Join the Reach Alliance for its first conference in Asia hosted by the Singapore Management University!
Connect with global stakeholders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Singapore as we exchange actionable insights to catalyse impact towards the full achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
18 – 21 November 2025
This event is invite-only. To request an invitation contact: reachalliance.munk@utoronto.ca .
Learn more about Reach Alliance:
Conference Agenda
Explore the dynamic agenda for the 2025 Reach Conference in Singapore, featuring engaging sessions led by industry experts. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in workshops, panel discussions, and networking events designed to foster collaboration and innovation in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Singapore Management University welcomes global changemakers to the first Reach Conference in Asia
“Asia’s duality of opportunity and challenge demands a new breed of changemakers who can leverage the region’s potential to bring positive change to society, especially for the communities who need it most.“
– Professor Lily Kong, President, Singapore Management University
Asia’s influence on international affairs and the global economy is clear. The region – home to 60% of the world’s population – is a hotbed of innovation and opportunity, but also one that faces myriad challenges to its sustainable development and growth. This duality requires a new breed of changemakers who can leverage Asia’s potential to bring positive change to society, especially for the communities who need it the most.
For the past 10 years, the Reach Alliance’s consortium of nine leading global universities has carried the mantle of empowering the next generation of global leaders to reach the hardest to reach. By spotlighting problems, solving them through research and innovation, and inspiring action through awareness and discourse, the Alliance has shown that universities can deliver meaningful impact towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
On the occasion of our Silver Jubilee this year, SMU is honoured to host and co-organise the 2025 Reach Conference alongside the University of Toronto. This Conference, which will convene leading partners from the Alliance, Asia and around the world, will extend the Alliance’s reach and impact into Asia from SMU’s city campus in downtown Singapore.
As a global city university at the nexus of management, social sciences, and technology, SMU is committed to working with fellow Alliance members to “drive innovations, transcend boundaries, and transform lives”, true to our university’s newly unveiled Vision. At the heart of this vision is our dedication to a mission of nurturing lifelong learners and changemakers, empowering researchers to address complex societal challenges, and fostering impactful partnerships that bridge Asia and the world.
On behalf of the SMU community, I warmly welcome you to Singapore and look forward to the enriching exchanges of knowledge and ideas that will drive positive change for the communities we serve.
Professor Lily Kong,
President, Singapore Management University
Meet the 2025 Reach Conference Speakers
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Rumee Singh
CEO and Co-Founder, Rumsan
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Paul Thoppil
Canada’s High Commissioner-designate to the Republic of Singapore
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Sun Sun Lim
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
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Patrick Gyimah Awuah Jr
Founder and President, Ashesi University
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Lily Kong
President and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor, Singapore Management University
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Geraint Rees
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
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Sarah Cragg
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
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Jeff Murugan
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
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Sydney Piggott
Director, Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives, Mentor Canada
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Eric Chua
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Social and Family Development
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Ellie Moriearty
Program Lead, MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar
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Dilip Soman
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
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Joseph Wong
Vice-President, International, University of Toronto
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Marin MacLeod
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
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Amy Yeboah Quarkume
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
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Adrian Little
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
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Mariana Mota Prado
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
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Shristi Piya
Chief Development and Impact Officer, Rumsan
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Omnath Dhakal
Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person, Punarbas Municipality, Nepal & Community Collaborator, Rumsan
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Elizabeth Lubinda
Maternal and Newborn Health Epidemiologist (Consultant)
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Disraeli Asante-Darko
Associate Professor, Business Administration Department, Ashesi University
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Andrew Koh
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
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Angela Owusu-Ansah
Provost, Ashesi University & ISSOTL Regional Vice President (Africa)
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Iza Maria Sánchez Siller
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Benjamin Kuan
Chief Executive Officer, HealthServe
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Kamal Al-Alwan
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
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Renée Marie Gott Suárez
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Julieta Lomelí Lugo
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Gavriella Flores
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Nana Akua Gyaaba Dickson
Reach Researcher, Ashesi University
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Marie Cilliers
Reach Researcher, University College London
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Khyati Eda
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
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Santiago Colín
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Ashna Jain
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
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Pamela Guzmán
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Megha Zavar
Reach Researcher, University College London
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Madison Winfield
Reach Researcher, Howard University
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Sam Misner
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
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Safana Ahmad
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
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Alejandra Sánchez Navarro
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Natasha Hafferjee
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
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Caroline Hui Xuan Cheng
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
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Arif Woozeer
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
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Francesca Lanzarotti
Corporate Partnership Executive, CoppaFeel!
