Mr Eric Chua is currently serving as Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development, as well as the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. He previously served in the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs for 17 years before being elected into Parliament in July 2020.

Mr Arthur Ling is currently the Chief Executive of Fei Yue Family Service Centre and Fei Yue Community Services.

Arthur graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1990 as a social worker. He then received further training in Family & Marital Therapy and obtained the Master in Applied Psychology from the National Institute of Education in 2001. Arthur is actively involved in conducting marriage programmes and training marriage mentors. He is currently a member of the Advisory Panel of Parenting under the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Prof Wing Lo is Acting President, Saint Francis University (SFU), Hong Kong. Before he joined SFU in January 2023, he was Associate Vice-President of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Professor and Head of its Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences. During his 33-year service in CityU, he had been awarded the Applied Research Excellence Award 2002, Teaching Excellence Award 2007 and Excellence in Knowledge Transfer Award 2019.

Professor Lo obtained a MPhil from the University of Hull and PhD from the University of Cambridge. Before joining the academia, he had been an outreach social worker for 17 years. After joining CityU, he has maintained his research interests in youth issues, such as assisting the governments of Hong Kong, Singapore, Guangzhou and Macau in setting up outreach social work service for at-risk youth. He also founded the Youth Studies Net in CityU in 2000 and recently, the government-funded Children and Youth Research Centre in SFU in 2024.

Being a renowned scholar, he has been frequently invited by governments or universities around the world to speak in workshops, seminars and conferences. For instance, he was invited to visit New York in 2010 to address the United Nations delegates attending the Palermo Convention on Organized Crime held once in every decade, and address the US Department of Defence officials in Washington DC in 2015. Being an old friend of Singapore, he has given talks in numerous conferences and provided training to frontline practitioners since 2000.

Professor Lo has authored or edited over 160 books, book chapters, refereed journal papers and research reports. His recent Routledge-published book, Understanding crime in villages-in-the-city in China: A social and behavioural approach, won the Asian Criminological Society Distinguished Book Award 2021. Being active in the academic community, he is a member of the International Advisory Board of the British Journal of Criminology, editorial board member of Youth Justice, Asian Journal of Criminology, and British Journal of Community Justice, and founding editor of the Routledge Studies in Asian Behavioral Sciences and Caring for Youth Book Series of the CityU Press.

Prof Yan Ruth Xia is a professor in Child, Youth and Family Studies in the College of Education and Human Sciences of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She received her Ph.D. in Family Science with a minor in Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Education, and M.S. with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy at UNL. Her research focuses on family strengths and stresses in Asian immigrant and Chinese families with adolescents. Her research also examines the effects of contextual factors on parenting, parent-adolescent relationship, and youth outcomes. She has published extensively. Recently, Global Perspective on Adolescents and Families, her newly edited book by Springer is added to her scholarship. In 2018, she became the first Husker professor to receive a Fulbright Distinguished Chair Award and in 2020, she received the Jan Trost Award for Outstanding Contributions to Comparative Family Studies, a lifelong achievement honor from the National Council on Family Relations International Section. Dr. Xia has been a Certified Family Life Educator since 2001. Currently she serves as a member on the NCFR Board of Directors. She has served three times on the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Expert Working Group on various family issues. She is a dedicated advisor and mentor to undergraduate, master's and doctoral students and has received awards for teaching and mentoring at the university and nationally. She is passionate about research informed practice and policymaking and has served as evaluator for USDA Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) and the National 4-H Council projects.

Prof Paul W.C. WONG, D.Psyc.(Clinical), Reg.Clin.Psyc (Australia), RCP(HKPS), Ccoun&ACounS (HKPCA),FHKPsS, FHKPCA, MAPS

I was trained as a clinical psychologist in Australia and have been involved in research and clinical practices focused on suicide prevention, mental health promotion, education, interventions, and positive youth development since moving back to Hong Kong. I hope to use my roles as a university teacher, academic, and clinical psychologist to help make our societies to be more socially inclusive. My recent research projects include youth social withdrawal behavior, using animals as part of educational and psychological interventions, youth positive development of local and non-Chinese young people, and family care giving for people with psychological issues. I am Fellows of the Hong Kong Psychological Society and the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association and the National Representative of the International Union of Psychological Science. I have served as a consultant and committee member for several government bodies (e.g., Education Bureau, Hong Kong Police College, Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority), non-government organizations (e.g., Consumer Councils, Hong Kong Council of Social Services, Joyful Mental Health, Mind HK, the Samaritans, and Zubin Foundation), and within HKU (i.e., Equal Opportunity Unit, Discontinuation Committee). I am also a Delegate of the Hong Kong Representative of the International Union of the Psychological Society, Asian Pacific Psychology Alliance, and was the Country Representative of Hong Kong for the International Association of Suicide Prevention, allowing me to exchange our local research and psychological wisdom with international collaborators. I am the Programme Director of the Master of Social Science (Counselling). I am also the recipient of the 2015 and 2020 Faculty of Social Science's Research Output and Knowledge Exchange Awards, respectively.

