Honorary University Fellows
Mrs Annie Liang Bentley is the founder of Bentley Communications and a pioneer and doyen of the branding, corporate and marketing communications profession in Hong Kong.
She holds a BA in English Literature and Chinese Translation (1971) and an MA in Buddhist Studies (2010) from HKU, and received an Advanced Certificate in Education (1976) at the University of Oxford.
Mrs Bentley began her career in educational publishing for Oxford University Press, working on their ESL books and English Chinese dictionary. Returning to Hong Kong in 1981, she joined the public relations industry. In 1987, she established her consultancy in partnership with Omnicom, the world's largest public relations and advertising group, and grew Bentley Communications to become one of Hong Kong's leading agencies.
Mrs Bentley has served the University as, inter alia, Chairman of the Robert Black College Management Committee, a Founding Senior Member of the HKU Foundation, and an HKU Mentor to its students. Starting with the Silver Jubilee Reunion in 1996 for the Class of '71, she helped forge a tradition of reunion philanthropy, with successive class anniversary celebrations also creating happy opportunities to support the University.
She is a Trustee of the China Oxford Scholarship Fund, and a Board Member of the Hospital Governing Committee of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Action for Epilepsy, Project Vision, Heifer International (Hong Kong) and the Boys and Girls Club Association. She is also a Founding member and served as Honorary Secretary of the Council of Public Relations Firms of Hong Kong.
Citation delivered by Professor S P CHOW, Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Mrs Annie Liang Bentley is the founder of Bentley Communications and a pioneer and doyen of the branding, corporate and marketing communications profession in Hong Kong.
She holds a BA in English Literature and Chinese Translation (1971), an MA in Buddhist Studies (2010) from HKU, and an Advanced Certificate in Education (1976) from Oxford University.
Mrs Bentley began her career with Oxford University Press, working on their English-as-a-Second-Language books and English-Chinese dictionary.
Returning to Hong Kong in 1981, she – in her own words – "bumbled" into Public Relations.
Brand building, corporate communications, consumer marketing, media relations and crisis management were then an unknown and unchartered territory.
In 1987, she set up her consultancy in partnership with Omnicom, the world\'s largest PR & advertising group.
She has subsequently grown Bentley Communications to become one of Hong Kong's leading agencies, with offices across Asia.
It was Mrs Bentley’s idea to incorporate spectacular firework displays into major festivals in Hong Kong, and for this, she is now known as the “Queen of Fireworks” (煙花皇后).
Over the past twenty years, Mrs Bentley has actively and generously contributed her experience and expertise to her alma mater.
Mrs Bentley has served the University as, inter alia, Chairman of the Robert Black College Management Committee, a Founding Senior Member of the HKU Foundation, and a Mentor to our students.
Starting with the Silver Jubilee Reunion in 1996 for the Class of '71, she helped forge a tradition of reunion philanthropy, so that class anniversary celebrations have also become happy opportunities to support the University.
Mrs Bentley has utilized her outstanding creativity and business acumen in serving the community as well. She is a Trustee of the China Oxford Scholarship Fund, a Board Member of the Hospital Governing Committee of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Action for Epilepsy, Project Vision, Heifer International (Hong Kong) and the Boys and Girls Club Association.
She is also a Founding member and served as Honorary Secretary of the Council of Public Relations Firms of Hong Kong.
HKU is fortunate to have an alumna with such gifts of inspiration and imagination, and grateful for her loyalty and her enthusiastic willingness to use her unique talent in supporting the University.
It gives me great pleasure, Mr Pro Chancellor, to present Mrs Annie Liang Bentley for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of her contributions to Hong Kong and academia.