The 2017 HKMA Annual Conference was successfully held on 14 November 2017 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with a record breaking record of 1,650 participants. The Conference brought together prominent business leaders who shared with participants their invaluable insight under the theme of "Business Transformation in an Era of Innovation and Disruption".

Mr James Thompson GBS, Chairman of the Association in his Welcoming Address pointed out that, "The trend of digitalization is pressurizing institutions to revisit their traditional business models. FinTech, as a case in point, has grown explosively and transformed conventional financial services. As Bill Gates, Founder & Technology Advisor of Microsoft Corporation, once said, "Innovation is moving at a scarily fast pace." Thus, adaptability and constant innovation are vital to the survival of any company operating in a competitive market."

The Presentation of AMD Professors of Practice was also held at the Conference. The three new Professors of Practice this year are:

1. Dr Kan Tai-keung SBS, Honorary Doctor of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
2. Prof Frederick Ma GBS JP, Chairman, MTR Corporation
3. Ms Marjorie Yang GBS JP, Chairperson, Esquel Group

With the concerted efforts of the Conference Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Alexander Arena, Group Managing Director, HKT Ltd, the following distinguished speakers were invited to share their wisdom at the conference:

PLENARY SESSION ONE: MANAGING DISRUPTION

• Mr Alexander Arena, Group Managing Director, HKT Ltd (Session Chairman)
• Prof Marjorie Yang GBS JP, Chairperson, Esquel Group

PLENARY SESSION TWO: THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

• Mr Alexander Arena, Group Managing Director, HKT Ltd (Session Chairman)
• Mr Michael MacDonald, Group CTO and Executive Consultant, Huawei Technologies

PLENARY SESSION THREE: INNOVATIONS IN THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY

• Ir Ben Wong, Chief Operating Officer, Hong Kong Airlines Ltd (Session Chairman)
• Mr Derek Chung, Assistant General Manager & Head of Retail Banking, Wing Lung Bank Ltd
• Mr Steven Lee, Founder & CEO, MoneySQ.com
• Mr Eddie Rong, CEO & Co-founder, Heycoins

PLENARY SESSION FOUR (LUNCHEON): TRENDS IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

• Mr S K Cheong, Executive Director and General Manager, Television Broadcasts Ltd (Session Chairman)
• Mr Martin Hirt, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Leader, McKinsey`s Global Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice

PLENARY SESSION FIVE: SURVIVING DISRUPTION AND THRIVING

• Mr Stephen Leung, Country Manager, Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Ltd (Session Chairman)
• Mr Kent Wong, Managing Director, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited
• Ms Patsy Miew Guek Quek, Executive Director, Head of Central Improvement Team, DBS Bank Ltd
• Mr James Law JP, Chairman & CEO, James Law Cybertecture

PLENARY SESSION SIX: MASTERING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

• Professor Viveca Chan, Chairman & CEO, WE Marketing Group (Session Chairman)
• Prof Yesha Y Sivan, Executive Director, Coller Institute of Venture at Tel Aviv University, Israel; Visiting Professor of Innovation and Venture, Department of Decision Sciences and Managerial Economics, CUHK Business School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

PLENARY SESSION SEVEN: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE FUTURE TRENDS

• Mr S K Cheong, Executive Director and General Manager, Television Broadcasts Ltd (Session Chairman)
• Professor Viveca Chan, Chairman & CEO, WE Marketing Group
• Mr Peter Yu, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, JetOne Motion (HK) Ltd

PLENARY SESSION EIGHT: WHAT THE GIANTS SAY

• Mr Alexander Arena, Group Managing Director, HKT Ltd (Session Chairman)
• Mr Alain Crozier, Corporate Vice President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Greater China Region
• Mr Steven Chang, Corporate Vice President, Tencent

In the Closing Address, Mr Alexander Arena, Chairman, Conference Organizing Committee believed the discussions at the Conference have been extremely valuable as the speakers have covered many critically important subjects and offered new perspectives to participants on some of the key issues and ideas about advancing their organisations in the years ahead.

Members of the 2017 Annual Conference Organizing Committee include:

• Mr Alexander Arena, Group Managing Director, HKT Ltd (Chairman)
• Professor Viveca Chan, Chairman & CEO, WE Marketing Group
• Mr S K Cheong, Executive Director and General Manager, Television Broadcasts Ltd
• Dr Allen Fung, Executive Director, Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd
• Mr Stephen Ho, Chief Executive Officer, CITIC Telecom International CPC Ltd
• Ir Ben Wong, Chief Operating Officer, Hong Kong Airlines Ltd

* * * * *

Issued by The Hong Kong Management Association on 14 November 2017.

For press enquiries, please contact:

Ms Sunnie Ma, Senior Manager
Tel: 2774 8579
Email: sunniema@hkma.org.hk

Ms Krystal Yeung, Executive Officer
Tel: 2774 8547
Email: krystalyeung@hkma.org.hk