Speakers and Moderators’ Biographies

Cultural Equity Consultant, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Australia

Caroline Bowditch is a proudly disabled queer woman and a distinguished leader in the arts and culture sector. She is globally recognised for her groundbreaking contributions to inclusive arts practices and dance advocacy. With over 15 years of experience, Caroline has carved a unique niche in the industry by combining her artistic vision with a passionate commitment to accessibility and diversity.

Her career highlights include her former position as the CEO of Arts Access Victoria, where she significantly expanded the organisation's reach and impact. Caroline's artistic endeavors are equally impressive, featuring award-winning collaborations and commissions, such as "The Nature of Why" with the British Paraorchestra and "Falling in Love with Frida." Her work has been showcased at renowned venues and festivals internationally, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and with renowned companies like Candoco Dance Company and Skåne Dansteater in Sweden.

Beyond her artistic practice, Caroline is a sought-after consultant and advisor, including working with National Cultural Policy development in Australia and facilitating international arts initiatives. Her commitment to inclusivity is evident in her current board positions with Creative Australia, Arts Centre Melbourne, Theatre Network Australia and Theatre Works, where she continues to shape the future of the arts sector.

CEO of Parastar Entertainment, South Korea

Haley Cha, CEO of Parastar Entertainment and a former YTN news anchor, gained public recognition through SBS’s Girls Who Hit Goals. After 10 years as an anchor and reporter, she noticed the challenges faced by Paralympic athletes while hosting a Paralympics-related event. Realizing the lack of representation for disabled athletes in commercial advertisements and sponsorships, she founded Parastar Entertainment in 2020.

Starting with 10 artists active in sports and arts, Parastar quickly grew to become South Korea’s largest and only entertainment company for disabled entertainers, now representing over 40 individuals. Under Haley's visionary leadership, the company launched the world’s first K-pop deaf idol group, “Big Ocean”, which attracted 1.6 million fans and was globally recognized as Billboard’s “Rookie of the Month”.

Choreographer and Dancer, Scotland

One of the UK’s most acclaimed disabled artists, Claire Cunningham is an internationally renowned disabled leader and choreographer of multi-disciplinary performance based in Glasgow, Scotland. A recent factory artist with Tanzhaus NRW Düsseldorf, Germany, she is also an affiliate artist with The Place, London.

Cunningham’s work is rooted in the study and use/misuse of her crutches, and the potential of her own specific physicality, and guided by a conscious rejection of traditional dance techniques (developed for non-disabled bodies). She has a deep interest in the lived experience of disability, and its implications not only as a choreographer but in terms of societal notions of knowledge, value, connection and interdependence. In 2021, Cunningham was honoured for her Outstanding Artistic Development in Dance at the German Dance Awards. In 2023, she joined the Inter-University Centre for Dance (HZT) in Berlin as the Einstein Professor of Choreography, Dance and Disability Arts.

Founder of Beijing Body On and On Cultural Exchange Center and Luminous Festival, mainland China 

Dew Ge, Founder of Beijing Body On and On Cultural Exchange Center and Luminous Festival, is a curator and producer specializing in performing arts. She is dedicated to advancing inclusive arts practices, with a focus on contemporary dance and body research. Dew is a recipient of the IVLP Alumni Award in 2023, she is also an alumna of the PFP and Ginkgo Fellowship programmes.

With extensive experience in production and international collaboration, her productions have been invited to participate in numerous international festivals across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and other countries. She has established partnerships with arts organisations worldwide and curated several prominent arts festivals and projects, including the Touch Contact Improvisation Festival (2017–present), the Luminous Festival—China's first inclusive arts festival (2019–present), and the China-UK Disability Arts Forum (2019–2023). She also curated the 3rd Women in Motion at the West Bund Contemporary Dance Festival.

Dew’s work is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusiveness in culture and the arts, creating rich embodied experiences, and fostering meaningful public engagement.

