HK4FAMILIES Conference 2025 fosters connections between business professionals and family offices for future growth
The Centre for Family Business (CFB) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School successfully launched the inaugural HK4FAMILIES Conference on 24-25 January 2025. The event brought together 560 professionals from various disciplines and legacy family business members to connect both virtually and in person.
Organised by CUHK CFB, the HK4FAMILIES Conference aims to connect professionals from diverse fields with the family office sector, focusing on four key themes: philanthropy, affairs, investment, and succession. This year, the two-day event featured a host of legacy family business members who shed light on thriving in the evolving landscape of family businesses.
In his welcome address, Professor Anthony T.C. Chan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, highlighted the significance of the conference, “At the heart of today’s conference is a vision—one that aligns deeply with the aspirations of Hong Kong as a global hub for excellence, innovation, and collaboration. This event marks a significant milestone, as it brings together leaders, practitioners, and academics to discuss one of the most dynamic and promising industries shaping the future of our city.”
In his welcome address, Professor Anthony T.C. Chan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, highlighted the significance of the family business in shaping the future of Hong Kong
Mr Marshall Jen, Executive Director of CUHK CFB, further elaborated on the evolving landscape of family offices in his keynote speech, “A lot of ultra-high-net-worth families in Asia are still in their first or second generation of wealth. However, the next generation have completely different priorities, spanning ESG, philanthropy, and technology. We must prepare our talent to meet these new demands.”
Ms Angel Chia, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, added, “Hong Kong already has the foundation to become a global leader in family office talent development. What we need is a focused strategy, including certification programmes, internships and apprenticeships, cross-industry recruitment, and continuous professional development.”
A key highlight of the conference was the Family-In-Business Intelligence Talk (FIBI Talk), where four esteemed business families shared their insightful success stories. Meanwhile, industry practitioners also discussed the critical skills required to deliver effective family office services. The conference also showcased an AI-powered tool developed by the HK4FAMILIES team to match professionals with relevant functions in the family office sector.