Honorary University Fellows
Ms Karen Cheung Tih Loh is currently the Trustee and Chief Strategist of The D. H. Chen Foundation and the Executive Director of Vervain Resources. She is from a distinguished Hong Kong family renowned and respected for its philanthropy, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Leadership from Claremont McKenna College in the United States.
Ms Cheung’s grandfather, Dr Chen Din Hwa, was the founder of the Nan Fung Group and The D. H. Chen Foundation, and her mother, Ms Vivien Chen, is the Honorary Chairman of the Group, Chairman of The D. H. Chen Foundation, and the founder of the Chen Wai Wai Vivien Foundation. Ms Cheung joined The D. H. Chen Foundation in 2007 to continue the family tradition of social advocacy.
As a firm believer of education, Ms Cheung established The D. H. Chen Foundation Scholarship Program in 2015 to support outstanding students from the University of Hong Kong and other local universities.
At HKU, she has supported the development of the Master of Buddhist Counselling programme in the Centre of Buddhist Studies, and the establishment of The D. H. Chen College, a residential College for students that shares compassion-based values and philosophy rooted in Buddhism.
She was conferred an Honorary Fellowship by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2021 in recognition of her significant contributions to the community.
Dedicated to serving the Hong Kong community, Ms Cheung is a Board Member of Ronald McDonald House Charities Hong Kong and the Centre of Heritage, Arts and Textiles. She is also a member of the Hospital Governing Committee of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital as well as the Chair of the Campaign Committee of OneSky for all children.
Citation delivered by Professor Tatia LEE, Acting Dean of Social Sciences
Ms Karen Cheung Tih Loh is from a distinguished Hong Kong family renowned and respected for its philanthropy. Her grandfather, Dr Chen Din Hwa, was the Founder of the Nan Fung Group and The D. H. Chen Foundation. Established in 1970, the Foundation is a family philanthropic trust – driven by the values of gratitude, trust, openness, respect and selflessness – that aspires to build a compassionate society.
To put compassion into action, The D. H. Chen Foundation has created initiatives and supported a range of innovative, sustainable and impactful programmes – thus realising Dr Chen’s philosophy that one should “care for others as well as you would care for yourself”.
Ms Cheung’s mother, Ms Vivien Chen, is the Honorary Chairman of the Nan Fung Group, Chairman of The D. H. Chen Foundation, and the Founder of the Chen Wai Wai Vivien Foundation.
Ms Cheung completed her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Leadership at Claremont McKenna College in the United States. She joined The D. H. Chen Foundation in 2007, dedicating her effort to continuing the family tradition of social advocacy. She is now the Trustee and Chief Strategist of The D. H. Chen Foundation and the Executive Director of Vervain Resources.
As a firm believer in the transformative power of education and positive values, Ms Cheung established The D. H. Chen Foundation Scholarship Program in 2015 to support outstanding students from the University of Hong Kong and other local universities. The Program has been nurturing over 120 compassionate young leaders who are dedicated to serving society.
Ms Cheung has supported the development of the Master of Buddhist Counselling degree programme in the Centre of Buddhist Studies of our university. Recently, the Foundation established the D. H. Chen College at HKU – the first residential College for students that shares compassion-based values and philosophy rooted in Buddhism.
The Foundation, with Ms Cheung’s leadership, is committed to engaged philanthropy, translating their financial, intellectual and social capital into sustainable strategies that enhance impact. It takes a proactive role in addressing social issues and emerging needs. It provides all-round support to organizations to enhance their capacity, resilience, and agility to create sustainable impact.
This is why the Foundation launched the Project Fuel programme. Providing funding and an eight-month fellowship programme, this programme is now a capacity building and collaborative platform comprising 50 local NGOs.
The Foundation is determined to make an impact by driving positive, systemic and sustainable change for tomorrow, and have supported a range of projects – from timely COVID-relief to digital citizenship research at HKU.
Ms Cheung continues to contribute her expertise to serve the community with dedication through other organisations as well. She is currently a Board Member of Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Centre of Heritage, Arts and Textiles. She is also a member of the Hospital Governing Committee of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, as well as the Chair of the Campaign Committee of OneSky for all children.
Therefore, Mr Pro-Chancellor, it is my great pleasure to present Ms Karen Cheung Tih Loh for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of her contributions to Hong Kong and academia.