SPEAKERS &
JUSTICE VOICES

  • Danielle is a purpose-driven leader who follows Jesus while creating positive change globally. Living across various cultures has deepened her appreciation for diversity and justice. Despite entrepreneurial successes (co-founding multiple charities) and failures, she remains convinced of humanity's need for hope, faith, and love. 

    As an author of seven books including "Need to Know" and "The Other Side of Hope," Danielle hosts "The Right Side Up" podcast with over 500,000 downloads and speaks internationally. Through Boundless Enterprise, she leads initiatives like Women Speakers Collective, IMBY (tiny home movement), Brave Global (anti-trafficking), Infinitum, and Hagar's Voice (supporting abuse survivors). 

    Danielle resides in Vancouver with her husband Steve and three sons, enjoying outdoor activities, new experiences, and physical adventures. She can't resist a free lunch. 

  • Dr Lamma Mansour is a Christian Palestinian from Nazareth. She has a doctorate and a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Intervention from the University of Oxford, and a BSc in psychology from the University of Haifa. Her research focuses on young people in Israel-Palestine, and has been published in leading journals in the field. Alongside her academic work, Lamma serves in her local church in Nazareth and has written and spoken on the intersection of faith and society in local and global outlets. 

  • Prabu Deepan is Tearfund's Regional Director for Asia and the Global Lead for their gender-based violence work. Based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, he is the architect of Tearfund's evidence-based Transforming Masculinities intervention—a faith-based approach to gender equality and positive masculinities, implemented and scaled up in 15 countries worldwide. 

  • Ken is an entrepreneur and thought-leader. He is the founder of The Justice Conference, which has reached over thirty thousand people across eleven countries with a message on a theology of justice and God’s call to give our lives away. 

    Ken is also the author of Pursuing Justice, The Grand Paradox, Create vs. Copy, Redeeming How We Talk, The Myth of Equality, which was named as one of the Top-Five Religion Books of 2017 by Publishers Weekly 

  • Dr. Rodel Lasco has led an interesting life as a pastor and as a scientist. He has been ministering at the Trinity Bible Church in San Pablo City, Philippines for more than 40 years. He holds a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, USA. He also has a PhD degree in the natural sciences and serves as a university professor. He has published more than 100 scientific papers on climate change and natural resources management. He is one the lead authors of several reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He is s board member of A Rocha International and Christians in Conservation, Philippines. 

  • Lincoln is a missionary kid, born and raised from northern Japan who found his calling at the intersection of faith and research. After a transformative year in Bangladesh, he pursued a PhD in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, initially unsure how his technical training would align with his missionary background. This path led him to International Care Ministries in the Philippines, where he led research for over a decade. 

    Now serving as Director of Research at Compassion International, Lincoln also holds positions as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and teaches at Wheaton College. His research spans poverty alleviation, infectious disease control, malnutrition, early childhood education, and spiritual metrics. 

    Lincoln advocates for vulnerable populations through rigorous research, believing this work protects human dignity. Based in Toronto with his wife Jessyka and son Izaac, he finds strength in Romans 8:38-39, affirming that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. 

  • Dr. Winnie Fung serves as Chief Executive of CEDAR Fund, combining her development economics expertise (PhD from Harvard) with theological training (MA in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College). With over 15 years in integral mission work, her specializations include food security, agricultural policies, and anti-human trafficking. 

    Her published research covers diverse topics including China's famine, India's malaria eradication, and human trafficking in South Asia. She has served as a consultant for UNDP, and has also supervised projects across multiple countries addressing microfinance, fair trade, food security, and gender-based violence. 

    Before joining CEDAR, Dr. Fung was an Associate Professor of Economics at Wheaton College and Academic Head at Lumina College, bringing academic rigor to her practical development work

  • Peter Williams serves as Regional President for Asia Pacific at International Justice Mission (IJM), where he leads efforts to protect people in poverty from trafficking and forced labor. With over 15 years of service at IJM, Peter has held global leadership roles and led frontline teams across Asia. A former Crown Prosecutor in New Zealand, he brings deep legal expertise and a heart for justice rooted in his Christian faith. Peter is passionate about equipping the Church to be a force for justice in the world, and he has helped shape IJM’s global strategy to reflect God’s call to defend the oppressed and seek lasting transformation. 

  • Joe is a British-born Hong Kong Chinese with over a decade of international experience spanning sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. He began his career in consulting with PwC Chile and has since worked and volunteered in over 80 countries, gaining a diverse global perspective. Currently he serves as Executive Director of HOPE International Hong Kong office, a Christ-centred microfinance organisation that works in 30 countries.  

