markets for Asia Pacific of HSBC and group general manager of HSBC Holdings plc. She was also appointed as non-executive director of Hang Seng Bank Limited and Bank of Communications Co Ltd.

Ms Fung has played an active role in public service. She is an independent non-executive board member of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, a non-official member of The Hong Kong Housing Authority, a member of Financial Infrastructure Sub-Committee of the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, a member of Museum Advisory Committee, a director of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited and board member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. Ms Fung holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from The University of Hong Kong and a Master of Science degree in Applied Finance from Macquarie University in Australia.

Professor Albert Ip is an international banking executive and real estate professional with 33 years of experience at Citigroup, First National Bank of Chicago, Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong, Asia and the United States. Mr Ip was named Senior Credit Officer/Real Estate Specialist of Citicorp in 1990 and Managing Director of Citigroup in 2003. He held senior positions at Citigroup such as North Asia Real Estate Head, Hong Kong Corporate Bank Head, Head of Transaction Banking — Hong Kong and Head of Asia Regional Investment Finance of Global Wealth Management. He was a Managing Director of Investments at Merrill Lynch (Asia Pacific).

Mr Ip is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of LHIL Manager Limited which is the trustee-manager of Langham Hospitality Investments, and Langham Hospitality Investments Limited, and a Non-executive Director of Eagle Asset Management (CP) Limited, as manager of Champion Real Estate Investment Trust. He is also an Independent Non-executive Director of Hopewell Highway Infrastructure, Hopewell Holdings, TOM Group Limited, Power Assets Holdings Limited and Lifestyle International Holdings Limited. He was previously Independent Non-executive Director of New World China Land and Aeon Credit Services (Asia).

With a passion in higher education, Mr Ip is an Honorary Professor at Lingnan University and an Adjunct Professor of City University of Hong Kong, Hang Seng Management College, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and University of Macau. He is a Council Member of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a member of the International Advisory Committee at University of Macau, an Executive Fellow in Asia at Washington University in St. Louis, a Research Fellow of the Institute for Financial Economics at Singapore Management University, a Board of Governor at Technological and Higher Education Institute and an Academic Advisor of the Chu Hai College of Higher Education. He is Vice Chairman of the World Green Organization, a member of the Committee on Certification for Principalship of the Education Bureau of HKSAR and a Beta Gamma Sigma Honouree at City University of Hong Kong.

Mr Ip holds a Bachelor of Science degree at Washington University in St. Louis (summa cum laude) and Master of Science degrees at Cornell University and Carnegie-Mellon University. He is an Honorary Fellow of Vocational Training Council and an Alumni Hall of Fame at Washington University in St. Louis. Mr Ip was Council Member of Cornell University and MBA Lecturer at University of Pittsburgh, USA.