Meet the BXAI Team
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 Foundation (BXF), 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 8 partner universities.
In addition, Ms. Chao serves as CEO of Bai Xian Foundation (BXF); 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.
The rest of the working team comprises:
Ms. Kitty BIN
Administrative Officer, BXAI
Ms. Kitty BIN is the Administrative Officer at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI). She supports the daily operations of the Institute by managing all of BXAI’s finance, administrative, and human resources matters.
Kitty has over 10 years of experience in general administrative and human resources management. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked as a senior executive assistant in the branded retail sector. She completed her undergraduate studies in training and human resources management in 2010.
Kitty has many interests including music, reading novels, and watching movies. She also enjoys travelling, experiencing new cultures, and trying new cuisines.
Ms. Sylvia Miei KWOK
Programs and Operations Manager, BXAI
Ms. Sylvia Miei KWOK is the Programs and Operations Manager at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI), where she oversees the development and execution of BXAI’s programs and activities, including the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program and the annual Summer Program.
A seasoned multilingual professional, Sylvia is fluent in English, Cantonese, Japanese, French, and Mandarin, and has studied and worked in Hong Kong, United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Mainland China. Her career spans leadership roles across business development, client relationship management, nutrition advisory, interior design consulting and culinary business, which have equipped her with a unique blend of international insights and cross-functional expertise. Adept in bridging linguistic and cultural disparities, Sylvia excels at leading diverse teams and managing multifaceted projects; she now enjoys driving impactful initiatives that align with BXAI’s mission of promoting mutual understanding and collaboration across Asia.
Ms. Tammy WAN
Director, BXAI
Ms. Tammy WAN started her career as an attorney-at-law in New York and returned home to Hong Kong in 1994. She worked in corporate finance for more than 15 years, mainly on cross-border mergers and acquisitions. For 5 years from 2013-2018, she was engaged as Chief Operating Officer of Bai Xian Education Foundation, assisting in the establishment of BXAI and the AFLSP.
Ms. Wan is passionate about education and was actively engaged in the UWC Movement globally, first as a board member of Li Po Chun UWC (1994-2024), then as board member (2000-2008) and vice-chair (2006-2008) of UWC International. She also served the International Baccalaureate Organization as Board Governor and audit committee member for 6 years (2005-2011).
Ms. Wan read law at Oxford University before furthering her studies at the NYU School of Law. She is a Registered Teacher and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
Ms. Trisha YEH
Editor, BXAI
Ms. Trisha YEH serves as Editor at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI), where she strives to craft creative, compelling content that reflects BXAI’s voice and drives engagement within and beyond the Bai Xian community.
With over 15 years of experience as a freelance English copywriter, Trisha helps clients develop marketing and communications copy that elevates brand identity, resonates with target audiences, and increases engagement. She began her career in advertising before transitioning to public relations and brand management in the fashion industry, where she discovered her love of storytelling and creating content that captivates and inspires.
Trisha holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art from Williams College in the United States. During her junior year, she studied abroad in Florence, where she immersed herself in the rich artistic heritage, history, and culture of Italy’s art capital – a transformative experience that continues to influence her creative perspective today.
Alongside her professional commitments, Trisha is a mom to two girls who keep her busy and always on her toes. In the rare moments of free time she has left, she enjoys painting, baking, Pilates, and traveling.
Mr. Ruslan YUEN
Associate, BXAI
Mr. Ruslan Yuen is an Associate at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI). He holds a bachelor’s degree in creative media and is currently a part-time postgraduate student in Creative Media at City University of Hong Kong.
Ruslan’s expertise includes photography, filmmaking, graphic design, post-production, sound production, and social-media management. He is committed to creating innovative, impactful content that furthers BXAI’s vision and mission.
In addition, Ruslan is an experienced event-management specialist, responsible for planning events and producing related media and collateral. His previous roles have also covered content creation, digital marketing, and project coordination.
Ruslan has contributed to numerous exhibition projects. Notably, he was a member of the Event Management Team for the 17th SIG Playful Media Showcase, where he coordinated programming and logistics, and he exhibited his own work at the SCM Annual 2023 Exhibition.
His interests include exhibitions, photography, advertising, sound production, art, artificial intelligence, and board games.
Mr. Xiaofei YU
Associate, BXAI
Before arriving in Hong Kong in 2022 to pursue graduate studies with support from the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program, Mr. Xiaofei YU knew little about the city or its culture, and could barely speak a word of Cantonese. Over the next two years, he immersed himself in Hong Kong’s unique blend of tradition and modernity while forming lasting friendships with students from diverse backgrounds, which served to deepen his appreciation for cross-cultural exchange and collaboration.
As the first Bai Xian Scholar to join BXAI full-time, Xiaofei works to strengthen the BX community by fostering connections and promoting collaboration among scholars, alumni, and partners. Trained in policy science at Fudan University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, he is passionate about environmental and healthcare policies and believes that collective curiosity and care are key to building a sustainable future.
Outside of work, Xiaofei enjoys pop and R&B music, volleyball, traveling, and photography. And though Cantonese is still a work in progress, he remains committed to learning the language, picking it up one phrase at a time.
Ms. Haley ZENG
Associate, BXAI
Ms. Haley ZENG plays a role in shaping Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI)’s brand and storytelling by creating content for its official website and other platforms.
Born and raised in Shenzhen, Haley’s desire for new experiences prompted her to seek out a change of scenery after high school. She eventually landed in Hong Kong, a diverse city known for its global influences, to begin a new chapter in her life. During her undergraduate studies in Humanities, Haley delved into the rich histories, literature, and art of various cultures, broadening her understanding of the human experience and building meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds.
Haley’s love of travel fuels her desire to explore the world and immerse herself in different cultures. She wishes to have the opportunity to live in new places and connect with people from all walks of life, believing that such experiences can offer incredible and enriching opportunities for personal growth.