    With leadership roles in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, Joe is deeply passionate about discipleship and missional community. He has served in eldership and deacon teams at local churches across Hong Kong, London, Bolivia, and Zambia. Alongside his brother, they serve on the Leadership team at the Gathering in Kong Fok Church.  

     Joe holds a degree in international business from Aston Business School and a Master of Science in urban economic development from UCL. 

  • Wen Li Lim works in partnership roles at multiple organisations, including Faith Driven Investor and also at a US faith-based family foundation. Formerly a chartered accountant in Australia, she then ventured into different areas, including non-profit, church and most recently in an impact VC fund and mental health tech startup. Her passion is stewardship and seeing the intersection between faith, investing, sustainability and entrepreneurship, especially in tackling big issues like poverty. Based in Singapore, she’s been happily married for 20 years and loves going back to her hometown of Penang to eat (and see relatives of course!). 

  • David Liao is Co-Chief Executive Asia and Middle East and Executive Director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.  David is a member of the HSBC’s Group Operating Committee and serves on the Board of Hang Seng Bank, Bank of Communication and other government and regulatory bodies.  He joined HSBC in 1997, during which he spent 15 years in China and came to faith there. Outside of work, David serves in a cluster of home churches in Jordan, is an active speaker amongst Christian communities in the commercial arena. As a leader, David is eager to see Lord’s sovereignty at work in the marketplace. 

  • In 1998, Robert and his wife, Elizabeth, founded Care for Children and moved to Shanghai with their family of eight to partner with the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau. Their pilot foster care project’s success earned Robert the White Magnolia Award in 2002 and led to an invitation from the Beijing government to advise the Ministry of Civil Affairs on national foster care reform. 

    In 2005, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to child welfare. His work later expanded internationally, with projects in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The documentary Children of Shanghai chronicles the impact of their efforts. 

    Today, Care for Children supports governments across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa in transitioning from institutional care to family-based placements, continuing its mission to see a world of children in families. 

  • Sreyna Sam has 18 years working in international organizations in Cambodia, as well as 9 years teaching in Christian ministries and Bible Schools. For 17 years, she worked with Hagar International in Cambodia in the areas of aftercare program services, institutional and community recovery for the survivors of human trafficking, slavery, and abuse, and supporting program teams to ensure that high-quality services are provided to survivors. 

    Since beginning her journey in Hagar as a counsellor, she has advanced to roles in management and senior leadership. Sreyna’s skills have been honed over the years through working within government ministries and organizational partners, assisting and building their capacity. 

    Sreyna holds two Masters degrees, in Business Administration and Social Work. Sreyna’s own personal experience with trauma from war, discrimination, and the hardship that comes with deep poverty has deeply affected her outlook on life and has greatly influenced her approach to the care of survivors. Her belief in the fundamental value of love and hope guides how she lives her life. Sreyna’s joy comes from seeing the broken lives of survivors restored so they can achieve their dreams, just like she is doing right now. 

  • Deborah Papworth is a lawyer, originally from New Zealand, with extensive experience in both private practice and the non-profit sector, having worked in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Switzerland, and New York.  

    Deborah’s focus throughout her career as a human rights lawyer has been progressing justice for the oppressed, persecuted and vulnerable. She has extensive experience in the area of refugee law and forced migration, including a period working with the UNHCR in Hong Kong. Deborah is a legal expert in the field of gender-based violence, human trafficking and modern slavery, and has served as a Legal Consultant for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Deborah joined Hagar in 2016 to lead a legal capacity building project in Cambodia, and has since been leading Hagar’s rule of law and capacity-building projects.    

    Deborah has also worked as a senior employment lawyer in private practice, including working for global law firm, Linklaters, where she also managed the Pro Bono Practice for the Hong Kong office.  

    Deborah holds qualifications to practice in New Zealand, Australia (NSW), Hong Kong and the United States (New York). Deborah also holds a Masters of Law from the Geneva Academy of International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law. 

  • Emily, a National Certified Counselor (US), is dedicated to helping individuals heal from trauma, depression, and anxiety. Her passion for supporting vulnerable communities began with NGO work in Washington, D.C., combating human trafficking. She pursued advanced trauma-focused training in IFS, EMDR, and narrative exposure therapy to better assist clients with complex trauma and PTSD. After earning her master's degree in Texas and gaining private practice experience, Emily moved to Hong Kong, where she co-owned and directed a counseling center for nearly five years. Currently, as a trauma therapist at the Hong Kong Dignity Institute, she serves a diverse international clientele, specializing in integrated trauma care for refugees, trafficking survivors, and those affected by forced marriage or abuse. 

  • Josh currently leads Branches of Hope's partnerships team, developing and managing relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporates to engage support for the charity's work aiding refugees, asylum seekers, and those who have experienced human trafficking and exploitation. He has been working in the non-profit and education sectors for over 8 years, supporting underserved communities across Hong Kong. 

