Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI), an educational platform set up to provide scholarships and intercultural learning programs, is funded by Bai Xian Foundation (BXF), a private family foundation incorporated in Hong Kong and established exclusively for charitable purposes.

BXAI evolved from the vision of its founder and Honorary Chairman, Mr. Ronald Chao. Since its founding, Mr. Chao has contributed US$100 million to the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP).

Our Five Founding Members are:

Ms. Ronna CHAO

Chief Executive Officer, Bai Xian Asia Institute

Ms. Ronna CHAO is CEO of Novel Investment Partners Limited, Chairperson of Novetex Textiles Limited, and a Director of Novelpark Investments Limited. Her responsibilities in these various capacities cover investment and portfolio management, property redevelopment, and textile manufacturing.

Prior to joining the Novel Group, she began her career in New York first as a Mergers & Acquisitions financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, and then as an associate in the Licensing Department of the lifestyle and apparel company Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.

Ms. Chao is also CEO of Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI). Initially funded by the Chao family’s Bai Xian Education Foundation (BXEF), and with the support of five founding members, BXAI was established in 2014 to oversee the development and implementation of the AFLSP. Today, BXAI supports up to 100 scholars each year to study away from their home country or region at one of its 6 partner universities.

In addition, Ms. Chao serves as CEO of Bai Xian Education Foundation (BXEF); Council Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; External Advisory Board Member of the Campus Asia Program at Waseda University; Council Member of the Board of Council, UWC ISAK Japan; Member of the Advisory Board of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (SSEE), University of Oxford; Special Counsellor of Our Hong Kong Foundation; Member of the Board of Directors of Mother’s Choice; Ordinary Member and Director of the Yeh Family Philanthropy Limited; Board Trustee of Asia Society Hong Kong Center; Advisory Board Member of GoImpact; and Advisory Council Member of the Washington Institute for Business, Government and Society. She was also a Court Member of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 2010 to 2016. Ms. Chao is a Standing Committee Member of the 12th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Hong Kong CPPCC.

Ms. Chao has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Brown University, and earned her M.B.A. from Stanford University. She also spent a year as an undergraduate at Keio University in Tokyo.

Mr. David T. Y. MONG

Board Governor, BXAI
Chairman and Group CEO, Shun Hing Group
Chairman, Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund

Mr. David T. Y. Mong is Chairman and Group CEO of Shun Hing Group. He received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1984, and a M.B.A. degree from the Santa Clara University, California in 1991.   The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong awarded him an Honorary Fellowship in 2005 and 2009, respectively.  Mr. Mong joined Shun Hing Electronic Trading Co., Ltd., the sole agent for Panasonic products in Hong Kong and Macau, as Executive Director in 1991.  At present, Mr. Mong is Managing Director of Shun Hing Electronic Trading Co., Ltd. and Chairman and Group CEO of the Group overseeing the operation of all Group companies.  Mr. Mong chairs the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund which has donated over HK$1.2 billion towards projects that benefit arts and culture, education, environmental protection, healthcare and science research, sporting events and charitable and community activities in Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas.

Mr. Shin WATARI

Board Governor, BXAI
Executive Committee Member, BXAI
Chairman & CEO, Cornes Holdings (Overseas) Limited

Mr. Shin WATARI serves as Chairman of Cornes Holdings (Overseas) Ltd., Electronic Scientific Engineering Ltd, Quicksilver Connections Ltd (Australia). Mr. Watari was previously President & CEO of Cornes & Co Ltd. and Director of The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and received his M.A. from the Graduate School of Architecture, Washington University. Mr. Watari is also a Trustee of Washington University.

Mr. CHAO Kee Tung

Board Governor, BXAI
Nominating Committee Member, BXAI
Managing Director, Novel Investment Holdings Limited

Mr. CHAO Kee Tung is Chairman of the Board of Novel E&O Industries Limited, as well as Director of Novel Enterprises Limited and Managing Director of Novel Investment Holdings Limited.  He formerly worked in the development of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited and served as the Airlines’ Executive Director.  He was a member of the 9th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Shanghai Committee, and is a member of the Standing Committee of the 10th, 11th and 12th CPPCC Shanghai Committee.  He is a Director of the 4th Council of China-Overseas Friendship Association.  He graduated from East China University of Science and Technology and has a M.B.A. from The Lubin School of Business of Pace University.

