Jockey Club’s PBC 2026 forum marks its 10th anniversary with global leaders gathering to “Leap for Impact”

The opening day of PBC 2026 took place at West Kowloon Cultural District today (7 September). Convened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the two-day forum brings together some 2,000 delegates and leaders from the worlds of philanthropy, sport, business, government, academia and the social sector to explore the transformation, challenges and opportunities shaping philanthropy today.

Marking the event’s 10th anniversary and as one of the highlights of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, PBC 2026 has adopted the theme “Leaping for Impact”. Inspired by the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, and the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality, the forum explores what philanthropy can learn from sport in areas such as discipline, focus, resilience and teamwork. It aims to examine how these qualities can be transformed into a powerful force for philanthropy, generating deeper and more enduring social impact. The Trust has long sought to transform lives and strengthen communities through the power of sport. This aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan’s emphasis on talent cultivation, youth development and the advancement of a strong and healthy sporting nation.

Officiating at the forum’s opening ceremony was HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki; the Club’s Chairman The Hon Martin Liao; and Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

The Commission on Asian Philanthropy launched its Interim Report during the forum. The Club CEO and IoP Director, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), together with Commissioners from The Commission on Asian Philanthropy, pose for a group photo.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki said, “The Hong Kong SAR Government is fully committed to raising our city as a global centre for philanthropy. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, and as a bridge between East and West, we are uniquely positioned to deploy global capital for the greater good.” He added, “With our enabling tax regime, dedicated family office strategy, and our unwavering commitment to doing good, we can make a difference for you and your philanthropic legacy. This year’s Forum is the perfect place to start.”

HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao said, “Including this year, PBC will have engaged more than 10,000 participants over the past decade and featured more than 380 speakers from over 40 countries and regions – making it one of the world’s largest philanthropic assemblies. PBC 2026 examines the need for systems change, new approaches to capital and the capabilities required to deliver impact. It explores how cross-sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships can drive sustainable and lasting outcomes. Together, these contributions reflect PBC’s continuing role as a platform for sharing ideas, advancing understanding and connecting leaders around the practical solutions needed to address the challenges of our time.”

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.

He mentioned that the Club and its Charities Trust today officially released the first edition of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Impact Report, detailing the many ways in which the Club has improved lives and strengthened communities since its earliest recorded donation in 1915. The Club has developed a new three-tierhierarchical measurement framework, evaluating impact at project, programme and Trust levels.

Honorary President for Life of the International Olympic Committee Dr Thomas Bach delivers a video address at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.

The report highlights three key insights. First, resources should be more precisely targeted towards the most marginalised and underserved populations to maximise the impact of philanthropy. Second, initiatives should be designed with long-term sustainability in mind, delivering intensive and sustained interventions that empower beneficiaries to achieve lasting positive behavioural change. Third, impact measurement must incorporate flexible, prolonged follow-up periods tailored to the life cycle of each programme, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of long-term outcomes. The report sets out the Trust’s approach to impact measurement and illustrates the social impact generated by the many initiatives it has created or supported.

Leading foundations participating in PBC 2026 include the Gates Foundation, The D.H. Chen Foundation, the Lee Hysan Foundation, the Yao Foundation, the Sanofi Foundation, the Tencent Charity Foundation, The Majurity Trust, the Lien Foundation and the Essl Foundation.

The day’s opening keynote was delivered by Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former United Nations Development Programme Administrator, who shared her insights on “A New Era for Philanthropy: Leading Through Complexity.” Moderated by Club Steward The Hon Bernard Chan, the keynote explored the leadership qualities needed for philanthropy in today’s world.

Moderated by Club Steward The Hon Bernard Chan (right), former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former United Nations Development Programme Administrator Helen Clark (left) delivers the opening keynote entitled “A New Era for Philanthropy: Leading Through Complexity”.

One of the forum’s highlight sessions was “Two Playbooks, One Goal: Navigating Social Mobility in Asia’s Twin Cities”, which brought together The Hon Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government, and Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy & Industry) & Former Minister for Manpower, Singapore. The conversation was moderated by The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government. The discussion focused on how Hong Kong and Singapore as international cities can convert the benefits of economic growth into opportunities for social mobility, creating more pathways for the next generation.

The fourth plenary, entitled “Two Playbooks, One Goal: Navigating Social Mobility in Asia’s Twin Cities”, was moderated by The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government (centre). It featured The Hon Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (left), and Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy & Industry) and Former Minister for Manpower, Singapore (right).

Another highlight session, “Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport,” brought together Olympic gold medallists and leading sports figures from the Chinese Mainland – Li Xiaopeng, Deng Yaping, Yang Yang – and 2026 international football tournament referee Ma Ning. The speakers shared how sporting excellence can evolve to shape institutions, nurture emerging talent and widen access to opportunities.

The fifth plenary, entitled “Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport”, featured a discussion between Olympic gold medallists Li Xiaopeng (2nd left), Deng Yaping (1st left) and Yang Yang (2nd right), together with 2026 international football tournament referee Ma Ning (centre).

