Dr Joanne Ka Wai Chan trained as a professional psychologist, teacher and academic. She is a Chartered Psychologist, a Chartered Scientist, a Registered Occupational Safety and Health Consultant and a Registered Teacher. She is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and Hong Kong Psychological Society. She is a member of Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology and Division of Educational and Child Psychology, BPS. She is also a member of Association of Psychological Science, US. Dr Chan got a Bachelor degree (Hons) in Social Sciences, Master of Philosophy in Psychology, Master of Arts in Educational Research and Doctor of Philosophy (Education and Psychology). She also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and a Postgraduate Certificate in English Studies for Language Teaching.

Dr Chan has devoted her career in psychology over 25 years. She is a Founder and Executive Director of a psychological consultancy and training company, Lifetime Development, in 2011. Lifetime Development offers comprehensive support and services in all areas of personal development. Lifetime Development provides talks for parents on parenting and child development, courses for students on learning strategies, workshops for adults on psychological well-being, screening tests and support services for SEN, professional development and corporate trainings for schools, organisations and corporates, and individual psychological consultation. 

Dr Chan has been teaching Psychology at the universities since 1997. She is currently working with City University of Hong Kong and Sheffield Hallam University, UK as a Lecturer, a Module Leader and a Dissertation Supervisor for both the Master Degree and the Bachelor Degree Programme. She worked with Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, and De Montfort University, UK for the Bachelor Degree Programmes. Her specialised areas are Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Life-Span Development, Student Counselling and Guidance, Introductory Psychology, Research Methods, and Organisations, Work and Psychology, Introduction to Work and Organisation, Personal Learning Portfolio, Personal Development and Learning Skills. Dr Chan has been granted the Excellent Teaching Award by Hong Kong Baptist University in 1999 and the 10-Year Long Service Award by the Open University of Hong Kong in 2014.

Dr Chan is a professional Educational Consultant for both undergraduate and postgraduate teacher training programmes with her substantial experience teaching at all levels of education over 25 years. She was a Professional Practice Consultant and a mentor of teacher trainees from various universities, including Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Metropolitan University, University of Sunderland, UK for the programme of Bachelor of Education and Postgraduate Diploma in Education.  She acts as the university representative overseas for University of Sunderland, UK, liaising with schools and supported the teacher trainees.  Dr Chan has been teaching at all levels of education. She is familiar with different educational systems, school administration, and curriculum development.  Over the years, Dr Chan has offered professional development training for schools and teachers, including support SEN students, student’s behavioural problems, children and youth mental health and wellbeing.

Dr Chan has focused on working with students with special educational needs (SEN) and their teachers and parents over a decade. She has delivered over 150 courses on a series of English Enhancement Programmes as well as life and social skills programmes for SEN students from Primary One to Secondary Six. Dr Chan has also given talks to students and parents on supporting children with SEN as well as promoting child development, positive parenting and wellbeing. 

Dr Chan is a Registered Occupational Safety and Health Consultant. She is a module leader of “Organisations, Work and Psychology” and “Introduction to Work and Organisations” of the undergraduate programmes. She is also a module leader of “Personal Development and Learning Skills” of Diploma in International Degree Foundation. She has substantial experience in teaching Organisational Behaviour and Psychology and promoting occupational health and safety over the years. She has been designing and delivering different corporate training and professional development programmes on various topics to schools, organisations and corporates. The topics include job satisfaction, work motivation and efficiency, stress management, workplace communication, personality test for personnel selection, staff coaching and mentoring, occupational health and team building.