Mr Keswick Chuk has been social worker for 30 years. With the background of Social Work degree, Master of Criminology, Master of Business Administration. Juris Doctor and Mediation, he specialised in working with youth at risk, young offender, drug abuser, people in conflict and families with different difficulties. He believes that "there is no unmotivated user, but just incapable worker". Therefore, he develops different programmes and work approaches to serve those in needs, such as "Enlightenment Project" for young and adult prisoners in Hong Kong through Narrative Practice. This project is awarded as the Best Practice in Social Welfare in 2015.

Dr. Yup obtained her Diploma in Social Work from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Master of Social Science in Counselling from City University of Hong Kong, and Master of Social Science in General Education from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, respectively. Yup also obtained her Doctor of Social Work from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University recently. Yup has been working at HKPA since 1988. Her strong vision and mission with commitment urge her to serve youth at risk through Outreaching Social Work Service and Unusual Academy (UA) Service for School Dropout for over 36 years. She has served in supervisory roles in the UA, School Social Work Service, Integrated Children and Youth Service, Children and Youth Centre, as well as Social Enterprise since 2012. Not only has she devoted herself to consultation and supervision social workers in Mainland China and Macau to facilitate their development for over 14 years, but she also shares her experience in working with youth at risk and school dropouts to social work professionals in such regions as Taiwan and Singapore over the years. She also edited and published numerous books in the area of social work service, including 《外展傳真》,《非常教室》,《違規路段》and《輟路同途》.

Mr Stanley Kwek is a Senior Assistant Director and has been with Ministry of Education's (MOE) Guidance Branch for the last 16 years. He started the Student Welfare Officer scheme to strengthen the support for vulnerable students. Stanley holds a Master's degree in Guidance and Counselling from James Cook University.

Ms Chan May Yi worked as a Social Worker in the community and hospital setting for 10 years before entering the Ministry of Education as a School Counsellor and subsequently as a Student Welfare Officer. Currently, as a Lead Student Welfare Officer in Counselling and Student Welfare Unit, Guidance Branch, May Yi supports the professional development of Student Welfare Officers on the ground, through supervisions and consultation of cases.

Ms Denise Liu is a Principal Research Executive at Fei Yue Community Services. She has 14 years of experience in the social service sector and has published research on topics such as complex trauma and child abuse. She has also supported the evaluation of over 40 programmes and services such as therapeutic groupwork programmes, the Hidden Youth Outreach Service, and community development initiatives. Denise holds a Masters in Social Science (Psychology) from the National University of Singapore, and has been teaching and conducting training at institutions such as the Social Service Institute and the Singapore University of Social Sciences since 2013.

Ms Clarissa Gan is a social worker in Singapore and is currently heading the Animal Care Team in the Fei Yue Community Services Youth Department. The Fei Yue Animal-Care Programme aims to support youths aged 14 to 21 who are Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET). Through interactions with animals, getting to meet with professionals from the Animal-Care industry, and speaking with our social workers, we aim for the youths to (i) to increase in knowledge of animal care and learn more about the skills required (ii) to gain a better understanding of one's socio-emotional coping (iii) to gain exposure to the Animal-Care industry.

Clarissa also completed the University of Denver’s Certificate in Animal and Human Health in 2023.

Ms Vera Teo is a social worker in Singapore focusing on outreach work in Youth GO! and the development of the Baking Program for youths that are Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET) in the Fei Yue Youth Department. The Baking Program aims to increase the self-efficacy of youths through the process of acquiring baking knowledge and skills. Youth GO! is an outreach program to support NEET youths in being meaningfully engaged in studies or work, stay crime-free, develop problem-solving skills.

Ms Michelle Teo is Manager of Social Programs at Hatch, a social enterprise that makes digital and design learning accessible to learners from diverse backgrounds. In her role, Michelle leads the development and implementation of training programs for at-risk youths, individuals with special needs, and people with disabilities. She works closely with her team and industry partners to deliver unique learning experiences and create meaningful opportunities for Hatch graduates.

With a natural talent for connecting with individuals of all ages and backgrounds, Michelle has over a decade of experience working with children, youths, entrepreneurs and government officials across various platforms. Prior to Hatch, she held positions at the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore and Pathlight School.

Her area of passion lies in bridging gaps and inspiring movement to bring communities together. Outside of Hatch, Michelle serves as an Alumni Mentor at Tembusu College in the National University of Singapore (NUS) and volunteers in her local community.

Michelle holds an honours degree (Distinction) in Political Science from NUS and is certified by the Autism Resource Centre of Singapore. She is effectively bilingual in English and Chinese.

