NEWS/ HONG KONG/ CITY

Press Release – Immediate

Hong Kong’s Future Has a New Face: Inspire Change through Leadership

First Youth Leadership Summit for Ethnic Minority Students and Young Professionals

Hong Kong, 14 June 2025 – The Zubin Foundation today proudly hosted our inaugural Youth Leadership Summit for Ethnic Minorities, marking a significant turning point for the community in Hong Kong. Over 150 young people participated, from schools and universities across the city and various professions, from different ethnic backgrounds, with different dreams, but united by a shared goal – to be leaders shaping the future of Hong Kong.

Why a Youth Leadership Summit, Why Now?

Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse population is young, growing, and educated. Yet, many still face barriers to opportunity, representation, and belonging. In the past five years, The Zubin Foundation has awarded over 190 university scholarships. This summit is the next step, bringing together the brightest minds to discuss identity, opportunity, and support to lead the change.

Shalini Mahtani, MH, MBE, Founder and CEO of The Zubin Foundation, shared, “We are witnessing a remarkable transformation in Hong Kong’s ethnic minority youth. More young people are entering university, pursuing careers not commonly seen before, and getting ready to step into leadership roles. But we also know that many still face systemic barriers – whether it’s in employment, representation, or simply being seen and heard. This summit is our response. It’s a space for these young people to connect and to be inspired. We are here to support them every step of the way.”

We are honoured to have Alice Mak, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, HKSAR attend the event as the guest of honour and give the opening remarks.

A Youth-Led Vision

The summit was designed with support from The Zubin Foundation’s Youth Committee, comprising eight university students and young professionals of different ethnic backgrounds. They helped shape the agenda and topics.

“Being part of this summit has been deeply personal for me.  Every move – from India to Thailand, to Mainland China, and now Hong Kong – has taught me how to adapt to another culture and how to stay open to opportunities. For ethnic minority youth, these experiences are often filled with challenges, but they also build the kind of leadership that’s grounded in empathy and courage. When The Zubin Foundation team and the Youth Committee came together to curate the summit’s topics, we knew that this event had to be more than just career advice – it had to be about identity, belonging, and shaping the future” Saleema Aafiya Muhammad Ibrahim, Youth Committee Member and a Paralegal commented.

Inspiring Leadership: Identity, Future Proofing and Building Support

With the theme “Inspiring Leadership,” the Summit focused on three key areas: (1) Identity, (2) Future Proofing, and (3) Building Support. Each area was designed to equip the youth with the tools for personal and professional growth.

“Identity is about being seen and accepted for who you are, in a society that often overlooks you. The future is about having the tools, the knowledge, and the confidence to step into spaces where you’ve never made an attempt. Support is about knowing you don’t have to do it alone. This summit is our way of saying: we see you, we believe in you, and we are walking this journey with you. These youth are not waiting for change – they are becoming it,” added Mahtani.

“This summit is a milestone. It’s the first time many of us have been in a room full of people who share our experiences, our challenges, and our hopes. We talked about AI, about the Greater Bay Area, about mental health and mentorship. But more than that, we talked about possibility. About what happens when ethnic minority youth are given the tools and the trust to lead. And I can tell you, the future looks bright,” Gurdial Singh, Youth Committee Member and Undergraduate Student at City University of Hong Kong commented.

A New Beginning

This summit is just the beginning. It reflects the aspirations of a new generation of Hongkongers who are smart, locally and globally connected, and ready to lead.

“What if the future of Hong Kong looked like the youth in this room? Bold, diverse, multilingual, globally connected, and deeply rooted in community. That’s not a dream – it’s a reality that’s already unfolding. This summit was a glimpse into that future. A future where leadership is inclusive, where opportunity is equitable. I look forward to seeing you all aspire to lead in Hong Kong. You are Hong Kong’s future,” concluded Mahtani.

The Zubin Foundation, whose mission is to improve the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities, today proudly launched our first Ethnic Minority Youth Summit: Inspiring Leadership. We thank A&O Shearman, our platinum sponsor, for believing in the power of ethnic minority youth and helping us create a platform for future leaders.

Group Photo

Group Photo with Alice Mak (Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs), Dr. Lam Ching-choi (Member of the Executive Council of HKSAR Government), Joe Chan (Assistant Director, Social Welfare Department), Annie Tam (President, Connecting Hearts Academy), Bernard Chan, Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation, Gary Wong (Chief Hong Kong and Macau Liaison Expert, Qianhai Authority), Aruna Gurung (Board Member of the Equal Opportunities Commission), Shalini Mahtani (Founder & CEO, The Zubin Foundation), Catherine Husted (Vice Chair, The Zubin Foundation), Sasha Allison (Board Member, The Zubin Foundation), Community Partners   Download here: https://shorturl.at/KSHKs

ABOUT THE ZUBIN FOUNDATION

The Zubin Foundation (registered charity in Hong Kong: IR 91/12344), named after Zubin Mahtani Gidumal, is an integrated service provider for Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities. We improve the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities by reducing suffering and providing opportunities. With a dedicated team of 25 staff, we have positively impacted over 12,000 individuals, empowering communities to thrive in 2023.

The Zubin Foundation 10 Years of Transforming Lives of Hong Kong’s Ethnic Minorities:

As we celebrate our tenth year, The Zubin Foundation is more determined than ever to improve the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities. Over the past decade, we have transformed lives by reducing suffering and providing opportunities to Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities. Our ten-year anniversary is a powerful reminder that poverty in our community continues to rise and there are thousands of individuals who are in need of support, whether women victims of domestic violence, elderly individuals living alone, or children facing mental health problems.

The Zubin Foundation relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its work. For more information, please visit: www.zubinfoundation.org.

PRESS / GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Matthew YU, The Zubin Foundation | E: matthew@zubinfoundation.org | Tel: 2540 9588 / 6084 9333

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