International Alumni
Out and About around the Husky Globe: Spring 2017
New Role for Former Korea Huskies President
Hyun Kim, LL.M. ’85, Ph.D. ’90, was elected as the 49th president of the Korean Bar Association (KBA) in February. The former Korea Huskies president won his new presidency with nearly 60% of the vote. While the position is new, his service to the KBA is not. Previously, Kim was the organization’s secretary general, president of the KBA Lawyers Training Institute and president of the Seoul Bar Association.
In his new role, he’s pursuing an ambitious agenda that includes new programs, reforms of KBA’s government relations and making improvements to the organization’s membership policies. KBA members expressed hope that Kim would be a harmonizing force as Korea’s legal society continues to transition to a new system of graduate education.
A Dragon Takes Flight
Diana Chou, ’81, is no stranger to pioneering aviation businesses. She has been active in the Chinese business aviation market since the late ’90s and has helped to establish businesses tied to private jet sales, helicopter sales, aircraft charters and aircraft leasing.
Now Chou is combining three of her businesses to form Dragon General Aviation Group, in an effort to expand her already successful aircraft sales business in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. At the start of her new venture, she credits past success both to enthusiasm and to a careful understanding of her customers’ needs. Read more about Chou’s latest business endeavor at aviationweek.com.
Remembering Leslie Koo
Leslie Koo Cheng Yun, ’77, passed away Jan. 23, in Taiwan after being injured in a fall. He was a business icon, billionaire and chairman of the Taiwan Cement Corporation (TCC). He is remembered for his devotion to family and the remarkable transformation he was able to achieve at TCC after taking over for his father in 2003.
In the decade that followed his appointment as chairman, the company quadrupled its revenues and market capitalization, as well as saw its share price more than triple. The feat was even more impressive considering Koo faced considerable internal opposition against his efforts to rapidly expand in mainland China and to shake up the leadership of TCC —strategies that would ultimately prove highly successful.
Koo said he wanted to be remembered as someone who always prepared for the worst but believed in a bright future. A stubborn survivor but a survivor with a warm heart who valued accountability, harmony, and humility.
To recognize Koo’s time and continuing presence at the University of Washington, arrangements have been made to provide an annual award to help a business student study and grow in Taiwan. Known as Leslie Koo International Business Scholars, these burgeoning leaders will help us recognize, celebrate and perpetuate the life of our esteemed alumnus and advocate. Each student recipient of this honor also will help strengthen UW ties to the great nation and business community in which Leslie provided lifetime of exceptional service and prosperity for all around him.
To make a donation in honor of Leslie Koo, please contact: Teresa Marks, the Foster School’s Director of Donor Relations, at markst@uw.edu
Global Huskies Snapshots
From left: Restaurateurs Chris Chong, ’92, and Kia Hong Lim, ‘81, pose with UWAA Singapore Chapter President Edward Pang, ‘97, in front of Lim’s second Seattle Pike Chowder restaurant located in Singapore. Lim’s tribute to Northwest eats is packed with Seahawks and Huskies memorabilia, a little slice of Seattle in Singapore. Be sure to stop by if you’re ever feeling homesick!
On May 22 the Kenya Huskies gathered for the first UWAA hosted reception in Nairobi. The event featured Jeffrey Riedinger, UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Carey Farquhar, Professor and Associate Chair, UW Department of Global Health.
