Ravi is Managing Director of Gidumal & Sons Limited, a family owned business that distributes internationally branded tableware, gifts and homeware in Hong Kong & Macau. Under the brand name Town House, the company operates seven retail shops and a wholesale distribution business that sells products to leading retailers, hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong. In the 1990s Ravi led a lobby group in Hong Kong that successfully convinced the UK Government to enact legislation which restored full British citizenship to the non-Chinese population of Hong Kong. This community of “ethnic minorities” faced the plight of statelessness as a result of Hong Kong reverting to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Ravi’s interest in public affairs and the plight of minority groups in Hong Kong was strengthened as a result of this lobby initiative and despite focusing more heavily on commercial interests in recent years, Ravi has continued support vulnerable groups and individuals in his personal capacity. Ravi was born and raised in Hong Kong. His family has called Hong Kong their home since the early 1900s.

Catherine has been involved with The Zubin Foundation since its inception. She was invited to be part of the Foundation's Board of Directors in June 2019 and appointed Board Vice Chair in November 2021. Catherine is Board Chair of Community Business Limited and Head of Social Impact, Hong Kong for A&O Shearman. Catherine is involved in projects supporting access to justice and rule of law in a number of areas. At A&O Shearman, she is able to bring together teams of lawyers, professional business staff, alumni and clients to share their knowledge and experience on international projects, as well as focusing on local communities. In her broader work in the NGO community, Catherine encourages collaboration between a range of diverse stakeholders to bring new and original ways of thinking to the challenges faced by those seeking access to justice and to address a broad range of social needs.

Don Taylor is Director and Global Head of Swire Properties’ Office Portfolio. Swire Properties is a leading developer, owner and operator of mixed-use properties in the Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese Mainland, with a record of creating long-term value by transforming urban areas. He is also Chairman for the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF), a charity that provides access to high quality, non-competitive free-of-charge arts experiences for all young people aged 5 to 25.

Mr. Guneet Banga is an Executive Director at The Caravel Group, where he has been employed since Caravel’s inception in 2013. Currently, he heads up Caravel Sustainable Investments (“CSI”), a dedicated vehicle for the Company’s investment management activities focused on Impact, ESG and Sustainability. Under CSI, investments are made through direct investment in private companies and third-party managers, as well as investments in global capital markets – both equity and credit. Additionally, Guneet uses this vehicle to research and pilot potential solutions to challenges and issues which the Group’s operating companies will face in the future Additionally, Guneet is a General Partner and Strategic Advisor with Aera VC, a Singapore-registered, private-investment firms, that he has been involved with since late 2018. With a view of “investing today for a better world tomorrow” Aera is an early-growth fund and invest in deep-tech ventures that are focused primarily on climate change and decarbonisation solutions, due to the magnitude of the challenge to meet climate goals, and the sheer scale of investments that will be needed Prior to joining The Caravel Group, Guneet was a Vice President in the Capital Markets Origination division with Citi. Based in Hong Kong, Mr Banga was responsible for primary equity and equity-linked origination and execution from Southeast Asia, Korea, and India. Guneet began his career as an Analyst in the Consumer Products Corporate Finance team at UBS Warburg in New York. Guneet currently serves as a member of the Board for the Zubin Foundation, a Hong Kong-based think tank and charity committed to improving the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority community by alleviating poverty and enhancing social inclusion. He is also a member of their Fundraising Committee, within the organisation. Guneet received an AB in Economics and a Certificate in East Asian Studies and Finance from Princeton University in 2002. He also earned an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management in 2009 from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2020, Guneet completed a Certificate in Impact Investing offered jointly by the University of Zurich, the Institute for Responsible Investing, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Kishore Sakhrani is a Director at Greater Asian Advisors Limited, Hong Kong. His area of expertise is in commercial and private client matters, assisting North American SMEs to strategically incorporate and do business in Asia as well as providing high net worth clients with estate and tax planning advice. Previously, Kishore was a founding director and owner at ICS Trust (Hong Kong) Limited prior to its sale in 2012.​ With over 25 years experience, Kishore advises on taxation, corporate structuring, accounting, regulatory and trust related matters for both corporate clients and high net worth individuals. Kishore chairs the board at Community Business Ltd., a social enterprise promoting community involvement, diversity and non-discrimination and whose members include some of the largest multi-nationals doing business in Hong Kong. He is the co-founder of The Amber Foundation Limited, a recently established local charity and a board member at the Richard Ivey School of Business in Hong Kong.

