SME & Start-up Committee

The role of the Committee is to attract small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to join the Chamber and represent their business interests. The Committee plays a key part in supporting the Chamber's role as a leading organisation that represents British Business in Hong Kong.

The Committee provides SMEs and start-ups with support and acts as a voice on their behalf within the Chamber; it has regular external liaison with government and other business bodies; offers a platform to network with other Chamber members; and organises and hosts events that are of value to the SME and start-up community. 

Join the Committee


Will ProbertChairZzzzip LimitedRead moreRead less William is a Co-Founder of Zzzzip Limited and provides holistic advice to corporate groups and entrepreneurs on all aspects of business establishment and market entry from ownership, corporate structure, immigration, and employment to financial and operational issues. An entrepreneur himself, his approach is pragmatic and always mindful of minimising risk.
Silvia ToChamber RepresentativeThe British Chamber of Commerce in Hong KongRead moreRead lessSilvia is the Membership Services & Development Manager at The British Chamber. Her role within The Chamber is to recruit new members, and look after existing members. Silvia is also the Chamber representative for the Real Estate Committee, Healthcare Committee, CSR Steering Group and the HR Advisory Committee.
Boris RakitinMemberKate's Kids EducationRead moreRead lessDr Boris Rakitin is the founder and CEO of Kate's Kids Education Limited. He holds a PhD degree in Engineering and has over 15 years of teaching experience. He worked with a number of higher education institutions in Hong Kong and overseas. Boris can speak 4 languages. He is married with two children.
Hin Lok CheungMemberApp BarRead moreRead lessHin Lok is the cofounder of App Bar, a local prestige mobile application and software design and development firm. App Bar delivers creative and technical mobile software solutions to companies from SMEs to international corporates. Their service scope ranges from UI/UX design, gamification, customised development and cloud-based solutions. Based in Hong Kong, we are looking beyond to visualise the digital visions of organisations across APAC, with a blend of creativity and technology
John ShooterMemberOxbridge SchoolRead moreRead lessBio pending.
Mark PeakerMember3812 GalleryRead moreRead lessBio pending.
Michael OpenshawMember Oldham, Li & Nie SolicitorsRead moreRead lessMichael Openshaw is an English and Hong Kong qualified lawyer working in Hong Kong for over 25 years. Until 2020, he specialized in Financial and Corporate Law and had a particular interest in early-stage PE investing, working in various legal and investor roles in US banks and funds. Since 2020 Michael has been with a leading HK law firm developing both a Corporate practice serving funds, family offices and entrepreneurs in HK, and a Family Law practice, focusing on matrimonial work with an international element, often representing high net worth individuals with complex assets.

He is an experienced lawyer and skilled negotiator with deep knowledge of financial transactions and structures. In addition, Michael has had wide exposure as a board director both in commercial and non-profit roles, and speaks Mandarin.
Nick BinnsMemberLevitate Media LimitedRead moreRead lessNick is the founder of Levitate media, specialising in consulting with new, disruptive and emerging media businesses across the Asia Pacific region. Prior to this Nick worked for WPP for 21 years in a range of roles in London, Shanghai, Bangkok and has been based in Hong Kong for 12 years. Nick is married with two children.
Paul GardnerMemberFresh AccountingRead moreRead less Paul is a Chartered Management Accountant with extensive experience working with SMEs, business start-ups and internationally-minded businesses. Originally from London, Paul moved to Hong Kong in 2014 and established Fresh Accounting within a month of arriving. The Singapore office was established a few years later in 2017.

Working within fast growing businesses and teams, Paul understands the importance of developing and managing relationships and has a proven track record of both implementing and maintaining accounting systems and processes. Paul understands the importance of accounting for SMEs and is a big advocate of cloud accounting.

Prior to establishing Fresh Accounting, Paul gained extensive experience working across several business industries and sectors including: Professional services and management consultancies; Marketing, PR, Design & Creative & Media; Technology & e-commerce; Distribution; Not-for-profit.
Philip ChiuMemberHSBCRead moreRead lessBio pending.
Vivian LinesMemberLines ConsultingRead moreRead lessVivian Lines is an award-winning senior adviser to companies in APAC with extensive experience in corporate communications, financial communications government advisory, communications planning, and reputation and crisis management.