The Commission on Asian Philanthropy, co-convened by IoP and the Asian Philanthropy Congress (“APHIC”), today launched its Interim Report, presenting the first comprehensive research on the scale and scope of philanthropic ecosystems across participating Asian jurisdictions. The report estimates that domestic philanthropic giving across participating jurisdictions reached US$109 billion in 2024 and could exceed US$1 trillion over the next decade. It highlights how philanthropy in Asia is shaped by everyday giving, business contributions and public investment, and how philanthropic ecosystems can serve as a strategic asset for national development.

The Club’s support for PBC 2026, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for the community.

HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki (front row centre); Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, 5th left); Club Deputy Chairman and IoP Chairman Lester Huang (front row, 4th left); Club Stewards; Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, 5th right); and Club management pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.

To further promote sports for all and foster social cohesion, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has approved a donation of over HK$134 million through its Charities Trust to support the five-year Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme. The programme also seeks to align with the 15th Five-Year Plan’s strategy to accelerate China’s development into a leading sporting nation as well as the Healthy China development strategy. The initiative will enable more young people to learn and practice basketball for whole-person development and character building, while strengthening community outreach for structured basketball training. To mark the official launch of the programme, a kick-off ceremony was held alongside the Philanthropy for Better Cities (PBC) Forum 2026 on 7 September.

Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (centre); Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (6th left); Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (6th right); Dr Axel Schweitzer, President and Owner of ALBA Berlin Basketball (5th left); Yao Ming, Founder and Chairman of the YAO Foundation (5th right); Billie Lau, Executive Director of The Boys’ and Girls’Clubs Association of Hong Kong (4th left); Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (4th right); Dr Wan Lap-man, Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association (3rd left); Johnny Wong, General Secretary of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (3rd right); Dr Gabriel Leung, Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd right); Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd left), and other guests at the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Photo source: HKJC

Officiating guests at the ceremony included Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation; Dr Axel Schweitzer, President and Owner of ALBA Berlin Basketball (ALBA); Yao Ming, Founder and Chairman of the YAO Foundation; Billie Lau, Executive Director of The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA); Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG); Dr Wan Lap-man, Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association (HKPA); and Johnny Wong, General Secretary of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (YMCA).

Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivers a speech at the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Photo source: HKJC

Speaking at the ceremony, Rosanna Law noted that sport is not only about enhancing athletic performance. It also serves as an important foundation for physical and mental well-being, playing a vital role in fostering social cohesion and spreading positive values. She added that the HKSAR Government will continue to invest resources in promoting the holistic development of sports in Hong Kong. Noting that the Club has long been an important partner of the Government in advancing sports development, she expressed confidence that the programme will help expand access to high-quality basketball training in the community, enabling more young people to benefit.

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges delivers a speech at the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Photo source: HKJC

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said the Club believes deeply in the power of sport to change lives. As one of Hong Kong's most popular team sports, basketball is an ideal way to engage young people while imparting valuable life lessons. With this vision in mind, the Club is working to strengthen sector-wide capacity and build a sustainable basketball ecosystem in Hong Kong through a three-pronged strategy of upgrading facilities, delivering high-quality community programmes and nurturing capable coaches. Through the new initiative, the Club hopes to support the holistic, all-round development of the city’s young people, helping them develop not only their skills, but also their confidence and character.

YMCA collaborates with ALBA to develop a tailored coach training course targeting tertiary students in sports-related disciplines. Photo source; HKJC

The five-year programme comprises district-wide youth training jointly delivered by BGCA, HKFYG and HKPA, as well as coach training organised by YMCA. The youth training will be conducted across all 18 Hong Kong districts, offering annual nine-month basketball programmes for young people aged six to 16, particularly those who may lack equitable access to structured training opportunities due to financial or social barriers. Leveraging the Club’s partnership with the YAO Foundation, and drawing on experiences from ALBA, the programme references international best practices in developing “whole-person basketball training”.

In addition to training and competition, participants will also have the opportunity to take part in learning activities and have opportunities to join exchange trips to the Chinese Mainland and overseas. To maintain high-quality training and expand the pipeline of coaching talent for this and other future basketball programmes, YMCA is collaborating with ALBA to develop a tailored coach training course targeting tertiary students in sports-related disciplines. Upon successful completion of the training, graduates will receive dual accreditation, a YMCA local certificate and overseas recognition through ALBA.

Local elite basketball players and ALBA coaches interact with young people in a skills demonstration at the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme. Photo source: HKJC

The programme is expected to benefit more than 4,600 young participants, enhancing their basketball skills, physical fitness, psychosocial well-being and personal growth, while also training some 450 coaches to deliver quality community basketball programmes. In addition, the programme's public engagement activities are projected to attract around 50,000 attendances.

Officiating guests receive commemorative basketballs from youth participants. Photo source: HKJC

As a world-class sports and entertainment organisation with a strong commitment to the nation and to Hong Kong, the Club actively supports national and local sports development at both community and elite levels. These efforts reflect the Club’s purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society. To further strengthen its support for sports development, the Club announced last year a commitment of HK$3 billion over the following three years.

The Club’s support for the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Group photo, Photo source: HKJC