Ranoo Wasan is a director at Ruttonjee Estates Continuation Ltd where she has worked for over 30 years. She is also a member of the Rusy & Purviz Charitable Foundation that provides funding to various charities especially those related to children, education and healthcare. A long term resident of Hong Kong, Ranoo is very passionate about promoting the Indian Arts and culture and is Chairperson of the Indian Arts Circle.

Sasha Allison is one of the Legal Leads at TZF. Sasha started her legal practice in Western Australia over 20 years ago, which continued when she moved to Hong Kong. Sasha is a Barrister specialising in all areas of Family Law. She is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and is a qualified family adjudicator and mediator.

Shalini Mahtani is one of Hong Kong’s most authoritative and respected voices on social issues, particularly diversity and inclusion. In addition to founding The Zubin Foundation, among the city’s most accomplished think tanks on issues related to ethnic minority welfare and patient welfare, Shalini is the founder of Community Business, the first organisation in Asia that brings together companies and their management around women, LGBT and disabilities at work. In 2009, Shalini was honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader, and a year prior she was awarded an MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her services in corporate social responsibility in Hong Kong. She was also recognised by the HKSAR Government for her contribution to issues related to ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. Shalini has authored research and opinion pieces on diversity and inclusion and is a frequent speaker on the topic. She is also a co-host on both BBC World Service and RTHK Radio 3. Shalini is from Hong Kong. She is a graduate of The London School of Economics. She is married and has three children.

Prachi, a Chartered Accountant and a certified Financial Risk Manager, has rich experience in Corporate & Banking industry across roles that have spanned not only local and regional Asia coverage but also top organizations such as Royal Bank of Scotland, Export Import Bank of India and Union Bancaire Privee. After working for more than a decade in Hong Kong, she has now decided to devote her time and energies to a new and noble cause through the platform of TZF. She is inspired by TZF mission and values, and strongly believes that upliftment of marginalized communities can be achieved through Education, Financial independence and holistic Wellbeing. She is excited about supporting and getting actively involved in the wide range of areas that TZF is engaged in. In her free time, she loves to explore the hills of Hong Kong with her family. She also enjoys indoor sports like Badminton & Table Tennis. A team player at heart, her enthusiasm and positive energy are evident in any group based activity or projects. She has also completed her Diploma in Montessori Method of Education and has been contributing to several charitable organisations. A firm proponent of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle), she also created the popular Swap-it-HK Facebook group which now has 60k+ members.

Sandy's main responsibilities at the Zubin Foundation include managing the day-to-day execution and management of the various projects being undertaken by the organisation. She is also responsible for organising events and talks to spread awareness on issues that the organisation is focusing on. Sandy Chan is from Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Zubin Foundation, she worked at Community Business from 2008 to 2014. Her main responsibilities at Community Business included managing the disability workplace initiatives of Community Business and addressing employability of people with disabilities. Sandy has taken a lead role in planning The Zubin Day at Community Business on or around 31st May (Zubin’s death anniversary) in 2009 and 2010, where the Community Business team go out and volunteer in a community of their choice. Sandy’s passion is community outreach and on a personal basis she regularly volunteers with a youth centre for ethnic minorities. She has also worked with Produce Green Foundation as a project coordinator. Sandy holds a bachelor degree in English for Professional Communication from City University of Hong Kong.

Winnie's main responsibilities at The Zubin Foundation are to oversee the operations of Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre and to drive funding proposals and applications for new projects. Winnie started her journey in India in 2005, where she volunteered with the Unite Way of Mumbai on its fundraising efforts. She has since dedicated her career to CSR and has worked for both NGO and the private sector. Winnie previously worked at Hogan Lovells as Citizenship Manager, looking after the firm’s pro bono and other citizenship efforts in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. Prior to that, she worked in Cathay Pacific, running the airline’s major CSR programmes including I Can Fly, an aviation education programme for over 300 youths, and Change for Good, an inflight fundraising programme. She also worked in Community Business, managing its key projects, including the Diversity & Inclusion in Asia Network which is a network of leading companies in Asia that devotes in progressing diversity and inclusion in the region. Winnie was born and raised in Hong Kong. She holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences from the University of Hong Kong. She lives with her husband and with two young children.