Big Ocean, South Korea

Big Ocean is a K-Pop idol group composed of three hearing-impaired artists—Hyunjin, Jiseok, and Chanyeon. Despite their disabilities, they pursued their passion for music, making their debut in April 2024. They have since performed on top-ranking K-Pop music shows, including SBS Inkigayo, MBC Music Core, and KBS Music Bank. Their representation of disability in K-Pop has gained international media attention from BBC and ABC, as well as recognition by Billboard, which named them “Rookie of the Month” in September this year.

Big Ocean has built a strong fanbase, especially in the US and Europe, with over 1.6 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube within five months of their debut. Using wristwatches to sense vibrations and flashlight screens as metronomes, they trained rigorously to sing and dance. They also used AI voice conversion tools to overcome pitch limitations, becoming pioneers in blending technology with music.

Their performances incorporate Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and International Sign Language (ISL), embracing diversity and inclusivity. Their debut song was a remake of “GLOW” by H.O.T, followed by the original singles “BLOW” and “SLOW”. The latter, which supports the 2024 Paris Paralympics, ranked top 4 on the iTunes Brazil music chart. Their first mini-album, “Follow” was released in November.

Theatre General Manager, Modu Art Theatre, South Korea

Sehyung Oh has worked in the field of performance programming and artist development since 2005, holding positions at the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and the Asia Culture Center. Since 2017, he has dedicated himself to developing diverse programs within the Korea Disability Art and Culture Center (KDAC). In October 2023, he spearheaded the opening of Modu Art Theatre, where he currently oversees its operations and curates its programming.

Modu Art Theater provides a platform for collaboration and interaction, enabling disabled artists to participate in various fields of art. By encouraging citizen participation, the theatre contributes to the promotion of diversity and inclusiveness in the arts. As a cultural and artistic venue, the theatre is committed to enhancing
accessibility for disabled individuals and fulfilling its public role in the arts.

Country Director, Epic Arts, Cambodia

Sokny Onn (She/Her) is the Country Director of Epic Arts, a UK-registered NGO in Cambodia, and an advisor to the Ministry of Culture & Fine Arts. She is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion, leading a programme that empowers individuals with disabilities through arts, including inclusive education, community outreach, and social enterprise, aiming to create an inclusive, valued, and discrimination-free environment for people with disabilities.

Beyond Epic Arts, Sokny actively contributes to community development. She serves as 1st Vice-Chair of the Creative Industries of Cambodia Association for Development and Advocacy and as an executive committee member of the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia.

Recognized for her exceptional leadership, Sokny has been honored as a Yale World Fellow (2024) and Leaders Asia-Pacific, Obama Foundation (2023). She also participated in UNESCO’s training on “The Creative Economy” at City University of London (2021) and the International Visitor Leadership Program of U.S. State Department of States (2017). As a woman with disabilities, Sokny’s lived experience fuels her passion for advancing social inclusion and empowering the disabled community in Cambodia and beyond.

CEO, CoCo Diversity Entertainment Inc., Japan

Shinzo Okura is the CEO of Coco Diversity Entertainment, Japan's sole comprehensive entertainment agency specialising in talent with disabilities or intractable illnesses.

Okura began his career in the entertainment industry at the age of 23, gaining extensive experience as a manager and producer at a talent agency. He later transitioned into the beauty industry, where he established a nail school for people with disabilities and promoted beauty education at special needs schools, training “Challenged Nail Technicians”.

During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, his organisation was certified by the organising committee, enabling “Challenged Nail Technicians” to provide services in the athletes’ village. In 2021, Coco Diversity Entertainment was recognised as a “Social Firm” by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aiming to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities or rare illnesses through entertainment and beauty.

Currently, Okura is dedicated to nurturing talents with disabilities, including singers and YouTubers. His company also publishes “CoCo Life”, Japan’s leading free magazine in the disability and intractable illness genre. Written by individuals with disabilities, who share unique perspectives and insights.

