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 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.
The rest of the working team comprises:
Ms. Cary HO
Manager, BXAI
Ms. Cary HO is the Manager at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) and oversees the execution and development of BXAI’s communications and marketing strategy. Prior to joining BXAI, she was a marketing consultant at a China-based retail company and was responsible for designing promotional strategies to boost customer engagement and sales. Working in various locations including Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Kuala Lumpur, Cary enjoyed the opportunities she had to interact and collaborate with people from different cultures.
During her undergraduate years, Cary studied in Vancouver, Beijing, and Sydney, which allowed her to recognize the value of mutual understanding across cultures, and inspired her to embrace diversity and engage with others who may be different from her. It was also during this time when her love for traveling was sparked – as she observed and experienced other lifestyles and customs, Cary gained fresh perspectives on life and the world around her, and realized that the beauty and complexities of humanity are only revealed through personal encounters with other cultures.
Ms. Agnes YEUNG
Manager, BXAI
Ms. Agnes YEUNG is the Manager at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) and oversees the development of the Bai Xian community under the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program while also supporting the overall development of BXAI.
Agnes received her master’s degree in non-profit management at The University of Hong Kong and studied abroad as an exchange undergraduate student at The University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. During her time in Sydney, a city known as a mixing pot of global cultures, her passion for intercultural learning was ignited as she made friends with people from all across the world and learned about different customs and cultures.
Since her undergraduate years, Agnes has continued to actively volunteer at an international social work organization to champion capacity building projects in developing countries. Prior to joining BXAI, Agnes worked in corporate communications advocating corporate social responsibility and youth development.
In her spare time, Agnes enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, and travelling. She is an avid supporter of the performing arts and is always keen to explore the best of what Hong Kong has to offer!
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. Yanmi Sit
Assistant Associate, BXAI
Ms. Yanmi SIT is an Assistant Associate at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) and supports the building and growth of the Bai Xian community, which comprises scholars and alumni under the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program; partners, guests, and sponsors of BXAI; members of BXAI’s leadership and board, and the BXAI team.
With a bachelor’s degree in translation, Yanmi is passionate about languages and in her free time, enjoys participating in language exchange with people from all across the world. She believes that language exchange not only offers valuable opportunities to practice different languages, but also allows her to learn more about other cultures. She especially enjoys hearing stories from people of different cultural backgrounds and is inspired by the fact that people living far apart can also share similar values and beliefs.
Yanmi’s dream is to travel the world. During her secondary school and university years, she participated in various overseas activities such as service tours, internships, and exchange programs, and learned that communicating with locals is the best way to understand their culture. Through her role at BXAI, Yanmi hopes to strengthen the Bai Xian community by promoting cultural exchange, fostering mutual understanding, and connecting with more people across Asia and beyond.
Ms. Haley ZENG
Assistant Associate, BXAI
Ms. Haley ZENG is an Assistant Associate at Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI), where she plays a role in shaping the organization’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 vibrant and 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.
