Roll up, Roll up

After a stretch in the doldrums, the club clocked up just short of 90 new members this summer; 43 of them have been sufficiently daring to grant us a snapshot of their lives.

Edward Alder

After 30 years in Hong Kong, I have seized the opportunity to join the FCC. I have been a constant visitor over the years and finally decided to “do the right thing” and join. It is great to have a familiar watering hole in the city at my disposal. I am lawyer by occupation: five years in Sydney and now 30 in Hong Kong, having transformed from solicitor to barrister 17 years ago. Plenty of familiar faces at the club.

linkedin.com/in/edward-alder-a8a205202/

DAVID BENSKIN linkedin.com/in/david-benskin353a6051/?originalSubdomain=hk

Originally from the UK, I moved to Hong Kong in 2011 with HSBC and my now wife Carly. We have two young sons who were both born here. In 2020 I co-founded 28 Advisory, a boutique wealth advisory firm serving international clients. We are a small, passionate team, and I have a tremendous enthusiasm for small- and medium-sized businesses in Hong Kong. Outside of business and spending time my young family, I very much enjoy team sports.

JOHN BINKS

I was born in the UK in the second half of the last century, and – unable to countenance another London winter – pitched up in Hong Kong in early 1981. I worked in government until 2008 in a range of roles, most significantly on issues relating to the 1997 Handover. My last job was on the Equestrian Events as part of Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since leaving Government, I have worked as a consultant in the events industry.

Mark Carr

LAWRENCE BRADER linkedin.com/in/lawrencebrader/

Following the collapse of the Icelandic bank that I worked for in 2008, my parents suggested heading to Asia. They were right, and I have since had the opportunity to meet many fascinating people and work for several asset management firms. Currently, I work at HSBC, where I select investment funds. Outside of work, I have three passions. Firstly, I enjoy watersports. Secondly, I am passionate about reptiles. Lastly, my children bring great purpose to my life.

Manchester lad. Moved here 10 years ago as Chief Architect at the Jockey Club and to break in the horses. Don’t ask – my betting skills are non-existent. I’m now at the Stock Exchange and my ability to play the markets is as weak as my betting and my Cantonese is even worse. My PA told me “at your age it would be easier to marry the teacher than learn the language”, which I did and now her English is perfect.

Nicholas Case

I’m a co-founder of AsiaEdit, a Hong Kong-based editing service which helps academics across Asia publish their research. Hailing from the UK, I first set foot in Hong Kong in the mid-1980s and relocated proper in 1992. While working for Tatler, Inside Fashion and Chinese University in a variety of roles, I discovered my passion lay in editing and training. With the pandemic out of the way, I am looking forward to dusting off my squash racket and travelling again.

linkedin.com/in/nickcase-88818316/

JANSSEN CHAN

KIERAN

Cash

I moved to Hong Kong from Australia seven years ago. After a number of years at the French Chamber of Commerce, I recently joined the South China Morning Post as a production editor on the City desk. I am looking forward to sheltering from another sweltering summer –this time in the cool confines of the FCC.

twitter.com/kieranmcash linkedin.com/in/kierancash/

AMOS CHAN linkedin.com/in/amos-chan-3a536012b/

I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I am a structured products specialist at Julius Baer, specialising in trading derivatives and providing advisory to bankers and clients. I’m a fan of basketball, hiking and powerlifting, and spend my spare time working out to stay healthy. I’m also a wine enthusiast and enjoy the art of wine tasting. Being fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, I like to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Veronica Chow

Born in Hong Kong, my childhood dream was to be a correspondent! Time flies – the little girl has grown up and become a corporate and commercial lawyer after completing her studies in England. The busy and often stressful work schedule does not stop me from being an outgoing and enthusiastic person who always believes where there is a will, there is a way. My interests include singing, history, photography, horse-riding and skiing, and I enjoy interacting with dogs and horses.

I specialise in tax planning and compliance for Hong Kong and mainland China, with a particular focus on cross-border tax planning for expatriates working in these two regions. I also have various voluntary roles, and provide recommendations to the government on economic stimulus measures in the annual budget. Outside of work, I indulge my love of food by being a judge for MasterChef, and I enjoy sampling different restaurants and chatting with chefs.

linkedin.com/in/janssen-chan-fcpa-acma cgma-95039616/

PETER CHEN GUANG linkedin.com/in/peter-guang-chen-6463773/

I was born at the French Hospital in Kowloon, and lived on Cameron Road in Tsim Sha Tsui when it was still a quiet street. At 18, I got a job with the United Nations in New York. Later, I became a lawyer and operated my own firm for 16 years. After 40 years in the US, I returned to Hong Kong and took the bar exam. It took me two attempts to pass – I was flabbergasted.