Founder of NakSeni & Inclucity.my, Malaysia

Armani Shahrin founded NakSeni, a social enterprise, in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to sell art merchandise featuring works by PWD (Persons With Disabilities) artists, starting with her autistic artist sister, Izzati Shahrin. Armani is also a project consultant for the WE&I Art Collective of PWD artists, where she has coordinated and managed their annual art festivals since 2016.

With over 10 years of experience in the business events and performing arts industry, Armani previously worked with a Malaysian-based online marketplace for homegrown brands. She believes that art transcends barriers and is deeply inspired by stories and people who create positive impact in the world.

NakSeni is dedicated to empowering PWD artists through art merchandising. Its name is derived from the Malay words “Anak Seni” (Children of Art), while “Nak” also implies the “need” or “want” for art in everyday life. NakSeni celebrates the talents and imagination of these artists, regardless of age, aiming to elevate their status and build a community that promotes positive influence. In addition to selling art merchandise online and at pop-up events, NakSeni organises art exhibitions, art jams, and other creative activities for PWD artists. Its latest project, IncluCity.my encourages for a more accessible and inclusive society.

Arts Executive Producer & Vice Director, BiG-i International Communication Center for Persons with Disabilities, Japan

Kyoko Suzuki has been an advocate in promoting cultural and artistic activities for people with disabilities for over two decades. She is the founder of a stage company, as well as the Arts Executive Producer and Vice Director of the BiG-i International Communication Center for Persons with Disabilities. She also holds appointments on several key committees, including the Special Committee for the Promotion of Cultural and Artistic Activities for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Cultural Council of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Osaka Prefectural Committee on Culture and Arts for Persons with Disabilities. Through these roles, she strives to create a more inclusive society where individuals of all abilities can thrive.

Suzuki’s work spans a variety of genres, including performing arts productions involving people with disabilities, art exhibitions, and workshops. BiG-i’s core mission includes promoting cultural and artistic activities for people with disabilities, developing human resources to support these efforts, and creating innovative model projects that enable participation and appreciation of the arts in Japan and abroad.

Suzuki has collaborated with international partners from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the United States on recent productions focused on social inclusion. Selected productions include Breakthrough Journey Dance Camp and Dance Caravan (2023–2024), DANCE DRAMA Breakthrough Journey (2021–2022), HONK! (2020), and Undesirable Elements/Difficult Lives (2019).

Executive Director, ART:DIS, Singapore

Angela Tan is the Executive Director of ART:DIS (Arts & Disability Singapore), a non-profit organisation established in 1993 to provide arts education programmes and professional development opportunities for artists with disabilities. As a leading body for arts and disability in Singapore, it operates three centres and collaborates with government agencies, community partners and arts institutions to advance greater inclusion and representation of D/deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse artists within the cultural sector. Angela holds a BA in Fine Arts and Art History and formerly spent a decade at the National Arts Council in policy and programming roles.

CEO of Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired, Hong Kong

Dr Alice Yuk, BBS, JP, has dedicated over 30 years to social service, holding both frontline and managerial roles across various organisations. Recognized for her impactful contributions and the pivotal role in the sector, she has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons, presented the Hong Kong Social Entrepreneur Grand Award, and appointed Justice of the Peace and Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS).

Believing that social services must evolve with the times, Dr Yuk emphasises collaboration to build social capital. In 2009, she co-founded the Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises Ltd, acting as its founding chairman. It serves as a platform to support local social enterprises by fostering connections and sharing best practices.

Dr Yuk is also the mastermind behind the Social Enterprise Endorsement (SEE) Mark, promoting sustainable growth and operational excellence in Hong Kong’s social enterprises. As the CEO of Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired, she established “Project WORKS” in 2016 to create employment opportunities for visually impaired youths. Established in 2020, Ebenezer Music Academy, empowering visually impaired children and youth to develop their musical talents, enhance their life enjoyment, employability and impacts on social inclusion.

