Council Members

Joanna is from Hong Kong, and is the mother of an adult daughter who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of seven. As a direct result of this, in 2001 she co-founded YDA with Professors Louis Low and Clive Cockram. Joanna has a BA (University of London), MBA (University of Warwick), and is a Licentiate of Trinity College, London. She is the founder of the KG Group, which provides arts, English language, and early years education across Asia. She is the winner of several awards, including SCMP Women of Our Time and AmCham Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She serves on the boards of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, Playright Children's Play Association, and The Women’s Foundation.

Fina is one of the founding Council Members of YDA since its inception in 2001, and is the mother of an adult son who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of nine. With other parents at Queen Mary Hospital, Fina formed the first parents’ DM support group in 1995 which led into the formation of the YDA.

Tina is a Hong Kong native and the daughter of a father who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Passionate with volunteer work focused on children, impressed with the work of YDA to support children with diabetes, the journey started in 2016 where Tina joined YDA as Hon Treasurer and Councillor. Tina brings extensive Regional Finance and Business Operations experience from Fortune 500 companies in IT&T industry.

Queenie Kwok is an associate member of both The Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators and The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries. She has over 18 years of experience in company secretarial field. Queenie’s nephew is type 1 diabetes, diagnosed when he was 4-year old which made her learn about the disease and inspired her to endeavour to support those children and families with diabetes.

Melissa is from the USA and has been living in Hong Kong since 2008. She has three daughters - the youngest two live with Type 1 diabetes. After benefitting from the support offered at her first daughter's diagnosis, Melissa joined the YDA Fundraising Committee and Co-Chaired Spring Fling as well as other events to benefit YDA's members. In 2016, she became a Council Member.
She works as an Account Director for a Home & Lifestyle brand and spends her time discovering Asia with her family.

Angela is from Hong Kong, BBA from CUHK. Her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was nine. She is an active volunteer in the association ever since she joined YDA as a parent member in 2011. By sharing her experience with parents and children whom got diagnosed through internal events and public media interviews, Angela would like to help them to live along with the sickness positively.

Manoj Dani is a Director of Odyssey Consultants Limited. As a corporate advisor and professional consultant, he advises senior executives of global banks, financial institutions, asset managers, private banks, law firms, and Fortune 500 companies on how they communicate to present themselves better; how they pitch for business and raise assets under management; and how they develop winning strategies and teams.
Manoj was born and raised in Hong Kong. He pursued his tertiary education at The University of Texas at Austin from 1988 to 1992, and attained his Certified Public Accountant designation soon after. He earned his Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation in 2008. He has also held the post of Responsible Officer holding Type 4, 6 and 9 SFC licenses.
Manoj has worked closely with YDA in a fund raising capacity over the last few years and is supportive of the objectives of the organization.

Julie Farrell was born in Kenya, lived in the UK and has been in HK with her husband Colin since 1993. She trained and worked as a physiotherapist specialising in working in the community with the elderly and those with chronic conditions. Julie has 3 girls, although Megan, her oldest suddenly died aged 16 in 2008. Hannah has diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes at aged 11, as well as chronic fatigue and other autoimmune issues. She graduated in 2019 in Biology and Psychology at UBC Vancouver. Julie loves dancing, hiking, gardening, swimming, baking and cycling. She is passionate about enabling young people and especially teens to be independent in their ability to manage and cope with their diabetes. She is also planning on studying for a diploma in Horticultural Therapy.

Mara is from Hong Kong and joined the YDA Council in 2001. Her late brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes more than 20 years ago. He passed away from complications related to diabetes.
Mara has a BA (History of Art) from Georgetown University and has previously worked for Sotheby’s and Van Cleef & Arpels. She currently lives in the UK and is very involved in charity work, serving as a fundraising committee member for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in London. She also supports her husband in his role with the Stephen Hawking Foundation. Mara is the owner and founder of her company Mara Hotung Jewels which designs, sources gem and values jewellery of which a percentage of the proceeds go towards charity.

Lavina is originally from Hong Kong, like many others that lives abroad but “home” is here. Married, mother of two and grandmother of two adorable grand daughters. Lavina has a BS from Cornell University in Interior Design and Facilities Management. She had worked in US corporate high technology and banking firms, helping to build out their offices. She loves traveling and seeing new things around the world. She had been participating in many volunteering charity works relating to elderly as well as young children.

Andy Maynard has been Head of Global Sales Trading and Execution Services for Equities Business (Managing Director) at China Renaissance since August 2018. He holds a BA Hons from London University and is originally from London, UK.
He has four children, including one with type 1 diabetes.

Haresh Wadhwani is the founder and Chairman, Wadhsons Group of companies, a trading company with operations in Hong Kong, China and South America.
He was the past Chapter Chairman, Young Presidents’ Organization (Pearl River Delta Chapter) and past Education Chair, Young Presidents’ Organization (Pearl River Delta Chapter). He also served as Charity Leader, Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Hong Kong, Street Sleeper Seva, Education Chair of World Presidents’ Organization (Pearl River Delta Chapter) and the council member of Young Executive Group.