Earlier this year he founded Lines Consultancy Limited in Hong Kong, an integrated communications consultancy. Prior to this he was Chairman Asia Pacific at Hill+Knowlton Strategies and worked with Hill+Knowlton for 35 years in multiple roles across APAC, the Middle East and the UK. He is currently based in Hong Kong. At the C-suite level Mr Lines has counseled major corporate clients in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia. He has managed IPO communications for companies listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has worked with clients in multiple sectors, including: eCommerce, genomics, energy, electronics, banking/finance/insurance, and aviation. His public affairs experience includes communications advisory to various government and government-linked entities in different capacities. He has also provided communications training for senior officials at the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, and for government representatives from each of the ASEAN Member States.

He holds an MBA from Duke University, an MA in Political Science from Georgetown University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Kent. He also holds a Financial Times Non-Executive Director Diploma and sits as a Director on the Board of a family-owned Indonesian energy business.
Rob SerjeantVice ChairRMS ConceptsRead moreRead less Rob is the founder and Managing Director of RMS Concepts, a boutique management consultancy headquartered in Hong Kong serving clients across APAC and beyond. With consistent growth year-over-year, the firm has progressed from start-up to SME very quickly evolving at each stage. Prior to founding RMS, Rob held leadership roles in both industry and consulting focussed on sustainable, scalable growth. This has included roles in Competitive Intelligence / Strategy with Procter & Gamble and turning around a regional business for a multinational professional services firm. Rob has an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and has been living in Hong Kong since 2012.
Ben CooperMemberAshford BenjaminRead moreRead lessBen is the founder and owner of Ashford Benjamin, which is an executive search firm focusing on placing legal, risk, and compliance professionals in Hong Kong and across Asia. He founded Ashford Benjamin in 2015, and it has since grown to be one of the largest search firms in Hong Kong specialising in these fields. Ben is a Barrister by training, having been called to the Bar of England & Wales, and moved to Hong Kong in 2010 to focus on placing mid-senior lawyers into financial institutions, and Partners into law firms. He sits on the CSR committee of the Chamber, is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel, and an associate member of the Hong Kong Law Society. Ben also sits on the Board of Directors for a prominent anti-slavery charity, and sponsors and supports a number of other charities and sports teams.
Corin WilsonMemberBritish Consulate GeneralRead moreRead lessCorin is a career diplomat with nearly twenty years focussing on international trade for the UK Government.

Corin began his diplomatic career in China, based in Beijing, focussing on investment into the UK. Working with companies including China Mobile, Bank of China, Huawei from 2005 to 2009, he also led on Ministerial delegations to and from China including to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Upon returning from a posting to South Africa where he focused on the energy sector and supporting South African investment into the UK, Corin established the UK Government’s first commercial team on smart cities. Working globally to promote UK technological expertise in areas including intelligent transport systems, energy efficiency and data analytics, Corin also led trade missions to South East Asia and Europe as well as the UK’s presence at the Smart Cities Expo, Barcelona, from 2014 to 2016.

In 2016 Corin took up a posting in India, leading the UK’s advanced engineering interests. Promoting UK expertise in areas including aerospace, automotive and advanced manufacturing techniques, Corin worked closely with companies including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Tata, Mahindra and Godrej. Before leaving India in 2020 he also led on UK/India collaboration in the space industry.