Sharon Etherington is a Senior Human Resource Professional across multiple industries and geographies. Sharon has worked within the region for the past 27 years previously consulting with Deloitte, in-house with BNY Mellon, Vistra, The British Council more recently Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. With over 25 years experience, Sharon advises on strategic, operational and transformative HR matters for both corporate clients, private equity, start-ups and NGO’s

At The Zubin Foundation, Matthew is Communications & Partnerships Director, responsible for developing and communicating the organisational strategy and vision for social impact, as well as identifying and developing opportunities to empower the ethnic minority community in Hong Kong. Prior to joining The Zubin Foundation, Matthew had worked for a not-for-profit organisation in Hong Kong for 5 years where he was responsible for driving the programmes and campaigns to promote accountability and awareness related to diversity and inclusion and responsible business. During his three years at university, Matthew had also worked as a part-time tutor in his alma mater, teaching Liberal Studies to senior secondary school students, which further developed his critical thinking, public speaking skills and most importantly - a sense of becoming a rational and responsible citizen of the local, national and global community. Matthew holds a Master's degree in Counselling (Mental Health) from Hong Kong Baptist University, and a Bachelor's degree in Arts from the University of Hong Kong, majoring in Translation and minoring in both German and Sociology. In his penultimate year, he received a Reaching Out Award from the HKSAR Government. Leveraging the scholarship from the Award, he went to Berlin, Germany, to polish his German as well as broaden his horizons, where he reckoned the significance of a socially inclusive environment. His studies and working experiences make him passionate about creating a community value – making a positive social impact. Matthew speaks four languages – Cantonese, English, Mandarin and German and he wishes to learn more.

At The Zubin Foundation, Aisha is Project Officer, responsible for driving various projects that support the ethnic minority community in Tung Chung. Aisha mainly takes care of home-visits, Chai Gatherings in Tung Chung for women, women’s empowerment projects, innovative programmes and event management. Prior to The Zubin Foundation, she worked in the F&B industry for eight years under various roles. Born in Brunei, she was raised in Nepal and is currently living in Hong Kong. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Tourism from Federation University of Australia. She first learned about social service and community programs when she was in her teens living in a hostel and it has always been one of her goals in life to be able to give back to the community. During her first few years in Hong Kong, she was kind of lost and unable to get the proper help and guidance. The experience has motivated her to help ethnic minorities who didn’t access proper guidance regarding schooling, work and health. She has also always been concerned about mental health and women and human rights. She actively shares her thoughts on these topics on her personal social media account. She strongly believes in the quote, “humanity comes first”. During her off days and free time, she loves to bake, try new recipes and spend time with family and friends. She can speak in English, Nepali and Hindi.

At The Zubin Foundation, Anky is Office Manager and Personal Assistant of Shalini Mahtani, the founder of The Zubin Foundation. Anky is responsible for office administration, accounting, human resources, event support and managing Shalini’s calendar. Prior to The Zubin Foundation, Anky worked as Race Manager for an event company to organize a trail running event from 2014 to 2016 and worked as an Office Manager at Community Business from 2007 to 2014. She feels grateful to be re-joining her former team members in a new venture and looks forward to doing more meaningful work for Hong Kong. She has been a guide runner and board member for Blind Sports Hong Kong and board member for MIG Action. She loves to serve the community and make new friends.

At The Zubin Foundation, Anuradha is Project Officer, responsible for the direct community services including elderly gathering and the chai gathering. Her main duties include liaison, coordination and event management. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She worked for more than a decade in the retail industry, acquiring a significant amount of knowledge and experience to establish her own company. The global economic turmoil triggered by the pandemic had an adverse impact on her business, which resulted in the winding up of business. As someone who has been taught never to give up and stand tall in all circumstances, she has now forayed into a path that she has been passionate about all along, which is to serve the ones in need. She would like to encourage everyone to give themselves a second chance, to have the courage to rise above in spite of the problems and dilemmas, to have hope and to keep having faith in themselves. She would like to advocate for empathy, which she believes would make everyone relate to other’s grief. Compassion breeds through empathy; unless we do not put ourselves in other’s shoes, nothing can or will be relatable. Not everyone is privileged; not everyone is fortunate enough to have had successful tenures in their career or the phases of life. She would like to devote her attention towards serving the marginalised group of people through the platform provided by The Zubin Foundation. She firmly believes that nobility comes with good intentions that metamorphose into good deeds.