Mr. Masaaki OGINO

Board Governor, BXAI
Executive Committee Member, BXAI
Chairman, Fenix Group Holdings Limited

Mr. Masaaki OGINO is the Founder and Chairman of Fenix Group Holdings Ltd.  Established in 1972 in Hong Kong, Fenix Group is an international company whose businesses encompass some of life’s necessities.  Going through struggling periods, the group established SIDEFAME in 1985, a fashion retail subsidiary of the Fenix Group and FENIX LOGISTIC SERVICES in 1994.  The Fenix Group went on to conceive ANTEPRIMA, a Milan-based premium fashion brand as well as CITYSUPER, specializing in gourmet food items and gadgets sourced from around the world.  Today, the fashion and lifestyle retailing business occupies some 630,000 square feet of retail space in strategic locations around the world employing over 3,300 staff.

On a personal level, Mr. OGINO has been Chairman of the Century 21 Club since its establishment in 1992 and is actively involved in promoting business ties and strengthening business relationships between Japan and Hong Kong.  He is also Chairman of NPO Wakyosokai Ltd, which supports Japanese living abroad, especially those pursuing entrepreneurship.

BXAI Endowment Fund

BXAI’s five founding members have contributed US$10 million in aggregate to the BXAI Endowment Fund.  The Fund aims to support up to five named scholarships every year in perpetuity.

 

Named scholars since 2015 include:

 

R.J. Chao Memorial Asian Scholars (sponsored by Ms. Ronna Chao):

2015 cohort: Ms. TANG An
2017 cohort: Ms. KIM Daum
2019 cohort: Ms. ROH Hyunjeong
2020 cohort:Mr. TAN Yuan Zeng Ashley
2021 cohort:Ms. SHIN Anjin
2022 cohort:Ms. MA Gayeun
2023 cohort: Ms. LEE Jooran

 

Shun Hing Asian Scholars (sponsored by Mr. David Mong from the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund):

2015 cohort: Mr. KO Hae Uk
2017 cohort: Mr. CHOU Hou In
2019 cohort: Mr. LAU Yick Sau
2020 cohort:Mr. PEI Yu-De
2021 cohort:Mr. GUO Leoi Zhi Lei
2022 cohort:Ms. PHOO Debbie Wing Shin
2023 cohort:Mr. CHEN Erdong

 

Pao-Watari Asian Scholars (sponsored by Mrs. Cissy Pao Watari and Mr. Shinichiro Watari):

2015 cohort: Mr. Fumiaki SANO
2017 cohort: Mr. Yasutaka TAMURA
2019 cohort: Mr. Nanshi KO
2020 cohort:Mr. Hiromi KIMISHIMA
2021 cohort:Ms. Karin NISHMURA
2022 cohort:Mr. Takahiko MOCHIZUKI
2023 cohort:Mr. Takaki IKO

 

K.T. Chao Asian Scholars (sponsored by Mr. K.T. Chao):

2015 cohort: Mr. WU Siyu
2017 cohort: Ms. LIAO Manqi
2019 cohort: Ms. ZHANG Haiyun
2020 cohort:Mr. FUNG Joshua Sze Kiun
2021 cohort:Mr. CHEW Sien Ping
2022 cohort:Mr. WANG Zhuangxi
2023 cohort:Ms. DENG Nuonuo

 

MIO Asian Scholars (sponsored by Mr. Masaaki Ogino and Mrs. Izumi Ogino):

2015 cohort: Mr. Tetsuo KAN
2017 cohort: Mr. Hideo NATSUME
2019 cohort: Mr. Takayuki MORIKAWA
2020 cohort:Ms. Kosumosu NAKAHARA
2021 cohort:Ms. Akiko YAMADA
2022 cohort:Ms. Risa SHIMONO
2023 cohort:Ms. Amina NIIJIMA