Theme: Continuum

Continuum is seeing the past through the eyes of the present in leading the future. The continuum of time links the phases of life together - it embodies the past - the history that we seek to build upon and learn from; it encompasses the present - the now that we can actively affect and develop; it embraces the future - to which we try to work together, innovate, to shape. But what is it that we are truly looking for? The simple past, that we revere in for its nostalgia? The perfect present, and the communities we are diligently a part of? Or a progressive future, a vision we arduously work towards?

LSK LT6, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
LT6, Lee Shau Kee Building, Central Campus, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, N/A
Hong Kong

Andrea Richey

Education Director, Hong Kong Shark Foundation

Andrea Richey has a corporate background as an ex-lawyer. She was inspired to quit her job and become a volunteer when she came across a talk on shark threats. Joining the Hong Kong Shark Foundation in late 2015, she is now the Education Director of the Foundation with a mission to raise awareness on shark conservation in Hong Kong. Currently she is actively involved in various educational programs and fundraising campaigns. Believing that students are a vital part of the shark conservation movement, she spoke to over 6000 students in over 30 schools last year in 2018 and is aiming to take it up a notch.

Benita Chick

LGBT Activist + CEO of Encompass HK

Benita started her professional career in working with differently abled individuals at Outward Bound Hong Kong. More recently, she has been advocating for LGBT+ rights as Director of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) for Pink Alliance, and Board Director for AIDS Concern. Benita has shared her passion and knowledge by curating and guiding an award-winning LGBT in the City Walking Tour that explores Hong Kong’s LGBT+ history & culture. Appearing in interviews for NHK World ‘Direct Talk’ and China’s Daily, Benita has furthered the goal of diversity and inclusion within the community as well as promoting effective advocacy and progress. With her science background at Cornell University and commitment to environmental work, she also runs sustainability and citizen science workshops for different organisations. She is also a passionate diving instructor since age of 18 teaching special needs children and differently-abled individuals.

Gerardo Salandra

CEO and founder of Rocketbots, Chairman of AI Society of Hong Kong

Gerardo Salandra is the CEO of Rocketbots (www.rocketbots.io), a leading Artificial Intelligence solution provider in Asia. An IBM & Google veteran, with deep expertise in growth hacking, machine learning, and chatbots. Chairman of the AI Society of Hong Kong, promoting the development and understanding of AI technologies in the Region.

Icey Jiang

Entrepreneur, Founder of INNOgirls

Icey JIANG graduated from CUHK with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering. Since then, she has taken a proactive role in community services, contributing to the startup ecosystem in HK. Representing Hong Kong in the Women Techmakers scholar hosted by Google, she was also invited by the Australian government to foster STEM and entrepreneurship by women in APEC economies. Now, she currently not only works in technology consultation, but also engages actively in her own startup INNOGIRLS, aiming to empower female youth into innovation and entrepreneurship.

Innocent Mutanga

Entrepreneur + Anthropologist (Student Speaker)

Innocent Mutanga is a Hong Kong-based Zimbabwean entrepreneur who champions the cause of social justice through awakening the public to the needs and conditions of the marginalized and the vulnerable in society. An anthropologist in the making, he has travelled to various developing countries; from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Myanmar to sleeping with the homeless in Manila. In Hong Kong he is the co-founder of three social enterprises; The Wandering Voice, Africa Center Hong Kong and Harmony HK. Through these efforts he addresses issues faced by people of multiple disadvantaged identities such as refugees, female migrant domestic workers, non-Chinese sex workers and LGBTQ ethnic minorities.

Myke Celis

Life Coach + Multimedia Personality

Growing up from a dysfunctional family, having been in a physically abusive relationship and after experiencing a betrayal from a good friend that left him almost bankrupt, Myke Celis finally decided to turn his life around by becoming everything he wanted to be thereafter. Living up to his personal platform #bestmeever , Myke now inspires others with his infectious positivity and Life changing stories as an internationally certified life coach, a best selling author, a radio talkshow host and multimedia personality in the Philippines. He continues to help bring out the best in others as one of the most sought after TEDx speakers, having the record of the most number of local and international TEDx talks given by a Filipino. On the side, Myke runs 4 successful businesses he’s passionate about, while traveling and working out, spreading good vibes wherever he goes.

Peter Chan

Founder of Treehole, HK

Peter Chan is the founder of social enterprise TreeholeHK. After earning his psychology degree at HKU, and receiving mindfulness training from multiple sources, he started his business promoting mindfulness in Hong Kong. Currently TreeholeHK is a pioneer of incorporating philosophy into mindfulness, gaining press coverage from multiple HK news outlets, including RTHK and Apple Daily.

Professor Henry Chan

Associate Dean (Global Engagement), Faculty of Medicine, CUHK

Henry Chan is Professor of Medicine, Director of Center for Liver Health, and Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK. He is a globally recognized key opinion leader in liver diseases. He is serving as chairman of the Strategic Technical Advisory Committee for Viral Hepatitis for the World Health Organization in the Western Pacific region. He is a very popular speaker with over 450 invited lectures all over the world. The recipient of numerous research-related awards, Professor Chan has authored over 450 journal articles and book chapters. He is the only hepatologist in Greater China rated by Clarivate Analytics as a Highly Cited Researcher in 2018 for production of multiple top 1% cited papers under Web of Science. Prof. Chan was awarded as a Ten Outstanding Young Person in Hong Kong in 2008 for his excellent professional achievement and contribution to the society.

Professor Nicholas Rawlins

Professor and Researcher of Behaviorial Neuroscience, University of Oxford

Nick Rawlins is Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Development and External Affairs. His research spans areas including the neural basis of memory, brain degeneration, pain and anxiety. He was elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2006 and Fellow of the British Psychological Society in 2010. Professor Rawlins was Associate Head of Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division from 2008 until taking up his present post. He was a Junior Research Fellow at University College and then a Senior Research Fellow there before taking up a tutorial Fellowship which he held for more than 20 years, as University Lecturer and Sir Jules Thorne Tutorial Fellow. He moved to Wolfson College as the Watts Professor of Psychology and a Professorial Fellow in 2007. He stood down from the Watts Chair on accepting the appointment as Pro-Vice-Chancellor but remains at Wolfson College.

Rachel Tam

Legal Case Officer, PathFinders Hong Kong

Currently employed as a Legal Case Officer at PathFinders Limited, a registered Hong Kong charity which assists distressed migrant women who are pregnant or have children born in Hong Kong, Rachel Tam mainly handles employment, immigration, discrimination and human rights matters.

Saya Kyzylbayeva

Co-Founder of Central Asia Centre

Saya Kyzylbayeva is from Kazakhstan, having moved to Hong Kong several years ago. She co-founded the Central Asia Centre, a social enterprise that increase awareness about Central Asian culture through various activities, events and travel programmes based in Hong Kong. Trying to disclose the truth behind the mirage of HK as a culturally-diverse city, her talk addresses the difficulties in adapting to life in Hong Kong, asking “Is Hong Kong really an international place?”