Candidate Profile

Charity & Non-Government Services

Alia Elizabeth Eyres

Chief Executive Officer Mother’s Choice

Professional Experience:

Alia currently serves as CEO of Mother’s Choice, leading a team of 150 staff and 500+ regular volunteers. Alia started her career as a corporate lawyer in mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance with Skadden Arps in New York before working with Hogan Lovells in Hong Kong.

Alia brings her passion for vulnerable women and children together with her experience as a lawyer to Mother’s Choice. Alia has helped to innovate programmes that take children out of institutionalised care and move them into safe, loving, and permanent families. As part of her work, she engages widely with the legal, academic, and government communities around child protection and collaborates with the corporate sector. Alia is a strong advocate for the rights of children.

Candidate Profile

Business Management & Administration

David Harilela

CEO of David Harilela Group including Harilela George Limited, Director of Harilela Hotels Limited, Director of Hotel Holdings Limited, Founder and Global Chairman of THE ONE International Humanitarian Award

Professional Experience:

David is an entrepreneur who specialises in trading, manufacturing, licensing, and investment in stocks, properties and hotels. David also specialises in trading and developing major licenses, and has undertaken projects both locally and internationally. As an example, David’s company was the first Asian firm to secure an international multi-category license for the World Cup and worked with renowned fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger & Steffi Graf. Today, David’s company also serves non-profit organisations such as Rotary International. David is a hotelier and is the director of the Hotel Holdings Limited and Harilela Hotels Limited.

Ethnicity:

Gender: Male

When David started in his early career, his major contribution was to lead his company to create innovative consumer products and inventions. Today his business has diversified into various other industries.

Cantonese Understanding:

Can say basic words. E.g. Give taxi directions General meaning of conversations

Alia was born and raised in Hong Kong, her parents are two of the co-founders of Mother’s Choice, and she grew up volunteering alongside her six siblings through childhood. Alia received all of her education in Hong Kong before she went to the US for her Bachelor in Arts, and her J.D. in Law from Georgetown University. Alia is also the recipient of The Macquarie Group Foundation’s David Clarke Social Innovation Fellowship for Asia 2014/15.

Alia is married and is a mother of three young boys, and is pregnant with her fourth son.

Alia speaks conversational Mandarin.

Voluntary Contributions to Hong Kong: Member, Women of Influence Conference and Awards Committee, American Chamber of Commerce.

Volunteer coordinator, and MC Links co-founder, Mother’s Choice.

Board Advisor, International Montessori School.

Youth mentor, Union Church Youth Confirmation Programme.

Quote from Spencer Stuart Hong Kong: www.zubinfoundation.org

Alia is a Hong Kong girl who has come to her dream job working with orphans in Hong Kong through Mother’s Choice. Alia has great capacity and passion for helping the most vulnerable and her private sector legal background is a tremendous asset.

No. of years in Hong Kong: 67

Cantonese Speaking: Cantonese Understanding:

Can speak basic social Cantonese General meaning of conversations www.zubinfoundation.org

David is actively involved in local and international charities. He has founded five charities and other non-profit programmes whilst also remaining fully committed to various charities in Hong Kong.

David is born and raised in Hong Kong. He studied at Diocesan Boys School before obtaining his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, USA. He later was given a honorary Doctorate from City University.

David is married to Avisha and has three beautiful daughters.

Voluntary Contributions to Hong Kong: Adviser, Hong Kong Shared Good Values, since 2016. Adviser, HK WeCARE, since 2015.

International Chair, Rotary International Global Rewards, since 2014. Founding Member, Arts in Heritage Research Limited, since 2013. Vice Patron, The Community Chest of Hong Kong, since 2013. Director, The Community Chest of Hong Kong, 2007-2013.

Founder and Global Chair, THE ONE- International Humanitarian Award; THE ONE Hong Kong Humanitarian Award; THE ONE Philippines Humanitarian Award, since 2011.

District Governor, Rotary International District 3450, 2011-2012. Co-Founded Indian Community Group, in 2004.

Founder and Trustee, George and Chandra Harilela Foundation, since 2003.

Quote from Spencer Stuart Hong Kong: David is a Hong Kong boy who uses his sphere of influence to make a difference in the lives of others less privileged. David is particularly interested in mentoring young people and believes that ethnic minorities must do their best to integrate into mainstream Hong Kong.

Ethnicity:

Gender: Male

No. of years in Hong Kong: 23

Cantonese Speaking: