Press Release

HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute
Establishes Four Prestigious Endowed Professorships
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

11 Jul 2025

The HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute is proud to announce Four Endowed Professorship funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, to advance global academic research in Sustainability.

We extend our deepest gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their unwavering support.

The four newly established Endowed Professorships are as follows (listed alphabetically):

Professor Guojun HE

    • •     The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professorship in Economics
    • •     Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute
    • •     Associate Director, Institute of China Economy

Professor Guojun HE is an economist working on environmental, development, and governance issues. Currently, he is a professor in Economics, Management and Strategy at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). He serves as the Director of the HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute, and the Associate Director of HKU’s Institute of China Economy. He holds a concurrent appointment at the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago (EPIC) and leads research activities of its China center (EPIC-China).

Prof. Roni MICHAELY

Professor Roni MICHAELY

    • •     The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professorship in Finance and Entrepreneurship
    • •     Associate Dean (Global Engagement), HKU Business School
    • •     Founder & Executive Director, HKU-TLV Innovation Hub
    • •     Co-Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute

Professor Roni MICHEAELY is a professor of Finance and Entrepreneurship at The University of Hong Kong and a research member at the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI). He has extensive teaching experience with MBA, Executive MBA, DBA and PhD students, and has been recognized as one of the most prolific academic researchers in finance. Roni is the co-founder of two startups and serves on the board of several others. He was a director at the Israeli Securities Authority (ISA) from 1998 to 2003.

Professor Jeffrey NG

    • •     The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professorship in Accounting
    • •     Associate Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute

Professor Jeffrey NG has been a professor at The University of Hong Kong since July 2022. Prior to this appointment, he was an assistant professor at MIT Sloan School of Management from 2008 to 2012 and an associate professor at Singapore Management University School of Accountancy from 2012 to 2016, and a professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 2016 to 2022.

 

Professor NG is interested in interdisciplinary research involving accounting issues. He has published in several top journals including Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics, The Accounting Review, Review of Accounting Studies, Contemporary Accounting Research, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, and Management Science. He is an associate editor at the European Accounting Review. He is on the Editorial Board of The Accounting Review and a member of the Business Studies Panel, Hong Kong Research Grants Council. His teaching interests include financial accounting, corporate reporting, and financial statement analysis.

Professor Uta SCHӦNBERG

    • •    The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professorship in Economics
    • •    Chair of Economics

Professor Uta SCHӦNBERG joined the Faculty of Business and Economics at The University of Hong Kong as a professor in 2023. Prior to joining HKU, she held positions at the Economics Departments of University College London and the University of Rochester. Her research is in applied microeconomics, with a special interest in wage inequality and wage dynamics; family economics; the economics of education; and the economics of migration. Her work has appeared in leading journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the American Economic Review, and the Journal of Political Economy. Professor Schӧnberg served as a Joint Managing Editor at the Review of Economic Studies between 2016 and 2021 and is currently a Co-editor at the American Economic Review.

About HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute

 

The HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute, managed by HKU Business School (HKUBS) and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, bringing together distinguished global scholars from diverse fields, to foster a multidisciplinary approach to sustainability research and training, as well as to forge partnerships with private and public sectors for sustainability initiatives and responsible leadership advocacy.

 

As a leading institute in sustainability research, we are dedicated to creating meaningful, lasting impact through pioneering studies, actionable insights, sustainability index development, start-up incubation and transformative projects. Our objective is to equip the next generation of professionals and leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote responsible and sustainable growth.

 

In our pursuit of excellence, we recognise the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange. We are committed to facilitating dialogues and cooperation among regulators, corporates, NGOs, and academics, to ensure the development and dissemination of best practices in sustainability. Together, we aim to shape a more sustainable, equitable, and responsible future for all stakeholders.

About The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

The Club traces its long tradition of donating to charitable causes to 1915, but it was in the 1950s, as Hong Kong struggled to cope with post-war reconstruction and a massive influx of immigrants, that this role became integral to its operations. In 1955, the Club formally decided to devote its surplus each year to charity and community projects, and in 1959 a separate company, Hong Kong Jockey Club (Charities) Ltd, was formed to administer donations. In 1993, a new entity was established, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, to reflect the evolving nature, scale and scope of donations. The Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.

The Trust’s substantial donations to the community are made possible by the Club’s unique integrated business model, which comprises racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Approximately 90% of the Club’s annual operating surplus after tax is donated to the Trust, enabling it to play a significant role in the community’s development.

Working with the Government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charitable foundations and community partners, the Trust is committed to improving the quality of life of the people of Hong Kong. As a philanthropic organisation, the Trust proactively identifies and initiates projects that meet pressing community and social needs.

For further enquiries and interview requests, please contact:

Sophie HU: sophiehu@hku.hk

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