  • Dr Chloe Martin has a long career in psychosocial support, having worked with the unhoused, drug users, sex workers, refugees and asylum seekers, as well as Migrant Domestic Workers. She has also worked as an Advanced Practitioner in Child Protection. Having moved to Hong Kong from Australia aged 3, and attending the French International School, she is a proud Hong Konger, who has also lived in the UK, Israel, Vietnam and France.  

    Following her Doctorate in Sociology and Social Anthropology, which looked at the support provisions for refugees and asylum seekers in Hong Kong, Chloe began managing the STOP (Stop Trafficking of People) program in 2024, which allowed her to combine many of the skills she had practiced over her career to support people who have experienced human trafficking and exploitation.  

    Chloe also runs trainings in Understanding Trauma, Crisis Intervention with people who have experienced trauma, Boundaries and Vicarious Trauma, as well as occasionally guest lecturing at universities to discuss trauma, Imposed Identities and Human Trafficking issues.  

  • Ahyoung Baek is the CEO of Sons and Daughters (S&D), a faith-based NGO in Hong Kong dedicated to serving women at risk of and/or who have survived sex trafficking. Established in 2009, S&D envisions transformation in the red-light districts, encouraging buyers and sellers to abandon the sex trade. 

    With over 20 years of experience in business and intercession, Ahyoung leads a passionate team through outreach, educational initiatives, and job training. She is committed to restoring the identity of women caught in commercial sexual exploitation and mobilizing the next generation to end demand for exploitation. 

  • An Indian by descent, Hong Kong-born and raised is one of the first ethnic minority registered social workers in Hong Kong. Committed to helping refugees and minority rights, in 2014 he travelled to the United Nations in Geneva to speak about the issues of segregated schools. He has received The Secretary for Home Affairs' Commendation awarded in recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding contributions to the enhancement of racial harmony and integration to Hong Kong. Recently he has been selected as 2019 JCI Top Outstanding young persons and also 2019 Cathay Pacific’s Change Makers award and in 2020, his beloved football team Manchester United recognized him as one of 7 Global heroes, in 2025 he was Tatler Asias's most influential He has been with Christian Action’s Centre for refugees in Chungking mansions and the Diversity Hub for 16 years. 

  • Irene So is a mission-driven leader with 25 years of experiences in launching new initiatives for social and philanthropic organizations at local and regional levels, including Oxfam, Porticus Asia and Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.  

    Formerly a sponsored child and a journalist at Radio Television Hong Kong and South China Morning Post, Irene has been reflecting on what works in our society. She has hands-on experiences in social development, social enterprises, disaster management, strategizing and mass communication. In Southeast Asia, she co-created cross-border programs and fostered cross-continental collaborations to address human-trafficking, refugee and safe migration issues. In 2019, she joined ZeShan Foundation as the Executive Director leading a re-strategizing and change management exercise and working on complex issues such as ageing, public health, environment and social inclusion. She also serves as the convenor of the Hong Kong Funders’ Network on Ageing Well.  

    Irene holds a master degree in business administration and a bachelor degree in journalism and communication, with formal training in change management, organizational development, social development, international migration laws and impact evaluation. 

  • Alex has 18 years of experience in the finance industry covering the equities markets across Asia with 11 years at Macquarie and 7 years at Goldman Sachs. He spent most of his youth in Canada and studied at the University of Waterloo while currently pursuing a EMBA at CEIBS. He and his wife recently celebrated their tenth year anniversary and been blessed with two daughters whom they are extremely proud of. Alex has attended the Vine Church for over 20 years and has been an active supporter of Branches of Hope since its inception, focusing primarily on maximising corporate fundraising for the charity. 

  • Ms. Suvan Law brings over 20 years of dedicated service to marginalized communities across Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the United States. She has worked extensively with disadvantaged children and youth, young women facing crisis pregnancies, refugees resettled as new immigrants, and the homeless. With a strong commitment to empowerment, Suvan believes everyone possesses unique strengths and potential which, when recognized and nurtured, can spark transformative change for individuals and their communities. Her work is guided by a sincere desire to support often overlooked populations, nurturing resilience and hope among diverse, underserved groups. 

  • Raymond has been involved in Christian mission and poverty alleviation work for 20 years. He is the Country Director for East and Southeast Asia at Tearfund UK and focuses heavily on engaging the local churches in transforming the community holistically. Prior to joining Tearfund, he served at CEDAR Fund, Trans World Radio in Hong Kong, and Compassion International.  

     

    Raymond is a graduate of Singapore Bible College and Bakke Graduate University. His academic interest falls on the theology of integral mission, poverty and wealth, creation care, and Christian child development. From time to time, he teaches at seminaries on relevant topics. 

