Mission

The Fung Global Institute generates and disseminates innovative thinking and business-relevant research on global issues from Asian perspectives. It aims to inform global policy and actions towards a prosperous and sustainable future for all.

A rapidly changing, inter-dependent world demands new thinking on global issues to take account of the full implications of Asia’s growing share of the global economy. With this expanded framework of analysis, the Institute provides resources for business leaders as well as policymakers and civil society to develop the perspectives and tools needed to navigate through this era of transformation.

Background

Into the second decade of the 21st century, shock waves from the recent global recession continue to disrupt economic life in much of the developed world. By contrast, a number of Asian economies, led by China and India, are emerging as growth engines of the global economy. As a result, we can expect continuing change to the global landscape in terms of economics, geopolitics, trade and development. With unprecedented multispeed transformations happening on a global scale, the world is in need of a new discourse and alignment on fundamental issues. More weight needs to be given to diversity of views and values, and the different thinking which underpins them.

Asia’s modern economic revolution, which gathered steam in the final quarter of the last century, has already lifted some 400 million people out of poverty and accelerated growth among the developing countries of Africa and Latin America. However, this achievement has not been without consequences in terms of social dislocation and widespread environmental degradation. Further, Asia’s contribution to global economic activity and resource use will add significantly to the already substantial stresses on the global system. While the “Asian century” holds much ongoing promise in terms of prosperity and development, it is clear that such issues must be better understood and addressed, both by the international community and by Asians themselves.

Against this backdrop, the Institute, a Hong Kong-based independent, non-profit organisation, aims to act as a trusted “pilot” assisting business leaders as well as policymakers and civil society leaders to navigate the largely uncharted and often-turbulent waters as the new global realities unfold.

Core Activities

The Institute pursues its mission through three inter-related activities:

  • It is an independent think-tank producing innovative thinking and research on global issues from Asian perspectives that are relevant both to business leaders and policymakers;
  • It is a centre of Asia-focused executive learning that informs, draws from and, in turn, feeds into the research initiatives and;
  • It is a forum for engaging business as well as global policymakers and civil society leaders in knowledge-sharing and constructive dialogue that is backed by thematic research into key factors and forces driving change in the global economy.

People

The Institute is governed by a Board of Directors comprising individuals distinguished in business, public policy, and scholarship. The governing Board of Directors is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Institute, ensuring that it has clarity of purpose, mission and values, and is financially sound.

The Academic Council ensures that the research agenda of the Institute and its intellectual output maintain an innovative edge and remain relevant in the global discourse.

The Institute’s management team oversees the Institute’s s operational activities.


Core Leadership

Victor K. Fung

Victor K. Fung

Founding Chairman

Andrew Sheng

Andrew Sheng

President

Michael Spence

Michael Spence

Academic Council Chairman

Academic Council

Michael Spence

Michael Spence

Chairman

Andrew Sheng

Andrew Sheng

Member

Hau Lee

Hau Lee

Member

Wu Jinglian

Wu Jinglian

Member

Management

Andrew Sheng

Andrew Sheng

President

Anne LeBourgeois

Anne LeBourgeois

Chief Operating Officer

Lyn Ng

Lyn Ng

Director of Business

Xiao Geng

Xiao Geng

Director of Research

Value Proposition

The value the Institute adds to the discourse on the global economy and delivers to its corporate members and participants in its programmes, can be summarised as follows:

  • Business-relevant: Its research, which deals with pivotal issues such as economic growth and business sustainability, is combined with practical experience and learning that can be applied by senior business executives and policymakers.
  • Unique Analytical Framework: It provides access to experts whose innovative thinking about Asia is integrated into a unique and systematic framework for analysing, understanding and acting upon global issues.
  • Global-Asian: It is Asian yet global in maintaining an international outlook while injecting well-researched perspectives from Asia into global economic discourse.
  • Network-based Learning: It fosters peer-to-peer collaboration and dialogue through the convening power of the Institute’s founders and leaders and their extraordinary personal networks within Asia and across the world.

Strategic Partners

The Institute has partnered with pre-eminent international institutions aligned to its mission with a view to expanding its global community, enhancing dialogue, leveraging networks and creating synergies. In Asia, the Institute’s partners currently include:

  • The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Business and Economics, with which it is co-located at the Cyberport campus on Hong Kong Island
  • The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)
  • Peking University HSBC Business School

Its global partners currently include:

  • ESMT European School of Management and Technology GmBH, Berlin
  • Harvard University Asia Center, US
  • IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • MIT Sloan School of Management, US

The Institute is also in discussion with the London School of Economics and Political Science with the intention of entering into agreements for specific collaboration and partnerships.