No Limits Project Director, Hong Kong

Eddy Zee is a very dynamic man, he is a producer and actor. Over the past two decades, he produced lot of renowned works for different arts festivals, dance, and theatre companies. In 2016, he joined an exciting project—a new arts hub in Hong Kong named Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts. During his period at Tai Kwun, he created The Spotlight Festival, Tai Kwun Circus Play and Asian Dance Film Platform for local and international artists showcasing their works. In 2022 November, he joined No Limits — an exciting festival platform for inclusive arts co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to extend his vision and mission about the value of performing arts for the community. 

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, St James' Settlement, Hong Kong

Mr Cheung holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Social Work from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Studies from the China Graduate School of Theology.

With over 28 years of experience in social work, Mr Cheung has served in the Social Welfare Department and St. James’ Settlement. Earlier in his career, he worked as a news reporter covering local and China political news in the 1990s.

Mr Cheung joined St. James’ Settlement in 1996 as a caseworker and school social worker. He later advanced to supervisory roles, overseeing Youth Services and Corporate Venture (Partnership & Alliances). In October 2018, he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer, where he currently supervises Family Counselling, Rehabilitation Services, and Education Services.

Beyond his professional career in social welfare, Mr Cheung is deeply committed to education. He serves as a school supervisor for several primary schools and kindergartens. Additionally, he is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged and the Advisory Committee on Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities.

Veteran Arts Administrator, Hong Kong

Dr Tisa Ho Kar-kuan is a leading figure in the arts world, both locally and internationally. Upon graduation from The University of Hong Kong, she studied arts administration in Britain and subsequently took up key positions in the performing arts field in Singapore.

After working in Singapore for more than a decade, Dr Ho returned to her home town of Hong Kong. She served as executive director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) from 2006 to 2022. During her tenure as executive director, Dr Ho has also extended the HKAF's scale and scope to No Limits, the annual series co-presented with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to promote inclusiveness in the performing arts.

Dr Ho’s previous leadership roles in the performing arts included the supervision of government owned venues in Singapore, as well as the management of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Victoria Concert Hall. She also held portfolios in arts policy and infrastructure development and served on the boards of numerous arts organisations. 

In addition, Dr Ho was the chair of the board of directors of the International Society for the Performing Arts, the first arts administrator from Hong Kong to ever hold this position. She was a member of the board of The Hong Kong International Literary Festival and the chair of the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association. She has also chaired the International Advisory Committee of the Tong Yeong Concert Hall in South Korea, served as a member of the Alliance of Asia-Pacific Region Orchestras, and on the International Faculty of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.

Dr Ho was voted Master of the Arts by the American Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong in 2020, and elected member of the Hong Kong branch of the All China Literature and Arts Association in 2022. She also received a merit award from the Hong Kong government in 2021 for her distinguished services to the arts field. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Griffith University in Australia in 2019, and also an honorary fellowship from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2022. Dr Ho is always a loyal supporter of the Academy, giving valuable advice on performing arts education, arts and cultural developments as well as offering Academy students performance opportunities through various initiatives.

Rehabilitation International, Vice President (Asia Pacific), Founder and Director, UDA Consultants Ltd, Hong Kong

Dr Joseph Kwan, an architect and universal design and access consultant, has 48 years of experience in the international architectural community, with 35 years dedicated to universal accessibility, transportation, and inclusive tourism projects. He is the Founding Director of UDA Consultants Ltd (Universal Design and Accessibility Consultants) in Hong Kong since 2005.

Dr Kwan has served as a Consultant to UN-ESCAP, contributing as a Resource Person for their Non-Handicapping Environment Training for Trainers Courses, and as an Advisor on Accessible Tourism. He currently serves as Vice-President (Asia Pacific) of Rehabilitation International (RI) and was the Global Chair of RI International Commission on Technology and Accessibility (ICTA) for over a decade.

Dr Kwan was a member of the HKSAR Government’s Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC), Chair of the RAC Sub-Committee on Access, Convenor of the RAC-RPP Task Force on Accessible Built Environment. Since 1999, Dr Kwan has served as the Director of the International Union of Architects (UIA) Work Programme on “Architecture for All”. He is the founding Chairman of ARCASIA’s Committee on Social Responsibility (ACSR) and the founding Director of ARCASIA Emergency Architects (AEA).

