CityU CHEM Alumni Gathering 2025

 The CHEM Alumni Gathering 2025 was held tonight at the Faculty Lounge (27^th Jun 2025). My wife and I joined the event. I arrived early and took a picture at the main entrance; it was time for graduation ceremony.

I met my HD classmate Prof. Kenneth LEUNG and took a photo for memory. He taught in HKU for many years and come back to CityU as Chair Professor in the department of Chemistry (CHEM).

I met Prof. Vincent KO and Prof. ZHU Guangyu (Head of CHEM). I also met my two junior classmates who had attended my Laboratory Accreditation course (cooperated with HKSQ) long time ago. Dr. Ron NG (Co-Founder, Director, CEO, NerOcean) and Dr. Larry Lo (Senior Engineer, Ka Shui Group). Dr. Larry Lo’s previous boss Benson is our common friends in CMA Testing.

In the beginning, Prof. Andy SIU gave welcome speech.

So many young alumni joined the gathering!

Then Prof. ZHU Guangyu (Head of CHEM) gave a key notes and introduced some achievement in CHEM.

After that we took a group photo.

Minda and I took a photo with Prof. Any SIU, Prof. Kenneth LEUNG and Dr. Jinping Cheng (Assistant Professor, Dept of Science & Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong). 

I met Ms. Fay Lo again and she served as HSSE & Sustainability Manager (IP&E GBA Ltd). I also met Mr. Tony Chung (Environmental Manager, Chevalier (Construction) Co. Ltd.) who joined HKSQ activities before.

Our alumni gathering and dinner were very enjoyable. When I left, I took a photo with CityU decorations.

Remark: I completed my HD (Applied Science), BSc (AP) and MPhil (BCH) in 1992, 1994 and 1997, respectively. I would like to give a brief history of the BCHem. The Department of Applied Science was established in 1987 with four science disciplines namely Applied Biology, Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics and Materials Science. Then the Department of Applied Science (AP) was separated into Department of Biology and Chemistry (BCH) and Department of Physics and Materials Science (AP) in 1993. City Polytechnic of Hong Kong (CPHK) had upgraded to City University of Hong Kong (CityU) in 1994. After that BCH Dept. changed name to Department of Chemistry (CHEM) in 2017 and Department of Physics and Materials Science had already separated into Physics Dept. (PHY), and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Dept.

Reference:

Department of Chemistry, CityU - http://www.cityu.edu.hk/chem/

BCH related events

20241128: Meeting Prof. Peter Tanner in PolyU - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/11/meeting-prof-peter-tanner-in-polyu.html

20230801: CDM Team Dinner and Meet BCH cohorts - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2023/08/cdm-team-dinner-and-meet-bch-cohorts.html

20230420: CityU BCH 30th Anniversary Dinner - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2023/04/cityu-bch-30th-anniversary-dinner.html

20181010: Meeting with BCH Junior Classmate in Science Park - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/10/meeting-with-bch-junior-classmate-in.html

20180308: The 1st CityU Innopreneurship meeting with HANDS 2018 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-1st-cityu-innopreneurship-meeting.html

20180127: Lunch with City Polytechnic of Hong Kong Cohorts - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/01/lunch-with-city-polytechnic-of-hong.html

20170808: CityU BCH Research Cohort visit Science Park Laboratories - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2017/08/cityu-bch-research-cohort-visit-science.html

20170705: HKSTP TecONE Investment Series Seminar and Visit IncuBio “HANDS” - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2017/07/hkstp-tecone-investment-series-seminar.html

20160201: HKSQ Seminar on Quality Water Supply from Source to Home - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/02/hksq-seminar-on-quality-water-supply.html

20141212: CityU BCH Christmas Party 2014 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2014/12/cityu-bch-christmas-party-2014.html

20130317: CityU BCH Graduate Mentoring Scheme - Career Talk 2013 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2013/03/cityu-bch-graduate-mentoring-scheme.html

20121020: CUBIC Life Science Group Tea Gathering - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2012/10/cubic-life-science-group-tea-gathering.html

20110323: Visit BCH Laboratories in City University of Hong Kong - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2011/03/visit-bch-laboratories-in-city.html

