Gordon joined the CDC Executive Committee in December 2016. After joining the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in 1973, he held a wide variety of senior administrative positions in government, becoming the Registrar of Companies in 1993. On retiring from the civil service in 2008, he was awarded The Bronze Bauhinia Star to acknowledge his many years of outstanding public service. Since retirement, he is very active in educational and arts development. He is, inter-alia, an Honorary Fellow of Lingnan University, a Fellow of the ICSA, a director of Opera Hong Kong and an active member of St. John’s Cathedral where he sings in the Cathedral Choir. His proven and long-running social commitment is now reflected in helping pre-school children with educational needs to embark on their learning journeys.

Cruzanne was born and raised in Hong Kong. While completing her master’s degree in scriptwriting in New Zealand, she also worked as a caregiver for people with multiple severe disabilities. The arrival of her daughter, who was born with dwarfism, sharpened her passion for combating ableism in society. She believes that Hong Kong has the potential to be world-class in advocacy and support for people with additional needs, and their families. Cruzanne views the CDC, which represents a sense of positivity and embraces diversity, as an example of how that can be possible.

Cruzanne is a regular contributor for RTHK Radio 3 and Creative Director at The Quick Word Company. She was a Mentor for the Resolve Foundation 2020 Fellowship.

Clara is a professional chartered accountant with more than 30 years of solid experience in various financial management and advisory roles. Prior to joining the Novel Enterprises Limited as the Chief Financial Officer, she has worked with several prominent public organisations including the Hospital Authority, the Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Throughout her years with these large public organisations, her key role focused predominantly on adding value through strategic financial management for better business decisions, continuous improvement of financial control frameworks, audit management, overseeing budget planning and management as well as statutory financial reporting. Clara is a certified public accountant and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

As a parent, Jalal has seen first-hand the positive impact the CDC has on children, including his own. He appreciates the CDC’s commitment to providing essential services and to do their best in supporting each child's unique developmental journey. Motivated by his child's positive experiences, Jalal is eager to contribute in any capacity that will further enhance the CDC's mission and is excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful difference at the CDC as the parent representative.

Trina moved to Hong Kong from India about a decade ago. She understands that when children are diagnosed with various additional learning needs, their parents can find it daunting, isolating, and face a rollercoaster of emotions. Trina believes the CDC, with its complete focus on early intervention and children’s needs, is a crucial support system for her own family and many others.

As a part of the CDC Executive Committee, she is keen to communicate her ideas with board members and share useful information with families with diverse needs.

Having spent most of her life in Hong Kong, Joanne owns a sense of responsibility when it comes to providing Hong Kong-based children and young people the path to a brighter future. Her passion to contribute to children with additional learning needs has grown after having encountered the CDC.

Joanne holds a MSc in Financial Management from the University of London. With over 20 years of experience in Fintech, intellectual property and consultancy services in Asia Pacific, she has held leading positions in regional capacity in a number of multinational companies. She is also a committee Vice-Chair and voting member at the YWCA Hong Kong, responsible for social business and Y-Hospitality management.

Jackie is passionate about special needs education. She joined the CDC’s Executive Committee in 2015 believing that the importance of special needs education should be more recognised within the Hong Kong education system. With a background in education, Jackie’s goal is to learn, contribute and give back to the community. Jackie has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Yale University and she received her Master of Education from the University of Hong Kong. Through her work with the Executive Committee she hopes she can play a part in helping children with additional needs to overcome their challenges through early intervention.

Henson has been a CDC Executive Committee Member since 2004. He is a practicing solicitor and partner of a local Hong Kong law firm. Henson is a member of the Hong Kong Law Society Standing Committee on Compliance and also a member of the Hong Kong Law Society Consents Committee. Henson has been contributing his expertise and supporting CDC’s continued growth for over 10 years.

Abigail obtained a BSC Honours degree in Management Studies in the UK and was a Parent Representative on the CDC Executive Committee from 2017 until 2019. Motivated by a desire to be ‘as involved as I can be as a parent’ and to ‘give back’, Abigail sees the CDC as having had a significant impact on her own son’s educational development. She views CDC’s teaching staff as being inclusive, insightful and always accessible.

Virginia advocates for every child’s right to receive a tailored education to support their individual needs. She rejoined the committee in 2021, believing the CDC is where the children and their families are given the spark that ignites their learning journey.

Leading private and social enterprises for over 25 years in multilateral, culturally diverse environments, Virginia has a demonstrated track record of securing strategic partnerships between corporations, governments, and non-profits to deliver on projects to bring to life innovations that influence our society.

Virginia focuses on education as she believes that investing in people is the key driver for impactful change. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong. Previously, she was Global COO of OneSky and Chief Executive of The Child Development Centre.

Patricia joined the Executive Committee of CDC in October 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a lawyer and governance professional. Raised in Hong Kong, she has now reached a stage in her career where she aspires to give back to her community, leveraging her skills, expertise, and experience to support initiatives that will establish a legacy for future generations. Patricia believes CDC is the ideal platform for this vision. An accomplished speaker and writer, she has delivered numerous presentations and published articles on governance, sharing her insights while advocating for responsible and ethical leadership. Collaborating with CDC’s exceptional board and team, Patricia seeks to amplify CDC’s impact and further its vision.

Patricia holds a Bachelor of Laws from King’s College, University of London, and is a qualified solicitor in Hong Kong SAR and England and Wales. She is a Fellow of both the Chartered Governance Institute and the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute and is also a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals. Currently, she serves on the Editorial Board of the HKCGI Journal.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sarah is deeply committed to supporting children in need. Her passion for philanthropy drives her to seek innovative ways to create opportunities for children, ensuring they have access to essential resources and support. She believes every child is equal and deserves a chance to thrive and is dedicated to fostering an environment where they can reach their full potential.

Sarah brings over 20 years of extensive experience in corporate finance to the CDC Executive Committee. She is a fellow member of the ACCA and holds an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.