Corin has been Director, Trade & Investment in the Department for International Trade, based in the British Consulate General, Hong Kong since September 2020. Leading teams focussing on industries including technology and innovation, financial services, infrastructure and creative, he is also part of the wider British Consulate General campaign on sustainability in advance of COP26.
Iain ReedMemberEFARead moreRead lessOriginally from the UK, Iain has lived in in several regions of the Asia Pacific since 1989 including Thailand, Indonesia, India, Singapore and now Hong Kong. After graduating from Cambridge University he immediately set up his first Company, trading consumer goods between Indonesia and the UK. He then spent 10 years as an investment analyst for Barclays De Zoete & Wedd, Société Générale, and CLSA before leaving to found EFA in 2003, of which he is now Chairman. Iain’s role as Chairman includes acting as a brand ambassador, overseeing the financial and legal functions as well as the Consulting Services division, and business development for the group. He is currently working to diversify the group’s product range, focusing on EFAdrin. He is a member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, sitting on the Financial Markets, IT and SME committees and the Vice Chairman of the Angel Committee, a programme which connects entrepreneurs with angel investors in Hong Kong. He is also the founding President of TiE Hong Kong, the local chapter of TiE, which is a global non-profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, education and networking. Iain is an active member of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hong Kong and the Asian region and is an angel investor.
Liangliang GrahamMemberBTT ConsultingRead moreRead less Liangliang is the Founder and Partner of BTT Consulting, a specialist Strategy consultancy focused on helping clients to understand, access and capitalise on the opportunities available within the China market. She has recently authored two research and analysis papers aimed at the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and she regularly speaks at business events about opportunities in GBA for the financial services sector.

She has previously worked in Strategy Consulting and M&A Consulting in Greater China for the Big4 consultancies in London and Hong Kong. Her most recent role was in-house at AXA working in the Chief Strategy & Digital Office as the lead project manager. She also co-founded a WFOE in Guangzhou (York Partners) which provided consultancy services for businesses in south China.

Liangliang is a CFA charterholder and holds the Certificate in Investment Management from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments in the UK.
Matthew MurdochMemberFerndale Pet RelocationRead moreRead lessDr. Matthew Murdoch is a Veterinarian in the UK and moved to Hong Kong in 2005. In 2013 he founded a Hong Kong based Veterinary service company, Homevet. In 2017 he bought Ferndale Kennels - an International Pet Relocation company which was founded in 1994. Under his leadership he has successfully grown this business and made it a local market leader, and plans to further grow the business in Asia. Ferndale moves animals for individuals and corporate, by cargo and passenger planes, in cabin and private jet.
Miles PriceMemberPeak MetabolismRead moreRead lessMiles is a seasoned health professional certified in Functional Medicine from the Institute of Functional Medicine and Functional Medicine University and with the British Association for Nutrition and lifestyle medicine. He has been working in clinical practice for over 12 years in various medical practices and helped hundreds of patients with their health issues ranging from cardiometabolic to gastrointestinal and hormonal imbalances. Prior to his clinical experience, miles was working in the UK with Boots PLC developing novel plant extracts to be applied their Botanics range of products. He set up Peak Metabolism in 2022 to focus on the key health challenges of Hong Kong and China, those being cardiometabolic and hormonal conditions. His goal is to digitise the scope of service to reach a wider group of people specifically affected by diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Nigel SmithMemberNigel Smith AssociatesRead moreRead lessNigel Smith is an Independent Strategic Advisor based in Hong Kong with 33 years’ real estate experience across Asia. Specialising in asset optimisation, he adds value through a suite of tailored services acting as a trusted advisor and strategic partner. Previously he worked as the Managing Director of Colliers Hong Kong and before that with CBRE Asia and JLL Hong Kong.
Phil AldridgeMemberFunctionEight LtdRead moreRead lessPhil Aldridge is COO of FunctionEight Ltd. Headquartered in Hong Kong and with regional offices in Singapore and New Zealand, FunctionEight provides IT Managed Services and private cloud computing solutions to SME's and Regional Offices of MNC's across the APAC region. As COO Phil heads up the product, marketing and sales functions, as well as providing technical oversight. Phil has been in Hong Kong since 1991 and having worked in various firms in positions of Regional IT manager or similar he joined FunctionEight in 2006.
Sam HarleyMemberPyrmont Wealth ManagementRead moreRead lessSam works for Pyrmont Wealth Management which provides fee based financial planning and wealth management advice in Hong Kong. Sam helps mid-career professionals make sense of their money and make smart financial decisions for their future. Having graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a BA in Economics, Sam spent 1 year in Michigan USA recruiting graduate talent for a global automotive company. After returning to the UK in 2015, he chose to pursue a career in financial planning which has since taken him to Shanghai and now Hong Kong.