OUR TEAM

We are the people behind Asian Arts and Culture Trust (AACT). As a not-for-profit organization, we aim to AACT to let the voices of the silent ones to be heard.
We want to remind people that trust is not some ideal that is unattainable. It is as tangible as helping a stranger hold the door. The world might be fragmented at the moment, but we want to use our collective voices, with the trust that is bestowed upon us, to broadcast the voices of the silent ones, to offer certainties to those who are in dire need, and, one small step at a time, to piece the world together.

Meet the AACT family. And if you would like to help us empower the Asian community through arts, join the team.

JOIN US

BOARD

EMILY GONG

Co-founder - Partnerships

Emily Gong (she/her/they) is a Chinese Canadian artist, interdisciplinary researcher, and entrepreneur. Emily holds a BFA from Queen's University and a MSc from the University of Oxford. She conducted comparative research on Contemporary Art Markets, from the perspective of how to empower emerging artists from diverse backgrounds. She lived across three continents for a decade and is fascinated by dialogues between arts and science, socio-cultural anthropology, and grassroots initiatives. Emily has written for the Barbican Centre and exhibited in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Biennale of Urbanism.

MICHAEL WANG

Co-founder - Operations

Michael Wang (he/him/his), Ph.D., is a vision scientist and tech enthusiast. His deep fascination about how humans perceive the world around them has led him to explore how personal and lived experiences are represented in various forms of art. To this end, Michael applies his knowledge in scientific research and modern technology to collaborate with local artists in Toronto to transform the creation and exhibition of arts.

ERIN ROONEY

Lead Editor

Erin is a Data Management Coordinator with an MI from the University of Toronto. She has a passion for the written word and socio-cultural anthropology. She spent her formative years abroad, primarily in Asia, where she gained a lasting appreciation for Asian culture. Erin holds a BA from Queen’s University where she studied her lifelong love of English Literature and Language as well as History. She pursued her interest in Chinese studies at Queen’s University by enrolling in Chinese Language courses where she participated in departmental activities and events that strengthened her appreciation and understanding of Chinese culture. Erin is fascinated by the role that storytelling plays within culture and society and enjoys spending her free time pursuing her creative interests in reading and writing. She is an advocate for celebrating cultural diversity and tolerance through the art of storytelling in various mediums, joining AACT to promote cultural awareness and diversity through the creative arts.

ZENGCONG LAI

Experience Lead

Zengcong Lai is an architect-turned-UX designer that surprisingly holds an Accounting and Finance degree from University of Waterloo. Being a first-generation Chinese Canadian constantly entangled in ideology division and cultural paradox, he is particularly interested in exploring opportunities to ease tensions and solve social-cultural issues. With professional backgrounds in both public and private sectors, he aspires to advocate for real people with technology and design. Zeng is excited to be part of the AACT team, leading the website design and UX research to refine our organization missions and guide future event development.

SHENGYU CAI

Curatorial Lead

Shengyu (Sheng) Cai (he/him/his) has studied architecture as a native in China, an immigrant in Canada, and an expatriate in Denmark. He is currently practicing architecture and contemporary art in parallel in Victoria & Vancouver, British Columbia. Sheng aspires to decouple architecture with colonial and homogenizing influences and explore various mediums of spatial art that intersects with queer theory. With rich exhibition design experiences under his belt, Sheng is eager to make his contributions to AACT’s curatorial agenda.

TEAM

HANYUN CAI

Hanyun is an experienced learning designer living and working in Toronto. She delights in collaborating with children on imaginative mixed media art projects, enriching their creativity and storytelling abilities.

SHANWEI FU

Shanwei Fu is a curator, flaneur, artist and autodidactic based in Downtown Toronto.He learned music at Mohawk College and art at Sheridan College, these two years he has been in the Criticism & Curatorial Practice program at OCAD U. In writing, he balanced academic and creative styles; his recent research revolves around the metropolis and urban studies, night wandering and flaneurship, monuments, disadvantaged groups, and social justice. Going with AACT, he contributes to curating and installing.

YIFEI LIU

Yifei currently studies Architecture with a minor in Curatorial Studies at TMU. She was born in Shandong China, along a small coastal city called Rizhao. She later moved to Saint John for middle school and high school where she spent the most memorable years exploring other parts of the world and experiencing diverse cultures. Yifei has always been an art lover, and grew up painting and drawing. This passion naturally led her to the AACT, in which its mission resonates with her personal values and understandings of art. Beyond academic pursuits, you’ll find her constantly learning and immersed in a plethora of interests. Whether she's lost in the pages of a book, experimenting with new baking recipes, or embracing the outdoors, she cherish every opportunity to enrich her experiences.

KEVIN NIU

Kevin Niu is a senior professional photographer whose expertise is deeply rooted in his background in oil painting. Drawing upon the techniques in painting, Kevin masterfully translates the essence and depth of artworks through his unique perspective in photography. Specializing in portrait photography, Kevin has worked on many events such as 100 Years of Chinese Sculpture Exhibition and collaborated with renowned artists such as Chen Danqing, Fang Lijun, Yue Minjun, and Liu Xiaodong on their portfolios, portraits, and exhibitions.

KIMBERLEY TSO

Kimberley was born and raised in North York in the French Immersion program. Her early years were spent playing imaginative games outside with a little notebook that had “Nature Girl” scribbled on the first page. As an adult, she has pursued a wide range of interests by exploring the academic programs offered around the city. Some of them included Jewellery and Metal-smithing, Advertising, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Cognitive Science, and Environmental Studies. As she flitted between her curiosities, she found herself working at restaurants, retail shops, a car dealership, an advertising agency, and a security guard. She spends her time with her two cats and two dogs, and enjoys being out in nature on a paddle board or hiking for hours on end. She is finishing her Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto in a double major Environmental Studies and Diaspora/Transnational Studies. She has goals of pursuing advocacy work and travelling with her animals.

Crystal Valdez

Crystal has worked in research and analytical roles within the biotech industry, where she enjoys leveraging her creativity and technical skills towards healthcare applications. With a specific interest in mental health, she is passionate about learning its intersection with art and different cultures. Crystal is also interested in fashion and sewing, and loves to make her own clothes.

JOLIE WANG

Jolie Wang is a highly skilled full-stack developer and product designer with a fervent passion for crafting exceptional user experiences. As a freelance illustrator and web content consultant, Jolie leverages her comprehensive expertise in programming, art, and design to help clients bring their innovative ideas to fruition. Dedicated to promoting the advancement of women in technology, Jolie actively employs her talents to support and empower her female peers within the industry.

Shirley Xu Wang

Shirley is an award-winning Art Director working in the world of advertising and public relations. In a previous life, she worked as an accountant and holds a degree in accounting from McGill. Having gone through the typical Asian upbringing pipeline of studying STEM, then transitioning to business/accounting, she finally pursued her passion for visual communications and became an Art Director. She’s passionate about storytelling hopes to hopes to highlight the voices of Asian artists.