Prof Kiran Mirchandani is a Professor in the Adult Education and Community Development Program, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. Her research and teaching focuses on gendered and racialized processes in the workplace; transnational service work; young peoples' experiences of employment; critical perspectives on organizational development and learning; criminalization and welfare policy; and globalization and economic restructuring. She is the author of Phone Clones: Transnational Service Work the Global Economy (2012), co-author of Low Wage in High Tech: An Ethnography of Service Workers in Global India (2020), Closing the Enforcement Gap: Improving Employment Standards Protections for People in Precarious Jobs (2020). She is a Singaporean and recently completed a qualitative research project with young people in Singapore.

Ms Sita Leung has devoted over five years to frontline hidden services, having encountered nearly 100 hidden cases. Currently, Sita serves as the project leader for the "BLOG" Hidden Youth Career and Life Development Service, the only specialized team in Hong Kong catering to the needs of hidden youth.

In her work, Sita confronts common hurdles such as withdrawal, low motivation, and difficulties in self-expression among hidden youth. She adopts a creative and experimental approach, collaborating with colleagues to develop personalized home visit kits that symbolically transform into sources of confidence, hope, and care. These initiatives serve to reignite motivation and empower hidden youth to overcome their challenges.

Sita's interventions go beyond simple support; she combines "interest-based intervention", "career and life development", and "community re-engagement" approaches. By utilizing these strategies, she not only helps hidden youth restore social interaction but also fosters meaningful engagement with society at large.

Recognizing the significant role that various stakeholders play in youth development. Sita believes in the importance of collaboration beyond social welfare organizations. She advocates for active involvement from youth policy advocates, employers, and the business sectors. Through strategic networking and cross-sector collaboration, Sita strives to pool social resources, creating an enabling environment that supports the growth and development of hidden youth.

Ms Kit Fung is a social worker of hidden youth service at the Hong Kong Christian Service. With a passionate and committed approach, Kit Fung has dedicated her career to empowering for young individuals facing challenging circumstances. She has been actively involved in the "BLOG" Hidden Youth Career Life Development Service for nearly two years, providing guidance, counseling, and support to help them explore their in terests and engage in meaningful activities.

Through her work in providing career and life planning for hidden youth and high-risk social withdrawal youth, Kit Fung collaborates with stakeholders and schools to create safe spaces and develop programs that address their specific challenges. She possesses a deep understanding of the needs and struggles these young individuals face.

As a presenter, Kit Fung will share her valuable insights and effective practices for facilitating the meaningful reintegration of hidden youth in to society.

Mr Chan Man Ho, Wilson is the Deputy Executive Director in The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

Wilson has 28 years of counselling experience with deviant and delinquent youth, including over 19 years of management level experience in the following areas:

• Youth-at-Risk (Youth Crime Prevention Centre; Youth Outreaching Social Work Team; Youth Support Scheme; Extended Service for Night Youth Drifters; different Criminal and Deviant, Anti-Drug, and Risk Sex Counseling and Preventive Services)
• School Social Work Services
• Youth Mental Health & Wellness Services
• Youth Support Hotline & Online Services
• Sustainability, Greening & Camp Services
• Creative Education Services
• Media Education Services (M21)
• Social Enterprise
• Mainland Office
• Social Innovative Service
• Youth Exchange
• Premises Development
• Information Technology and User Experience Units
• Building Management

Wilson currently conducts several professional counseling, preventive educational services, training in Hong Kong and China. He also works on various publishments, studies, and research with different professional. Throughout the past 20 years, he has also been giving presentations at international conferences and local universities in Hong Kong and different countries.

He has over 11 years of experience using Information and Technology to develop and deliver youth counseling and treatment services and assessments. Wilson also holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Social Sciences in Criminology, a Bachelor of Social Work(Hons), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology. He is also an Accredited Mediator, practicing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.

In 2012, Wilson was awarded the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service and in 2009, he received the Certificate of Commendation by the Secretary for Home Affairs. He was also awarded several Best Practice Social Services Awards since 2008, Wilson has been part of different universities and social services specialised committees, and government advisory committees.

Trained in social work and criminology, Mr. Zeno C.W. LAM specialises in utilising his combined knowledge of these two disciplines to innovate ideas on Youth Engagement, Strengthening Family and Social Inclusion for juvenile delinquents, young offenders and drug abusers. His slogan is "Thinking out of the box, and always be curious about strength of youth".

Zeno is fully dedicated to youth work. He has 19 years of solid experience in working with youth-at-risk, including Integrated Children and Youth Services Centre, Community Support Service Scheme, District Youth Out reaching Social Work Service, and Services for Young Night Drifters. Zeno is currently the unit-in-charge of Youth Outreaching team in the HKFYG, leading the outreaching service and the following programmes to support those at-risk youths with mental health issues and/or drug addictions.

He is involved in overseeing the following projects:

• Project E.Positive- Mental Health Supporting Service for At-Risk Youths
• Project SEToff Ill- Anti-drug Program for Working Youth and Hidden Drug Abusers
• Healthy Transition II- Preventive and Educational Program for Substance Abuser with Mental Health Issues.