Dr Kwan’s contributions have earned numerous honours,  including RI’s Centennial 1922-2022 Award for Significant Contributions to the global community, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Hong Kong Citation (2000), and the Medal of Honour (MH) by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2001.

He has authored several publications on various aspects of designing for universal accessibility and disability and has delivered lectures on accessibility in over 34 countries.

Arts Specialist, Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Professor Lena Lee is a pioneering educator in performing arts management and a dedicated advocate for community arts in Hong Kong. She served as a faculty member at the Academy for nearly 30 years, leading the stage management programme until 2014. With her forward-thinking vision, she expanded the curriculum to include arts and entertainment management, meeting the growing demands of the industry with milestones such as the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland and the West Kowloon Cultural District. Among her notable achievements was the first Shoppertainment project in 2003, which earned a Guinness World Record and elevated the programme to new heights.

Professor Lee's influence extends beyond Hong Kong. Since 2006, she has been a Visiting Professor at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. Many of her former students now hold prominent roles as educators, producers, and theatre managers across the globe. In 2023, she was invited by the Academy to teach in the "Creative Arts Management and Leadership Training for the Greater Bay Area" programme, supported by the National Arts Fund, inspiring young arts administrators in the region.

Professor Lee's commitment to community service through the arts has been a cornerstone of her teaching for decades. Over the years, she has held various roles, including Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Theatre Technicians & Scenographers (2004–2008), Council Member of the Academy (2003–2009), Member of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (2013–2019), and Consultation Panel Member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (2015–2023). She is also the Founding Chairman of Four Gig Heads Percussion Group, Theatre Noir Foundation, and a board member of the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association.

Building on her vast experience in education, arts, and culture, Professor Lee joined the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong in 2016 as an Arts Specialist, focusing on designing, implementing, and advocating for arts accessibility. Her recent research includes initiatives such as the "Capacity Building for the Young Old as Arts Service Providers" and "Arts Accessibility through Technology." She continues to mentor students at the Academy as a guest speaker, part-time lecturer, and project supervisor, fostering their talents to create an inclusive society.

Principal Head (General Education and Research), The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong

Dr Simon Tat Ming Ng is an interdisciplinary scholar specialising in legal theory, legal culture, and disability studies. He holds an LLB, an MPhil in Government and Public Administration, and a PhD in Laws and was a recipient of the CUHK Young Scholars Thesis Award. Over his 22-year tenure at the School of Professional and Continuing Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), he significantly advanced part-time legal education, leading programmes such as the University of London LLB and Tsinghua University’s Juris Master (Hong Kong Class).

A strong advocate for disability equality and inclusion, Dr Ng actively promotes the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He has built lasting collaborations with renowned scholars, experts, and civil societies worldwide, and his expertise in diversity and inclusion has made him a sought-after speaker. From 2014 to 2016, he was a trainer for the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, conducting workshops for professionals and disabled people’s organisations across China. He also founded HKU’s Workshop on Disability Rights and Equality, a capacity-building  programme held in 2015, 2016, and 2018, bringing together international experts and participants from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China.

Dr Ng is currently a Visiting Fellow at HKU’s Centre for Comparative and Public Law (2024–2025) and an Honorary Research Associate with the Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education (since 2020). He is a founding Executive Editor of the International Journal of Disability and Social Justice and occasionally reviews for other international journals. He was awarded a teaching development grant by the University of London (2018) to support blind and disabled students in legal education. He participated in an HKU-funded project (2019-2022) on enhancing learning experiences of blind students and promoting disability inclusion in universities.

In addition to his academic work, Dr Ng is committed to local community service. He co-founded an international secondary school and served on its board for over seven years. He also works closely with disability communities, serving as a member of the Rehabilitation Committee of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation and the Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Joint Council of Parents of the Mentally Handicapped. He is also a director of Artscompana, an inclusive arts organisation.