Continuing the multi-decade commitment to educational philanthropy begun by his grandfather, Sir YK Pao, Philip Sohmen is the co-founder and deputy chairman of YK Pao School in Shanghai. Known for his hands-on approach, he usually refers to himself as the “Chief Janitor” of the ground-breaking non-profit school, which opened in 2007 and was co-founded with his mother, Anna Pao Sohmen.

The YK Pao School pioneered a new educational model rooted in Chinese culture while delivering an international approach and perspective, open to both Chinese and international students. Taught in an immersive Chinese-English bilingual environment, the school emphasises whole-person development with a strong focus on values education, with graduates continuing on to the world’s leading universities. YK Pao School has more than 1,600 primary and secondary students spread across three campuses including a high school with boarding facilities, as well as offers a wide range of summer and extension programs that impact a broad range of students.

Sohmen brings impeccable educational credentials as a graduate of Eton and Oxford University and with a Masters degree from Stanford University. He is also the co-founder of the Shanghai International Youth Orchestra and the four-time world champion professional sailing team, ChinaOne.Ningbo. His grandfather established the family tradition of educational philanthropy, founding Ningbo University and endowing scholarship programs and buildings at institutions including Shanghai’s Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Purdue University in the US.