Ms Felin is a Manager at Epworth Community Services, serving the Pre-Family Guidance Order (Pre-FGO) population and overseeing its operation. Prior to managing a team of social workers and counsellors, Felin provided intervention and casework for youths at-risk, youths-in-risk and their families.

Ms Cai Huitian is a Functional Family Therapist and Senior Counsellor at Epworth Community Services serving the Pre-Family Guidance Order (Pre-FGO) population. She holds a Master of Counselling and has served in-risk and at-risk youths, and their families, in the community, residential, and school settings, over the last 15 years. She believes in empowering parents to fulfil their integral role of providing children and youth with safety and guidance, so that the next generation might develop and thrive well.

Ms Lea Nah, Senior Manager (Family Intervention Division) from the Ministry of Social and Family Development, currently looks at policies related to youths-at-risk (YAR). She started her career with MSF developing services for the out-of-home care sector for vulnerable children. She then served as a Probation Officer, working with youth offenders on probation to support their community rehabilitation, and with the Integrated Service Providers (ISPs) to provide a suite of MSF-funded services primarily for youth offenders. Lea graduated with a Master's degree in Social Work from the National University of Singapore.

Dr Chung You Jin is a senior lecturer and Head of the Postgraduate Social Work Programme at Singapore University of Social Sciences. Her research focuses on mental health and resilience, youth mental health and development, cultural identity and integration, and social work field education. You Jin is serving in Singapore Children's Society - Social Work Service Standing Committee.

Mr Taufiq Salehoodin is currently a Social Programme Assistant Manager with The Fort @ Children's Society. Taufiq has more than 12 years of experience working with children and youth in the social service sector. His work ranges from supporting children through a national child helpline and online chat; outreaching and supporting youth in schools and youth centres in the community; and working with youth offenders in conflict with the law. His passion in youth work has propelled him to delve deeper into seeking new initiatives to bring about positive youth development.

Mr Benjamin Loo is a counsellor at VOX @ Children's Society. He has more than 10 years of experience working with children and youths in both involuntary and voluntary settings at VOX, Benjamin's work revolves marrying business and social work concepts to build developmental relationships with youths to achieve sustained changes. Benjamin has a strong interest in digital youth work and is currently part of a detached youth work pilot project. In this pilot, youth workers drift online, find youth hotspots and work with youths in their natural digital habitats to promote help seeking and positive youth development.

Ms Debbie Ngai is the Founder, Service Director, Chief Animal Assisted Therapist and supervisor of Hong Kong Animal Assisted Therapy Association(HKAATA). Since 2008, she has started to integrate Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) into her social work practice. She received her Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Canine Behaviour Training and credentials from various countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Taiwan, etc. She is dedicated to lead her team to provide professional Animal Assisted Services for children and youth, as well as humane advocacy for therapy animals.

In 2020, Ms. Ngai was awarded the Outstanding Social Worker Award (30th Anniversary) by the Hong Kong Social Workers Association in recognition of her effort and contribution to the development of Animal Assisted Services (AAS) in the Hong Kong social service sector. She is the pioneer of developing professional AAS services in Hong Kong while being dedicated to support the development of AAS internationally. Ms. Ngai provided consultation and training of AAS/Therapy Animals program for NGOs and universities in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore. She specialises in working with children and youths with relationship difficulties and mood disorders.

Her current research interest is to explore ways to enhance the professional and ethical practices of AAS practitioners and therapy animal team handlers in order to foster a mutually beneficial and healthy models in the field.

Mr Lee Wei Hao is an Assistant Senior Social Worker from Lakeside Family Services. He has 8 years of experience working with ex-offenders, doing community casework and providing counselling services. Presently, he works with youths to improve their mental health.

Ms Jaclyn Tan worked at a Family Service Centre, growing her skill set as she was a social work associate till she graduated. Upon her graduation, she continued serving the community, working alongside incarcerated clients, and clients who have financial difficulties and other challenges. Through her work, she realised the gravity of the family situation and the impact it has on their children. She then discovered that her calling was in helping children and youths to get through difficult times, rising above their challenges and overcoming their trauma. She was then posted to Integrated Service Provider (ISP), a department specialising in helping students between 7 to 21 years old, aiding them in returning back to school and reducing their risk of offending. Jaclyn noticed that many youths were struggling with their mental health. After Covid, she also noticed that there was a significant increase in anxious clients who struggled with returning back to school. The ISP team then worked with Crest-Youth to support these children and youths with their mental health struggles through interest-based activities and coping strategies.

Mr Leung Nok Yan, Joshua, is a dedicated social worker from Hong Kong Christian Service, specializing in serving young night drifters in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong. Joshua and his team actively engage with vulnerable individuals, particularly those aged 6 to 24, who gather on the streets at night. They provide immediate crisis intervention and facilitate referrals to temporary shelters or homes.

