Hong Kong

Speakers

Roberta W. Albert  (TC M.A. ’97)

Roberta Albert joined Teachers College as Vice President for Institutional Advancement on June 3, 2024. She leads fundraising, alumni relations and communications efforts in raising the College’s profile and generating resources to advance its mission. For more than a decade, Ms. Albert served as Associate Dean for Development at Columbia University School of the Arts. There she participated in two multi-billion-dollar university-wide campaigns to support scholarships, programming and the creation of the Lenfest Center for the Arts on Columbia’s new Manhattanville campus. Prior to Columbia, she served as Director of Strategic Development Projects and Director of Alumnae Affairs at Barnard College, and also held positions at New York cultural organizations and in management consulting. Ms. Albert received an M.A. in Arts Administration from Teachers College and a B.A. in art history from Barnard College. 

Dr. Esther Chan (TC M.A.’09) 陳昕生博士

Dr, Esther Y. S. Chan is a dedicated education professional currently serving as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (K-12 Education) of the Yew Chung Education Foundation (YCEF), and School Manager of Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong. Yew Chung, established by her late grandmother, has a legacy of over 90 years in delivering quality international education.

Dr. Chan’s passion for education began during her formative years at Yew Chung. In 2008, she graduated from the London School of Economics (LSE), UK, with a B.Sc. in Government. She went on to receive an academic scholarship to study at Teachers College, Columbia University in the USA, where she completed a M.A. in Politics and Education in 2009, providing her with a strong understanding of education policy.

Driven by her passion for education, Dr. Chan furthered her studies and obtained a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Cambridge in 2013. Her doctoral thesis was titled Private Education in China: A Multiple-Case Study of Social Stratification and Social Change, showcasing her commitment to understanding and improving the Chinese educational landscape.

Returning to join the Yew Chung Yew Wah network of schools in 2013, Dr. Chan was involved in the establishment of Yew Wah schools across various cities in China, including Guangzhou and Beijing. She also served as the School Business Manager for YCIS-Chongqing and YWIES-Guangzhou. 

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Chan has taken a leading role in reforms and developments within the network, leaving her mark on schools in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Yantai, Somerset, UK, and Silicon Valley, USA. She played a pivotal role in steering the schools through the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.

In addition to her role at YCEF, Dr. Chan also serves as a School Manager for Gigamind English Primary School and Gigamind Kindergarten and Children's House. She is also a Member of the Shanghai Changning District Overseas Friendship Association, where she promotes cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Vivian Chung (TC M.A. ’04)

Vivian Chung is an award-winning education entrepreneur and Teachers College graduate with a Master’s in Psychology in Education. With over two decades of experience, she founded Story Jungle (2003), a leading Hong Kong literacy institution that has empowered 100,000+ students across 80+ schools, and its nonprofit arm, Story Seeds (2012), which bridges educational inequality for underserved kindergarteners. A champion of language as a foundation for self-directed learning and character development, Vivian spearheads initiatives like the Children’s Character Festival (2025), empowering children to share acts of kindness through storytelling. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing literacy, equity, and a love of learning.  

Since 2021, Vivian has served as Convenor for Columbia University's Teachers College Hong Kong Alumni Association, where she curates school tours, expert-led discussions, and cross-industry networking events. In this role, she bridges the Hong Kong TC alumni community with the Columbia Alumni Association Hong Kong, while expanding engagement opportunities throughout the Greater Bay Area.

Anita Ma (CU M.B.A. ’99)

Ms Anita Ma’s unique background in both commercial and non-profit sectors came from her experience working for renowned MNCs and charities both locally and abroad. A Hong Kong native, Ms Ma received her MBA from Columbia University upon graduating from The Chinese University Hong Kong.

She is a marketing professional who has over 15 years of marketing management experience. She has led various successful brand campaigns, new product launches, and marketing programmes. Her illustrious career in management and consulting includes working with Mckinsey New York and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). She was the Head of Corporate Marketing and Customer Service for four years at HKTDC, where she was also one of the youngest members of the management team. One of her major contributions was the new brand strategy and corporate campaign for HKTDC. 

Ignited by a passion steeped in child development and education, Ms Ma started her path in the non-profit sector as a member of the Victoria Kindergarten Parent Teachers Association (PTA), and became the Chairlady of the PTA for all 8 campuses of over 3000 parents. Since then, she went on to serve as Board Member for Playright in Hong Kong and Ivy Education Group in China. Ms Ma took up the position of Chairmanship of Playright Board in 2019.  Under her leadership, Playright has continued to advocate for children's right to play, even amid the challenges brought by the pandemic. The organization successfully secured the first long-term adventure playground in Hong Kong and earned the "Leader of the Year 2021" award by the SingTao Media Group. Additionally, Ms. Ma was honored with the AmCham "Woman Champion of Disadvantaged Groups and Minorities" award in 2024.

Anita is a founding director of Ivy Education Group, which operates 10 kindergartens and the Beijing Daystar Academy (K-12 School) in China. The school is deeply committed to the belief that children are change-makers and is developing a robust social entrepreneurship program as a core component of its curriculum. In 2022, the school launched the Qi Center (www.qicenter.cn), a non-profit organization dedicated to instilling a social innovation mindset among youth in China.

She is the immediate past President of the Columbia University Alumni Association in Hong Kong. She serves in various education related boards in Hong Kong, including the Education and Conservation Committee of Hong Kong Ocean Park, the Development Committee of WWF-Hong Kong, the subcommittee of Hong Kong Museum Advisory Board. She is the advisor to the Catalyst Education Lab (a HK education think tank bringing in innovation from Harvard and MIT University).

