Theme: The (Un)Seen

Seeing is believing. Or is it? The omnipresent biases and preconceptions built upon what we have seen and learnt doomed us with perception only possible through a tinted glass. A paradox, it is. For the more we see, ironically, the further away we are from seeing the full picture. In the digital era, bombarded by thousands, if not millions, sources of information, every second, that the more we see, we miss. How much do you REALLY see?

From uncharted wonders up among the stars, to overlooked, hidden narratives within our community. In the morning and afternoon sessions themed “Unseeing the Seen” and “Seeing the Unseen”, we will embark on a full-day journey to challenge existing beliefs and explore hidden narratives in our community.

Together, let's unsee the seen and see the unseen.

Follow our Instagram and Facebook @tedxcuhk for the latest updates.

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

Briar Armani Eagen

Theatre & Dance Teacher, Voice & Speech Coach, Community Facilitator

Briar Armani Eagen is an educator, dancer, and theatre artist devoted to empowering individuals through the expressive and unifying art of movement. With a BA and BEd in Language Education from HKU, she seamlessly integrates education and dance, creating spaces where self-expression and connection flourish. Drawing from her expertise in contemporary, belly, and traditional Thai dance, Briar nurtures confidence, strength, and joy within diverse communities, fostering inclusion and belonging through shared movement experiences. As a transfeminine intersex individual embracing her Thai-Hongkonger heritage, she cultivates spaces where identity can be explored with grace and authenticity. Inspired by her late mentor, Shiona Carson, Briar moves with purpose—using dance as a catalyst for healing, empowerment, and collective transformation.

Cherry Ma

Trainer in Youth Empowerment, Positive Psychology Practitioner, Senior Program Manager of 'Pursuit of X'

As the Senior Program Manager and Pioneer of Pursuit of X, a youth empowerment initiative, she has dedicated over 8 years to guiding youth in discovering their strengths and passions, and empowering them with skills that extend beyond the classroom. Her work sits at the intersection of education, purpose, and wellbeing, helping youth uncover not just what they want to do, but who they want to become. Cherry's favorite books include "Grit" by Angela Duckworth and "Flourish" by Martin Seligman, which have inspired her work in applying positive psychology to real-world challenges.

Dr. Gary Harfitt

School Leader, Teacher Educator, Proud Teacher

Dr. Gary Harfitt has been an educator in Hong Kong for more than 30 years. He trained as an English Language teacher and took up the role of English teacher and then English Department head at a local secondary school. In 2002 he moved to The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Faculty of Education. He gained his doctorate in 2011 and was awarded tenure as Associate Professor by HKU in 2016. He served the Faculty as Programme Director for four double degrees at the undergraduate level, Academic Advising Coordinator, Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning and Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching. He returned to Good Hope School as Principal in 2021, the school where he first started his teaching career. His Experiential Learning team at HKU received the 2020 Gold Award in the Presence Learning and Teaching Category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards, the “Oscars” of Education.

Maria Camila Rincon

Former TV host & UN Consultant, Colombian-Chinese Storyteller, Public Speaking Coach

Maria C. Rincon is a Colombian-Chinese communicator raised in Canada, whose multicultural upbringing deeply influenced her search for purpose. Her journey from beauty pageant champion to television host, and later to the United Nations and now public speaking coaching, reflects a lifelong evolution—one that acknowledges both the glamour and the challenges of finding success. Stepping away from the spotlight, Maria embraced authenticity. She discovered that real impact comes not from being seen but from truly connecting. Now, she helps others find their voice and speak with confidence and purpose. She believes that fame fades, but the value of our words—the ability to inspire, inform, and move others—lasts.

Maryam Khan

KOL and Advocate for Dietary Inclusivity, Empowering Underserved Communities, Founder of Easy Eat and Foodie Explorerz

Maryam Khan is the founder of Foodie Explorerz and Easy Eat, an Instagram platform and website dedicated to showcasing restaurants in Hong Kong that cater to the underrepresented community with specific dietary needs. She has strongly committed to creating social impact that has earned recognition in prestigious publications like SCMP, RTHK, CNA and more, highlighting Foodie Explorerz's influential presence in the ethnically diverse community.

Matthew Cheng

Funeral director, Co-founder and CEO of LIVESARE

Matthew Cheng entered the death care industry at a very young age, where he witnessed numerous issues, including social inequalities and the unmet needs of underprivileged communities. Motivated by a desire to make a difference, he founded a social enterprise aimed at exploring innovative and humanistic approaches to address these challenges. Through this initiative, he strives to advocate for policy changes that foster sustainable development and to raise public awareness about the importance of compassion and equity in this often-overlooked aspect of life.

Michelle Lee

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student, CUHK iGEM 2024 Team Member

As a third-year Biomedical Engineering undergraduate student at CUHK, Michelle Lee said, “If coffee were a personality, I would be a mocha – a rich blend of boldness, with just the right amount of bittersweet.” Mocha and her have a bit of a love-hate relationship, though, much like how she perceives my life as sometimes delightful and dreadful. It was what kept her alive during the chaotic seasons of her undergraduate studies so far, like iGEM (a global synthetic biology competition), midterms, finals, and her mini thesis, but it was also the reason she was trembling (literally) whenever she tried to work in the laboratory. Still, both the sweetness and the bitterness were things that made the journey fun and exciting. They made the awards feel earned, and the tears were reflective.

Soundari Mukherjea

Chief Everything/Experience Officer at Soundbytes11

Soundari Mukherjea is a distinguished Business Storytelling coach, renowned for her unique ability to weave the power of storytelling into the fabric of business communication. With a diverse international portfolio spanning Hong Kong, the Middle East, and India, she excels in deepening client engagement and fostering strong relationships across various sectors, including banking, consulting, and legal firms. Her expertise in behavioral skills programs has made her a sought-after figure in professional circles.

Tin Yan Wong

Art changer

Wong Tin Yan is a local artist who changed discarded wood pallets into valuable sculptures and meaningful collaborations. He also spent seven years finishing the most influential artwork in a local grassroots area, Sham Shui Po – But it was no ordinary one, the artwork was a shop, a physical space, known as the art space called "Form Society". One that transforms itself and its surroundings, with exhibitions, shows, and events changing, it brought together a community at Tai Nan Street from a “deserted area” into one of the most popular hipster communities.

Winnie Lee

Chief Experiment Officer of Spread-it Limited

Fueled by her passion for entrepreneurship, Winnie co-founded Spread-it, a micro-influencer platform with over 80,000 influencers and 600+ clients, including L’Oréal, UNIQLO & New Balance etc. She launched Spread-it while studying at CUHK to meet Hong Kong’s rising demand for micro-influencers. Her achievements earned her a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2020.