The service promotes the concept of "From Crisis to Development," with the aim of facilitating the long-term growth and development of young people after crisis intervention, thereby reducing the likelihood of relapse. In addition to individual counseling, the service incorporates various activities to create a supportive environment.

Ms Yung Ka Yu, Yung is a dedicated social worker from Hong Kong Christian Service, specializing in serving young night drifters in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong. Yung and her team actively engage with vulnerable individuals, particularly those aged 6 to 24, who gather on the streets at night. They provide immediate crisis intervention and facilitate referrals to temporary shelters or homes.

The service promotes the concept of "From Crisis to Development," with the aim of facilitating the long-term growth and development of young people after crisis intervention, thereby reducing the likelihood of relapse. In addition to individual counseling, the service incorporates various activities to create a supportive environment.

Ms Yung has seven years working experience in young night drifter service. She values the emotional health of young people and focuses on improving their awareness of emotions and emotion regulation ability through caseworks, groups and programs, helping them transition from high-risk to stable stages. Ms. Yung has organized art expression groups such as yoga and ceramics interventions, enhancing the awareness of the impact of the original family on the cases and their families, and promoting positive and healthy communication within the family.

Ms Sonia is a clinical psychologist currently working with the Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (REACH) team at the National University Hospital. She completed her Masters of Clinical Psychology at the University of Melbourne. Sonia has experience working with children and adolescents with a range of mental health issues, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and autism spectrum disorder amongst others, and has been working with the hidden youth population for the past 4 years.

Mr Nicholas is a psychologist associate working with the Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (REACH) team at the National University Hospital. After completing his Bachelor's degree in Psychology at University College London, Nicholas was part of a research team investigating the epidemiology of mental health issues among youth in Singapore. Now, he works with students dealing with a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, selective mutism, as well as neurodevelopmental issues like ADHD and autism.

Mr Amos oversees the YMCA Vocational and Soft Skills Programme (VaSSP). The YMCA VaSSP equips out-of-school youth and youth-at-risk aged 14 - 21 years old, with essential soft skills and vocational skills so that they can increase their employability and integrate into the workforce. With over a decade of experience in youth work, including 7 years of experience in preventive, developmental, and remedial interventions, Amos believes that with the right opportunities and support, every young person can overcome obstacles and thrive.

Prof Peter Szto is Professor at the Grace Abbott School of Social Work, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Before teaching, he worked for 12-years in various inpatient and community mental health programmes. His research involves documentary photography as a tool of social research, social welfare development in China, and mental health stigma. Projects include a visual study of China's mass internal migration, de-stigmatizing mental illness, and a visual autoethnography. In 2022, Prof Szto was a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the National University of Singapore (NUS) where he taught a module on mental health care. He is the BSSW Coordinator at UNO and tea ches courses on mental health, spirituality, global engagement, and writing. He is also the Editor-in-Chief for the academic journal, Social Work & Christianity. His earned degrees are from Calvin College, Michigan State University, Westminster Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Szto was born and raised in New York City. He lives in Omaha with his wife and two doggies.

Ms Louise gained her Bachelor of Behavioral Study from the University of Queensland, Australia, and a Master of Social Work from the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong.

Louise's journey as a social worker began with Caritas Hong Kong in 2004, with a profound dedication to understanding and uplifting marginalized youth. In her initial decade of service, Louise ventured into the vibrant yet often overlooked world of young night drifters and those immersed in clubs and bars. This outreaching work experience had deepened her interests on youth performing arts, substance abuse, and gender-related issues. As her career progressed, Louise's focus shifted to the specific needs of young females entangled in high-risk behaviors such as drugs, the sex trade industry, and teenage pregnancy. Rejecting the notion that these challenges were solely individual problems or choices, she embraced a gender-sensitive approach to intervention, recognizing the systemic factors at play. Transitioning into a leadership role overseeing youth services at Caritas Hong Kong in 2021, Louise works on aligning agency efforts with community stakeholders to addressing the diverse needs of young people in Hong Kong.

Despite two decades of dedicated service, Louise's passion for working with young people remains as strong as ever. She especially values the stories of underprivileged young people and believes in their infinite potential. With a joined effort, she strive to create a more understanding and diverse community where all young people can shine.

Mr Wong Ka Ming, Victor is a registered social worker who has 22 years of social work experience, especially in the field of you th ou treach and school services for high-risk youth. He possess professional experience in casework, group-work and extensive experience in staff and services development. Victor also holds a Master of Social Sciences in Social Work.

Ms Ada Chan is a Service Development Officer at youth and community service in Caritas Hong Kong. Her responsibilities encompass developing youth talent, building staff capacity, and fostering service innovation. With a decade of experience working with high-risk youths, particularly in the areas of drugs rehabilitation and career and life development, Ada has gained valuable wisdom in developing the talents of young individuals from special target groups.

