Professor Helen Bao

PhD, College of Business
Professor, University of Cambridge

“Be kind and work hard.”

Professor Bao (right) and Professor L K Chan, her PhD supervisor and the former Dean of the Faculty of Business (now College of Business).

Professor Bao (front row, first right) with other CityUHK students and faculty.

Born in the vast expanse of Inner Mongolia, Professor Helen Bao undertook a journey from mainland China to the United Kingdom, which was accentuated by a series of propitious events. As China began opening its doors to the world, there was a surge in demand for skilled statisticians in the business sector. To meet this need, scholarships were offered to students to pursue postgraduate degrees in statistics in mainland China. Seizing this opportunity, Professor Bao embarked on a journey into the world of statistics and teaching.

A twist of luck brought Professor Bao to Hong Kong. While working on a statistical project in Dalian, she was introduced to practice-focused research at CityUHK. Impressed by the innovative work being done at CityUHK, along with the offer of a full scholarship, Professor Bao saw this as an excellent opportunity to further her academic pursuits here.

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Professor Bao was impressed by the strong work ethic and sense of ownership demonstrated by the local people. The wealth of information and resources available to her also opened up a new world of possibilities. Her most important mentor at CityUHK was Professor LK Chan, her PhD supervisor and the former Dean of the Faculty of Business (now College of Business). He encouraged Professor Bao to invest in her future by attending international conferences and advised her to learn Cantonese, which proved invaluable for her teaching career.

During her time at CityUHK, Professor Bao actively participated in the development of the Centa-City Index, a crucial tool used to measure the pulse of Hong Kong's property market. She joined the team that created the statistical model, processed the data, and updated the index on a weekly basis using information provided by Centaline Property Agency. This index continues to be widely cited by the media and serves as a guide for the local property market.

In 2005, fate once again intervened in Professor Bao's career. While attending an international conference in Sydney, Australia, she was offered the opportunity to cover for a University of Cambridge professor on sabbatical leave, who taught modules in real estate and finance. The professor later resigned, and Professor Bao became a member of the Cambridge faculty, where she has remained ever since.

Professor Bao's guiding principles – "Be kind and work hard" – have underpinned her success. She also emphasises the importance of understanding and appreciating different perspectives, as this has been key to her ability to navigate diverse academic and cultural environments.

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