Mastering the Unpredictable: True Stories of Navigating Crisis

In times of uncertainty, effective leadership relies on staying calm, making sound decisions, and leading with clarity. Drawing from decades of executive decision-making, Prof. Philip Chen will share practical perspectives on crisis management and navigating complex organizational challenges, followed by an engaging dialogic exchange with Prof. Kai-Lung Hui.

Speaker: Prof. Professor Philip N L Chen
Professor of Practice in Management and Strategy, HKU Business School
Independent Non-Executive Director, Hang Lung Properties Limited

Prof. Philip Chen is Independent Non-Executive Director of Hang Lung Properties Limited. He retired as Chief Executive Officer of Hang Lung Group and Hang Lung Properties in July 2018.

Prior to joining Hang Lung in 2010, Prof. Chen spent 33 years with the Swire Group, holding senior positions including Chairman of John Swire & Sons (China), Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways, and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines. He is widely recognised for transforming four major companies in Hong Kong over 25 years—turning around Dragonair and Ocean Park, changing the business model of Cathay Pacific, and transforming Hang Lung Properties.

Awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2012, Prof. Chen maintains strong ties with HKUST. He was named a Beta Gamma Sigma Honoree in 2001 and conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration in 2004. Drawing on decades of executive experience, he continues to share practical insights on leadership and crisis management.

Discussant: Prof. Kai-Lung Hui
Associate Provost (Academic Development), HKUST
Elman Family Professor of Business
Chair Professor, Department of ISOM

Prof. Hui is an internationally recognised scholar in cybersecurity economics, information privacy, FinTech, and IT policy. An elected Fellow of the Association for Information Systems and Distinguished Fellow of the INFORMS Information Systems Society, he has published extensively in leading journals including Management Science, Information Systems Research, and MIS Quarterly.

When serving as Acting Dean of Business & Management, Prof. Hui secured a new university hub in Admiralty, established a China strategy team, and launched interdisciplinary initiatives in AI, cybersecurity, and executive education. Earlier, as Head of ISOM, he transformed the Information Systems curriculum and founded the Research Center on Business and Social Analytics.

Registration starts at 12:10pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Complimentary Copies and Book Signing

• The first 100 participants will receive a complimentary copy of Prof. Chen’s latest book, 《臨危不亂—危機管理兵法》 (Staying Calm in Crisis – The Art of Crisis Management).
• An author signing session will follow the event.
• Books authored by Prof. Chen will be available for sale at the venue.

Special thanks to the Office of the Provost for the generous support to the event.

This talk supports the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• This is a HMAW1905-recognized event in the "Personal Enrichment & Community Service" category under the "Self-directed Experience" of HMAW1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness.
• To receive 1.5 hour, you must attend the event in full and miss no more than 10 mins.
• Photos will be taken during the talk. By attending or participating in this event, you are giving your consent to be photographed and you are waiving any and all claims regarding the use of your image by the University.