Honorary University Fellows
Dr Raymond Chan Wai-Man is the Managing Director of the Shaw Group of Companies and Chairman of the Shaw Foundation and the Shaw Prize Foundation, overseeing the Group’s overall business operations as well as its philanthropic endeavours.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Dr Chan holds BA (Hons) and B Arch (Hons) degrees from the University of Liverpool, UK. He is a registered architect under the Architect Registration Board in both the UK and Hong Kong, and a Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
Under Dr Chan’s leadership, the Shaw Group has been building on its storied role in the development of the film and television industry by actively nurturing young filmmakers and creative content makers in the Greater Bay Area and building a platform for innovation in emerging digital media technologies to create global impact.
In recent years, Dr Chan has focused the Shaw Foundation on education, arts and culture, healthcare and the relief of hardship, with an emphasis on supporting the local community. Notable projects include the Shaw Auditorium at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the redevelopment of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in London, the restoration of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves, and support for scientific research efforts in the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and the UK, as well as healthcare initiatives and disaster relief.
As Chairman of the Shaw Prize Foundation, Dr Chan has guided the prestigious international award since its inception in 2012, honouring outstanding contributions in astronomy, computer science, life science and medicine, and mathematical science.
Dr Chan was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2025. He is on the Board of Trustees of Shaw College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, an Honorary Trustee of Peking University and Trustee of Zhejiang University. He has been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Liverpool, and Honorary University Fellowships from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Citation delivered by Professor David Pomfret, Dean of Arts
Dr Raymond Chan Wai Man is the Managing Director of the Shaw Group of Companies and Chairman of the Shaw Foundation and the Shaw Prize Foundation, overseeing the Group’s overall business operations as well as its philanthropic endeavours.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Dr Chan holds BA (Hons) and B Arch (Hons) degrees from the University of Liverpool, UK. He is a registered architect under the Architect Registration Board in both UK and Hong Kong, and a Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
Dr Chan has the distinguished professional credentials of an architect, and I was delighted of course to learn that his heart belongs to the arts!
Film, television, and popular culture are his passions, and he feels that these are the areas of artistic endeavour that have shaped the collective memory and identity of society in Hong Kong and beyond.
The Shaw Group, founded by the legendary Sir Run Run Shaw, became the mainstay of Hong Kong cinema, and dominated the landscape of legacy film, and television. The Group remains a key player in the entertainment industry, providing facilities and services, as well as sponsoring major events and programs for schools and professionals. While traditional film and television face increasing challenges from changing viewer habits and technology, demand for digital entertainment has continued to grow. Today’s technology increasingly blurs the line between film, social media, and emerging media like virtual reality and AI-powered platforms.
Dr Chan remains optimistic, pointing out that, and I quote: “While technology has created challenge, it has also created opportunity.” End quote.
He believes that by working with the government and the creative community, Hong Kong can re-establish a leading role in the new world of digital entertainment.
In recent years, Dr Chan has focused the Shaw Foundation on education, arts and culture, healthcare and the relief of hardship, with a special emphasis on supporting the local community.
The axiom, “With great power comes great responsibility,” is now very often accredited to the Spider Man movie franchise, as indeed Dr Chan himself must be aware. But as a historian, I am obliged to point out that there are many earlier historical precedents, with variations of this sentiment appearing in the bible and ancient texts of other faiths, right through to invocations delivered by more recent Prime Ministers and Presidents.
The crucial point here is that Dr Chan is mindful of this sense of responsibility. As he has said: “I am a steward of the Foundation, entrusted to safeguard its legacy, extend its positive impact for the community and guide it through rapidly evolving times.” End quote.
Under his leadership, the Shaw Foundation has strengthened and advanced its mission of making a meaningful and lasting difference to society by enabling others to realise their potential. Its philosophy is one of quiet philanthropy; providing help to the needy without undue publicity or fanfare.
There are several projects of which Dr Chan is particularly proud. The first is the groundbreaking Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Zhejiang, China, established in 1994 by the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, with technical support from Loma Linda University Health in California. It set the standard for modern healthcare across the country, and under Dr Chan’s leadership, the Foundation continues to contribute significantly to the development of the hospital, and life sciences research projects across the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.
The second is the Shaw Prize - a prestigious award established in Hong Kong in 2002 by Sir Run Run Shaw that honours scientists worldwide who have made outstanding and profound breakthroughs in academic research. Dr Chan observes that, against strong economic and geopolitical headwinds, various academic awards and grants around the world have unfortunately shut down. On the other hand, the Shaw Prize, which is now in its third decade, has gone from strength to strength to become one of the pre-eminent scientific awards globally. As Chairman of the Shaw Prize Foundation, Dr Chan has raised the monetary award over the years, established an award in computer science, and increased support for the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, an important government-endorsed platform for international scientific exchange between renowned professors and students.
And of course, there are the world-famous Shaw Studios, one of the largest film and television production facilities in Asia. For over twenty years, and in spite of the global challenges impacting the film industry around the world, the Studios continually upgraded their infrastructure to stay in line with or even ahead of international standards.
Recognising the need to nurture the next generation of talent, Dr Chan established the Shaw Creative Hub – which now provides subsidised production space, sponsored programmes, and collaboration opportunities for students and young filmmakers. As the global media landscape is evolving rapidly, he remains committed to revitalising the studios into a hub of entertainment content creation for the Greater Bay Area.
Dr Chan feels his parents deserve huge credit for his success, as they encouraged him to pursue architecture, which taught him discipline and skills in sustainable design and problem solving. He says his wife Diana and his three children motivate him, are a constant source of strength, and keep him in line. And unsurprisingly, his mentors Sir Run Run and Lady Shaw remain a guiding light. To him, they were both remarkable visionaries with a great sense of social responsibility who humbled and inspired him.
Indeed, Dr Chan likes to quote Sir Run Run himself, who said: “The greatest reward of entrepreneurship lies in using success to help others.”
Which perhaps explains why Dr Chan says that his greatest hope lies in the basic goodness of humankind and in the belief that we will rise to our greatest challenge –harnessing modern technology to solve the pressing problems of the world with compassion and kindness.
Dr Chan was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2025. He is on the Board of Trustees of Shaw College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and is an Honorary Trustee of Peking University and Trustee of Zhejiang University. He has been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Liverpool, and Honorary University Fellowships from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Therefore, Mr Pro-Chancellor, it is my great pleasure to present Dr Raymond Chan for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of his contributions to humanity, Hong Kong and academia.