Brian San, Secretary General of the Institute of Philanthropy in Hong Kong: Building better philanthropy across Asia
- Feb 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 18
A deep dive into how philanthropy in Asia is evolving, and how the next generation of leaders is being prepared to make it more effective, collaborative and impactful.
In this conversation with Brian Sen, Secretary General of the Institute of Philanthropy in Hong Kong, the discussion explores why the Institute was created, what it means to be a “thinking, funding and doing” tank, and how it is working to strengthen the wider philanthropic ecosystem across Asia.
A central focus of the conversation is the LEAP Fellowship, Leadership Excellence in Asian Philanthropy, a new programme designed to equip emerging senior leaders with the skills, networks and mindset needed to tackle complex social and environmental challenges. Brian explains how the fellowship blends world class academic input from partners such as J-PAL at MIT, the London School of Economics and the University of Hong Kong, with practical, challenge based learning and mentorship from senior philanthropic leaders.
Listeners gain insight into who the fellowship is aimed at, how it is structured, and why investing in talent development is critical for the future of philanthropy. The discussion also touches on the Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust, its rigorous approach to impact measurement, and the collaborative ethos that underpins the Institute’s work.
The episode closes with a personal reflection from Brian on his own journey into the sector, and a clear call to action for funders and organisations to prioritise building stronger talent pipelines for the field.
About Brian San
Brian leads the Institute of Philanthropy (“IoP”), which was established in September 2023 through a seed grant from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust—the largest foundation in Asia. As an independent “think-fund-do” tank, IoP is dedicated to reimagining the Asian philanthropic sector and catalysing its growth through thought leadership (such as the Commission on Asian Philanthropy), global health-climate funding partnerships, as well as convening and capacity building initiatives.
Brian brings extensive experience in business leadership and ecosystem development, across the education, philanthropy, family office and private equity sectors in Asia. Prior to joining IoP, Brian served as the Executive Director, Programmes and Strategic Development at the Wealth Management Institute, a non-profit education and research institute founded by Singaporean state investors GIC and Temasek. During his tenure, Brian established the Asia Centre for Changemakers, a centre dedicated to building capacity in the impact sector. He also developed a national network platform for family offices and led a comprehensive portfolio of education programmes covering investments, social impact, and family office management.
Prior to this, Brian held senior management positions within leading organisations in the Asian education sector, and served as a strategy consultant with Bain & Company.
Brian holds a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University.