GERALD CLOUGH

I was born in Cheshire, England, and lived in Yorkshire and Mauritius while growing up. After working in Bemuda for eight years I was offered a one-year contract in Hong Kong in 1989 and have lived here ever since. I met my beloved wife, Kitty, here. My career has been in financial services, initially insurance for a brief time fund management. These days I continue to work part-time and play golf to an increasingly poor standard.

RICHARD GOSS linkedin.com/in/richard-g-1ab2b37

I am British-Canadian and have lived in three different Asian countries over the past three decades. I now work in tertiary education but have held many interesting jobs in my life, including chef, property developer and deejay. My wife and I have travelled to many countries and are both avid hikers, exercise freaks, music lovers and connoisseurs of international cuisine and fine wine. I am also an ardent photographer and technophile who is constantly trying to upgrade his technical skills.

MICHAEL GRIFFITHS

After growing up in South Wales and attending Cheltenham College, I spent five years in the Royal Navy. My wife and I married in 1981 and the following year I began working with Gallaher Tobacco, travelling extensively and working in most divisions. I finally settled in human resources, heading up Europe when Gallaher was acquired by JTI in 2007. In 2010 I relocated to Hong Kong as vice president for Asia-Pacific and I retired from this role in 2021.

ALEXANDRE HUGUET

JAMES HILL linkedin.com/in/james-hill

I run the Greater China team of a financial and corporate communications and public affairs consultancy called SEC Newgate. I have lived in Hong Kong for 12 years and never grow tired of its dynamism, hiking trails and beaches. My great passion in life is heading off to my weekend home in Tong Fuk in South Lantau, and spending time running the trails and barbecuing with friends.

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MUKESH KALRA linkedin.com/in/alexandre-huguet-3417797b

I am a London-born Hong Kong local. Previously a hospitality professional, I recently decided to transition my career to real estate, completing a Master’s at HKU. Based on what I enjoyed most from my programme, I am currently looking at opportunities in valuation or capital markets. In my free time, I play hockey, enjoy a bit of sailing, and ski as often as I can. Plus: I opened a bar/nightclub last December, which is doing pretty well.

After graduating, I initially worked in India before moving to Guangzhou and then on to Hong Kong. I started my own business, Mercury Global, in 2010, marketing industrial chemicals to several Western countries. The head office is in Hong Kong and we have operations in Guangzhou and Shanghai. I recently took up golf and practise and play regularly. Otherwise, I read, exercise and sketch in my free time.

STEWART JAMES

Like many, I came to Hong Kong on secondment. My backstory? Having decided that politicians weren’t gripping climate change, I joined the British civil service to sort them out (no giggling please). Thus started a journey that has taken me around the world. Along the way, I’ve played a bit of sport, listened to some good music and enjoyed too many late nights in bars. Most importantly, I was lucky enough to meet my partner, Anna, here.

VIBHA KARNIK hk.linkedin.com/in/vibhakarnik

I grew up in Oman. Since then work and study have taken me to 40 countries, learning more about the world and its people each time. Since 2013, Hong Kong has been home. I love this city for its “order in chaos” and the eclectic mix of people. After working in marketing and communications, I moved to the non-profit sector in 2020. Today I work with The Zubin Foundation, focusing on improving the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities.

WENDY LEADBEATER linkedin.com/in/wendy-leadbeater304940a6

I am a registered veterinary nurse with over 20 years’ experience. I have a strong passion for animal welfare and teaching veterinary nursing. I have lived in Hong Kong for six years, and previously lived in Chengdu working for Animals Asia. What started as a volunteer position turned into 10 wonderful years. I met my husband Chris in Chengdu. My current role is with MARS Veterinary Health as the medical support and nurse education manager.

Marcus Lee

I am fortunate enough to have spent my schooling in Edinburgh and Oxford. At the latter, I read history and language of the ancient Near East, and shot target rifle for the Blues. In addition to history, my fields of interest are in international relations, horses, wine and squash. Like many of my peers from an arts background, I have gone down the well-trodden path of joining the civil service and find myself now back in my native Hong Kong.

