Advisory Committee
Ajmal Samuel
Ajmal Victor Samuel ( 施 杰 浩 ) is the founder of Ajmal Samuel Foundation (ASF) with its main purpose to promote inclusive wellbeing. He is the Founding Chairman of OCTO3 Group Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong headquartered financial technology and infrastructure provider that specializes in Payments and Clearing House Systems. Prior to founding OCTO3, Mr. Samuel spent six years as the CEO and President of Cityline (HK) Ltd. Ajmal is also a Hong Kong national-level para-athlete and has had several podium finishes while rowing in Single Sculls – PR1 Category. In 2018 he brought back a gold medal for Hong Kong at the Asian Rowing Championships in Korea. Ajmal is also engaged in volunteering, was a Founding Member of the Association for Universal Accessibility, and gives his time as a mentor and motivational speaker. He was appointed by HKSAR Government to sit on the Sir David Trench Fund Committee and by City University as Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR). He also serves as the Vice Chairman of Hong Kong China Rowing Association (HKCRA). Ajmal is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors (fHKIoD), a Member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), International Computer Society, and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Andrew Work
Andrew Work is the Executive Director of the Self Storage Association Asia. He is a co-founder of The Lion Rock Institute (est 2004) and Harbour Times (est 2013, sold 2021). He is the former Executive Director of The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (2007-2012) and former President of the McGill Society of Hong Kong (B.Sc 1994). He holds an MBA from the University of Victoria (MBA, 2006). He arrived in Hong Kong in 1996 and used to play more Ultimate Frisbee but has been more of a hill climber and muay thai guy of late.
David Nesbitt
David has over thirty-five years of experience in Asia-Pacific, and has managed Hong Kong subsidiaries of major international financial service firms. He is co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Nesbitt Centre Limited, a Centre for Special Needs adults which provides programs for life skills and employment opportunities at the Centre’s four Social Enterprises. David is a graduate of two Canadian universities, a Fellow of the HKIoD and recently a Guest Lecturer at the LBS-HKU-Columbia EMBA Global Asia Program.
Dr Ilex Lam
Ilex has over 30 years of experience in financial sector, NGOs and social enterprises. Through I-Enterprise, he has exemplified how cross-sector collaboration can unleash neglected productivity of people with disability and underprivileged communities alongside with co-creating stakeholder interests sustainably since 2012. Ilex currently serves with different roles including Chairman of I-Enterprise Foundation, Senior Advisor to UNDP SDG Impact Finance and Adjunct Professor of City University of Hong Kong.
Dr Isa Scheunpflug
Dr Isa Scheunpflug likes to apply unorthodox approaches to old problems. She is passionate about sports and believes in lifelong learning. Isa is a competitive Master rower, racing for the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, and a Director of the Hong Kong China Rowing Association with the ambition to make everyone joining the sport faster, better, and happier. She holds a MSc and a PhD in Mathematical Economics which she is putting to work in the financial industry for 25 years to simplify the life of employees and customers.
Dr Lakshmi Jacota
Lakshmi has worked predominantly with non-governmental organisations around the world, with stints in academia, since the completion of her doctorate from the University of Oxford. She currently works for The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups as a researcher, analyst and writer, while continuing to be active in other community and service organisations, either as a volunteer or Board Member.
Philip O. Penaloza
Philip leads impact philanthropy for The Nature Conservancy. He has 30 years experience in investments, with Lombard Odier, Citi Private Bank, and Merrill Lynch, after his MBA from UCLA. He is also an advisor to Niio, a digital art e-commerce platform. Philip is fluent in six languages; a triathlete, and the president of the Triathlon Association (TriHK) 2010 – 2013.