At The Zubin Foundation, Dolma is Project Officer, responsible for assisting various direct community outreach projects, such as elderly gathering and chai gathering, as well as supporting home visits in Tung Chung. She initially joined The Zubin Foundation as a part-timer and has now become a full-time staff member. She was born in Nepal and studied in India. Dolma worked at the Hyolmo Social Service Centre in Nepal as an Assistant Secretary for three years. She then moved to Hong Kong and worked in the retail and salon industry for more than 15 years. She loves to help people in need and always wants to work in the social service field to support the community. She hopes to help more people in the future. Dolma enjoys singing, dancing, and swimming. She loves to learn new things and visit new places. She loves spending her free time with her daughter. She can speak English, Hindi, Nepali, Hyolmo, and some basic Cantonese.

At The Zubin Foundation, Kenneth is a Social Worker, responsible for casework and support services including proactively reaching out and engaging with service users in need. He also plans programmes and activities for the community. Born and raised in Hong Kong, he has a B.A. in History from the Washington University in Saint Louis, and a M.A. in Comparative and Public History from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Before becoming a social worker, he worked in several industries such as finance, academia, hospitality, and most recently, public health. His interest in working with ethnic minorities came both from his time working in the hospitality industry as well as his travels through South Asia. He completed his M.S.W. at the University of Hong Kong, where he conducted fieldwork in ethnic minority families and youth, as well as the rehabilitation of ex-offenders and substance abusers. During his off days and free time, he is interested in expanding his horizons and learning about other cultures through travel. He speaks Cantonese, English, and Putonghua. He is taking his time learning Hindi, Urdu, and Nepali.

At The Zubin Foundation, Kulwinder is Senior Project Officer, responsible for ethnic minority women outreach projects, youth mental health programmes and volunteer programmes. Kulwinder also supports direct services at Zubin's Family Centre, such as the SEN project and parenting workshops. Kulwinder was born and brought up in Hong Kong and has experienced the same challenges EM children in Hong Kong face growing up. She graduated with a MSc in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh and has experience working at the University of Hong Kong on research projects focusing on Bereavement and End-of-Life Care. She has previously worked as a Bereavement Support Coordinator who provided emotional support to grieving members from diverse backgrounds in Vancouver, BC. Kulwinder speaks English, Cantonese, Punjabi and Hindi.

At The Zubin Foundation, Manjari is Project Officer, responsible for projects focusing on youth empowerment and providing opportunities to ethnic minorities, such as mentorship, internship and job advising, and community engagement. She was born and raised in India. She moved to Hong Kong in 2010 and immediately fell in love with it. She got busy exploring the new country, raising a family and making Hong Kong her home. She completed her TESOL certification and has been a part of many projects promoting English amongst speakers of other languages. She has worked with local primary school students in Hong Kong, and she absolutely loves being around children and learning from them. Manjari wants to understand the challenges faced by the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong and hopes to make some contribution towards enriching their lives. During her off days and free time, Manjari loves hiking, cycling, cooking, and music. She is a big foodie and loves trying out food from different cuisines.

At The Zubin Foundation, Nanki is Project Manager for the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre. She is responsible for outreach programmes and partnerships, mental health public education talks and workshops, social media, ambassador programmes as well as initial intakes for counselling clients. Nanki was born in India and raised in Hong Kong. She completed her Bachelor of Nursing from Western Sydney University and Masters in Public Health/ Health Management from University of New South Wales. She worked as a registered nurse specialising in psychiatry in community and hospital settings in Sydney. She thoroughly enjoyed the preventative aspect of healthcare and pursued her studies in Public Health. Upon returning to Hong Kong, she worked the non-profit sector in organisations catering to asylum seekers and the youth population. In her previous role, she led a whole-school approach project focusing on mental health literacy, awareness and destigmatisation. In her free time, she enjoys sports such as kayaking, cycling and basketball.