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Sonny Rosenthal
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
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Senthamizhselvan Ramachandran
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
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Josephine Agbakpe-Kafui
Reach Researcher
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Adrian Litte
Professor of Political Theory and Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
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Aidan M Wong
Assistant Professor of Urban Studies (Education), and Programme Co-Director for the Master of Sustainability, College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
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Moni Kim
Senior Research Program & Engagement Officer, Reach Alliance
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Jorge Membrillo-Hernández
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
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Maria Rodrigues
Director, Kindred
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Pushpa Arabindo
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
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Roxanne Crosby-Nwaobi
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
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Lakshmi Priya Rajendran
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Rumee Singh
CEO and Co-Founder, Rumsan
Bio
Rumee Singh is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rumsan, a digital innovation firm dedicated to empowering businesses that create meaningful solutions for society. With a passion for leveraging frontier technologies to drive social change, Rumee focuses on bridging opportunity gaps and uplifting communities through innovation. Backed by over 20 years of experience leading production teams and developing transformative digital solutions, she brings a unique blend of technical expertise and social entrepreneurship to her work. An engineer by training, Rumee’s diverse background spans corporate communications, journalism, education, and impact-driven ventures. Her commitment to social innovation has earned her international recognition, including being featured among 25 changemakers in the Women for Change 2024 global campaign in Paris, and celebrated as one of ten women making a difference with technology in Nepal.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Program Lead, MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar
CEO and Co-Founder, Rumsan
Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person, Punarbas Municipality, Nepal & Community Collaborator, Rumsan
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Paul Thoppil
Canada’s High Commissioner-designate to the Republic of Singapore
Bio
Paul Thoppil is Canada’s High Commissioner-designate to the Republic of Singapore as of
August 2025. Prior to this, on September 5th, 2023, the Prime Minister of Canada announced Paul Thoppil as Canada’s first Indo-Pacific Trade Representative, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. This new position, an outcome of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, is focused on enhancement of trade, investment and supply chain resiliency between Canada and countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Mr. Thoppil will continue with this role on a concurrent basis in Singapore.
Previously, Paul Thoppil was the Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia-Pacific, at Global Affairs Canada, who led the development of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy launched in November 2022. He received a 2021 Public Sector Award of Excellence for his contribution towards the release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, two Canadian citizens arbitrarily detained in China. Paul has served abroad as Minister Commercial at the Embassy of Canada to Japan in Tokyo, advancing Canada’s trade, investment, and innovation links with Japan. Paul has an extensive public sector and private sector career including as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Finances, Results and Delivery Officer at Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and positions at the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Department of Finance, the Canadian Commercial Corporation, and Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Paul is a Chartered Professional Accountant and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), with a specialization in accounting, from the University of Ottawa. He is married to Naina Thoppil and has two boys at universities in Canada. Paul is an avid cross-country skier and runner. Paul’s family origins come from Kerala, India where he spent his summers throughout his childhood years, and continues to return periodically to India to maintain his family and cultural ties.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Canada’s High Commissioner-designate to the Republic of Singapore
Featuring
Canada’s High Commissioner-designate to the Republic of Singapore
Sun Sun Lim
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
Bio
Sun Sun Lim is Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University. She has extensively researched the social impact of technology, focusing on technology domestication by families, future of work and AI ethics. She has over 100 academic publications including Transcendent Parenting: Raising Children in the Digital Age (Oxford University Press, 2020) and articles in top journals like Nature, Journal of Computer Mediated Communication and Big Data & Society. From 2018-2020, she was Nominated Member of the 13th Parliament of Singapore, raising issues such as governance of big data, priorities in digital literacy education, and digital rights for children. She is an honoree of the inaugural Top 50 Asia Women Tech Leaders Award 2024 and Singapore 100 Women in Tech 2020 list and is a Fellow of the International Communication Association and the Singapore Computer Society. She frequently offers her expert commentary in international outlets including Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Bloomberg, Guardian, Scientific American, South China Morning Post and writes a monthly technology column in Singapore’s largest circulation broadsheet The Straits Times. She has won eight awards for excellent teaching. See www.sunsunlim.com.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Founder and President, Ashesi University
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
Patrick Gyimah Awuah Jr
Founder and President, Ashesi University
Bio
Patrick Gyimah Awuah Jr is the Founder and President of Ashesi University, a private, not-for-profit institution in Ghana. He was educated at Swarthmore in 1985, and in 2001, Patrick, a Program Manager at Microsoft, returned to Ghana to found Ashesi University. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering and Economics from Swarthmore College, an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and honorary doctorates from Swarthmore College, Babson College, the University of Waterloo, Connecticut College, the University of Toronto, and South Korea’s Sun Moon University. Patrick has won many awards, including the Order of the Volta by His Excellency President J.A. Kufuor, the Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award, an Elon Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the McNulty Prize, and the MacArthur Fellowship, and was named one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world by Fortune Magazine. Patrick was recognized by Africa Leadership Initiative – West Africa (ALIWA) as a “Genius Fellow”, an honour reserved for only 20 people worldwide. The Qatar Foundation named Patrick the 2017 WISE Prize for Education Laureate. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Patrick to a new 16-member International Commission as part of UNESCO’s Futures of Education initiative. He is a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of the Tau Beta Pi honor society for excellence in engineering. He received the Africa Genius Awards Outstanding African Achiever 2024 for his transformative contributions to education and leadership development. In 2025, the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation named Patrick a 2025 Laureate for his impact in Education.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Founder and President, Ashesi University
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
Lily Kong
President and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor, Singapore Management University
Bio
Professor Lily Kong has been President of Singapore Management University since 2019, the first Singaporean to lead the institution and the first woman to head any university in Singapore. She also holds the Lee Kong Chian Chair Professorship of Social Sciences, with a courtesy appointment at the College of Integrative Studies. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, with disciplinary roots in Geography. She is widely known for her research on urban transformations, and social and cultural change in Asian cities. In particular, she has published a large body of work on inter-communal relations (including religious and racial relations), social cohesion, national identity, cultural policy and cultural industries, creative cities and creative economy, urban heritage and conservation, smart cities, migration and education. She has sat on multiple editorial boards of major international journals and is well-sought after as keynote speaker.
