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EMPOWER ExCO

Meet the Executive Committee members behind EMPOWER, who help shape its vision, guide its work, and create greater opportunity for the next generation of ethnically diverse young women in Hong Kong. Discover the experience, perspective, and encouragement they bring to our community.

Elizabeth Thomson

Founder and Chairwoman

The Amber Foundation

Professional Background

A lawyer by profession and entrepreneur by choice, I have built a longstanding career in cross-border business, corporate structuring and women’s entrepreneurship, alongside my philanthropic work. I lead EMPOWER by The Amber Foundation, a programme for ethnically diverse young women at university that is now in its ninth year, with 44 participants in the current cohort and a community of 261 alumnae. Working closely with our Executive Committee, I develop workshops and engage inspiring group leaders whose lived experience, ethnic background and professional success offer meaningful role models to the young women we support.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

I founded EMPOWER by The Amber Foundation to help ethnically diverse university women translate their academic potential into career success and, ultimately, greater financial stability. The programme was inspired by a scholarship applicant who was the first in her family to attend university; her parents had not completed primary school and could not provide the guidance she needed to navigate this new opportunity. Recognising the depth of talent in Hong Kong, I created a workplace-preparation programme and a network of women and men who can offer practical advice, professional insight and relatable role models for our participants.

How I Support Mentees

I create opportunities for EMPOWER participants and alumnae to broaden their professional networks, strengthen their job-search capability and gain exposure to different areas of Hong Kong’s corporate and professional landscape. Drawing on my extensive network, I connect current cohort members and alumnae with potential employers, advisers and professional contacts who can offer practical insight, guidance and career opportunities.

A Little More About Me

Look forward with hope! Although you may have faced many barriers in the past, only through perseverance and resilience will you succeed in attaining the career you desire. Take heart from learning from others about how they have overcome difficulties and put those skills into practice in your own career journey.

Anisha Sakhrani

Founder, Transformative Movement Limited, 

Somatic Movement Education for children with special needs, and adults with reduced mobility

Professional Background

My work has its foundation in the science of Neuroplasticity.  I use movement as a tool to help my clients enhance the connection between their brain and body to increase body awareness, calm the nervous system, and create new neural connections to overcome limitations and facilitate breakthrough outcomes in physical and cognitive performance.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

I have been involved with EMPOWER for 4 years. It is an honour to be a member of the ExCo, and contribute to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for these bright, ambitious, young women.

How I Support Mentees

I can help with introductions to professionals, building confidence, and developing networking and leadership skills. 

A Little More About Me

My Support Group will always hear me quote Michelle Obama the first time that we meet, when I tell them that "life is practice". Everything that you do now, is practice for who you are going to be in future. Your actions and habits will determine who you become, so it is important to consciously practise the positive traits that you want to embody.

Felicity McRobb

McRobb Consulting: 

Strategy Consulting and Leadership Development

Professional Background

I work with leadership teams to accelerate success by bringing innovative thinking to the strategy, and by developing the leaders in breakthrough performance.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

I have been involved with EMPOWER for 8 years as one of the EXCO. It is a privilege to be part of this team. Empowering women to be successful in their careers and in their lives has been a passion for over forty years. We are taking ground but there is still a lot more ground to take! 

How I Support Mentees

I can help with navigating a career, developing relationship and leadership skills, and introductions to professionals in the community.

A Little More About Me

Mentorship is an accelerator pedal for your career. 

Marina Rai

Registered Social Worker, Project Manager at Caritas Youth and Community Service, Community Radio Progam Producer CIBS, RTHK

Professional Background

My day-to-day focus centers on community outreach, project management, and advocacy programs that support ethnically diverse communities in Hong Kong. My core expertise lies in cross-sector stakeholder engagement, service design, and leveraging media to amplify underrepresented voices.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

I was drawn to EMPOWER because of its holistic, sustained approach to mentorship, which goes beyond quick 1–2 hour sessions to provide comprehensive career guidance and real growth pathways like internships and volunteering. Serving as a group leader last year, I was deeply inspired by the fellows' curiosity and eagerness to learn—many reached out after sessions to seek personal growth advice, volunteer, and even participate in my radio productions. When invited to serve as an Executive Committee Member and mentor this year, I immediately said a BIG YES to being a part of this movement!

How I Support Mentees

I can offer the most impactful guidance in strategic career navigation, professional development within the social impact and NGO sectors, and cross-sector network building. Additionally, I help mentees develop stakeholder management skills and invite them to gain hands-on media experience by participating in radio production and presentation.

A Little More About Me

I am guided by 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." Outside of my work, I find clarity and energy through long walks and hiking, including completing a 108km Gobi Desert walk in May 2026.

May Anne Vergara Bird

Founder/Principal Consultant 

Bird Consulting Ltd, HR and Talent Consulting company

Professional Background

As the founder and principal consultant of Bird Consulting I am able draw on my 35+ year corporate career as an HR and Talent profession. Our work with clients (mainly international/global companies) focuses on developing/enhancing their HR and Talent practise. This could mean an HR transformation project, executive/leadership coaching, developing and delivering a learning and development programme, developing a talent/succession process. We typically work with the client’s executive team and senior leaders in the organisation as well as the HR team in these projects and assignments. Based on project requirements we work with 3 other associate consultants with similar expertise. 

