Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan: Driving healthcare services with business acumen

As the Chairman of a global hospitality group, Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan has actively engaged in public services over the years, currently serving as a member of the Hospital Authority (HA) Board and the Hospital Governing Committee of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital. Leveraging her extensive executive management experience across the business, arts, and youth services, Winnie brings a business mindset to the public healthcare system. From her perspective, whether managing hotels or public healthcare, the core principle of being people-centric remains identical.

Winnie points out that while hotels strive to provide guests with a comfortable stay, hospitals focus on delivering a seamless patient journey. The two fields share numerous commonalities in daily operations, human resource management, and staff training. "The HA operates on a massive scale, and mastering stakeholder management to balance diverse opinions is an art in itself," she says. "Meanwhile, frontline medical staff face heavy workloads. In terms of operational strategy and technological application, there is much the hospitality industry and the healthcare system can learn from each other. Currently, both sectors have progressively introduced robots to assist with basic tasks such as cleaning, logistics, and patrolling." She believes that leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to refine clinical workflows can enhance service efficiency and patient satisfaction, but the core value of healthcare will always remain the care and connection between people.

Moved by the HA team spirit

"When facing illnesses, patients and their families are often filled with anxiety," she notes. "Our duty goes beyond providing medical treatment. We offer holistic care to both patients and their families, treating them with empathy." She also emphasises that information can often be overwhelming and chaotic in the era of AI. Effective communication with accurate information is an indispensable part of modern medicine to elevate medical quality.

"Just as our staff attentively care for patients, the HA also deeply cares for its staff." Reflecting on the past, Winnie notes that whether the mutual support spirit during the COVID-19 epidemic, or the strong cohesion demonstrated during the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire incident – where the HA Charitable Foundation swiftly raised over HK$10 million to provide emergency relief to affected staff, these events vividly testify to the HA family's selfless spirit. The profound unity left her deeply moved.

Cultivating patience through gardening

Outside of work, Winnie is an avid gardener. "Farming, much like work, requires patience. From a seed to a sprout, every step requires careful nurturing. Farming has also taught me the laws of nature. In the face of uncontrollable changes, we must strive to do our best within our limitations." This spirit of perseverance is inherited from the family motto passed from her grandfather, the late Deacon Chiu Te-ken: As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman constantly strive for self-perfection; as earth's condition is ever receptive, so must a gentleman foster virtue and be broad-minded to embrace all things. He overcame hardships to found Yan Chai Hospital. Keeping her grandfather's selfless spirit close to her heart, Winnie hopes that during her tenure on the HA Board, she will maintain her drive to learn and progress to meet future challenges, while listening to different voices with an open and virtuous heart.

Profile of Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan

• Chairman and Executive Director of a hotel group
• Member of Committee of Overseers of Wu Yee Sun College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Board Member of Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy
• Motto: As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman constantly strive for self-perfection; as earth's condition is ever receptive, so must a gentleman foster virtue and be broad-minded to embrace all things.