Ada's innovative approach is evident in her design and implementation of programmes aimed at empowering the youth she serves. She recognizes the importance of equipping staff with the necessary skills and competencies to provide optimal support and guidance. By keeping Caritas Hong Kong at the forefront of service innovation, she ensures that the organization delivers effective and impactful youth development strategies.

Ada's deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by high-risk youths, combined with her compassionate approach, has enabled her to build strong relationships based on trust and empowerment. Beyond her role at Caritas Hong Kong, Ada actively collaborates with other organizations and professionals to improve the lives of young individuals in the community.

Through her unwavering commitment and innovative mindset, her work continues to have a positive impact on many young people and enabling them to overcome obstacles and strive for a brighter future.

Ms. Leung is currently a Project Manager of the Embrace Your Heart program - a pilot project which enhances the physical and psychological well-being of youth through the collaboration of interdisciplinary professionals. She leads the liaison work between Chinese Medicine Practitioners, Expressive Art Therapists, Clinical Psychologists and Social Workers, etc.

Prior to this, Ms. Leung had been a youth outreaching social worker for 5 years after graduating from her Bachelor Degree in Social Work from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She catered for the developmental needs of youth and assisted them in coping with the pressures from different systems including family, school, career and the social environment. She provided online outreaching service and reached youths experiencing emotional disturbance, mental distress and poor interpersonal relationships. Although some youth displayed self-harm behavior and had overwhelming suicidal thoughts, many of them did not seek help. The alarming mental health crisis among youths in recent years aroused her concern.

Mr. Irving Alfred Baleros, has been devoting himself to social work interventions for at-risk youth and the Youth Outreaching Service in Hong Kong for 20 years. He is now the Assistant Team Leader of the Tin Shui Wai District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team from the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service - Hong Kong. Not only has he been providing professional counselling and organizing programmes to Outreaching Youth, but he has also been providing clinical supervisions to social workers in the team and supervising the service of the Overnight Outreaching Service for Youth Night Drifters (YND). Additionally, he is also a Part-time Social Work Fieldwork Supervisor at Saint Francis University.

Due to the uprising trend of youth suicide rate in Hong Kong in recent years, he is especially concerned with youth mental health issues. He has been collaborating closely with different professionals, e.g. Expressive Arts Therapists, Clinical Psychologists and Chinese Medicine Practitioners etc., to provide intervention for youths with emotional disturbances.

Ms. Chui has 7 years of front line experience in working with night teenage drifters. She is the sub-team leader of "TSWYND" - ELCHK, Tin Shui Wai District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team, Services for Young Night Drifters (YNDs). She leads the sub-team to design different programs and services in response to the needs of YNDs, including crisis intervention, group and individual counselling, family intervention, services referral, and activities for physical, psychological and intellectual development, in order to overcome teenage challenges of growth and fully develop their potential.

Through years of front line observation, apart from preventing the occurrence of at-risk behavior, she believes that it is also important to promote adolescent mental health, since the prevalence of depression and anxiety in adolescents is increasing in recent years.

She is now involved in a pilot project - "Embrace Your Heart - Chinese Medicine Community Based Youth Mental Health Support Program", which aimed to address the worsening youth mental health issues in Hong Kong.

Mr Aaron Donovan is a social worker from Fei Yue Community Services (Project 180@ Bukit Batok). Since commencing his career in 2020, he has been actively engaged in youth work, focusing on aiding individuals facing various challenges. His primary emphasis lies in assisting youth-in-risk, youth at-risk and their families.

Aaron's specialization extends to working with youths involved in sexual offenses, as part of the Guidance Programme - PAST (Positive Adolescent Sexuality Treatment). He also enjoys working with hidden youths under the Hidden Youth Outreach Services Program. Beyond that, he is a part of the Fei Yue Animal Care Program, which facilitates connections between youths and animal-assisted intervention programs.

To augment his expertise and delve deeper into relevant theories, Aaron decided to pursue his Master's degree in Social Work in 2022 at the National University of Singapore. In the pursuit of advancing his knowledge, he also conducted practice research which delved into the experiences of social workers working with the hidden youth population in Singapore.

Ms Zoe Tee is currently an senior social worker at Fei Yue Community Services leading the Integrated Service Provider team as well as the Hidden Youth Outreach Service team.

Previously, Zoe had been involved in portfolios in the Ministry of Social and Family Development relating to youth at risk and was a probation officer between 2015-2019. Subsequently, her job scope involved indirect social work practice such as operational policies relating to child welfare such as the Family Guidance Order. Zoe was recognised for her dedication and was awarded the Promising Social Worker Award in 2018.

Her contribution to her division in terms of Restorative Practice led to her team being awarded the MSF Star Service Award in 2017 and 2018. Her continuous grit and commitment saw her new team in Child Welfare winning the Public Service Transformation Award in 2021, this time for the team's innovative spirit in implementing the pre-FGO services in 2020 during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic.