BECKY LEE freebasemedia.com/ linkedin.com/in/beckyleefbm/

I’m a film and TV producer and voiceover talent. I produce creative content, both fiction and non-fiction programmes, for overseas networks and streamers. You may have heard my voice before on some government public service announcement and had no idea it was me. I’m a former journalist and grew up in Montreal, Canada. When I’m not working, I’m usually travelling or exploring Hong Kong’s off-trail nature, somewhere at sea or searching for secret caves and tunnels in the mountains.

Tuomas Lilleberg

VINCENT LEUNG GAR-GENE

I’m the CFO of AOP Capital, a boutique corporate advisory and asset management business. I’m a proud Australian, having spent my childhood and young adult life there. I started my career in a Big Four accounting firm in Sydney, and my roles in accounting took me to Hong Kong. I feel the real opportunity here lies in the city’s unique communities, which is why I give back through serving on the Council of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

linkedin.com/in/vincentgleung/

EVELYN

Lok Ho Yin

Growing up bilingual and shuttling between Hong Kong and Toronto even before I could speak meant that observing was always heaps more fun than talking – I soon found a way to put these little musings to paper. Loving art and language, I studied art history and English language and linguistics at HKU. Since then, I’ve written and edited for publications layman and luxury, for brands and sometimes for myself. linkedin.com/in/evelyn-lok-0a600352/ evelynlok.com linkedin.com/in/lilleberg

I moved to Hong Kong last summer together with my wife and daughter from Shanghai where we lived for the past 12 (crazy!) years. After 18 years of the corporate world, I now work as a consultant for Western companies concerning their China operations and issues, and my wife has a busy corporate job. In Hong Kong we enjoy the beautiful nature, awesome hiking trails, great beaches with all the watersports, and generally nice international atmosphere.

Jacky Luk Chun Kau

I am the Senior Managing Editor of Ming Pao. I have been in the media industry for 28 years and mainly focus on reporting and editing economic and investment news. My main hobbies are reading and travelling around the world. I have written 14 books focusing on property and stock investment. The world is changing rapidly and dramatically, so it’s very challenging to work in the news industry.

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MINAL RAMESH MAHTANI ocdanxietyhk.org linkedin.com/in/mahtani-minal-69075732/

I am a fourth-generation Hong Konger. I was a primary school teacher and then transitioned to the mental health field. I set up a charity – OCD & Anxiety Support Hong Kong – in 2019 dedicated to supporting individuals and their families affected by obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders and depression. I also have a private practice where I work as a cognitive behavioural therapist. It is my mission to serve sufferers of mental illness who are often stigmatised and misunderstood.

Tiger Shi

RUSSELL PARKER

My background is boats. I am Vice President of the Hong Kong Sailing Federation and former Rear Commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. For the past 25 years, I’ve been skippering a programme to win all of the major local offshore races and most of the regional regattas. My wife, Amanda, and I race our VX One sportsboat and spent much of the silly COVID-19 years exploring Hong Kong’s islands on our S&S 47 cruiser.

Orla Elizabeth Ryan

I am an editor with the Financial Times and moved to Hong Kong from London in late December with my husband and two children. I’m Irish and have been a journalist for all of my professional life. I previously lived and worked in Africa for four years and am the author of Chocolate Nations: Living and Dying Cocoa in West Africa. I enjoy travel, reading and writing and am constantly trying to convince our children of the merits of long hikes.

linkedin.com/in/orla-ryan-1867014/ linkedin.com/in/tiger-shi-43804a10a/ linkedin.com/in/sogeefoogeorge

I am a founding partner and chief executive officer of Bands Financial. I was born in China and after time spent as a civil servant and on the London Metal Exchange I moved to Hong Kong where in 2015 I co-founded Bands, which has become a dynamic financial services firm. I now live here with my wife and two daughters, doing my best to stay active either in a team or jogging by myself.

I grew up in Hong Kong, but moved to Singapore in 1989. I’ve worked in various professions around the world but my real passion lies with playing flamenco Latin jazz guitar instrumental. I started performing in public in 2011, moonlighting at The Ritz-Carlton Singapore on Saturday nights till 2018, then at the Sofitel Tanjong Pagar and The Fullerton Singapore. I gigged at Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong whenever I was here on a business trip. I’m retired now, but still play guitar.