20091229: Certificate Course on “Quality Management for Laboratory” supported by HKSQ - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2009/12/certificate-course-on-quality.html

AP related events:

20160411: CityU APS Career Talk 2016 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/04/cityu-aps-career-talk-2016.html

20141123: CityU AP 25th Anniversary Homecoming - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2014/11/cityu-ap-25th-anniversary-homecoming.html

Related to BCH Supervisors:

20191214: Remember My Teacher Dr. CN Ng (Associate Professor, Dept. of Geography, HKU; Lecturer, City Polytechnic of Hong Kong) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/12/remember-my-teacher-dr-cn-ng-associate.html

20190127: Lunch with Dr. Ronald Sequeira and Mrs. Sequeira - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/01/lunch-with-dr-ronald-sequeira-and-mrs.html

20150111: ASQ InfVoices – Quality Inspiration from My First Research Supervisor - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2015/01/asq-infvoices-quality-inspiration-from.html

20140509: Dinner with Dr. Ronald Sequeira and Dr. Cathy Lee - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2014/05/dinner-with-dr-ronald-sequeira-and-dr.html

20101030: Lunch with Dr. Ronald Sequeira - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2010/10/lunch-with-dr-ronald-sequeira.html

ESG Webinar – Future-Proof Your Career: Strategies to Stay Irreplaceable in the Age of AI

The Executive Study Group (ESG) webinar named “Future-Proof Your Career: Strategies to Stay Irreplaceable in the Age of AI” was held by Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (APIFS) on 25^th Jun 2025.  There are two parts. The 1^st part discussed AI’s Impact on the companies your career depends on and the 2^nd part mentioned AI’s impact on managers beyond front-line staff.

Firstly, Dr. Mark Lee discussed that it is an Era of Abundant Expertise. In the past, knowledge is expensive and domain-specific. But now, it can be obtained instantly, customizable and scalable that challenged us to reshaping our business.

Then he surveyed us about career interruption by AI and most of participant voted AI would affect all levels in the organization. The second and third were voted middle management and entry-level roles, respectively.

Dr. Lee also quoted Prof. Richard P. Rumelt (UCLA) that “A business is a system of capabilities – specialized knowledge, processes, and skills (expertise) – geared toward solving particular problem”. Business exists because of applying their expertise efficiently at scale. He also quoted Shein as example that Shein redefined fast fashion using AI, turning speed and data into its competitive edge.

And then Dr. Mark Lee quoted Prof. Ronald Coase (Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 1991) that Firms expand when internal coordination is more efficient than market contracting. But using AI caused that external solution became faster, better and cheaper! The new game rules depended to reconfigure expertise into value.

After that he asked three questions for establishing firms related to AI for ending the 1^st part of discussion.

The 2^nd part of webinar related to AI’s impact on managers and redefining managerial value. Middle level and frontline managers had domain expertise and operational execution skill but the importance level decrease because of AI.  

One of key impact is flattening hierarchies in the organization. No long multi-layer reporting paths. Expertise is less valuable in the AI age and managers roles still value included “Navigating ambiguity”, “Managing politics”, “Exercising judgement”, “Shaping culture” and “Building trust”.

And then a poll about learning AI to safeguard our career was performed. Most of participants agreed that AI literacy is becoming a hygiene factor and it is only starting point.

Finally, he proposed five irreplaceable leadership capabilities under AI.  

However, there were some limits of AI such as psychological safety and team alignment. Thus, managers should enhance this kind of skills.

In poll 3, it surveyed which irreplaceable leadership capacities the most difficult and the easiest to be strengthened. The most difficult item was building team alignment.

Ethics is significant for leadership in AI age.

Lastly, Dr. Lee surveyed us which insight to be the most important for our career moving forward. Most participant selected that “Leadership still matters most in the gray zones”. But I selected career paths are being redefined.

