Max S. C. Yu

“Consumption and Activism”

Dr Max Yu is a behavioural scientist and Assistant Professor of Marketing at the School of Business, Maynooth University. His research focuses on understanding how consumers make judgments and decisions, particularly in the domain of consumer activism. He also serves as chairperson of Cantonese in Ireland.

Joseph Clarke

“Performing Bruce Lee in Ireland: Martial Arts, Cultural Identity, and Asian Visibility”

Joseph Clarke is a PhD student in Chinese Studies at Maynooth University and the first non-Chinese student admitted to the programme. His research explores the cultural, political, and ideological legacy of Bruce Lee, with a particular focus on East–West exchange, Cultural Hegemony, and representation.

His work combines qualitative analysis of film, media, and historical narratives to examine how martial arts have shaped global perceptions of Chinese identity. Alongside his academic research, Joseph actively practices martial arts and recently achieved his 1st Dan Black Belt in Dragon Freestyle Kickboxing. He is also a practitioner of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do and holds a 1st Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, deepening his engagement with the philosophies he studies.

His research has been published in the Asian Journal of Sport History and Culture, and he is committed to fostering cross-cultural understanding through both scholarship and community engagement.

Rabia Sial

“When No One Was There: An Immigrant Woman’s Journey to Strength”

I am an immigrant woman from Pakistan currently working as a Manager at a Big Four professional services firm in Ireland. I am an FCCA-qualified accountant with over 11 years of professional experience across finance and leadership roles.
Alongside my corporate career, I am a community builder and founder of HerDreamsNetwork Community, a platform created to connect and support women, particularly immigrant women and women entrepreneurs. I am also an athlete and an amateur runner, having completed 5km and 10km runs, and actively engage in strength training.
I am passionate about mental well-being, resilience, and personal growth. Through my writing and blogs, I share reflections on migration, identity, discipline, and strength, and use my platforms to encourage women to prioritise their mental and physical health.

Liang WANG

“Tracing Cultural Connections Through Museum and Personal Chinese Artefacts in Northern Ireland – The Bridges to China Project”

Dr Liang Wang works for Queen’s Language Centre and is a co-founder of Queen’s iRise (BAME and International) Staff Network. An Advisory Board member of the Chinese Welfare Association N.I., he is also committed to promoting intercultural dialogues between the Chinese community and local society.

Yi Huang

“From Service to Connection: Building a Community with Heart”

Managing Director of Love Actually Charity (CHY22213) for children with special educational needs

Haocheng Shi

“Only-Child Families and Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA): A Transnational Lens from China’s One-Child Policy Generation to Chinese Communities in Ireland”

Haocheng Shi is a first-year PhD researcher in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin. He also holds an MSc in Applied Social Research from SWSP, TCD. His research focuses on Domestic Violence and Abuse, adverse childhood experiences, family structure, and life-course transitions, with particular attention to China’s One-Child Policy generation. Prior to academia, he worked with the All-China Women’s Federation on rights and referral work, and has professional experience as a national-level news journalist and as a mental health hotline support specialist.

Ahmed Ali Shaikh

“Our Climate Stories”

Ahmed Ali Shaikh is a Climate Ambassador with An Taisce and a recent MSc graduate in Energy Management from Technological University Dublin. His work focuses on climate action, renewable energy, and community engagement.

Ahmed is also an SDG Advocate with Development Perspectives and an active member of STAND, contributing to initiatives that promote sustainability, global justice, and civic participation.

He has led and contributed to a range of initiatives across Ireland, including climate awareness campaigns, sustainability engagement stands, and community clean-up events. He has also engaged in national climate advocacy, including participation in the Climate Mass TD Lobby and contributing a policy submission to the Houses of the Oireachtas on energy security and climate-aligned alternatives.

Ahmed serves as the first student representative on the CIGRE Ireland Next Generation Network Committee and is a certified LIFT Leadership Facilitator. He is passionate about connecting people, renewable energy, and climate action to drive meaningful change towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Liang He

“Participation, Belonging and Voice: Rethinking Asian Youth Engagement in Youth Work in Northern Ireland”

Liang He (Leah) is a Youth Worker at Youth Action Northern Ireland with a background in international public policy and community development. She holds a Master’s degree in International Public Policy from Queen’s University Belfast, where her research focused on fertility policies in China and their impact on young women.

Her work centres on supporting young people’s participation, promoting gender equality, and advancing social justice through grassroots youth work and intercultural community initiatives. She is particularly interested in issues of migration, public policy, gender equality, and the role of youth work in supporting young people’s participation, inclusion, and community development.

Ke Ren (Rita)

“Raising Children with Disabilities Far from Home: Experiences of Migrant Families in Ireland”

Dr. Ke Ren (Rita) is an academic and researcher in the field of education, currently serving as the Academic Programme Lead in Special Education at ICEP Europe. She holds a First-Class B.A. (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies, an M.Ed. in Early Intervention, and a Ph.D. from the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin.

Before entering academia, Rita worked extensively as a specialist teacher, supporting families and their children with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Her career spanned both educational and clinical settings, where she gained invaluable experience working closely with families and multidisciplinary teams.

Rita’s research interests include educational psychology, early intervention, universal design for learning (UDL), and play-based learning in early years education. Central to her work is a commitment to creating inclusive educational environments that cater to the diverse needs of all learners. She places particular emphasis on the family experiences in early intervention, including those of marginalised and migrant families, inclusive education, and the unique contributions of fathers/dads in supporting children with SEND. Guided by frameworks like Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model and the Theory of Change, her work seeks to bridge research and practice to create more equitable educational environments.

Raine Chaw

“Our Climate Stories”

Raine Chaw is a Climate Ambassador with An Taisce, and a third-generation Chinese born in Johor, Malaysia. Before moving to Dublin in 2018, she worked in HR at Procter & Gamble and the LEGO Group, and holds a degree in Journalism from Fudan University. She survived stage 3 breast cancer when her child was two years old and has been in remission since 2021 — an experience that led her to pivot towards planetary health and climate action. She now dedicates her time to caring for her family, climate advocacy, and building meaningful connections for the common good.

Jaffer khan

“Support and Future Prospects for Students”

I am currently pursuing an LLM in international and European business law. I am also an intern at Abbots Law. I will be graduating in 2026. I am originally from Pakistan. I am also serving as a board member of the Asian and Irish Community Connect.