Making the Switch

Join The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for Making the Switch, an event designed to help you position yourself (and your skills) for a career transition into the social impact space. Whether you’re ready to make a change now or are considering one down the road, this event is an opportunity to explore the options available to you and the steps you can take to get there.

At Making the Switch, you will:

• Explore your motivation behind your career transition and the landscape of social sector careers that align with your interests
• Hear from social impact leaders who have transitioned into career in the social sector
• Have the opportunity to ask questions and hear from others who are also considering the switch

Event Schedule

8:00 p.m. HKT: Opening remarks

8:10 p.m. HKT: Presentation: “Finding Your Motivation for Your Career Transition”

8:30 p.m. HKT: Panel discussion: Insights from social impact leaders on how they shifted their career successfully from the private to social sector

9:00 p.m. HKT: Breakout discussion groups with speakers

9:12 p.m. HKT: Closing remarks

9:15 p.m. HKT: End of event

About the Speakers

Simon Crockett, Director, Global Career and Leadership Development, Chicago Booth

Simon’s background is in L&D Consulting and building Executive Recruitment businesses, having founded, and exited, several in the last 20 years in both the UK and in Asia.

He is commercial, pragmatic and results orientated as a developer of people.

Simon has been based at the Hong Kong Campus, coaching Chicago Booth students and alumni since 2014 .

He holds a BSc (Hons) in Medical Sciences, a postgrad in Business Psychology, and a Higher Education Teaching Certificate from Harvard. He is also a Certified Transformational Coach – Professional Level, as well as Hogan Assessment accredited.

Mathew Gollop, Managing Director; Head of General Search & Nonprofit Initiatives, ConnectedGroup Ltd.

With experience in the recruitment and executive search industry dating back to 1997, Mathew joined ConnectedGroup in 2001 in Hong Kong. He then assumed control of the business in early 2002 through a management buy-out. He has gone on to lead the business to its current position as one of the most successful independent consulting brands in Asia.

While responsible for the strategic direction, vision and development of the business, he also leads service delivery from the front by maintaining a client facing role. This not only involves him developing strategic relationships across the region and globally, but also includes successfully completing senior searches on behalf of clients across a range of business disciplines. He successfully led the Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Sourcing consulting team as subject matter expert across the region until 2015 before shifting his focus to corporate functions and working from COO level down with a core focus on Human Resources and Talent Acquisition / Development. He also supports searches where roles do not fall into traditional industry and functional categories.

As Group Managing Director, he also drives business process improvement as well as quality and service line development for the group.

Wai Yee Lam, Board Member, Asia Charities Services

Wai Yee Lam is a senior executive with more than 30 years experience spanning several technology industries including roles with major companies and early-stage businesses, as well as advisory firms, in the UK and Hong Kong.

Wai Yee has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector in Hong Kong, sits on the boards of Asian Charity Services and Variety Hong Kong and regularly advises NGOs and charities on strategic planning, fund-raising, and corporate governance. She holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management; a Master of Science in Computing Science from the University of Newcastle; and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University College of London, as well as a Financial Times Non-Executive Director Diploma.

She is a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, UK.

Ernest Ng, AB, MA ’00, CEO, Tung Lin Kok Yuen

Dr. Ernest C. H. NG is the Chief Executive Officer of Tung Lin Kok Yuen, a Buddhist NGO dedicating to Buddhist teachings, education, and community services for over 80 years. Prior to that, he was the founder and Chief Investment Officer of an asset management company and Vice President of Morgan Stanley Asia. With an interdisciplinary background and over 15 years of experience in the financial market, he is particularly experienced in sustainable transformation, stakeholder communications, and change management strategy at the individual and organization level. He is committed to coaching young generation and future leaders, serving as mentor for various universities and advisor to organizations such as the Sustainable Finance initiative in Hong Kong.

Dr. Ng is an expert and thought leader in applying wisdom tradition and spirituality into sustainable decision making in the market economy. He is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong where he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses on Buddhism and Economics. His core research and teaching interests include mindfulness, the intersection of spirituality and materiality, and the integration of sustainable developments, wisdom tradition and market economy. Dr. Ng offers lectures and workshops around the world on topics relating to sustainability, change management, and Buddhist teachings.

Dr. Ng graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago with Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Master of Arts in International Relations. He received a Master of Buddhist Studies and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Hong Kong. He was a Sir Edward Youde Scholar and currently a Fellow at the European SPES Institute. Ernest is the author of a Chinese book entitled “Leveraging Happiness” which showcases the enormous potential of leaders collaborating to do good and do well. His recent publication, Introduction to Buddhist Economics in the Palgrave Studies Series, is a pioneering effort to systematically introduce Buddhist Economics as an interdisciplinary subject.

Helene Rao, Deputy COO, Mother’s Choice

About the Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation provides resources and programs to help the city’s NGOs, nonprofit leaders, and social entrepreneurs do their best work. Operated by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Programme offers a range of opportunities, including scholarships, social entrepreneurship workshops, and trainings for NGO boards of directors and board members.