Founder and Managing Director of The Playhouse

CEO of FRAMEWORKS

As a mum of 2 under 6, Alexandra knows parents concerns with wanting to raise competent, bilingual and future-ready individuals.

The genesis of The Playhouse stems from her work with FRAMEWORKS, where she has witnessed the growing challenges schools have with supporting the next generation of competent, confident and innovative individuals.

A graduate of University College London (UCL) where she read Art History, then obtained an M.F.A from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Alexandra is keen to bring the enigmatic world of Arts and Culture to children earlier in their developmental journey. With the aim to use the Arts to teach children how to communicate effectively and think laterally about the world around them, supporting the next generation to sustain a sense of curiosity throughout their lives, so they can be ready for what ever the future holds.

Alexandra is a bilingual speaker (English and Cantonese) she is also a certified Transformational Coach and a Parenting Facilitator from the UK based Parent Practice.

Certified St John's Ambulance infant CPR 2024

Operations and Project Manager

Joanne Cheung, born and raised in Hong Kong, is a versatile professional with a keen eye for art and business. With a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Glasgow School of Art and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Marketing Management from Edinburgh Napier University, Joanne combines creativity and strategic thinking in her work.

Her career spans roles in curation, marketing, and business development, including positions at RCS Artelier, M Group, Tarte Cosmetics, and Perspective Magazine. Joanne has also contributed her skills as a producer for photography and video production, collaborating with Luke Casey on creative projects for various brands.

Joanne’s expertise includes project leadership, process optimization, art direction, and project management. She is particularly interested in the intersection of art and advertising, a passion that began in 2014 with her artworks inspired by Hong Kong culture and Chinese aesthetics. Her work continues to explore and bring the potential of art into daily life.

Certified St John's Ambulance Paediatric First Aid ICAFW 2024

Tinker Art Tots and StoryPlay coach (Mandarin)

A native Mandarin speaker with a Master’s in Early Childhood Education (MEd, HKU), Rainie also is a certified kindergarten teacher both in Hong Kong and Mainland China. She has all the tools and resources to offer an exceptional mandarin speaking learning environment, whether with our Storyplay or Tinker Art Tots playgroup sessions, she is committed to using our play-based, Montessori style, creativity inspired playgroup structure to enhance problem solving and communication skills in our young students.

Tinker Art Tots and StoryPlay coach (English)

Janella is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and Expressive Arts therapist based in Hong Kong. As a lifelong practitioner of art and play, her journey is profoundly shaped by her experiences as a third culture kid navigating a vibrant, transitional city. This background fuels her curiosity about the unknown and spontaneity—essential ingredients for authentic play.

After earning a degree in Conceptual Art from the San Francisco Art Institute, Janella returned to Hong Kong and discovered her passion for community building. Through her work with marginalized populations both locally and internationally, she has witnessed the transformative power of art and play, even in the most challenging circumstances. This insight inspired her to pursue a Master's degree in Expressive Arts Therapy from the European School. She has since co-founded an Expressive Arts studio that offers opportunities for communities to experience multimodal expression.

From teaching English through art-making to facilitating workshops that promote healing from trauma, she is keenly aware of childrens' natural expertise with experimentation and play and greets each session as an educational exchange.

Ed Huang StoryPlay (Mandarin, Cantonese, English)

A 2024 graduate of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education, Ed is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Hong Kong, specializing in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). With nearly a year of experience teaching art in middle school, he has also participated in various projects related to art activities and exhibitions.

Ed is particularly interested in integrating different art forms, such as music, visual arts, and language, to create innovative and engaging educational experiences.

Tinker Art Tots Coach (English)

With a B.A (Fashion and Textile Design) as well as a B.A in Education (Visual Arts), Jasmine is well versed in teaching new skills, new ways of thinking and using the Arts to advance problem solving in students. With over a decades teaching experience as an Arts educator, Jasmine brings with her a spectrum of tools to facilitate an optimal learning space for children.

Tinker Art Tots Coach (Cantonese and Mandarin)

Man Tsun Yin graduated from the School of Drama at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in acting. His on-campus performances include "A Journey of Sanshiro", "Juliet and Romeo", The Unthinkable Drama Festival 2023 : "Morning", "The Ten Oxen of Ours", and "Ng Wong The Swordsman". During his studies, he won the Outstanding Actor Award and the Outstanding Character Performance Award for his performance in "Juliet and Romeo", and had previously received the Louis Koo Scholarships.

