Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you are doing currently?
I'm a corporate commercial lawyer, having worked in a number of law firms and multi-national companies. I count myself lucky that I have been given all these opportunities to be exposed to all the matters and experiences that I have been, which I don't think would have been the case if I had stayed in the UK after graduating. I left my last position last year after 10-years at an international remittance company, taking a breather but also appreciating life outside of work, especially my wife and two children. HandsOn Hong Kong has been one of the pro-bono assignments I've been working on during this period, and other is helping the fundraising team of the organising committee for the Gay Games 2022 which will be held in Hong Kong in November 2022. It looks like it is going to be a great event which is very inclusive (it isn't restricted to the LGBTQ community, if that's what you think!) so I would encourage everyone to visit https://gghk2022.com/ for more information.
What motivated you to reach out to HandsOn to offer your legal skills in support of our team?
I wanted to give something back in a way that I felt had some meaning. I've volunteered for some events previously, which is how I came to know of HandsOn Hong Kong. I then felt that I wanted to support them in an even deeper and more long-lasting way. With my pro-bono legal advice now, I know that this is something I have the training and experience for, and that it will make a difference to the running of the NGO itself.
What has been the most satisfying aspect of helping to capacity-build a small non-proft?
One of the appeals with working in-house was seeing the end product in real life, such as seeing posters or press releases which I had approved from a legal perspective. Most recently I’ve been working with HandsOn on their employment contract, an MOU for digital aspects of their corporate service programs and reviewing their staff Culture Book for all new joiners.
What advice would you have for someone keen to use their professional skills to drive positive change?
I'm sure that there are many out there who feel the same as me in wanting to use their professional skills for good. If an NGO requires work that only those with a particular set of skills can provide and I am one of those people, then I feel that my work adds more value at a personal level. I'm sure that many others feel the same way, and that's why I applaud HandsOn Hong Kong's initiative to match skilled volunteers with NGOs seeking those skills.