An award-winning academic, Professor Kong has received multiple international awards and fellowships, including the Victoria Medal from the Royal Geographical Society, the Robert Stoddard Award from the Association of American Geographers, the Commonwealth Fellowship, the Fulbright Fellowship, the Geographical Society of China Fellowship (Foreign), the SR Nathan Fellowship, and the British Academy Fellowship. She is consistently ranked in the top 1-2% in her field in studies by Stanford. She has also been conferred an Honorary Degree by Loughborough University.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
President and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor, Singapore Management University
Geraint Rees
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Bio
Professor Geraint Rees is Vice Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) at UCL, a global top ten university with 43,900 students and over 300,000 alumni in 190 countries worldwide. He is accountable for a research portfolio of £2.8bn in grants; a rapidly growing innovation community attracting £2bn of external investment in spinouts in the last five years; and international relationships with major corporate, education and government partners in education, research and innovation across the world. He founded the Academic Careers Office at UCL and the Experimental Medicine Academy at the UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, which jointly deliver highly creative nationally recognised training to some of the UK’s largest academic and clinical academic training programmes. He is a non-executive Director of UCL Business, one of the UK’s most successful technology transfer companies, and was a Senior Scientific Advisor at DeepMind from 2018-2020. A neurologist and neuroscientist, his personal research seeks to understand human cognition and to apply AI to real-world problems. He has published over 400 research papers that have been cited over 48,000 times, and was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2010.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Founder and President, Ashesi University
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
Featuring
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
Sarah Cragg
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Bio
Sarah is a sustainability leader and impact strategist dedicated to scaling solutions that regenerate our planet. As Head of Asia Pacific for The Earthshot Prize, Sarah accelerates groundbreaking innovations tackling climate and environmental challenges. With a background spanning Conservation International, Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever, and Virgin Unite, she has mobilized multi-million-dollar partnerships, shaped industry-leading ESG initiatives, and driven systemic change. Originally a qualified lawyer, Sarah brings a strategic lens to sustainability—bridging policy, finance, and innovation. Passionate about unlocking capital for climate solutions, she champions bold action for a thriving future.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Jeff Murugan
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
Bio
Jeff Murugan is Professor of Mathematical Physics in the Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town. A former Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science, he is also a Simons Associate at the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, a former member of the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and a current member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. His research interests lie primarily in understanding emergent phenomena, from spacetime itself to the properties of quantum matter and information. His most recent focus has been on low-dimensional quantum field theories, topological quantum matter and quantum chaos in disordered systems where he has made seminal contributions to low-dimensional dualities and disordered conformal field theories. He is also a recipient of a Distinguished Teachers Award of the University of Cape Town.
Jeff Murugan is currently serving as Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Founder and President, Ashesi University
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
Sydney Piggott
Director, Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives, Mentor Canada
Bio
Sydney Piggott (she/her) is a social impact leader, researcher, and advocate for gender equity on a global scale. She is currently the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives at Mentor Canada, a national organization with a mission to accelerate world-class mentoring for youth. Before joining Mentor Canada, she led social impact at Shopify and held leadership positions at Elevate and YWCA Canada. She is also a member of the Reach Alliance Advisory Council and WomanACT Board of Directors.
Sydney has been a subject matter expert in several international forums including the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Women Deliver, Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference for Young Parliamentarians and RightsCon. She was a Fulbright Canada fellow and an emerging policy leader in the British Council’s Future Leaders Connect program. She holds a Master of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto where she founded the Intersectional Feminist Collective and was a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Scholar. Sydney was a member of the Reach research team that investigated Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme in 2017.