  • Bruno Roche is a pioneering figure in the field of the impact economy and management innovation, best known as the founder of the Economics of Mutuality. Unlike traditional economic and social systems, which create value first and distribute it later, the Economics of Mutuality integrates the mutuality of benefits into the value-creation process from the very beginning. The result is Mutual Prosperity: enhanced value for all stakeholders, including the environment, and a fairer distribution of wealth. 

    Roche traces his ancestry to a long lineage of Huguenots, the French Protestants of the 16th century, whose intellectual, cultural, biblical, and spiritual legacy continues to inspire his work. Building on this heritage, he has pursued a career at the intersection of economics, ethics, corporate practice, and academia — as Chief Economist at Mars Incorporated, founder of the Economics of Mutuality in partnership with the University of Oxford, and founder of ONE Society, a Geneva-based public-interest foundation dedicated to rethinking economic models for a just society. He is the co-editor of the Oxford University Press volume Putting Purpose into Practice: The Economics of Mutuality and the author of Completing Capitalism: Heal Business to Heal the World. Both works have been translated into Chinese. 

  • Felicia is passionate about the intersection of technology, law, and society. She began her legal career at two of the world’s top law firms, where she was actively engaged in pro bono work. She also previously served as a Prosecution Development Fellow at International Justice Mission, combatting the online sexual exploitation of children. 

    Her personal insights on technology regulation regularly appear in leading publications, and she actively mentors the next generation—encouraging them to reimagine and repair broken systems. Her work is deeply grounded in faith (one of her favorite verses is Proverbs 31:8!). 

    Felicia holds a degree in economics from the University of Toronto and earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. 

  • Lucy is passionate about preventing abuse and exploitation before it happens in a holistic way, a call God put on her heart in high school. In her role as CEO of The Freedom Story, an organization preventing child trafficking in Northern Thailand, Lucy helps connect those with a passion to prevent children from experiencing exploitation with those who are vulnerable and in need of support. She has been serving in Thailand for over 10 years. She is also passionate about ethical storytelling and learning how to do good, better. Lucy holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and a MA in English Literature and History from the University of Edinburgh. When she isn't working, Lucy enjoys hiking with her dog, reading and eating great food with friends. 

  • Jennifer Moberg Pforte is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Dignity Institute, a social impact organisation providing integrated legal and psychosocial services to the most vulnerable members of Hong Kong society- victims of human trafficking, forced labour, forced marriage, and forced displacement. 

      

    After running a successful music school in Hong Kong for over a decade, a transformative sabbatical at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music turned into a major life and career change. Confronted with issues with her students like protracted conflict, extreme poverty, child and forced marriage, forced displacement, and gender-based discrimination and violence, she pursued a career in aid and development, focusing on forced migration across Afghanistan, Thailand, Pakistan, and Hong Kong. 

      

    Jennifer has worked closely with the refugee and trafficking community in Hong Kong for many years, at Branches of Hope, Christian Action - Centre for Refugees, Hong Kong Dignity Institute, and AidWorks NPO consultancy. 

  • With over 20 years of frontline experience in anti-human trafficking across Southeast Asia, Liz is the Founder and CEO of Eden. Her work has focused on trauma recovery, survivor reintegration, and the development of social enterprise models that provide meaningful, long-term sustainable solutions.  

    A recognized expert in the field, she has built cross-border partnerships with NGOs, governments, and international agencies to combat trafficking networks and advocate for survivor-led justice. Expanding with branches globally, Eden is a leading voice for committed, sustained impact in the anti-trafficking space. 

    In recent years, her work has expanded into confronting the rapidly growing threat of cyber slavery, where victims—many trafficked across international borders—for forced criminality under threat of violence. Drawing from Eden’s direct involvement in supporting thousands of such survivors in Myanmar, Liz brings invaluable field-based insight into the evolving dynamics of modern slavery and the urgent need for international collaboration. 

  • Dr. Ben A. Gerlofs is Assistant Professor of Human Geography and Deputy Head of Department (Teaching and Learning) at the University of Hong Kong, where he also serves as a Research Fellow of the Urban Systems Institute and Inaugural Director of the Cartographica Laboratory and Library. Born in Chicago to two undergraduate students of Moody Bible Institute, his understanding and practice of justice are products of both his scholastic career and his lived experience as a neighbor in some of the world’s great cities, including New York, Mexico City, and Hong Kong.Ben holds three degrees in geography, and has also taught courses at Queens College (City University of New York), Dartmouth College, and Princeton University. His research and teaching interests include the dynamics of urban change across spatio-temporal scale, the politics of aesthetics, and the commodification of nature, and his work is anchored by a commitment to building more just urban futures.