Founding Master

Professor Gabriel Leung

Founding Master of Chi Sun College (2012 – 2022)

One of Asia’s most respected higher education, health and philanthropic leaders, Gabriel Leung is known for his commitment to improving human capabilities, nurturing impactful innovation and building strong institutions. He is currently Executive Director (Charities and Community) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club overseeing its Charities Trust.

Gabriel’s career has straddled academe, public service and philanthropy. From 2013 to 2022, he was the longest-serving Dean of Medicine and inaugural Helen and Francis Zimmern Professor in Population Health at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Formerly, he was Hong Kong’s first Under Secretary for Food and Health and fifth Director of the Chief Executive’s Office in government.

Gabriel’s research defined the epidemiology of three novel viral epidemics, namely SARS in 2003, H7N9 influenza in 2013 and most recently COVID-19. In government, he led Hong Kong’s response against the 2009 influenza pandemic. He was founding co-director of HKU’s World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control and established the Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H) at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park.

As Founding Master of Chi Sun College, Gabriel envisioned a community of freely enquiring minds – a value widely shared in the academic community and one that would define the College culture for years to come. Under Gabriel’s leadership, Chi Sun College quickly became one of the University’s most sought-after residences, with the College’s vision and mission clearly having struck a chord among students.

Following his departure from HKU in 2022, Gabriel remains connected with the University as Honorary Professor at the School of Public Health at HKUMed, and Principal Conductor of The Hong Kong University Philharmonic Orchestra.