Reference:

Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy Limited (亞太策略研究所有限公司) – www.apifs.org

ESG facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/esg08

Leader 2030 - Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders - https://www.apifs.org/Leader2030-en

Leader 2030 series:

20250307: Leader 2030 Webinar – Lean Startup: Quick Innovation Strategy - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-lean-startup-quick.html

20250319: Leader 2030 Webinar – How Are AI Projects Different from Traditional IT Projects - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/03/leader-2030-webinar-how-are-ai-projects.html

20250422: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/04/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250502: Leader 2030 Webinar – The Secret for Successful Strategy Execution (II) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-webinar-secret-for.html

20250515: Leader 2030 -Negotiation Strategy to Lead Changes - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/05/leader-2030-negotiation-strategy-to.html  

Previous talks summary:

https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/search/label/Executive%20Study%20Group

CityU EngD Society AGM cum 20th anniversary dinner 2025

The CityU Engineering Doctorate (EngD) Society AGM and 20^th anniversary dinner was held on 21^st Jun 2025 at Faculty Lounge. In the beginning, we started AGM first. Then we took a group photo for AGM EngD cohorts.

Firstly, we confirmed the attendance and started AGM schedule. 

We confirmed the coming committee members as follows:

President: Dr. Rocky Lam (Cohort 2006)

Vice President: Dr. Ray Kong (Cohort 2003)

Secretary: Dr. Lotto Lai (Cohort 2005)

Treasurer: Dr. Herbert Yeung (Cohort 2004)

Advisor: Dr. Sunny Chai (Cohort 2007), Dr. Raymond Leung (Cohort 2005) and Dr. Augustine Chow (Cohort 2003)

Directors: Dr. Man Lee (Cohort 2003), Dr. Albert Tam (Cohort 2005), Dr. T.W. Liu (Cohort 2004), Dr Gaby Kun (Cohort 2005), Dr. Keynes Chan (Cohort 2005) and Mr. James Ning (Cohort 2022).

Then President Dr. Rocky Lam gave speech and expectation on coming year.

Dr. TW Liu and Dr. Albert Tam responded registration and souvenir sale. Dr. Sun had just arrived.

At the end of AGM, we invited Dr. Sun (EngD(EM) Deputy Programme Leader) sharing his idea from so many years for EngD programme.

Before 20^th anniversary dinner, we met guests and cohorts during networking time. We took a photo with Prof. Zhang (Associate Dean, College of Engineering, CityU)

Then we took a photo with guest speakers Mr. Lo Lok Fung (Chairman, Crystal Group) and Mr. Fred Sheu (Microsoft National Technology Officer). 

In the beginning of the EngD Society 20^th anniversary, Dr. Rocky Lam introduced the history and our mission as well as 20 years activities to all. He also prepared the special cake for celebration.

He reviewed 20 years journey of EngD Society.

Our first guest speaker Prof. ZHANG Wenjun gave celebration talk for us.

Firstly, he mentioned CityU achievements especially in different ranking systems.

Finally, Prof. Zhang introduced a new Engineering Doctorate Programme (EngD) in Chinese for mainland China and intake target is 15 students per year. 

Then the second guest speaker was Prof. Dang (Head of SYE) and he celebrated for our 20^th years and recognized EngD program which had signification contribution to Department and CityU.

The first keynote speaker was Dr. Lo Wai Kwok and he briefed the history of his engineering life and study. Then he mentioned the recently alignment on profession title between Hong Kong and Mainland China through HKIE. He also mentioned Innovation and Sustainability to be more significant in the New Quality Productive Force. Thus he had proposed the bill of Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals (HKIQEP). 

The second keynote speaker was Mr. Lo Lok Fung (Chairman, Crystal Group) and he shared how to innovate his company in digital era using state-of-the-art technology for enhancing business efficient. He said his company reviewed and revamped all processes in SAP and build up culture to do it.

The third keynote speaker was Mr. Fred Sheu and his topic entitled “AI Strategy for Business & Agentic AI”. Firstly, he demonstrated to use copilot for preparing this talk. 

Then he proposed AI strategy for business using BXT stands for Business, Experience and Technology.

Lastly, Mr. Sheu suggested a collaborative approach to bridge the innovation gap and gave some advices for EngD Society. 

And then Dr. Augustine Chow shared his multiple doctorates experience!

After that Dr. Rocky Lam and Dr. Ray Kong presented souvenirs and certificates to our guest speakers and EngD Advisor.  

The celebration cake was launched for our photo.

All academic staff and EngD Society committee members took a group phot with the cake!

And then Dr. Fok our first President gave a remark about our logo design that horizontal view is in English but vertical view is in Chinese (博).

