Ms Sabrina CHAO joined her family business – Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Limited in 2002 and was the Chairman of the Group from 2013 to 2019. Currently, Ms Chao is the President of The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the world’s largest shipping association. Ms Chao was the first Asian woman elected to be the President of BIMCO, and she was also the first woman to take the chairmanship of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.

Ms Chao was appointed as Justice of the Peace (JP) and awarded Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) in 2020 and 2022 respectively. She was awarded the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Commodore in 2018, the third Asian to receive the honour. As a successful businesswoman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Ms Chao has frequently been cited as an inspiration to the next generation of female maritime executives.

Ms Chao is passionate about promoting the maritime industry to the next generation. Owing to her experience, reputation and extensive networks in the maritime industry, Ms Chao has been appointed as the Chairlady of the VTC Maritime Services Training Board since April 2017. Ms Chao has given precious advice to the VTC on maritime services training and new facilities. She helped set up the Working Group on Aviation and Maritime Education Centre (AMEC) under the VTC Maritime Services Training Board to advise on the strategic development and construction of the Centre. She also took the initiative to connect the VTC with the Hong Kong Shipowners Association to explore possible means of supporting AMEC by the Association.

To arouse young people’s interest in the industry, she offered invaluable advice to enhance the career exploratory activities offered by the VTC Maritime Services Training Board to secondary school students. These activities have been effective in promoting young people’s awareness of the industry’s career opportunities. Ms Chao also appealed to companies of the industry for their participation in manpower surveys conducted by the VTC Maritime Services Training Board and made constructive and insightful suggestions on future surveys with a view to helping young people visualise the career ladder of the industry.