|
Talent Development in Leadership Skills and Positive Values
|
Session Host
|
 |
Dr Maxwell Ho Chun Sing
Assistant Professor, Department of Education Policy and Leadership;
Associate Co-Director, Academy for Educational Development and Innovation,
The Education University of Hong Kong
Biography
Dr Ho is an experienced educator who has dedicated himself to promoting teacher entrepreneurialism, entrepreneurship education, and financial literacy throughout his career. He earned a Bachelor of Education (Business Studies) degree with first-class honours from the Education University of Hong Kong in 2008, following which he rose through the ranks quickly to become head of technology education (KLA) and administration group as a middle manager. His finance and entrepreneurial curriculum won him the Teacher award for business and financial education in 2016, a recognition from the HKABE, HKEdCity, EDB, and IFEC.
Dr Ho continues to contribute to the field of education since joining EdUHK. As a Research Fellow at the Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership and Change, he has performed leadership and educational practice research. In 2020, he was awarded the Emerald publishing award for his excellent doctoral research and is now invited to provide leadership training to primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. He has also been named President of the Hong Kong Association of Business Education, demonstrating his continued commitment to the growth of this sector. His teacher entrepreneurialism series has trained over 400 school leaders so far.
In 2021, Dr Ho received the Emerald Young Researcher Award for his exceptional contribution to education in Hong Kong, validating his continued research interests in teacher entrepreneurialism, entrepreneurship education, and financial literacy. His efforts were further acknowledged by the Michael Fullan Emerging Scholar award in 2023.
|
Session Title: Bridging Global Scholarship and Local Wisdom for Future Leadership Development
|
Speakers
|
 |
Professor Ho Lok Sang, BBS
Adjunct Professor, Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures;
Advisor, Academy for Educational Development and Innovation,
The Education University of Hong Kong
Biography
Professor Ho is an economist by training, with a doctorate in Economics from the University of Toronto. He had worked in the Ontario Government as an economist and at the now defunct Ontario Economic Council as a Research Officer. He returned to HK in 1983 and taught Economics at the Chinese University of HK for 12 years before joining Lingnan University as Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies. His research interests are all policy-related and spans a wide range of disciplines. His publications cover International Economics, Politics, Psychology, Housing Economics, Macroeconomics, and Health Economics, among others. He has authored more than 100 academic papers and several books in diverse areas.
Abstract
Title: What it takes to be a true good leader
A good leader is one who serves his role as leader really well. This means he must serve the best interest of the community that he leads. This "community" can be a company, a non-profit organization, a household, a community in the city in which one lives, the city in which he lives, or the country of which he is a citizen. A good leader must be ready to make hard decisions and must be able what is best for the "community" that he serves. To serve this role well. He needs to have the heart to serve his group (love); he needs to see the big picture and know the difference between ends and means(wisdom); he needs to unite the community that he serves(for a corporation, those who work for the corporation; for a country, the countrymen) and offer a vision that is desirable and attainable (Fortitude); and he must practice what he says (Engagement). He must be able to communicate effectively. If he has charisma, that adds to the above. A good leader is not only good at communication, but must also have a strong sense of mission and must be strong enough to stand by his values and vision. He must abide by ethical principles. Unethical leaders can never be good leaders. Good leaders must be willing to make personal sacrifices and in doing so show people the need to stand together in solidarity in face of difficulties. Thus the “community” has the resilience to go through difficulties and gain strength. By hard decisions is meant decisions that may not be popular yet are necessary in order to serve the best interests of the “community” of which he is the leader. Some leaders may know the tricks of pleasing the “community” momentarily and may be able to garner more support that a truly good leader in the short term. But such leaders are not good leaders at all, because by failing to confront difficulties and by appealing to popular demand for short term interests, they undermine the interests of the “community.”
|
 |
Ms Hsu Siu-man
Executive Director,
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Biography
Ms Hsu Siu-man is the Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) and a Hong Kong Representative to The All-China Women’s Federation.
She serves on several Boards of different Hong Kong SAR Government bureaux and Advisory Committees. She is well known for innovative programmes on media literacy, online mental health support and internet addiction counselling, and promoting emotional health awareness. She authored, “Filling the Gaps in Youth Health and Wellness” in Gaps and Actions and Health Improvement from Hong Kong and Beyond, 2023.
Ms Hsu holds a B.S.W from Hong Kong Baptist University and an M.Soc.Sc in Counselling from The City University of Hong Kong.
Abstract
The future of education is no longer confined to classrooms or curricula. It unfolds wherever young people engage, connect, and imagine new possibilities for themselves and their communities. In this evolving landscape, talent is not a fixed attribute but a dynamic process, continuously shaped through participation, belonging, and the shared act of creation. At the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, we see talent development not simply as the acquisition of skills, but as the cultivation of purpose and collective capability. Through experiences that encourage exploration, mentorship, and collaboration, young people learn to navigate complexity, lead with empathy, and transform ideas into meaningful action. These encounters, within schools, workplaces, and communities, help them build confidence, trust, and a readiness to contribute to a more innovative and resilient society. Equally important is the role those non-governmental organisations can play in connecting education, industry and the community. Positioned at this intersection, NGOs can offer flexible, responsive spaces that complement formal systems and open pathways for participation beyond traditional boundaries. By fostering partnerships and nurturing agency, we help ensure that every young person is both supported and empowered to shape their own future. If the future demands adaptability and imagination, then communities of engagement may be our most essential foundation, where learning becomes a shared endeavour and young people grow not only as individuals, but as collaborators in building a more inclusive and forward-looking Hong Kong.
|
 |
Dr Yvonne Seng
Assistant Dean;
Senior Lecturer, Singapore Centre for Character & Citizenship Education;
Senior Lecturer, Psychology and Child & Human Development Academic Department,
Nanyang Technological University National Institute of Education, Singapore
Biography
Dr Yvonne Seng is Assistant Dean for Student Development and Values Education at the Office of Teacher Education and Undergraduate Programmes, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She also teaches in Psychology and Child & Human Development and contributes to the Singapore Centre for Character and Citizenship Education. Her work focuses on pre-service teacher development, particularly the cultivation of teacher identity, leadership, positive values, and professional purpose. Her teaching and scholarship examine how teacher education can nurture reflective, resilient, and values-driven educators prepared to lead, serve, and thrive in a dynamic evolving world.
|
 |
Mr Ricky Wong Kwong-yiu, MH
Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Wheelock Properties Limited
Biography
Mr Wong graduated from University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1989 with a Master Degree in Business Administration and joined Wheelock and Company Limited in 1989. Mr Wong currently serves as the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Wheelock Properties Limited, overseeing the property development and related business of the Group in Hong Kong. Throughout the years, Mr Wong has been actively engaged in numerous public service roles over the years. In 2024, Mr Wong has been awarded the Medal of Honor for his outstanding and dedicated community service.
Abstract
Effective leadership skills involve a broad spectrum of essential skills, which include emotional intelligence, conflict management, adaptability, and cultivating trust through integrity. Strong leaders also empower others, foster innovation, and possess high learning agility to adapt to changing environments. For this panel discussion, we will discuss about what kind of skills and characteristics that enable leaders to move beyond mere management and focus on driving value creation mindset, inspiring innovation, building trust, and nurturing talents and future leaders. Having been a leader in a company for years, it is found that talent acquisition is important especially to acquire talents who are cultural fit to the company. However, it is also crucial to provide training for high-potential leaders and have a strategy for navigating talent retention effectively.
|
|