Many cohorts took a photo with the EngD Society 20^th anniversary cake. 

And then Saxophone performance by Dr Lo Wai Kwok.

Finally, we shared the cake. Cohorts took a photo with Dr. Sun.

Afterward, President and Vice President invited Prof. Zhang, Prof. Dang and Dr. Sun to participate in the cake-cutting ceremony.

We had a very happy reunion night and look forward to seeing each other again next year.

Reference:

CityU Engineering Doctorate Society - https://engds.org/

Engineering Doctorate (Engineering Management) - https://www.cityu.edu.hk/sye/engd.htm

Previous AGM and Meetings:

20250118: Launch Ceremony of CityUHK Alumni Lounge & CityU EngD Society Exco Meeting 2025 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2025/01/launch-ceremony-of-cityuhk-alumni.html

20241221: CityU EngD Society 4th Exco Meeting cum Extra Ordinary General Meeting 2024 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/12/cityu-engd-society-4th-exco-meeting-cum.html

20241030: CityU EngD Society 3rd Exco Meeting 2024 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/10/cityu-engd-society-3rd-exco-meeting-2024.html

20240323: CityU Discovery Experience and CityU EngD Society Meeting (2^nd) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/03/cityu-discovery-experience-and-cityu.html

20240127: CityU EngD Society 1st Exco Meeting 2024 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/01/cityu-engd-society-1st-exco-meeting-2024.html

20231130: CityU EngD Society AGM and Annual Dinner 2023 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2023/11/cityu-engd-society-agm-and-annual.html

20230729: CityU EngD Society Lunch Talk for Funding cum Dr. KS Chin Retirement Celebration - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2023/07/cityu-engd-society-lunch-talk-for.html

20221126: CityU EngD Society Lunch Talk for HK TECH 300 and Startup - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2022/11/cityu-engd-society-lunch-talk-for-hk.html

20220715: CityU EngD Society AGM Seminar and Dinner - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2022/07/cityu-engd-society-agm-seminar-and.html

20210329: CityU EngD 1st Committee Meeting 2021 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2021/03/cityu-engd-1st-committee-meeting-2021.html

20191217: CityU EngD Annual Dinner and Meeting 2019 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/12/cityu-engd-annual-dinner-and-meeting.html

20190330: CityU EngD Society Annual Dinner cum Prof. Bieng Chuah Retirement Celebration 2019 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/03/cityu-engd-society-annual-dinner-cum.html

20171216: CityU EngD Society AGM and Annual Dinner 2017 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2017/12/cityu-engd-society-agm-and-annual.html

20170610: CityU EngD Society AGM Seminar “Education & Innovation” 2017 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2017/06/cityu-engd-society-agm-seminar.html

20161127: CityU EngD(EM) Graduation Dinner & EngDSoc Annual Dinner 2016 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/11/cityu-engdem-graduation-dinner-engdsoc.html

20160618: CityU EngD Society Discovery & Innovation Seminar and AGM 2016 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2016/06/cityu-engd-society-discovery-innovation.html

20151121: CityU EngD Society 10th Anniversary Dinner 2015 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/11/cityu-engd-society-10th-anniversary.html

20150123: CityU EngD Society AGM Seminar & Dinner 2015 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/01/cityu-engd-society-agm-seminar-dinner.html

20140301: CityU EngD Society AGM Talk & Dinner - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2014/03/cityu-engd-society-agm-talk-dinner.html

20130131: CityU EngD Society Annual Dinner - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2013/01/cityu-engd-society-annual-dinner.html

EngD Program Future Discussion Meetings:

20201203: CityU EngD Society Meeting with Dean of College of Engineering - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/12/cityu-engd-society-meeting-with-dean-of.html

20181119: CityU EngD Society Meeting with Acting Dean, School of Data Science - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/11/cityu-engd-society-meeting-with-acting.html

20180724: CityU EngD Society Meeting with Provost - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/07/cityu-engd-society-meeting-with-provost.html

20180621: CityU EngD Society Lunch Meeting with Prof. Dang and Dr. Alan Chan - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/06/cityu-engd-society-lunch-meeting-with.html

20180419: CityU EngD Society Lunch Meeting - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2018/04/cityu-engd-society-lunch-meeting.html