JOEY SUNG

I moved to Hong Kong from the US in 2006 and am now Senior Director and Head of Forensic Services at Perun Consultants, which specialises in insolvency, restructuring and forensic accounting. My work often involves complicated investigation and prolonged legal proceedings, hence, can be very demanding and stressful. However, I genuinely enjoy every bit of it. For leisure (never have enough), I love to travel, work out, take a long walk and engage in interesting and intelligent conversations.

Benedict Sutton

I am from the UK but have lived in Hong Kong for almost 16 years and would certainly call it my home. Most of my working life here was spent with HSBC Private Bank until 2020 when I co-founded 28 Advisory, which helps many international families organise their wealth, planning and legacies. Outside of work I enjoy outrigger canoeing, music and represented Great Britain at the World Dragon Boat Championships in Thailand in 2019.

I am a shipbroker and thoroughly enjoy it. When I was deciding which subject to study at university, I chose international shipping and transport logistics at PolyU. The word “international” caught my eye because I have always had a desire to travel around the world. After graduating, I made two resolutions: firstly, to learn something new, such as wine tasting or motorcycling; secondly, to participate in some long hikes such as To the Top, Immortals and Moontrekkers.

The photo was taken in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression, arguably the most inhospitable place on earth; I was fatigued, but the scenery, almost unreal, was more fantastic than my imagination. The power of travel carries me. In this journey we all share the same destination. I am looking to find the truth of life, straddling across roles (in the public sector mostly); interested in the arts (and technology); I write but can only write in my head.

instagram.com/holliskit linkedin.com/in/tonyjwilliams/ linkedin.com/in/ceicy-wong-870010b/

I first came to Hong Kong in 2003 and spent much of 2004 and 2005 on the mainland as the bank that I worked for then had completed an investment in the Bank of China. I spent many weeks in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Hong Kong and always knew I would come back more permanently at some stage. I now work for Korn Ferry as a Global Account Director supporting our financial services clients across a wide range of topics.

I’m part of the Financial Times Asia news editing team. I live in Hong Kong with my wife, a teacher, and one of our three children. I’ve been a journalist for almost 30 years. I have also been lucky enough to live and work in Latin America, Germany and Japan. A long time ago, home used to be northeast England. Hong Kong is a great place to go hiking but I’m also very happy with a drink and a crossword.

I was born in Hong Kong, grew up in Taiwan, and have studied in the US, Britain and France. In 2015, I decided to start my own business by introducing Vegware, a sustainable, plant-based disposable packaging to Hong Kong. I’m also an adventurous traveller, and have visited Xinjiang, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan on the Silk Road. I’m fascinated by different cultures: Lebanon, Israel, Africa and, last but not least, North Korea. Definitely a one-of-a-kind experience.

I’m a qualified mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in the contracting business. Golfing with my sons, friends and business partners is how I unwind from work. It’s more than just a hobby; it’s a great way for me to bond with those closest to me. In December, I received a hole-in-one certificate at a golf course in Bangkok, which was a memorable achievement.

I have had some amazing experiences in the movie industry, including bringing N!xau the African bushman here for the 1993 film Crazy Hong Kong. Despite the language problems, he was very adaptable, and he really got into taking saunas at a trendy spa. After I left production, I moved into film distribution. My trips to Europe gave me the perfect opportunity to get into the wine importing business. I am constantly searching for niche films as well as palatable boutique wines.

Candice Yip

I was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the US when I was five. My artist father stayed at home to take care of me, the only child, while mother went to the office. I grew up in San Leandro, California; my elementary, junior high and high school were all on the same street. I graduated from UC Davis and then moved here to join the finance industry. Fifteen years later, I can say Hong Kong is my home. linkedin.com/in/candice-yip-94324a4/

Rumen Yordanov

I belong to the rare breed of Bulgarians who live in Hong Kong. I arrived here in 2007 and although it was supposed to be just a stop on my way to mainland China, Hong Kong became a home for me and my family. My passion for sustainability and engineering led me to start a few companies in this field, most notably Asian European Engineering. Besides that, music is an important part of my life, particularly playing piano.

linkedin.com/in/rumen-yordanov/ twitter.com/RumenDYordanov

WILLIAM

Zheng Wei

I started working for Singapore Press Holdings in 1997 and later became chief editor of Zaobao.com, one of the most popular news portals for global Chinese readers. In 2013, I was persuaded to join the South China Morning Post in the city where I had covered my first major assignment, the Handover, 16 years before. Life is a circle. Until now, I have never regretted the decision because Hong Kong is indeed the best place to cover mainland China. linkedin.com/in/zheng-wei-william-09758048/

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