Eric Chua
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Social and Family Development
Bio
Eric is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Law, and the Member of Parliament for Queenstown SMC.
Before entering politics, Eric spent 17 years with the Singapore Civil Defence Force, where he led frontline operations as Division Commander, and later directed the national SGSecure Programme, helping to build stronger, more resilient communities.
But what truly sets Eric apart is his long-standing commitment to the ground. For over 15 years, he’s been deeply involved in youth work, community building, and supporting vulnerable families. long before he ever stepped into Parliament.
Since being elected in 2020, Eric has continued to focus on issues that matter deeply to people, from mental wellness and active ageing, to social mobility and inclusion.
In government, he co-chaired the Enabling Masterplan 2030, setting out Singapore’s vision to be a more inclusive society. He led Singapore’s first dialogue with the United Nations on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and played a key role in refreshing the Disability Sports Master Plan.
Closer to home in Queenstown, Eric launched SafePod, a ground-up mental wellness initiative, and has championed efforts like dementia-friendly neighbourhoods, and senior employment initiatives.
Outside of his official roles, Eric is a proud husband and father, and a lover of music, especially jazz and classical. A former student conductor, he still enjoys picking up the baton when the opportunity arises. Mr. Eric Chua is married with a son.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Social and Family Development
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Ellie Moriearty
Program Lead, MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar
Bio
Ellie Moriearty is the Program Lead of MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar, where she leads open innovation challenges with a mission to bridge opportunity gaps and empower communities to thrive. Driven by a belief that ingenuity and innovation exists everywhere, Ellie works alongside supporters and experts to identify exceptional changemakers and scale their impactful solutions. Previously, she served as Senior Officer for Solve’s Learning Pillar, where she helped run eight innovation challenges aimed at improving outcomes for learners worldwide.
Before joining Solve, Ellie was Vice President of Program Development at Mindr, a social enterprise that runs programming and a SaaS platform to foster a sense of belonging at leading global organizations across finance, technology, and law. She has also consulted for organizations such as Innovations for Poverty Action and development consulting firm Kantar Public, advising on projects related to the economy, education, health, gender, and governance.
Ellie holds an MPA in Development Practice from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a BA in Economics and Human Rights from Barnard College.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Program Lead, MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar
CEO and Co-Founder, Rumsan
Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person, Punarbas Municipality, Nepal & Community Collaborator, Rumsan
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Dilip Soman
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Bio
Dilip Soman is a Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science and Economics at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He has degrees in behavioral science, marketing, and engineering, and is interested in the applications of behavioral science organizations more generally, and for welfare and policy in particular. He is the co-author of Managing Customer Value (2022), author of The Last Mile (2015) and co-editor of The Behaviorally Informed Organization (2021) Behavioral Science in the Wild (2022), Cash Transfers for Inclusive Societies (2023), and What Works, What Doesn’t (and When) (2024). Dilip serves as the director of the Behaviourally Informed Organizations partnership (see https://www.biorgpartnership.com/). He has taught in the U.S.A, Hong Kong and Canada, and has worked with several corporations, governments, international organizations and start-ups. His non-academic interests include procrastination, cricket, travel, and taking weekends seriously.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Featuring
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Program Lead, MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar
CEO and Co-Founder, Rumsan
Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person, Punarbas Municipality, Nepal & Community Collaborator, Rumsan
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Joseph Wong
Vice-President, International, University of Toronto
Bio
Joseph Wong is Vice-President, International, University of Toronto, where he is also a Professor of Political Science. He held the Canada Research Chair in Health, Democracy, and Development for two terms from 2006 to 2016, and the Roz and Ralph Halbert Professor of Innovation at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy from 2013 to 2023. Prior to being appointed Vice-President in 2021, Professor Wong was the U of T’s inaugural Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, International Student Experience, and before that, the Director of the Asian Institute, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. He is the author of many academic articles and several books, including the latest From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia in 2022, published by Princeton University Press. His academic articles have been published in The Lancet, Perspectives on Politics, the Annual Review of Political Science, the Bulletin of the WHO, Comparative Political Studies, Governance, among others. Professor Wong has had affiliations with Harvard, Oxford, Fudan University in Shanghai, Seoul National University and the Institute for Policy Research in Taiwan. He has advised governments on matters of public policy in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, as well as the UN and the WHO. Inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals, in collaboration with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Professor Wong founded the Reach Alliance. The Alliance comprises eight university partners, including Tecnológico de Monterrey, University of Oxford, University College London, University of Melbourne, Ashesi University, the University of Cape Town and Singapore Management University.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Vice-President, International, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University College London
