PBC Marks Its 10th Anniversary: Inspiring a New Future for Philanthropy Through Sport

The Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect – alongside the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality – carry a significance far beyond the sporting arena. They offer important lessons for the philanthropic sector, too, with this year’s PBC (Philanthropy for Better Cities) forum set to take place at West Kowloon Cultural District on 7 and 8 September. This will be the fifth edition of the forum and its 10th anniversary.

Convened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), PBC 2026 is themed “Leaping for Impact”. The Forum will bring together more than 2,000 global leaders from the sports, philanthropic, academic, business, social and government sectors. The distinguished line-up of speakers includes Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Former United Nations Development Programme Administrator, and Hari Menon, President, Global Growth & Opportunity, Gates Foundation.

Discussions during the two-day forum will address pressing social issues such as health, the well-being of older adults, urban poverty alleviation, heritage conservation, youth positive trajectory development, climate resilience and inclusive employment.

The event will include a series of sports-themed sessions exploring how the values of sport, and of these sporting champions, can be applied to philanthropy, leadership, organisational development and systems change.

In keeping with the spirit of past PBC forums, this year’s gathering will contribute new insights and practical ideas to help shape the future of philanthropy and social impact in Asia. This will include the launch of the Club’s inaugural Charities Trust Impact Report, the release of the Commission on Asian Philanthropy’s Interim Report as well as a report on high-impact family philanthropy by the Bridgespan Group.

By bringing together insights and ideas from across sectors, PBC 2026 aims to turn aspirations into action for the betterment of society.