Mr William Au Weng-hei is widely recognised as one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished entrepreneurs and cultural visionaries. Mr Au moved to Macau at the age of two and the early phase of his adolescent life was shaped by the blend of Chinese and Portuguese influence. Under the care of his paternal grandmother, his upbringing instilled a particular appreciation of heritage, frugalness and identity, which would later transcend to a passion in philanthropic and artistic pursuits.

Fast forward to the 1970s, when rapid economic growth and social development were fueled by the expansion of the manufacturing industry. At the age of 17, Mr Au relocated to Hong Kong to work in a small leather materials trading company. Through relentless dedication and perseverance to gain valuable experience in the industry, in 1979 he took the bold decision to start his own company. Within a decade, he transformed the enterprise into one of Hong Kong’s largest suppliers of leather materials. In 1992, at the age of 34, he became one of the youngest chairmen of a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange – a distinction that secured his status as a pioneering force in the business world.

Despite the numerous remarkable accomplishments, Mr Au’s aspirations extend far beyond corporate success. He has consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to lifelong learning, embracing educational opportunities both locally and internationally. He studied advance executive management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the graduate school of Central Connecticut State University where he received the advance executive management diploma and graduate diploma in management, and he also studied other programmes at HKU SPACE. To further this achievement, he achieved an executive master’s degree in advanced management at the management school of the University of Liège, Belgium. The pursuit of continued knowledge reflects his belief that education is not only a tool for personal growth, but a critical necessity to empower and transform others.

Mr Au’s contributions to Hong Kong’s cultural landscape are equally noteworthy. Since the late 1980s, he has been a passionate advocate for initiatives that promote education, culture and the arts. In 1999, Mr Au established an education prize with the Ministry of Culture called "Ministry of Culture Au Weng Hei Distinguished Music Education Prize" in the Mainland to support distinguished teachers based in the country’s prestigious schools of musical education. This prize was to acknowledge talent and cultural awareness of practitioners working within the cultural field with the objective to create richer dialogue of exchanges between professionals working across both Hong Kong and the Mainland. In the same year, Mr Au played a pivotal role in organising the first Hong Kong Culture and Arts Community event in celebration of National Day. His leadership as one of the two founders, co-sponsor and co-chairman, to drive the event as one of the most significant dates in Hong Kong’s Cultural and Artistic calendar.

His influence spans across a myriad of cultural institutions and public bodies. Mr Au served as a Council member of the Academy and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, contributing to policy and funding decisions that shape the city’s creative ecosystem. He also sat on the Home Affairs Bureau Committee responsible for allocating subventions to nine major local performing arts groups. In his current capacity, he holds important leadership roles as Chairman of the China Culture and Art Foundation and President of the Hong Kong Dance Federation Ltd – positions that enable him to champion artistic innovations and cultural exchange on a broader scale. Since 2012, he has been an active member of the Foundation Committee of HKU SPACE, which he is currently Vice-Chairman. Within foundation, he chairs its Fundraising Subcommittee, which strives to support educational initiatives and expand funding of learning opportunities to students. Most recently, he was ascended as President of HKU SPACE ALUMNI.

As a long-standing supporter of the Academy, Mr Au’s generosity has been formally recognised through the naming of "Concert Hall" in his honour – William Au Concert Hall. This tribute exemplifies his unwavering dedication and substantial contributions, which have provided the essential resource to nurture future generational performing artists. In the Academy’s 40th Anniversary Honorary Fundraising Organising Campaign Committee, Mr Au served as Honorary Chairman. His donations also help the Academy to realise its ambitious ten-year expansion plan – this includes the development of the Northern Metropolis campus.

Mr Au’s philanthropic spirit and continuous effort to public service have earned him numerous prestigious accolades. In 1995, he was named as Honorary Life Fellow of the Institute of Commercial Management in the United Kingdom. He was awarded the Most Distinguished Cultural Exchange Contribution Award in 2000. In 2005, he was made an Honorary Fellow of The Academy of Chinese Studies. In 2018, he was made an Honorary Fellow of HKU SPACE. His honours from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China include the award of Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2000 and Silver Bauhinia Star in 2014, and his appointment as Justice of Peace in 2002. He was also one of the electors of the election committee for Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China during the first to sixth terms. From 2003 to 2023, for 20 years he served as a Hong Kong Committee Member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Through his remarkable business feats, his support for the arts, and his advocacy for continued education, Mr Au has shown how entrepreneurial vision can be integrated with cultural stewardship. His profound dedication, far-reaching impact, and enduring relevance will continue to enhance the social and cultural landscape of Hong Kong for generations to come.