At The Zubin Foundation, Nidhi is Project Officer, responsible for supporting the scholarship programme, aimed at improving the education and financial well-being of youth from ethnic minority communities. In addition to this, she manages food support initiatives and addresses the other needs of the ethnic minority community through various projects. Born and raised in India, she has completed her Master's degree in Business Administration (Human Resource and Finance) at Dibrugarh University, India. Her first job was as a high school teacher where she had an opportunity to interact and understand young minds. After marriage, she moved to Hong Kong and got an opportunity to work in the banking industry with the State Bank of India, Hong Kong Branch. Her professional experience in diverse industries has enhanced her planning, creativity, adaptability, critical and interpersonal skills. In her free time, she loves hiking, travelling, cooking, watching movies, and most importantly, spending time with her son. She speaks Hindi, English and Assamese.

Priya is a mental health counsellor, supporting the Ethnic Minorities well-being center at The Zubin Foundation (TZF). She is responsible for providing counselling support to the adolescents and adults at TZF. She also supports in raising mental-health awareness through Mental Health First Aid training to the Ethnic Minority community. Priya holds a Master in Psychology degree from Mumbai University, India and is registered with Rehabilitation council of India. She has 13+ years of experience working in the field of Mental health dealing with concerns like Depression, Anxiety, developmental issues, family and relationship counselling etc. She has been trained to conduct various psychological assessments. Priya takes a holistic approach to understanding each client and their unique presenting concerns. She appreciates that our mind, body, spirit, and relationships are all intertwined and intimately affected by one another. She focuses on each client's strengths and talents in addition to their struggles and areas for growth. Priya has worked in multiple hospitals and schools in India and Nepal before moving to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, she worked on a social welfare project for Non Refoulment Claimant. She also provides individual counselling consultations at her private clinic. She can speak several languages such as Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Marwadi and English.

At The Zubin Foundation, Talha is Senior Project Officer, responsible for supporting and driving various initiatives under our youth empowerment and capacity building programme. He organizes hundreds of in-personand virtual capacity-building upskilling sessions for the community each year. He handles the shadowing and recruitment of interns at The Zubin Foundation and also talks to job seekers, providing guidance and advice. Born and raised in Pakistan, Talha arrived in Hong Kong in 2008. As the eldest son in a family of six, he chose to work full-time and study part-time in the evenings to support his family and finance his education simultaneously. He completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business Studies from the University of Greenwich, majoring in Event Management.  Talha has always been passionate about helping the community and serving the underserved. While completing his education, he worked with three NGOs, gaining experience in Ethnic Minorities (EM) services, including youth outreach, employment, organizing outdoor gatherings and community events, and coordinating computer and language courses. He also represented the community in various public speaking events to voice EM views and concerns. Additionally, he took on the responsibility of mentoring and leading a team of EM youth conducting outreach across Hong Kong.  Talha quickly forms bonds with EM youth, developing them into Youth Ambassadors to serve the community. He also has a great interest in music and entertainment. Talha discovered his passion for singing in high school and performed at many school events. Encouraged by teachers and friends, he created a YouTube channel where he uploads music covers and makes vlogs as a hobby. He is often invited to perform at various cultural events organized by local NGOs.  At The Zubin Foundation, Talha seizes opportunities for further self-development. He aims to use his skills and experience to work with youth and young job seekers and continue serving the community, encouraging them to achieve more in Hong Kong while working with different stakeholders to encourage cultural diversity and make the community inclusive for all.

Rabia is a mental health counsellor, supporting the Ethnic Minorities Well-being Center. In her counselling practice, Rabia adopts an integrative, multicultural, and person-centered approach to address issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and interpersonal relationships. Her passion is to empower people through knowledge and skills, enabling them to deal with their emotional and social hurdles. At The Zubin Foundation (TZF), Rabia is responsible for providing counselling support to adolescents and adults. She is also supporting TZF in raising mental-health & well-being awareness through a series of webinars/seminars for the Ethnic Minority community. In addition, she designs and leads “autism awareness” workshops for parents of non-Chinese-speaking children with special education needs. Rabia holds a Master of Counselling degree from Monash University, Australia, and a Masters of Science in Applied Psychology from University of the Punjab, Pakistan. She is also a certified Acceptance and Commitment Therapist (ACT) for adolescents. Rabia is a full member of the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA) and Hong Kong Society for Counselling and Psychology (HKSCP).

