Timothy Sze brings more than 30 years of experience across academia, policy, and cross-border collaboration, with a strong record of strengthening institutions and building strategic partnerships. As Director of Mainland Affairs at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), he plays a key role in shaping HKUST’s engagement with the Mainland, supporting academic initiatives and partnership frameworks that connect education and systems across regions.
A leading figure in dispute resolution and ODR, Dr. Sze began his professional affiliation with CIArb in 1998 and has since contributed extensively to arbitration and online dispute resolution. His PhD research at the Law Institute of CASS (completed in 2007) was among the earliest Chinese academic studies on ODR, reflecting a long-standing focus on the digital transformation of justice. With nearly three decades of practical experience, he has served as an independent or lead expert for leading institutions including HKIAC, CIETAC, and ADNDRC, adjudicating more than 300 domain name disputes. He is also an accredited commercial mediator for HKIAC and was appointed by the HKSAR Department of Justice in 2018 as a designated mediator for the CEPA Investment Agreement.
Dr. Sze has also been instrumental in HKUST’s strategic expansion, including a decade-long contribution (2011–2022) to the establishment of HKUST(GZ). Serving as Secretary of the Governing Board and Director of the General Administration Office, he helped develop governance frameworks and cross-campus administrative policies, ensuring regulatory compliance across Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Since 2021, Dr. Sze has served as an Adjunct Associate Professor at HKUST’s Division of Public Policy and the Big Data Institute. His research focuses on Tech for Impact, the digital economy, social entrepreneurship, and ODR. He also co-founded the China Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs Club (initiated by WWF and NDRC in 2008) and served on the AIESEC Mainland China Board (2006–2011), reflecting his ongoing commitment to cross-border connection and technology-enabled impact.
