Profiles of ENGL recipients

Mr Paul Lee Ka-ki currently serves as a Senior Manager for a leading Hong Kong energy infrastructure specialist, where he contributes to innovation and business development efforts. Previously, he  contributed to the open cycle gas turbine project for Lamma Power Station. Mr Lee’s passion for language and music extends to the PolyU community. He emerged as the winner in the alumni category of the PolyU 85th Anniversary Theme Song Lyric Contest. He is also a proficient gaohu player and performed in the PolyU SAO Chinese Orchestra Annual Performance in April 2024. As the Founding Chairman of The PolyU Department of English Alumni Association, Mr Lee has actively supported various activities organised by the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations. His long-term dedication is further evident through his involvement with the Departmental Advisory Committee. Mr Lee was also a judge at the Department’s PolyU Invitational English Speech Contest 2023. He is widely recognised for his approachability and readiness to share his knowledge and mentor others.

Miss Demi Kim Minju has been instrumental in bridging the digital divide. Her career has spanned several roles in sustainable development, public diplomacy, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consultancy. Her roles at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific have significantly contributed to digital inclusivity. Beyond her exemplary work at the United Nations, Miss Kim has continued her global aspirations by relocating several times to international offices to focus on supporting ICT development projects in areas that need support. Her work has impacted numerous countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. This work currently focuses on the sustainable development of small developing island states in the Pacific, with a particular focus on healthcare and gender equality. In addition to her professional work, Miss Kim has also been actively involved in pro bono initiatives and community service, illustrating her unwavering commitment to digital rights and inclusivity.

Dr Jack Pun Kwok-hung is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at City University of Hong Kong. He holds a DPhil in Education with a focus on Applied Linguistics and Science Education from the University of Oxford, UK. He additionally holds a Master of Arts in English Language Studies (distinction) and a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Technology with a minor in English from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health in 2021. Dr Pun’s primary research interests focus on language education and health communication. He works in the field of applied linguistics, with specific research interests in English as a medium of instruction (EMI), English language education, second language acquisition, sociolinguistics, and systemic functional linguistics. He is particularly interested in studying classroom interaction in EMI settings, and the academic literacy and language challenges faced by students with different levels of exposure to EMI instruction. Dr Pun’s second research focus is health communication. As a bilingual speaker proficient in both Chinese and English, he investigates the effectiveness of and patient satisfaction with health communication, drawing from a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary perspective.