Featuring
Vice-President, International, University of Toronto
Marin MacLeod
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
Bio
As the Executive Director, Marin leads strategic development and scale up of the Reach Alliance, including managing relationships with Reach’s global partners and broader insights community. Marin was a member of the Reach team that investigated the world’s first iris-scanning cash-assistance program for refugees in Jordan. Prior to joining the Reach Alliance, Marin led Grand Challenges Canada’s approach to impact measurement across their maternal, newborn and child health innovation portfolio. Her focus was on the systems and processes used to capture results, and to share knowledge generated by grantees through the organization’s unique innovation platform. Marin has experience with program design, delivery and evaluation, having worked across a range of public health issues in several countries. Marin holds a BA (Hons) from Queen’s University as a Loran Scholar, and a Master in Public Health degree from the University of Toronto.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
Amy Yeboah Quarkume
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Bio
Amy Yeboah Quarkume, Ph.D., affectionately known as Dr. A, is a daughter of Africa, a scholar, filmmaker, data scientist, and Associate Professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Earth, Environment and Equity at Howard University. She holds a Ph.D. in African American Studies, two master’s degrees in Sociology and African American Studies, and certificates of Data Analytics from Harvard Extension School and the University of Massachusetts. Quarkume is an Andrew Mellon New Direction Fellow, a National Center for Atmospheric Research Innovator Fellow, and a White House Initiative HBCU All-Star Campus Mentor.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Maternal and Newborn Health Epidemiologist (Consultant)
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
Adrian Little
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Bio
Adrian Little is Professor of Political Theory and Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne. Born in Belfast, he moved to the University of Melbourne from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2004. Little’s disciplinary expertise is in political science and to date he has published seven monographs, three co-authored or co-edited books, thirty two international refereed journal articles, and fifteen book chapters. At the University of Melbourne, he spent ten years as the Head of the School of Social and Political Sciences (2007-2017) and also served on the Executive Committee of the Australian Political Studies Association (APSA) for five years including a year as President of APSA in 2011-2012. In 2018 he became Pro Vice Chancellor (International) at Melbourne with responsibility for leading the university’s efforts in building strategic international collaborations. Further responsibilities include serving as a Council member of Asialink and also being a member of the Board and Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Association of International Education. He has also led the development of an Indigenous Knowledges Network within the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. In 2017 his work was recognized by winning APSA’s Academic Leadership in Political Science Award having been cited for his work advancing women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics and early career researchers in his discipline. In 2020 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Featuring
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Founder and President, Ashesi University
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
Mariana Mota Prado
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Bio
Mariana obtained her law degree (LLB) from the University of Sao Paulo, and her master’s (LLM) and Doctorate from Yale Law School. She is currently a Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. She has published extensively on law and development, including three co-authored books with Michael J. Trebilcock: Institutional Bypasses: A Strategy to Promote Reforms for Development (Cambridge University Press, 2019), Advanced Introduction to Law and Development (Edward Elgar, 2014), and What Makes Poor Countries Poor (Edward Elgar, 2011). A Brazilian national, she has taught courses at Centre for Transnational Legal Studies in London, Direito Rio – Getulio Vargas Foundation Law School in Brazil, ITAM Law School in Mexico, Los Andes Law School in Colombia, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Argentina and University of Puerto Rico School of Law in the United States. Her scholarship focuses on law and development, corruption and comparative law.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Featuring
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Vice Provost, Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, University College London
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Internationalisation, University of Cape Town
Associate Vice-President & Vice Provost, International Student Experience, University of Toronto
Founder and President, Ashesi University
Vice President, Partnerships & Engagement and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication and Technology at Singapore Management University
Shristi Piya
Chief Development and Impact Officer, Rumsan
Bio
Shristi has over 7 years of experience driving digital transformation in diverse sectors like health, humanitarian aid, and agriculture. She has led impactful projects such as Hamro LifeBank, AgriClear, and Rahat, leveraging frontier technologies like blockchain. As Chief Development and Impact Officer at Rumsan, she develops and implements strategic initiatives to enhance organizational efficiency and achieve company goals. Her dedication extends to using Rahat (a flagship product of Rumsan) to address several real-world challenges in access to finance for vulnerable communities through innovative initiatives like anticipatory action.