She is presently leading two teams of social workers in FYCS and leading the expansion of services in supporting Hidden Youths. She has also completed her NUS Masters Capstone Research in 2024 where she had embarked on a practice research in improving her team's knowledge of local Hidden Youths.

A/Prof Esther Goh is an Associate Professor with the Department of Social Work at National University Singapore. She was a frontline practitioner working with vulnerable children and their families prior to her academic pursuit. She is one of the 12 winners of the inaugural competitive Social Science Research Council Grant at the national level in 2017. Her research centres on championing the need to utilize a more dynamic theory to examine childrearing and parent-child relationships. Together with her students, they have empirically illustrated children and young persons, even those living in vulnerable conditions, as capable agents, who contribute to solutions of problems.

A/Prof Irene Y.H. Ng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and the Social Service Research Centre in the National University of Singapore. She holds a joint Ph.D. in Social Work and Economics from the University of Michigan. Her research areas include poverty and inequality, intergenerational mobility, and social welfare policy. Her current research projects include a study of in-work poverty among the young; social safety nets in East Asia; and the development of universal digital access. She is active in the community, serving or having served in committees in the Ministry of Social and Family Development, National Council of Social Service, Ministry of Manpower, and various voluntary welfare organizations. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Board of Youth Guidance Outreach Services.

Dr Gerard Chung is currently an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the National University of Singapore, specialises in research pertaining to technology's integration within the field of social work. He graduated with a PhD in social work from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He pursued his postdoctoral fellowship at A*STAR, and Social Service Research Centre. Prior to entering academia, Dr Gerard Chung was a practicing social worker at a family service centre.

Ms Wong Ying Li is a Senior Deputy Director with Fei Yue Community Services. Ying Li has worked with at-risk youths across various youth programmes in Fei Yue as a Social Worker for more than 15 years. Some of the programmes she has overseen in Youth Services include the Youth GO! street outreach Programme when it first started in Fei Yue in 2012. She also previously worked in Fei Yue's Family Service Centre where she supported individuals and families through the provision of counselling and casework intervention. Ying Li is currently the Head of Specialised Services Division in Fei Yue, which oversees Community Mental Health Department, Restorative Care Department (Fei Yue's work with offenders and their families), as well as the Youth Department. She is also part of the Senior Management team in Fei Yue Community Services.

Mr Nicholas Gabriel Lim is the co-founder of the Youth Work Association Singapore (YWAS) and a registered psychologist and who sits on the board of several local psychological intervention centres, as well as, various advisory councils, including, the Media Literacy Council, the National Council for Problem Gambling, and the National Council Against Drug Abuse. He holds Degrees in psychology from University of Queensland and the Nanyang Technological University, and various clinical and practice certificates like for Youth Work Coaching and Supervision, Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, Adventure Therapy, and Therapeutic Behaviour Management. Notably, Nicholas also holds a Juris Doctor degree, making him a unique mental health and legal practitioner. His diverse background equips him to assist young individuals who may be facing legal issues alongside mental health challenges.

Mr Benjamin Yeo is a Lead Social Worker and Assistant Director heading the Youth Department at Fei Yue Community Services. He is an Exco member of Youth Work Association Singapore (YWAS), a committee member of MSF Building Professional Practice Capabilities (BPPC), and an Adjunct Lecturer at NUS. He graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work from National University of Singapore (NUS) and completed a Masters in Youth Development from University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). From youths who are disengaged and hanging out on the st reets to youths who are socially withdrawn and isolating at home, Benjamin has more than 12 years of experience working with and developing programmes that serve the NEETs population.

In 2018, he was awarded the Promising Social Worker Award (PSWA) for his contribution to developing the Youth GO! Programme serving the street youths in Singapore. In 2019, he led his team to pioneer the Hidden Youth Outreach Service (HYOS) serving the socially reclusive youths in Singapore. He was also involved in several research projects looking into the local NEET youth phenomenon and was the co-author of "Reaching hidden youth in Singapore through the Hidden Youth Intervention Program: A biopsychosocial approach integrating mental health and social work interventions" a research article that was published in the Frontiers in Psychology Journal in 2023.

Mr Narasimman is a psychotherapist and co-founder of Impart Ltd, a local charity that gives youths-facing-adversities a fighting chance. He fosters ecosystems of care in Education, Mental Health Care, and Community spaces, ranging from preventive work to aftercare rehabilitation.

His work spans developmental programmes for youths in the community, to rehabilitating and reintegrating youths known to juvenile justice systems and statutory care. Examples of his past work include pioneering community-based programs for aftercare and addiction - a testament to his expertise and experience in community-focused models of care.

Mr Lee Seng Meng is the Executive Director of SHINE Children and Youth Services. A registered social worker specialising in youth work, Seng Meng has won numerous accolades. These included the Commissioner of Police's Individual Commendation Award in 2009 for ou tstanding work with youths-at-risk, South West District ComCare Social Service Award Winner 2009 and Social Service Institute's STAR Adult Educator Award in 2014 and 2020 for excellence in teaching.

