Professor Frank YAM

Founder & CEO, Focus Strategic Group Limited

Biography
Professor Frank Yam founded the Focus Strategic Group (a consulting firm providing Business and Technology advisory services, with special focus on Cybersecurity and IT auditing) in 1997. He is currently its Chairman & CEO. Professor Yam started his professional career in international auditing and information security in 1984, and has held management positions at many leading international institutions including KPMG, Livingston International Logistics, Prudential Insurance, AXA Insurance, Guardian Insurance, and Standard Chartered Bank.

Professor Yam has been very active in professional and community services and served in leadership role of numerous local and international professional bodies. Most notably, he served six terms as the Director and International Vice President of ISACA International with over 170,000 members around the world (Net Assets over $1 Billion). He was also Founder of the ACFE Hong Kong Chapter (with about 1000 members), and President of ISACA China HK Chapter (with about 4000 members). Professor Yam currently serves as Governor of the Institute of Internal Auditors Hong Kong (with about 1000 members), Certification Board Member of the Hong Kong Institute for IT Professional Certification, Advisor of the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, and Innovation Committee Member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Professor Yam is a very popular speaker of a wide variety of topics at seminars and conferences for professional organisations and government agencies, including many Central Banks, the INTERPOL and the Asian Development Bank. In recent years, he has been focusing on promoting the awareness and best practices of Innovation based on Design-Thinking, Corporate and IT Governance, Audit and Risk Management, Technology Crimes, Emerging Technologies, and Cyber-security in the Asia Pacific Region.

Professor Yam is the recipient of numerous awards for his contribution to the profession, including the prestigious Eugene Frank Founders Award (ISACA’s highest global honour), Hall of Fame (Life-time Achievement Award), Outstanding Chapter Leader, and International Best Speaker Award by ISACA International. He has also received the top alumni honour, Alumni Achievement Medal, of the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Mathematics. He was elected as Fellow of several leading
professional associations, including the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, the Hong Kong Computer Society, The Institute of Public Accountants, the Institute of Financial Accountants, and the Hong Kong IT Joint Council. In addition to the Bachelor of Mathematics Honours Degree from the University of Waterloo, he also has an Executive Master Degree in Innovation Leadership (with Distinction) from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and received the Outstanding Student Award. Having a passion for coaching the next generation in the Entrepreneurship ecosystem, Professor Yam enjoys mentoring and coaching start-ups, focusing on Design Innovations. He has been an Adjunct Professor at several universities and currently serves as part-time lecturer at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and mentor at the HKSTP.