Two professors promoted to HKU senior management

Eunice Lam

Two professors, Vivian Yam Wing-wah and Alfonso Ngan Hing-wan, have been promoted to senior management roles at the University of Hong Kong, president Zhang Xiang said in an internal email.

Yam, who currently serves as the university's chair professor of chemistry, was named interim vice president in charge of the Global Innovation Centre.

Ngan, also a chair professor, was appointed interim vice president (global).

"In this newly created position of VP(GIC), Yam will focus on the preparation and development of the future Global Innovation Centre - the first transdisciplinary deep-tech research facility in Hong Kong," Zhang said.He added that Ngan "will be strengthening and enhancing the university's global network."

Zhang welcomed Yam and Ngan to the senior management team and expressed hope that they would lead HKU to "even more success with the expanded team," which has grown from seven to nine members.

He said that Yam would serve in her new position until the university governing council makes a further decision, while Ngan's interim appointment is set to end on February 28 of next year.The start date for their term is "as soon as possible," Zhang said.

HKU's student-run magazine, Undergrad, reported the new Global Innovation Centre will be located at Pok Fu Lam and is still in the preliminary planning stage. The HKU council approved the interim appointments on Tuesday, Zhang said.

This marks the second interim appointment of vice presidents since the new school year commenced on September 2.On September 9, Zhang said in an internal email that Norman Tien Chihnan, chair professor of microsystems technology, and medical dean Lau Chak-sing had joined the senior management team.Tien is the interim vice president (administration and finance), while Lau is the interim vice president (health) - a newly established position endorsed by the university's council in May.

Yam, the chair professor of chemistry, previously served as the interim dean of science from August 2021 to November 2022.She is also a cofounder of The Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians.Ngan has acted as vice president (research) for approximately a year, starting in February 2020.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com