Congratulations to Katharina Zellweger – an IWF 2019 Woman Who Makes a Difference!

Dear IWF-HK Members,

We are delighted to announce that Katharina Zellweger, an active member of the International Women’s Forum for over 15 years, has been named an IWF 2019 Woman Who Makes a Difference (WWMD). Congratulations!

Katharina is recognized as an authority in her profession globally and has received awards honouring her work in North Korea from South Korea and the Vatican. The impact of her leadership is underlined by her hours headed the office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), an office of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pyongyang for five years. Katharina’s skills do not end with her professional work. She also projects a warm, cheerful attitude to the community. In the community, she goes out of her way to help people in need by establishing a non-profit organization KorAid Limited to focus on children in institutions and those having disabilities in North Korea and China. She loves people, works hard, and always tries to lift the spirits of those around her and these characteristics represent all that is good in our IWF. Go Katharina! Go IWF-HK!

The award will be presented alongside the International Hall of Fame Award at the IWF World Leadership Conference. At the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto this November, 1,250 honored guests will gather to celebrate Katharina's achievements and extraordinary work.

To find more about Katharina’s background, you can read the following SCMP article about her aid work: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/2122302/my-22-years-helping-north-koreans-hong-kong-aid-worker

IWF-HK hosts a lunch with Katharina Zellweger

On 17 May, IWF-HK hosted a lunch where Katharina Zellweger, IWF-HK’s esteemed member, talked about her charity work in North Korea to aid children and people with disabilities.

IWF-HK co-organises a Seminar on Board Room Diversity with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

On 30 April, IWF-HK has conducted a Seminar on Board Room diversity, organised in partnership with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

IWF-HK President Julia Charlton moderates a panel on ‘Delivering value to a board as a director’ with Elsie Leung, IWF-HK member, among the panelists

IWF-HK Past President Trisha Leahy moderates a panel on ‘Path to becoming a listed company director’ with Mabel Lui, IWF-HK member, among the panelists

IWF-HK members attend the seminar

HKEx’ Chairman Laura Cha gave a keynote address, and panels featured included a panel on ‘How to deliver value to a board as a director’ moderated by Julia Charlton, IWF-HK President, and a panel chaired by Dr. Trisha Leahy, IWF-HK Past President, on ‘The path to becoming a listed company Director’.

IWF-HK members attend the 2019 IWF Cornerstone Conference in Barcelona

IWF-HK visits the Xiqu Centre of West Kowloon

On Saturday 30 March 2019, IWF-HK members had the pleasure of visiting the Xiqu Centre as organised by IWF-HK Board member, Bonny Wong. The Xiqu Centre is the first landmark performing arts venue at WKCD and was officially opened on 20 January 2019 by HKSAR CE Mrs Carrie Lam. The Centre is designed to provide a world-class platform for the conservation, promotion and development of xiqu (Chinese traditional theatre), including Cantonese opera and other genres of xiqu.  
 
The building was designed by Bing Thom Architects (now Revery Architecture) with Ronald Lu and Partners as their executive local architect to deliver the project for HK. Mr Bing Thom was inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns in the design of the building, blending traditional and contemporary elements to reflect the evolving nature of the art form.

IWF-HK attends HKAF's Touching the Void

On 24 February 2019, IWF-HK members attended a thrilling play titled Touching the Void as part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2019. The visit was arranged by IWF-HK's longstanding member Tisa Ho.

Gabriela Kennedy hosts a screening of the IWF Miami Conference session “Ideas Remaking the World”

On 15 January 2019, Gabriela Kennedy hosted a screening of the IWF Miami Conference session “Ideas Remaking the World”, at Mayer Brown’s office. A number of IWF Hong Kong members and their guests attended the event.

The session featured three IWF members including IWF-HK member Janice Wang, who presented innovative ideas that have made an incredible impact in their communities. Do you know how many women are homeless in Australia? What do you think would be the item that they would most need and that would give them back their dignity? How do you think technology can impact the fashion industry and what role should you play in this? What is the most serious risk to the health of women and children in the developing world and what solution could be deployed to reduce this risk? The answers : female hygiene items, the fashion industry supply chain and a low cost cooking stove. These solutions and the ideas put forward by the three engaging speakers featured in the session, led to a lively discussion post screening, over drinks amongst those in attendance, on the alleviation of poverty, cultural considerations, the passion to see through ideas however modest or grand, and well-being.

IWF Hong Kong’s AGM and annual dinner

IWF Hong Kong conducted its Annual General Meeting on 6 December 2018, followed by dinner for members and guests. The event was well attended and the members had the pleasure of hearing the talk by Sharon Yeung and Han Yan Yuen - two documentary film directors - who talked about the application of virtual reality to documentary film making with some engaging virtual reality footage.

Dr Judith Mackay is honoured with an Advocacy Award in Cardiovascular Health (5 December 2018)

IWF HK member and former board member, Dr Judith Mackay, is honoured with an Advocacy Award in Cardiovascular Health at the World Congress of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Health 2018 in Dubai (5 December 2018)

Belinda Lui, Vice President of IWF Hong Kong on behalf of AT&T WarnerMedia hosts the screening of Fantastic Beasts - The Crimes of Grindelwald

Belinda Lui welcome guests with Kurt Tong and Andrew Heyn, the US and UK consuls general in Hong Kong, respectively.

IWF Hong Kong Vice President Belinda Lui, Vice President - Head of International Relations & Public Policy Asia-Pacific of AT&T WarnerMedia, hosted a screening on 22 November 2018 of Fantastic Beasts - The Crimes of Grindelwald enthusiastically attended by a number of IWF HK members along with several consul generals, Hong Kong government officials, Hong Kong professionals and other supporters!