Ravina is a clinical psychologist. She specializes in humanistic existential psychotherapy, EMDR and mindfulness-based interventions for individuals suffering from grief, loss, depression, anxiety and trauma. At The Zubin Foundation, a think tank and charity based in Hong Kong, she heads up a number of initiatives. In addition to managing the foundation's Children Counselling Centre, she designs and leads autism and ADHD workshops for parents of non-Chinese speaking children with special educational needs, conducts parenting support groups, and is responsible for Call Mira - Hong Kong’s first helpline aimed at supporting marginalized ethnic minority women and girls in Hindi, Urdu and English. Prior to joining the team, Ravina was exposed to a wide range of clinical settings and populations as an intern. Her experience includes working at The Justice Centre and Christian Action, offering counseling to refugees and asylum seekers. She spent a year at Jadis Blurton Family Development Centre, learning about psycho-educational assessments. Ravina also interned at the Nesbitt Centre, Hong Kong’s only English language programme for adults with learning disabilities. Ravina was a keynote speaker at the 2021 International Existential Conference, and regularly participates in panel discussions on topics related to women and girls, ethnic minority mental health, and trauma. Ravina holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, a certification in Trauma from the Canadian Institute of Traumatology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Widener University. She is fluent in English and Hindi. Ravina is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), and The Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong.

At The Zubin Foundation, Rubina is Accountant, responsible for day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping tasks for the organisation. She brings to the team over 10 years of experience as a financial planning consultant, and 25 years of experience working across various sectors including trading, sales and elderly homes.

Shilpa is a mental health counselor with 15+ years of experience in the field of mental health. She has helped individuals presenting with a wide range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, adjustment disorders, career & work-related stress, substance abuse - addictions, relationship issues, variety of sexual problems and marital issues. She also offers counselling services to the families of clients having mental illness or other health issues & also to the families needing help with parenting skills. She uses Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as main therapeutic techniques. Shilpa is a medical professional from India, where she has received her undergraduate (Batchelor in Medicine and Batchelor in Surgery- M.B.B.S) and postgraduate training (Doctor of Medicine in Psychiatry). In addition, she has also completed Primary and Advanced Certificate Training in the Principles and Practice of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, from Albert Ellis Institute, New York. Shilpa practiced as a Consultant Psychiatrist and Sexologist in India for 7+ years. She has worked as an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at couple of Medical Colleges in India and was involved in training of post graduate and undergraduate medical students. She has also conducted trainings on mental & sexual health for general practitioners, counsellors, psychologists & social workers. In Hong Kong, Shilpa has been working as a Counsellor for 7+ years. She has worked with Refugees and Non-Refoulment Claimant population presenting with various vulnerabilities including but not limited to mental health issues, couple & family conflicts, parenting difficulties, domestic violence, drug abuse, child abuse, trauma etc. She is the founder of ‘Mind Direct’, offering online as well as in person counselling. Given her experience in dealing with clients presenting with wide range of difficulties and from diverse cultures & ethnicities, Dr Shilpa remains flexible, approachable and equally sensitive to client’s needs.

At The Zubin Foundation, Smita is Project Officer, responsible for providing all-round support for projects and administration for the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre, an initiative of The Zubin Foundation. She was born and brought up in a small city of Maharashtra, India. She has finished her Master’s degree in Psychology. While she was pursuing her studies, she gained experience as an intern remand home, de-addiction centre, and mental asylum in India. Prior to The Zubin Foundation, she worked with two NGOs with experience in organising activities for women and children as well as volunteering with another NGO in Hong Kong. Having an interest and deep feelings towards helping the community, she has decided to continue working with NGOs as her career. She is willing to help needy people in every possible way. She also enjoys spending time with young kids and arranging interesting activities for them. She is willing to gain knowledge in different areas related to mental health, and emotional support towards ethnic minority ladies in need. During her off days and free time, she likes to spend time with her family, going hiking, playing badminton, doing yoga practice, and volunteering. Smita can speak Marathi, Hindi and English.