Omnath Dhakal
Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person, Punarbas Municipality, Nepal & Community Collaborator, Rumsan
Bio
Om Nath Dhakal is the Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person at Punarbas Municipality, Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal, where he plays a vital role in coordinating disaster risk reduction efforts by connecting local government, communities, and stakeholders for effective preparedness and response. His key contributions include leading the implementation of local disaster management plans, capacity-building trainings, awareness initiatives, and strengthening early warning systems. During disasters, he serves as the primary contact for mobilizing relief and rescue operations, and for ensuring smooth communication with higher-level authorities.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Program Lead, MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar
CEO and Co-Founder, Rumsan
Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person, Punarbas Municipality, Nepal & Community Collaborator, Rumsan
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Elizabeth Lubinda
Maternal and Newborn Health Epidemiologist (Consultant)
Elizabeth Lubinda
Bio
Elizabeth Lubinda is a maternal and newborn health epidemiologist and demographer committed to advancing evidence-based interventions that improve pregnancy outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. She holds an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Cape Town and a BA in Demography from the University of Zambia. A fellow of the Africa Leadership in Health Research and the USAID Youth Lead Programme, she has led research on antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women with HIV, stillbirth reduction, and neonatal survival. In collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council, she co-leads multi-country research on preventing the progression from gestational diabetes to type 2 diabetes in resource-limited settings. Her work in Zambia examines aflatoxin exposure in pregnancy, linking agriculture, health literacy, and policy to improve maternal and newborn health.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Maternal and Newborn Health Epidemiologist (Consultant)
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
Disraeli Asante-Darko
Associate Professor, Business Administration Department, Ashesi University
Bio
Disraeli Asante-Darko is an Associate Professor at Ashesi University and a seasoned business strategist with over a decade of experience bridging industry and academia. He has led projects worth over $1 million, specializing in operations management, supply chain optimization, and data analytics to enhance organizational efficiency. Formerly an executive at GIMPA, Disraeli managed multi-campus operations, budgets, and strategic planning, while directing the Center for Management Development to deliver impactful executive training programs. His consulting work focuses on practical solutions for complex business challenges, helping companies streamline supply chains, adopt data-driven decision-making, and achieve sustainable growth. Recognized with the Emerald Literati Outstanding Paper Award, Disraeli combines analytical rigor with market insight, making him a sought-after consultant and speaker. At Ashesi, he equips students with industry-ready skills, reinforcing his commitment to operational excellence and business innovation.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Business Administration Department, Ashesi University
Andrew Koh
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Bio
Dr. Andrew Koh joined Singapore Management University in 2022. He received his PhD in computational imaging from the University of Nottingham. The early years of his career were devoted to farming as a means for poverty alleviation and education of university graduates in Cambodia. His current research focus is enhancing migrant worker wellbeing in Singapore through the use of technology. Previous positions held include a Partner Seller (Analytics) at Microsoft and Assistant Director at Ministry of Manpower (ACE). His work experience through the non-profit, corporate and governmental sectors lend him an integrative perspective which he aims to empower the next generation with.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Research Program & Engagement Officer, Reach Alliance
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Angela Owusu-Ansah
Provost, Ashesi University & ISSOTL Regional Vice President (Africa)
Bio
Prof. Angela, Provost of Ashesi University & ISSOTL Regional Vice President (Africa), brings over
30 years of experience in education across Africa and the U.S. A Phi Kappa Phi member, she has
served on accreditation boards including GTEC and CAEP. She previously held leadership roles at
Elon and Samford universities. Angela champions innovative teaching, eLearning for
marginalized students, and capacity building across 70+ African universities. Her research
focuses on higher education impact, digital instruction, intercultural learning, and women’s
leadership in African higher education.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Provost, Ashesi University & ISSOTL Regional Vice President (Africa)
Iza Maria Sánchez Siller
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Bio
Iza is a Professor at the School of Humanities and Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey. She graduated in Law from the Tecnológico de Monterrey and holds a PhD in Social Sciences, with a specialization in migration and public health, having completed research stays at Mississippi State University and University of Trento in Italy. In recent years, she has taught courses on Citizenship and Democracy, Sociology, Gender, Society and Human Rights, Political Participation and Sociology of Identity, and Qualitative Research Methods and has coordinated the semester of “Leadership for Social Development”. Her current work on social development focuses on gender and violence from a sociological and legal perspective, especially with domestic migrants, through projects with indigenous communities within the Monterrey Metropolitan Area. Sánchez Siller is co-founder of the program “Promoting Gender Equity in Adolescents and Young Women in rural areas” in Mitunguu, Kenya; a program that works with local high schools to reinforce the importance of higher education and decision-making.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Benjamin Kuan
Chief Executive Officer, HealthServe
Bio
Dr Benjamin Kuan is a passionate public health advocate for vulnerable low-wage migrant workers. He first served as a medical volunteer before joining HealthServe in 2020, leading its frontline teams through the COVID-19 dormitory crisis as Head of Medical Services. In 2023, he stepped up as Chief Executive Officer.
