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The Asia Global Institute (AGI) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) welcomes 14 mid-career leaders from 12 countries to its 2025 Asia Global Fellows (AGF) programme, marking the ninth year of this flagship initiative. To date, the programme has cultivated a robust network of 105 professionals from 56 countries.

These Fellows—leaders in public policy, business, civil society, and multilaterals—have been selected through a highly competitive process for their demonstrated commitment to addressing global challenges through innovative and inclusive approaches. Hailing from countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, the Fellows bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to Hong Kong.

“We are delighted to host this exceptional group of global influencers,” said Professor Heiwai Tang, Director of AGI and Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics, Associate Vice President (Global) of HKU. “The AsiaGlobal Fellows Programme is designed to deepen understanding of global issues from Asian perspectives and to foster meaningful dialogue across cultures and disciplines.”

The 2025 cohort includes a Georgian reformer who served as the first female chief of Ukraine’s 110,000-strong national police force; a senior energy expert at the Prime Minister's Office of Pakistan, leading the country’s energy sector transformation and investments, including the US$33 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project; a former programme director at the East-West Center, with two decades of experience in strengthening mutual understanding between the East and the West; and a Zimbabwean healthcare executive driving digital innovation to advance sustainable health coverage in South Africa.

“The AsiaGlobal Fellows Programme is more than a leadership initiative—it’s a catalyst to promote transformation to cope with a rapidly-changing world,” said Kwok-chuen Kwok, Director of the AGF Programme. “We eagerly anticipate the Fellows’ contributions to the HKU community, to Hong Kong, and to a broader global dialogue. Over the years, the Program has successfully nurtured leaders who play pivotal roles in building and strengthening ties between their home countries and Hong Kong. We are excited to welcome this new cohort into our global alumni family and to continue fostering meaningful relationships between the Fellows’ countries and Hong Kong.”

The AGF Programme is supported by the generous contributions from the New World Group Charity Foundation and the Tanoto Foundation.

To learn more about the Fellows and their backgrounds, please visit: https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/fellows

During their stay in Hong Kong from September 1 to November 21, the Fellows are open to press interviews and speaking engagements.

For more information about the programme, please visit: https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/

About Asia Global Institute
The Asia Global Institute is an independent think tank that generates and disseminates innovative thinking and policy-relevant research on global issues from Asian perspectives. It aims to inform global policy and actions towards a prosperous and sustainable future for all.

About New World Development Charity Foundation
To fulfil New World Group's commitment to corporate sustainability, the New World Group Charity Foundation was established in 2011 with the aim of contributing to charities and worthy causes and providing practical support to various sports, art and cultural programmes initiated by the Group. This establishment helps the Group achieve its goals of improving social mobility of the under-resourced and fostering social harmony.

About Tanoto Foundation
The Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto based on the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunity. Tanoto Foundation harnesses the transformative power of education to realise people’s full potential and improve lives. It focuses on making an impact in Indonesia, Singapore and China, in the areas of improving learning environments, future leaders development, as well as facilitating medical research and sciences.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Fiona Li
T:+852 3917 1275 E: fykli@hku.hk