In recognition of his professional expertise and sector-wide contributions, Seng Meng has been appointed a Social Service Fellow by the National Council of Social Service since 2016. In 2019, Seng Meng was conferred the Outstanding Social Worker Award by the President of the Republic of Singapore.

Ms Lydia Ang currently leads the corporate philanthropy and volunteerism efforts for CapitaLand, one of Asia's largest diversified real estate groups headquartered in Singapore. She is concurrently the General Manager of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm and oversees the Foundation's operations including working with key markets where CapitaLand operates in grantmaking and community development initiatives.

Lydia has accumulated over 25 years of CSR programme management and international development experiences spanning across public, private and non-profit sectors in Singapore and overseas. Since joining CapitaLand in 2011, Lydia has helped to drive several social impact initiatives in Singapore, China and across the region to meet needs of local communities through cross sectorial partnerships.

Mr Saravanan Sinniah is a Conservationist, Motivational Speaker, and a Mountain guide. Presently, he holds the role of Environmental Educator with Conservation International Singapore. With a profound dedication to environmental advocacy and a passion for adventure, Saravanan actively engages communities through immersive experiences, enlightening presentations, and workshops designed to provoke thought. He empowers individuals to embrace sustainable practices and cultivate a harmonious relationship with their surroundings. Committed to fostering a sense of stewardship and responsibility for the planet's well-being, Saravanan has devoted his life to inspiring others to connect with nature and effect positive change in the world.

Melissa graduated with a Master of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh and is an occupational therapist by training. She has over 15 years of health and social care experience spanning across the public, private and non-profit sectors focusing in the areas of corporate development, strategy, and programme management.

Melissa is part of the Caregiving and Community Mental Health Division in AIC where she leads sector development and capability building efforts in the youth space. She focuses on developing care models and service integration. Melissa has a keen interest in integrating mental health services into the larger health ecosystem and believes in pushing forth mental health service accessibility through a data driven approach.

Dr. Ng Hoi Nga, Anna is Director of Student Affairs cum Associate Professor of School of Humanities and Languages of Saint Francis University. She is a registered social worker, certified sex therapist, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, certified Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit practitioner, Personality Dimension Trainer, and a Senior Counseling and Training consultant of Caritas Human Empowerment and Achievement Training. She is the Founder and Coordinator of the Research Unit on Love, Marriage and Family. Besides, she is also a magazine and newspaper columnist who has been interviewed by radio and TV programmes in promoting sexuality education. She has been a guest speaker for various public sexuality education seminars. She has served as the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Sexuality Educators, Researchers and Therapists since 2017. Her research interest includes outcome evaluation of holistic care intervention workshops and marital counselling, sexual health and sexuality education, female penetrative intercourse difficulty, sexual self-concept of female adult survivors of child sexual abuse, related factors of female sexual dysfunction, and psychological health of primary and secondary school students.

Martin Tan is the CEO of The Majurity Trust, a philanthropic organization in Singapore that works with donors and charities to build a thriving community in Singapore. Over the past 7 years, TMT raised over $50M from over 500 donors that supported over 290 grantee partners that reached over 400,000 beneficiaries in Singapore.

Martin serves as board member of Founders Memorial, Ray of Hope, Children's Museum Singapore, and Halogen Singapore (which he co-founded in 2003). He previously served on the boards of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), National Library Board, National Family Council and National Youth Council. He served as Honorary Secretary of National Family Council, Deputy Chairperson of Marriage Central and Council Member of the 13th National Youth Council.

Martin was the Executive Director of the Institute for Societal Leadership at Singapore Management University (2014-2017) and has worked with leaders in various sectors globally as a platform speaker and leadership facilitator. Martin was awarded The JCI Outstanding Young Person Award (2008), inducted as Asia 21 Fellow (2011), Singapore Youth Award (2013), and appointed as Global Council Member at Asia Society (2019).

Ms. Kristine Lam is a Principal Social Worker and Head of Youth Services at Care Corner Singapore Ltd. She leads a team that offers a wide range of youth programmes and services, aimed at equipping adolescents with essential life skills and connecting them to vital resources for their development. This includes meeting diverse needs of young people, from developmental programmes in schools and communities, to supporting the rehabilitation of young offenders.

One of the programmes available for youths is Youth GO!, which focuses on outreach, engagement, and intervention for youths who hang out on the streets, neighbourhoods and community areas. Her team collaborates with local communities and government agencies to identify at-risk youths and bring services directly to them. The programme helps these youths stay engaged in their studies or work, remain crime-free, and develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the programme ensures that support includes coordinated assistance for the youths’ families.

In 2017, Kristine received the Promising Social Worker Award. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Youth Work Association Singapore (YWAS), and is a member of the SkillsFuture Tripartite Taskforce Social Work-Youth Work sub-team.