'The change from my previous positions has been a real eye-opener. I view my current role as a facilitator, linking corporations with charitable organisations, and to raise awareness of the many causes which require community and corporate support in Hong Kong. I always feel there is more that I could do to help the community.'

It is a mindset that Ms Chan first showed prominent signs of in 1996, when she left Hong Kong for a one-year exchange programme in the United States, she travelled to Nicaragua, in Central America, to team up with a pastor and visited remote communities. She played with children, taught them some simple English and volunteered in a medical team.

She found the trip so rewarding that she followed this up with a journey to Nepal during her winter break in 2001. She conducted further volunteer work including the arrangement of a fun day at an orphanage near Kathmandu and the giving of gifts such as stuffed toys for children, which she had collected from colleagues before departing.

Ms Chan also visited Africa earlier this year to continue her volunteer work, helping to construct a pottery factory and teaching English to children in Uganda. She visited 10 countries in Africa during her visit.

'I want to spend my vacations in a worthy way for worthy causes,' Ms Chan said. 'I enjoy travelling because the most routine things which we take for granted stand out in a fresh environment and this helps to energise me,' she said. 'With volunteering, I also get a better understanding of the many different cultures.'

Ms Chan has been keen to see as much of the world as possible. Her work history includes a stint as a marketing manager in Germany.

She worked with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council from October 1998 to March this year. During this time, she assisted in formulating corporate strategies and marketing initiatives, and facilitated a media and outreach campaign to strengthen the trade council's public profile.

Prior to this, as assistant manager for the council's entertainment division of services promotion, Ms Chan was in charge of marketing, recruitment and overall logistics for the 2003 Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, where she oversaw a doubling of exhibition space sold and an increase of visitor numbers by more than 40 per cent, despite the threat of Sars.

Since August, Ms Chan has been in charge of ensuring that this year's Operation Santa Claus once again builds on the success of previous campaigns - an annual tradition which began 18 years ago.

Her commitment to helping people in need is producing real results, with her hard work and dedication putting this year's Operation Santa Claus on the right path to being one of the best. Twelve charities will benefit from various fundraising activities held during this month and next.

She said that while 12 charities would receive support from Operation Santa Claus this year, more than 80 organisations had applied. 'This made me realise there are many local issues and problems which need to be addressed ,' Ms Chan said.

'During the past 18 years, Operation Santa Claus has raised $67 million to assist 39 Hong Kong organisations, and this is still just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what needs to be achieved. I feel a little guilty that by travelling around the world and helping other people in need in poorer nations, I have overlooked the immense needs which require attention in my own home country and I feel grateful to now have the chance to do some worthy community work here.

'There is a Chinese saying that if you stand too close to the elephant, you have no idea that you are actually looking at an elephant, but instead one has to step back occasionally to see the big picture and I have learnt not to take things for granted.'

Ms Chan said the fact was that more could be done to help Hong Kong people, and she urged more community members to take part in valuable and rewarding charity work. She added that she was pleased that this year there was a noticeable increase in support from Hong Kong-based companies.

'Our internationally based companies continue to be the backbone of support for Operation Santa Claus, however it is pleasing to see more Hong Kong companies becoming involved,' she said. However, a humble Ms Chan attributes this success to the many years of past promotional campaigns rather than her own campaigning efforts.

'Volunteer and charity work helps one to see the different aspects of life. It helps us to comprehend how lucky we are and that we can learn something from everyone. I now feel I should give even more to the community,' she said.

'In my current role, I have discovered that corporations are very charitable and eager to support people in need. This is very heartening and my hope is for more Hong Kong individuals to discover the benefits of volunteer work not only to help others, but also to help themselves learn more about life.'

Operation Santa Claus is organised by the South China Morning Post and the English Programme Service of Radio Television Hong Kong.

The charities to benefit this year are the Hong Kong Paediatric Association, Children's Heart Foundation, Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, the Integrated Mental Health Service Unit of Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, Fu Hong Society, The Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Hong Kong Federation of the Blind, Hans Anderson Club, Hong Kong SKH St Christopher's Home, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation, and the People's Food Bank of St James' Settlement.

Learning the key to job satisfaction

To keep refreshed and energised, Ms Chan advises consistently looking for new challenges that drive passion and inspiration.

Changing career paths is probably the right option if

your learning curve has levelled off.

'Every job offers a set of skills which can be transferred, and if there is nothing new to learn, then this is a sign that it is time to move on.

'Take the skills you have and transfer them to a new position where you will be able to apply them in different ways. This ensures continued development, and fosters creativity,' she said. Ms Chan also suggests travelling to broaden your horizons.