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

As an Asian woman who has built a career in global organizations, I have always been deeply committed to supporting, developing, coaching, and mentoring emerging Asian female talent and leaders. This mission lies at the heart of EMPOWER, and my work with the organization enables me to continue living this lifelong commitment by helping others realize their full potential.

How I Support Mentees

With my extensive HR expertise, long corporate career, and deep commitment to helping Asian female leaders recognize their strengths and navigate the corporate world, I can provide meaningful support to EMPOWER mentees. I can help them develop an understanding of the skills and behaviours needed to succeed in a corporate environment, identify and pursue entry-level opportunities across a range of industries, and build the practical tools required for a successful job search, including CV development, interview preparation, and communication skills. 

A Little More About Me

Most importantly, I can help mentees leverage their unique backgrounds, experiences, and university education to confidently transition from student life into the professional world and begin building fulfilling careers.

Petunia Kingsley

Educator

Law Ting Pong Secondary School and The University of Hong Kong

Professional Background

An educator with extensive experience across secondary and tertiary sectors—spanning teaching, leadership, and administration—I am dedicated to creating learning environments where creativity, critical thinking, and bold exploration flourish, and where every child matters.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

Empowering young ethnic women and amplifying their talents through mentorship and career support. I have served as a group leader since 2020 and have been on the Exco for the past two years.

How I Support Mentees

Give my mentees a realistic picture of expectations and opportunities, provide guidance and help in securing and sustaining employment.

A Little More About Me

I value mentorship because I had to navigate negativity and unhelpful advice alone while building my career in Hong Kong’s education sector. These experiences shaped my commitment to guiding others. My core advice to mentees is to trust their abilities and persevere despite challenges.

Soundari Mukherjea

CEO/Founder

Engagement Factor, Soundbytes11

Professional Background

You have a high-level strategy. Your pain point is always to get people motivated, aligned and execute this strategy at all levels top-down & bottom-up. I help people move to action through business storytelling.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

I care deeply about inclusion because Hong Kong's rich diversity is an asset we often underutilize. My work empowers leaders to drive business outcomes by being more human, using storytelling to challenge unconscious bias.

Through my work with EMPOWER, I've seen how creating communities can help everyone thrive. I want to help build an ecosystem where we can all bring our best selves to work, ensuring Hong Kong remains competitive and inclusive for all.

How I Support Mentees

I aim to support the programme's objectives by helping develop confident gender advocates through:

  • Mentoring: Sharing my expertise in networking, personal branding, and storytelling to empower my protégés, helping them build capacity for decision-making roles.  Actively curating and participating in group sessions to share insights on workplace dynamics, breaking gender stereotypes and supporting women at work.

  • Building the Ecosystem: Contributing to the alumni network, to help create a thriving community of women leaders who can cascade change across their organisations and sectors, advancing gender equality in Hong Kong

A Little More About Me

Inspired by Andrew Geczy's philosophy of a yearly scorecard, I prioritize C.A.T.C.H - Consulting, Advising, Teaching, Coaching, and Helping. This approach helps me make conscious decisions about how to allocate my time and set clear priorities.


Every day, there will be glass balls and plastic balls that you are juggling – it is important not to let the glass balls drop and it is okay to let a few plastic balls fall on the wayside.

Ria Mehrotra

Vice President

Morgan Stanley

Professional Background

I drive operational transformation and data strategy to create more efficient, data-driven, and AI-enabled teams.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

I was drawn to EMPOWER because I strongly believe that talent should not be limited by background, access, or the confidence to navigate professional environments. The programme’s focus on increasing visibility, building networks, and helping young women enter the workplace with greater confidence aligns closely with my own commitment to supporting the next generation of diverse professionals.

How I Support Mentees

I would love to help my mentees better understand their strengths, explore possible career paths, and feel more confident presenting themselves to employers. Drawing on my experience in finance and strategy, I can offer practical guidance on CVs, interviews, networking, professional communication, and making career decisions when there is no single obvious path.

A Little More About Me

Outside work, I enjoy CrossFit, hiking and travelling —activities that have taught me the value of consistency, curiosity, and being willing to step outside my comfort zone.

Reena Rollason

Lawyer

Professional Background

I am a lawyer, interested in business transformation and helping organisations build, develop and retain high performing teams. I head employment legal within APAC for an international bank.

Why EMPOWER Matters to Me

I have been involved with Empower for 6 years and am proud to serve on the ExCo with such a fabulous group of talented and driven professionals.

How I Support Mentees

My role as a mentor is to champion our students to lean-in to their careers, drive change, navigate challenges and “lift as they climb” whilst learning with them and from them throughout the programme and beyond.

A Little More About Me

A good piece of career advice: “run towards the problem and be part of the solution”

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