At The Zubin Foundation, Sumaira is Project Admin Officer, responsible for providing all-round support for projects and office administration. She was born and raised in Pakistan and came to Hong Kong in 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (B.COM). Prior to The Zubin Foundation, she worked as an English Language instructor for around 3 years and as Admin Coordinator for 1 year. She always loves to help others who are in need. She worked as a volunteer in different organisations before. She was a medical interpreter for some time. She has deep value for mental health, especially after facing challenges in her personal life and relationships. She feels for the women who are in distress and suffer in relationships with their spouses. Her goal is to motivate women and girls to stand up for themselves emotionally, physically and financially. Books are her friend, and the library is always her happiest zone. She has read many books, and her favorite book is HOLY QURAN. She loves to spend time with her 5-year-old son, who is her comfort, power, strength and priority. She loves travelling a lot and wants to explore the world with her son. She believes that “if you have faith in yourself, you can win the world”.

At The Zubin Foundation, Vibha is Partnerships Officer, responsible for building strong partnerships with corporates, individual donors, educational institutions and other NGOs. She identifies ways in which we can work together with our partners such as volunteering, fundraising, training and customised programmes. Prior to The Zubin Foundation, Vibha worked as the Development Marketing Lead at The Women’s Foundation where she was responsible for communications linked to fundraising initiatives. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, specialising in Electronics and Communications, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, specialising in Marketing Communications. She spent her childhood in Oman and moved to India to pursue her education, making her ready for different experiences from a young age. Today, as a Marketing & Communications professional, Vibha has learnt from exploring multiple avenues. Vibha has brought her multiple experiences to bear on how we can improve the lives of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. As she believes experience is the best teacher, this motto has guided Vibha her whole life. In her 13-year-long corporate career, she has worked in Hong Kong and India, and across industries like Banking and Financial Services, Media, Fashion, FMCG, Manufacturing and Non-profits. She has designed and executed marketing plans in South Asia, ANZ, North America, and Europe. Since 2013, Hong Kong has been home to her. She loves the city for its order in chaos, the eclectic mix of people from different cultures, and one of the most spectacular skylines in the world. Her zest to learn from new experiences has also taken her to 40 countries, learning a little more about the world and its people one country at a time. Vibha makes use of her free time to revive her reading habit, experimenting with creative writing, and learning Spanish.

At The Zubin Foundation, Vinee is Project Manager, leading the scholarship programme, which aims to support youth—particularly girls—in their pursuit of tertiary education while helping them develop their self-identity and aspirations. In addition, Vinee oversees emergency relief projects and has also managed initiatives aimed at increasing ethnic minority representation at the HKSAR government level. Vinee holds a Master's degree in Economics and has professional work experience in academia and the financial industry across India, the USA, and Hong Kong. She has a strong commitment to community service and has collaborated with organizations such as The World Bank, GE Community Service Fund, HKUST Sustainability, and the Asian Migrants Credit Union in Hong Kong. Vinee is ethnically Indian and has been living in Hong Kong since 2010. She is passionate about empowering women and youth and strives to enhance intercultural awareness in global cities. Fluent in Hindi, Bangla, and English, Vinee enjoys traveling, practising yoga, and gardening. Her interactions within the community and her support for families and individuals continually motivate her to do more.

Ashima Sharma is a clinical psychologist and is a counsellor at The Zubin Foundation’s Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre. Ashima's experience and qualifications have been gained whilst living in India and HK for the past 10+ years. She supports patients from three years old upwards and across the lifespan. She incorporates mindfulness, CBT, positive psychology, and positive guidance/parenting practices where appropriate. Her specialist interests are further reflected in her clinical research work on parents of children with ADHD and ASD. Before joining The Zubin Foundation, she worked with Human Dynamic and Integrate HK .She also has extensive training in working with hospitals, pediatric clinics, Rehabilitation centres, Air force units, social work centres and schools. She is a member of British Psychological Society, Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), Hong Kong Psychological Society, Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong, American Psychological Association and Hong Kong Family Law Association. She is currently running her private practice and working with a few schools across Hong Kong. Ashima Sharma consults in English, Hindi and Urdu.

Geetha is a mental health counsellor at the Ethnic Minorities Well-being Centre. She has experience in counselling adults and adolescents with depression, low self-esteem, anger management, and aggressiveness. She has also volunteered at the Children’s Counselling Centre with phobia, anger, and low self-esteem. Prior to taking up counselling, she worked as a teacher in a secondary school in Hong Kong for more than two decades. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling from Monash University and a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hong Kong. She has also completed the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy online Course and EMDR, Part 1. She has trained as a Yoga teacher and incorporates mindfulness concepts, breathing techniques and deep relaxation strategies from Yoga in her counselling. She is also the founder of a registered charity in Hong Kong that focuses on the education of girls in India and also on running projects that benefit the Hong Kong community.

