HKUST Welcomes Appointment of Council Vice-Chairperson | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) welcomes the Chancellor’s appointment of Ms. Edith SHIH as the Vice-Chairperson of the University Council, with effect from November 1, 2024.

Ms. Edith Shih, a Council Member of HKUST since August 2018, is an Executive Director and the Company Secretary of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, where she has overseen legal, regulatory, corporate governance and compliance matters for over 30 years.  She is a solicitor qualified in England and Wales, Hong Kong and Victoria in Australia as well as a Fellow of both the Chartered Governance Institute and the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute. She is the Founding Chairperson of the Council’s Legal Affairs Committee, Vice-Chairperson of the Finance Committee, Chairperson of the Main Tender Board and a Member of various Council Committees. In these roles, she advises on key University policies and strategic directions including financial matters, knowledge transfer, staffing policies and governance issues.

HKUST Council Chair Prof. Harry SHUM welcomes Ms. Shih’s new appointment. “Edith has been a steadfast supporter of HKUST’s development since she joined the Council in 2018. Her extensive expertise in legal and corporate governance has offered invaluable insights into the University’s leadership. Notably, she played a key role in creating the inaugural university anthem, fostering community spirit and exemplifying the core values of HKUST. I look forward to working even more closely with her, and I am confident that she will continue to contribute to the Council in different aspects in her new capacity, elevating the University to new heights,” he said.

Prof. Shum also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Council Vice-Chairman, Prof. Patrick YEUNG Kai-Cheung, for his long and dedicated service to the University Council.  His tenure began as the Treasurer of the University in August 2016, and progressed to the position as Vice-Chairman of the Council in November 2021. “Apart from regular review of the Terms of Reference and Memberships of Council Committees to enhance university governance, Patrick has contributed significantly to the healthy financial situation of HKUST and the development of related human resources policies through his leadership in related Committees.  His exceptional efforts in supporting the establishment of HKUST(GZ) is also commendable,” said Prof. Shum. “I sincerely wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, while 12 of its subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, with "Data Science and Artificial Intelligence" being ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of October 2024, HKUST members have founded over 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 14 exits (IPO or M&A).