A family physician by training and at heart, Ben believes strongly in public-private-philanthropy partnerships as a sustainable way to bridge societal gaps. He holds an MBA from the joint UCLA-NUS GEMBA programme and a Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine from NUS, and is currently pursuing a Master in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Before entering the social sector, Ben spent over a decade in health technology, managed care and workplace health management. Outside of work, he is an avid photographer and motorcyclist—dreaming of a cross-border charity ride one day. He loves both cats and motorcycles, though not cats on motorcycles.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Chief Executive Officer, HealthServe
Reach Researcher, Ashesi University
Reach Researcher, University College London
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Kamal Al-Alwan
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Bio
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Program Lead, MIT Solve’s Economic Prosperity Pillar
CEO and Co-Founder, Rumsan
Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Person, Punarbas Municipality, Nepal & Community Collaborator, Rumsan
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Renée Marie Gott Suárez
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Julieta Lomelí Lugo
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Gavriella Flores
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Nana Akua Gyaaba Dickson
Reach Researcher, Ashesi University
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Chief Executive Officer, HealthServe
Reach Researcher, Ashesi University
Reach Researcher, University College London
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Marie Cilliers
Reach Researcher, University College London
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Chief Executive Officer, HealthServe
Reach Researcher, Ashesi University
Reach Researcher, University College London
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Khyati Eda
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Chief Executive Officer, HealthServe
Reach Researcher, Ashesi University
Reach Researcher, University College London
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Santiago Colín
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Ashna Jain
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Pamela Guzmán
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Megha Zavar
Reach Researcher, University College London
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Vice-President, International, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University College London
Madison Winfield
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Maternal and Newborn Health Epidemiologist (Consultant)
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
Sam Misner
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Safana Ahmad
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Alejandra Sánchez Navarro
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Natasha Hafferjee
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Caroline Hui Xuan Cheng
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Bio
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Featuring
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Social and Family Development
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Arif Woozeer
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Bio
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Francesca Lanzarotti
Corporate Partnership Executive, CoppaFeel!
Bio
Francesca was a member of the Reach team that investigated the quality and access of maternal healthcare for disabled women in Nepal. She was part of driving the first Research in Action report, in which her team furthered their case study findings and transformed them into actionable insights to inform policy discussions and drive programme reforms. She has also worked closely with her team in sharing their findings in multiple academic journal publications and public podcasts.
Currently, she is a Corporate Partnership Executive at CoppaFeel!, a charity focused on educating and empowering young people on breast cancer awareness to improve early and accurate diagnosis. She is passionate about improving equitable access to healthcare education and resources, whilst tackling systemic barriers and social stigma about women and female health. She holds a Psychology BSc from University of Surrey and a Women’s Health MSc from University College London.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Corporate Partnership Executive, CoppaFeel!
Sonny Rosenthal
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Bio
Sonny Rosenthal is an Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies at Singapore Management University. He works with urban sustainability experts from diverse disciplines and has a focus on climate change and urban sustainability. He also conducts research on health risk perception and protective behaviors in the contexts of the COVID-19 vaccine, dengue prevention, and longevity interventions. His work appears in over 50 journal articles and book chapters. He serves on the editorial boards of the journals, Science Communication, Environmental Communication, and the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Featuring
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Assistant Professor of Urban Studies (Education), and Programme Co-Director for the Master of Sustainability, College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Senthamizhselvan Ramachandran
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Bio
Senthamizhselvan Ramachandran is a Field Service Engineer currently based in Singapore, working in the Building Automation industry. Originally from Tamil Nadu, India, he is a first-generation graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. With a strong foundation in engineering and a passion for smart building technologies, Senthamizhselvan brings hands-on expertise and a commitment to delivering high-quality service in dynamic field environments.