Karuna holds a Master of Counselling from Monash University, Australia. Karuna is naturally caring and believes there is always help and hope for any persons needing support in all domains of life. She focuses on giving her ears to her clients within a non-judgmental and confidential space. She believes people need an external and unbiased listener to feel heard when they share their innermost feelings. Her goal is to further collaborate with her clients, so they feel empowered in making their own choices towards self-growth. Karuna adopts a person-centered, strength-based approach in assisting adult clients managing Grief and Loss, Stress and Anxiety and concerns surrounding Self-esteem, Loneliness, and Guilt. She has profound interest in co-navigating with young adults who find themselves at crossroads for these reasons. Karuna uses an integration of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Mindfulness modalities as she compassionately works alongside clients as they create meaningful relationships with themselves and others. Karuna is born and raised in India where she secured her Bachelor’s Degree and has been residing in Hong Kong for over 2 decades. She is proficient in English and Hindi. Karuna is a member of Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA) and Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology (HKSCP). Karuna assists adult clients and teens aged 15+ at The Zubin Foundation (TZF).

Munira has completed her Master’s in Counselling Psychology from SNDT Women’s University Mumbai, India (2013). She has spent the past 9 years working as a Therapist and Counselling Psychologist in a range of environments. She is currently supporting the Ethnic Minorities well-being center at The Zubin Foundation (TZF). She is responsible for providing counselling support to the adolescents and adults at TZF. In the midst of the serious work of therapy, she seeks to find hope, joy, humor, and a renewed enthusiasm for life.  She believes that each person has their own story that has shaped what they are currently experiencing. Munira also encourages her clients to pursue a holistic approach to health, incorporating exercise, proper sleep, nutrition, spiritual practices, nurturing relationships, and activities they enjoy. Through her work, she strives to foster a safe space where clients can tell their story, gain insight into how that has impacted them, and create a new reality that is more fulfilling. She can communicate effectively in multiple languages with clients and adapt her style and techniques according to individual needs and personalities. She enjoys the challenges of working with different people and finds the work incredibly rewarding.

Dr. Rashmi Sahi is a dedicated counsellor with a Doctorate in English Literature and a Masters in Social Sciences (Counselling). With a passion for helping individuals, Rashmi brings empathic listening skills and a strong academic background to her practice. She gained valuable experience through practicum with The Zubin Foundation and Christian Action Centre for Refugees in Hong Kong, working with diverse populations. As an active listener, Rashmi creates a safe environment for clients to explore their thoughts and emotions. She utilizes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) techniques to empower clients and facilitate positive change. Rashmi's goal is to contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities through counselling.

At The Zubin Foundation, Sindhu is responsible for providing counselling service to the ethnic minority community. Sindhu has a Masters in Counseling degree (Distinction) from Monash University, Australia and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Madras, India. She has worked in the UK, Canada and Hong Kong. She has worked as a special needs teacher in Hong Kong and the UK and has considerable experience in working with children and young people. She has helped them address stress, including examination stress. She has also worked with children with low self-esteem. She has counseled teenagers and young children with PTSD, anxiety and depression. Sindhu gained a broader experience in counselling whilst working at Christian Action, Hong Kong and International Social Service (ISS), Hong Kong where she counselled refugees and asylum seekers. She is passionate about women’s empowerment and is a strong believer in education, especially for girls. She has helped refugees and asylum seekers understand the importance of education and personally helped children under the age of 18 years to pursue full time education. Whilst working at ISS, Sindhu also educated women on healthy eating and the benefits of providing children with a healthy and balanced diet. She also emphasises the importance of maintaining a healthy life style in order to achieve good mental health. Sindhu is a registered member of the British Association of Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Mehvesh Mumtaz Ahmed has extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research, analysis and impact measurement across the nonprofit and corporate sectors. She is currently Director of Research at the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), where she leads the generation of evidence-based insights to maximize private resources for doing good across 18 countries and territories in Asia. Prior to joining CAPS, Mehvesh worked in strategy consulting, for the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Unit at the World Bank, for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget under Mayor Bloomberg. Mehvesh completed her graduate education at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and undergraduate education at the London School of Economics. She speaks Urdu and Hindi fluently.