“As a woman of colour and a young ethnic minority in Canada – as well as a dedicated human rights and gender equality advocate – this opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors at AICSES is deeply personal. My career has been deeply rooted in championing human rights, gender equality and social justice. But more than that, I bring lived experience as a Hongkonger who witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences when those rights are stripped away.
In 2019, I joined millions of Hongkongers demanding freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and democracy. What followed was devastating – police brutality, mass arrests and the rapid deterioration of civil liberties under the National Security Law. Some of my friends and acquaintances were arrested and sentenced to jail for protesting peacefully. I then fled Hong Kong under Canada’s humanitarian and compassionate pathway, bringing with me a deeply personal understanding of what’s at stake when human rights are stripped away.
Amnesty International was one of the few organizations that continued to speak out when so many others were silenced. I had the privilege of interning at Amnesty International Hong Kong just before both offices were forced to close due to fear of persecution. That experience solidified my commitment to this movement and shaped my lifelong connection to Amnesty’s mission.
After moving to Canada, I joined Amnesty Canada’s Climate Justice Advocacy Team and Gender Rights Specialized Team as a volunteer last year to stay engaged in the work I care deeply about. Through this, I developed a stronger appreciation for Amnesty’s commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, youth-centric, and feminist values – principles I actively reflect in my personal and professional life.
I’m currently the Senior Officer, Cultivation and Operations at UNICEF Canada, where I help lead donor cultivation strategies and high-value engagement events nationwide. I work closely with supporters, senior leadership and partners to advance fundraising and advocacy for children’s rights and humanitarian programs. I also engage with youth groups, student organizations and community partners to inspire youth to support our cause, and support convening meetings of Women Unlimited, UNICEF’s pioneering Canadian women-led giving circle.
Previously, I was the Donor Services and Administrative Officer at YWCA Toronto, a feminist organization serving women, newcomers and youth. I supported major event coordination including the Women of Distinction Awards Gala, which raised over $600k and helped raise funds for local programs that support those in need. Our work was grounded in equity and reconciliation, with a consistent focus on Indigenous and women’s rights – values that continue to guide my approach.
Before moving to Canada, l worked as a Protection Intern at UNHCR Sub-Office in Hong Kong where I supported refugee resettlement cases, worked with major donors and legal partners and helped secure major gifts for emergency responses in Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan.
My earlier experiences include supporting academic and policy research at the ASEAN University Network in Bangkok and working as a Community Organizer at the Home Affairs Department in Hong Kong where I collaborated with grassroots groups and minority communities on local engagement and public policy.
All of these personal and professional experiences have led me here. I bring not only governance and fundraising expertise, but also the perspective of someone who has personally lived through the loss of fundamental rights and knows firsthand how critical Amnesty’s work is. I know what it means to be silenced, to live in fear and to seek refuge. I also know how powerful it is when people come together to stand up for what’s right.
That’s what Amnesty has always meant to me and that’s why I want to serve on this board: to give back to a movement that once gave me hope, and to help carry that hope forward for others.”