Dr. Kai Wai Hou

Dr. Wai-Kai Hou, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, and Director of Centre of Psychosocial Health, EdUHK. He was a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York. His research focuses on public mental health, social determinants of health, and everyday processes and mechanisms of psychological resilience across trauma and chronic stress conditions. Dr. Hou received his Ph.D. from School of Public Health, HKU Faculty of Medicine.

Trustee Edith Shih (TC Ed.M.’78; M.A. ’77)

Edith Shih is Executive Director and Company Secretary of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, a Fortune 500 Company listed in Hong Kong at which she oversees legal, regulatory, corporate finance and compliance matters of the Group. 

Shih holds a Bachelor of Science in Education (Music) degree and a Master of Arts (Education) degree from the University of the Philippines; and a Master of Arts (TESOL) and a Master of Education (Allied Linguistics) degree from Teachers College Columbia University, New York.  She completed her legal studies at the University of Law in London and is qualified to practise law in England and Wales, Hong Kong and Victoria, Australia. She is in addition a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute of both which she was past president.

Shih holds key roles in numerous committees and panels of public, regulatory and professional bodies. In addition to being a Trustee of Teachers College, Columbia University (since 2010), she is Vice Chairman of the Council of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the English Schools Foundation and Member of the Executive Committee and Council of Hong Kong Management Association.  In addition, she is Chairman of the Process Review Panel of the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council, Vice Chairman of Helping Hand, a charity that looks after the elderly in Hong Kong and Mainland China. In her free time, she is a member and soprano soloist of the Hong Kong Oratorio Society. 

Jennifer Yu Cheng (CU B.S.’03)

Jennifer Yu Cheng is a visionary education leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist. As Group President and Deputy Vice Chairwoman of CTF Education Group (“CTFEG” or “Group”), Jennifer has driven the Group’s rise as a leading K-12 education organization, pioneering forward-thinking education innovations and transformations. CTFEG is dedicated to delivering future-focused education through its schools, programs and services to nearly 10,000 students annually across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. 

In today’s rapidly evolving world, K-12 schools and educators face significant challenges: keeping pace with technological advancements and industry transformations to ensure curricula and pedagogical practices remain relevant to 21st-century demands. Recognizing the need for K-12 schools transformation, Jennifer has been at the forefront of education innovations, leading CTFEG in pioneering new approaches to learning for the future. She spearheaded the Group’s creation of the Kindervarsity Hub, an education landmark that brings together K-12 students, educators, researchers, and industry professionals to learn, collaborate, and create future ready K-12 education experiences. By applying the Kindervarsity “university model” framework to K-12 education, integrating schools, research, and campus life, the Hub bridges the gap between classroom education and real-world opportunities – preparing students to become the talent pipeline of our future.

Jennifer serves on multiple boards and committees of universities worldwide. She is a Member of the Board of Visitor of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science of Columbia University and serves as Co-Chair of its Asia Advisory Group. She is a Member of the Dean’s Advisory Group of Harvard Graduate School of Education; Member of Dean’s Council of the Faculty of Arts and Science at Harvard University; Council Member at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST); and Member of the Court of The University of Hong Kong and the Court Member of Lingnan University.

Jennifer is dedicated to expanding education access and opportunities. In 2021, she founded JYC Girls Impact Foundation to empower teen girls to break barriers, fulfill their potential, and become impactful leaders who drive positive change in society. Since its launch, the Foundation has delivered over 100 events and programs, including leadership summits, digital skills workshops, and inspirational school talks, empowering more than 7,000 female participants from over 100 schools across Hong Kong. As education continues to evolve and the focus on developing future talent expands, Jennifer envisions more women leading groundbreaking advancements in STEM research and entrepreneurship in the coming Decade.

In 2024, Jennifer launched The FutureGen Young Women Leaders Award in collaboration with nearly 60 organizations representing more than 20 industries. The Award not only recognizes teen girls who have dedicated themselves to realizing their full potential through the development of future ready skills, leadership experiences, and empowering accomplishments, but also fosters a cross-industry ecosystem dedicated to supporting youth development and opening doors to future opportunities.

Beyond her commitment to future-focused education and leadership, Jennifer is also deeply committed to advancing women’s development, mental health, and environmental education in Hong Kong. She serves as a non-official member of the Women’s Commission and Commission on Children, is a Director of The WEMP Foundation, which supports children’s mental health, and is a Member of Asia Pacific Leadership Council of The Nature Conservancy. 

Jennifer earned her Master of Education from Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Operations Research and a minor in Economics. Prior to her career in education, she was an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs in the Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities division.

Dr. Thomas Bailey

Thomas Bailey became the 11th President of Teachers College, Columbia University in 2018, and continues to serve as the George and Abby O'Neill Professor of Economics and Education at the College. 

As President, Dr. Bailey has overseen the redesign of student services at the College in line with his renowned research focus on pathways at community colleges, supporting student success from enrollment to graduation and beyond–including alumni. President Bailey has also strengthened the College’s research capacity and guided the development of TC’s Digital Futures Institute, ensuring the College is at the forefront of pedagogic innovation. Throughout, he has focused on impact and in 2023 he launched TC’s Public Good Initiative to continue to connect the College’s research and scholarship with communities around the world.

President Bailey has been a TC faculty member since 1990, and was the founding Director of TC’s  Community College Research Center (CCRC). 

He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in labor economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.