“CityUers are Winners”!
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A devoted CityUHK alumnus and business adventurer, Dr Andrew Fan Ka-fai has developed his own set of philosophies to guide his life and career. Most of all, he firmly believes a person grows by opening up their mind. “By knowing more about the culture of other countries, we broaden our vision and break through cognitive boundaries,” he says.
(International) Biotechnology Limited
Court Member, CityUHK
Bachelor of Arts with Honours in
Business Studies, CityUHK
Dr Fan started his career as a market researcher after graduating as a Business major from CityUHK in 1988. He then worked at his father’s tannery in Shenzhen for a year before heading to Indonesia. “I wanted to carve out a niche of my own just like my father. He always encouraged me to try my hand at different things. So I quit my job.” His father’s words clearly motivated him.
The following 30-plus years have been highly challenging. In 1991, he joined the NYSE-listed company Nu Skin Enterprises Inc, eventually becoming Regional President for Southeast Asia in 1997. But Dr Fan’s “mission” didn’t stop there. In 2007, he was named Nu Skin’s Regional President for Greater China, overseeing business development in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
Dr Fan has encountered many hitches throughout his career; fortunately, he is a problem solver. “Being able to sort out difficulties is the real meaning of work,” Dr Fan emphasises. “We learn new things and sharpen our critical thinking through problem-solving. This is how we become more sophisticated and successful.”
Dr Fan believes that solutions often outnumber complications. “What you need to succeed is having confidence in yourself,” he says.
Although Dr Fan has frequently travelled around cities in the Americas, Europe, Asia and mainland China over the past three decades, he maintains an indestructible bond with CityUHK, an institution that trained him to become an effective leader, he notes. In 2007, he helped to found the statutory alumni body CityUHK Convocation. And over the years, Dr Fan has been supporting his alma mater in mainland China by strengthening the connection between alumni through activities organised by CityUHK and alumni associations. One of his roles includes serving as the CityUHK Greater China Alumni Ambassador.
“We should feel grateful for favours received and the small things around us. Then, we see a brighter and more cheerful world,” says Dr Fan, an attitude that explains the strong connection between Dr Fan and CityUHK and accounts for why he has donated so big-heartedly to CityUHK’s long-term development since 2000.
Acknowledging his care and love for his alma mater, the “Fan Lee Foon Student Career Centre” was named after Dr Fan’s late grandmother in 2010 and the “Connie Fan Multi-media Conference Room” was named after his mother, Mrs Connie Fan Pang Yee-man, in 2011. To encourage the alumni giving culture, Dr Fan initiated the term-naming arrangement of the above two campus facilities, which have been/will be renamed subsequently in acknowledgment of subsequent alumni support. This initiative enables CityUHK to receive new gifts from donors in support of its development. In addition, the FANs Award Scheme launched by Dr Fan has benefited some 300 students since it was established in 2007. In recognition of his significant contributions, Dr Fan was conferred an Honorary Fellowship and the Distinguished Alumni Award by CityUHK in 2009. In addition, he was appointed to sit on the Council and then the Court.
Dr Fan’s current position as Chief Strategy Advisor at Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Ltd is also tightly linked with CityUHK. Professor Cheng Shuk-han at CityUHK’s Department of Biomedical Sciences has led the research into transgenic medaka fish. Two CityUHK alumni, Mr Eric Chen and Dr Chen Xueping, are co-founders of the company. As Advisor, Dr Fan wants to help strengthen the company as far as possible.
Dr Andrew Fan
Job title:
- Chief Strategy Advisor, Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited
Education award received from CityUHK:
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Business Studies, CityUHK (1988)
CityUHK capacity:
- Member, CityUHK Council (2007, 2013–2018)
- Member, CityUHK Court (2019–2024)
- Chairman, Community Relations Committee, CityUHK Council (2016–2018)
- Honorary Fellow, CityUHK (2009)
- Honorary President, CityUHK Foundation (2014–present)
- Recipient, Distinguished Alumni Award (2009)
- Founding Member, CityUHK Eminence Society
This article is extracted from CityUHK Today.