Beyond his professional role, he is an active volunteer, dedicating his free time to community service initiatives. He also enjoys roller skating on weekends, which reflects his energetic and balanced approach to life. Senthamizhselvan is enthusiastic about continuous learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and contributing to innovative solutions in the built environment.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Josephine Agbakpe-Kafui
Reach Researcher
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Maternal and Newborn Health Epidemiologist (Consultant)
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
Adrian Litte
Professor of Political Theory and Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Bio
Adrian Little is Professor of Political Theory and Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne. Born in Belfast, he moved to the University of Melbourne from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2004. Little’s disciplinary expertise is in political science and to date he has published seven monographs, three co-authored or co-edited books, thirty two international refereed journal articles, and fifteen book chapters. At the University of Melbourne, he spent ten years as the Head of the School of Social and Political Sciences (2007-2017) and also served on the Executive Committee of the Australian Political Studies Association (APSA) for five years including a year as President of APSA in 2011-2012. In 2018 he became Pro Vice Chancellor (International) at Melbourne with responsibility for leading the university’s efforts in building strategic international collaborations. Further responsibilities include serving as a Council member of Asialink and also being a member of the Board and Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Association of International Education. He has also led the development of an Indigenous Knowledges Network within the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. In 2017 his work was recognized by winning APSA’s Academic Leadership in Political Science Award having been cited for his work advancing women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics and early career researchers in his discipline. In 2020 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
Aidan M Wong
Assistant Professor of Urban Studies (Education), and Programme Co-Director for the Master of Sustainability, College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Bio
Aidan M Wong is Assistant Professor of Urban Studies (Education), and Programme Co-Director for the Master of Sustainability, College of Integrative Studies. He is also an Urban Fellow at the SMU Urban Institute. Trained as an economic geographer, Aidan’s teaching interests span urban cultures, Singapore studies, and food cultures. His research interests are diverse and include urban waste management, circular economy and environmental citizenship; urban heritage and active citizenship; and labour geographies, particularly the informal economy, the gig economy, and youth entrepreneurship.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Assistant Professor of Urban Studies (Education), and Programme Co-Director for the Master of Sustainability, College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Moni Kim
Senior Research Program & Engagement Officer, Reach Alliance
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Research Program & Engagement Officer, Reach Alliance
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Jorge Membrillo-Hernández
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Bio
Dr. Jorge Membrillo-Hernández earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biotechnology and Sustainability from King’s College London. He has extensive experience in sustainability, education, and STEM research, with 114 indexed publications and more than 150 conference presentation achievements. He is a Senior Research Professor at the Institute for the Future of Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey and holds positions in prestigious scientific and academic organizations.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Maria Rodrigues
Director, Kindred
Bio
Maria Rodrigues is Director of Kindred, an international non-profit organisation that builds social and emotional well-being using a community development approach. With offices in Colombia and Australia, Kindred supports people, organisations and governments to identify factors causing psychological distress and address them together.
Maria’s experience as a researcher, educator, and development practitioner spans over fifteen years working at the intersection of mental health, social justice, and cross-cultural peacebuilding. Community mental health, especially addressing intergenerational trauma, has increasingly become the focus of her work. Maria has completed field research in a variety of contexts, notably with Aboriginal communities in remote Australia, as well as post-conflict settings in Kenya, Uganda, and Mozambique.
Maria holds a BA in Psychology from Elmira College and a PhD in Applied Ethics (Global Justice) from the University of Melbourne. Her enthusiasm for working with students has led her to teach at universities across Australia, most recently at James Cook University as part of their MA Program in Conflict Management and Resolution. Maria’s research and consultancy work has contributed to toolkits, policy and strategic documents for StrongMinds Uganda, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the World Psychiatric Association, Relationships Australia and Amnesty International.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Pushpa Arabindo
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Bio
Pushpa Arabindoo is an Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design at UCL Department of Geography. She trained in architecture and urban design before completing her PhD in Planning from the London School of Economics which paved the way for an inter-disciplinary approach to addressing urban challenges. She is the Deputy Director of UCL Institute of Advanced Studies and Co-Director of UCL Urban Laboratory where she leads the research priority theme of Wasteland. She is also the co-convenor of the MSc Urban Studies. As an academic-practitioner, she pays close attention to the multiple modes of knowledge production debunking the theory/practice binary. This has led to creative collaborations including a photographer and a playwright.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Roxanne Crosby-Nwaobi
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Bio
Roxanne is a clinical academic ophthalmic nurse, Professor of Ophthalmic Health and Care at UCL. She has a particular interest in population health for underserved communities. She is most excited to mentor students to address data-sharing concerns in underserved communities through the lens of faith. She is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including the ARVO Advocacy in Eyes and Vision research and Fellow of the RCN.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
Lakshmi Priya Rajendran
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Bio
Dr. Lakshmi Priya Rajendran is an accomplished researcher and mentor with a strong commitment to addressing critical issues at the intersection of gender, climate justice, and equitable development. As part of the Reach project, she is excited to mentor a dynamic cohort of PhD students, fostering a unique model where students lead the research while also receiving leadership training.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Research Associate Professor, Institute for the Future of Education School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey
Director, Kindred
Associate Professor in Geography & Urban Design, Department of Geography, University College London
Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science & Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Brain Sciences at the University College London
Associate Professor of Sustainability Communication in the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University
Associate Professor, The Bartlett School of Architecture, The Bartlett Faculty of The Built Environment at University College London
Pro Vice Chancellor International at the University of Melbourne
2025 Reach Hackathon:
Innovating at the Intersection of Financial Inclusion and Climate Resilience
Building on a successful Reach research project, the Reach Alliance will continue its partnership with Rumsan, a Nepal-based tech company pioneering blockchain-driven humanitarian aid through their platform Rahat to deliver the hackathon program. By issuing early warnings and providing financial aid before or during a disaster, Rumsan helps hard-to-reach communities take proactive steps to mitigate climate impacts.
New Reach Alliance Research
2024-25
We’re looking forward to welcoming you all to the 2025 Reach Conference in Singapore, where we’ll inspire each other, share new insights, and create lasting change together.
