Professional Volunteers of the Year
2008
Christina Li - Pursuing a Life of Fullness
Joining the Board of Fullness Christian Social Enterprise (FCSE) is a chance and a destiny
to me. Frankly speaking, once firstly nominated and elected as one of the broad of directors in FCSE, I was really stressed.
Despite salon service is no new thing in our daily life, particularly for females that taking care of hair is as important as
keeping faces shinning, managing salon service as a business is never my strength. Fortunately, I have strong support from
SVhk members who always back me up in any regards so that I would sit with confidence in front of the senior members in
the males dominated board.
In fact, FCSE is the first SE Salon in Hong Kong and is the pioneer SE to raise funds from outside as to enrich its
operational capability. FCSE board is not the same as those of other organizations which hold only once or twice general
board meeting in a year and have just a few major subjects on agenda. Since the first day, we the FCSE directors had
already scheduled a monthly meeting timetable and each of us should take charge of at least one task. For my responsibilities,
I certainly take up something regarding staff motivation and human related matters, I wish my experiences in human resources
management and psychotherapeutic counseling can assist bit in the development of FCSE therein.
In order to understand more in-depth about the salon business, the “Fotanian” went to Sai Wan Ho shop for several times.
Owing to the fact that all the staff did not know my identity, I went there for a hair cut as a mystery shopper on the first day,
tried its customer services and the skills of the stylists, inconspicuously. I am so glad to see that FCSE is not as hard-selling
the "doctrine" as the other social enterprises, the shop is decorated so nicely that everybody will find it a comfortable place to
stay. I was impressed deeply when I rushed to the salon after work by a free glass of “iced Ribena” they served me, it was such
a wonderful feeling.
Thence I went there again during the non-peak hours, I had good talks with the staff. From the talks, I came to understand their
work attitude and expectation, proudly to find that no matter the trainees, stylists and receptionist are all highly in appreciation
with the "human-driven" service principle and the friendly working environment. Perhaps it is their religious belief, that they
have a mutual goal to establish a “salon fellowship”, being a place for souls filling of everyone.
I was touched by their pursuit of service excellence and brotherliness working spirit, as one of the SVhk directors, I wish we would
contribute by our investment, professional knowledge and human resources support, and through close participation and innovative ideas,
we can facilitate FCSE for further enrichment. Yet, during the global economic downturns, either big corporations or SMEs are facing
tough times; whereas it is even more difficult for social enterprises which shoulder both the "social service" objective and the
"entrepreneurship" at a time. Nonetheless, the FCSE directors are full of confidence and persistence to overcome the tidal wave under
the financial turmoil.
Learn more about our portfolio social enterprise Fullness Christian Social Enterprise.
2009
Alex So
Alex is currently the Chief Financial Officer, RREEF Asia Pacific, a global investment management
business of Deutsche Bank's Asset Management division. Prior joining Deutsche Bank, Mr So held various
senior finance positions with a number of global financial institutions in Hong Kong and Sydney.
Mr. So holds an M.B.A. degree and a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Technology,
Sydney in Australia. He is also a Member of the Australian Society of Certified Practising
Accountants, Australia.
2010
Olivia Kan
2011
Maria Lam
Maria is the Senior Vice President of PCCW Solutions, a leading IT service company.
She graduated from the University of Hong Kong, and had worked in IBM, Ogilvy & Mather, Dentsu Young & Rubicam in
marketing and sales management capacity. She is an active participant in community work and corporate sponsorships,
as well as a member of the Home Affairs Bureau's Public Affairs Forum for the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Computer Society,
and the American Chamber of commerce.
Stephanie Tan
Stephanie is a Senior Vice President of Asia Financial, a Hong Kong based
insurance company that has investments in retirement funds, health care providers, and other sectors.
Stephanie received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College in Economics and Studio Art.
After graduating, she worked at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in New York. Stephanie's passion is food. She attended
the French Culinary Institute in New York where received her diploma in culinary arts. Shortly after, she worked
at Alain Ducasse Entreprise in communications and marketing.
Stephanie is also a wine enthusiast and holds an Intermediate Certificate from the London-based Wine & Spirits
Education Trust. Stephanie is a member of Social Ventures Hong Kong and a representative of the Family Business
Network Pacific Asia.
Katy Yung
It is an honor to be nominated as Professional Volunteers of the Year 2011 and to
work closely with the SVhk team. Table For Two is just one of the many examples of how an idea can go from concept
to reality with the help of many passionate individuals. It's been an exciting journey putting what I have learnt
at school and at work into a totally different context, not to mention the opportunity to collaborate with people
across different sectors to make a difference. I highly recommend those of you who have had that nudging thought
in your mind to take your first step and create the change you would like to see!
Staff of the Year
2011
Leo Ng
Leo was freshly graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 2009.
While most of his friend is fighting for a position in their professional field, he chooses to start his career
in rapidly developing social enterprises. Associate in Social Ventures Hong Kong is his ever first full time job.
He has a Bachelor degree of Information Engineering from the University of Hong Kong.