In addition to theater, he served as Children Pastoral Teacher for Crossroad Community Baptist Church from 2014-2021

Tinker Art Tots Coach (Cantonese)

A graduate of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (Drama) and The University of Hong Kong (Social Sciences), Demian believes his experience with acting helped him to gain a deeper more empathetic understanding of others, which enables him to recognise emotions behind verbal and nonverbal communication.

Demian is interested in supporting children in discovering themselves through the Arts, in hopes their experience of the Arts will add to a new dimension to their self-growth.

Art Fundamentals I coach

Ming is a passionate artist and educator dedicated to sharing her love for drawing and painting with others. Specialized in oil painting and skilled in watercolor, gouache, colored pencils, and graphite, she fosters creativity in students of all ages through various artistic mediums. Ming believes in the transformative power of art as a tool for self-expression and personal growth. Through engaging workshops and classes, she inspires her students to explore their artistic potential and develop their unique voices. When not in the studio, Ming loves connecting with fellow artists to exchange ideas and explore different techniques, fueled by a strong desire to deepen her knowledge in the field

Art Attack Art Coach

Jenny is a Native English speaker and an Early Childhood Educator with a deep passion for the arts. She graduated with a B.A in Decorative Arts in the UK, has completed her PGCE in Early Years Education and has also been awarded a level 3 SEN Early Years Education certificate. Inspired by her favourite quote by Picasso, "Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up," Jenny believes that every child is creative, and by providing them with opportunities and space to explore, we can witness the creation of wonderful work. Having lived in Hong Kong for over five years, she cherishes the local culture and working with the children in the community.

Painting Fundamental and Art Fundamental Art Coach

Cynthia Kwok is an enthusiastic art tutor with specific experience teaching painting to students aged 4 to 11. Her instruction encompasses a variety of mediums, including oil pastel, watercolor, Chinese ink, and color pencil, allowing young artists to explore their creativity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art with a major in painting from RMIT and am a graduate of the Hong Kong Art School. Fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, she can also speaks English fluently, enabling her to communicate effectively with diverse learners. Her goal is to inspire children to express themselves through art while building their confidence and painting skills in a supportive environment. She believes that every child possesses unique creative potential, and she is dedicated to helping them discover and develop it.

Tinker Art Tots (Cantonese)

Graduating in 2024 from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a major in Acting, Gut has received multiple scholarships, including the HSBC Scholarship and Academy Scholarships. Prior to this, she earned a Bachelor of Communication (Honors) in Film from Hong Kong Baptist University.

During her time at the academy, she participated in various productions and received the Outstanding Performer Award. She was also honored with the Outstanding Student Award. In addition to acting, she has worked as a curator and director, creating community-inclusive theatre.

She is passionate about theatre and believes that art is a bridge to connect people.

ConstructionPlay Lead Coach and Mentor

Nick Tsao, founder of Tsaoao Design, is an architectural graduate from Cambridge University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is a practicing architect in Hong Kong with a passion for traditional paper crafts. He currently lives in the historic Wanchai Bluehouse, where he shares his passion for traditional crafts.

Tsaoao Design 創辦人曹晉愷畢業於香港中文大學建築學碩士及劍橋大學建築系學士課程。曹晉愷在香港從事建築設計工作並喜愛研究傳統紙藝創作。現居於灣仔藍屋，並以此為剪紙工作室，研究傳統紙藝創作。

PaperPlay I & II Coach and Mentor

Pauline is a Hong Kong based artist who has specialised in working with paper for many years, making sculptural pieces of nature based artworks inspired by Hong Kong’s rich and abundant Flora and Fauna.

Working with paper is such a versatile material and to push the boundaries of what can be created from a single sheet of paper is such a wonderful creative challenge.

For many years Pauline has worked in the commercial arts and design area, collaborating and commissioned by some of Hong Kong’s renowned brands, including Pacific Place, Cartier, Dior, PMQ, Hermes, Lane Crawford, Cathay Pacific to name a few.

One of Hong Kong’s most experienced and versatile arts professionals, Prof Gillian Choa has taken charge as Director of Hong Kong’s leading performing arts academy, The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts since Jan 2021.

A passionate educator, she became the first woman, and the first Hongkonger, to head The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts (HKAPA)when she stepped up to the role of the organisation’s Director in 2021.

Gillian joined the Academy full time as a member of its Theatre Design Department in 1996 and was appointed Dean of the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts from 2013 to 2019, and Deputy Director and Provost from 2019 before her appointment as Director. Under her leadership, the Academy has been ranked 1st in Asia for six consecutive years at the QS Ranking – performing arts category.

Gillian has also worked in numerous different roles within the arts. She began her career in Hong Kong as the first Resident Designer of the Chung Ying Theatre Company, then worked in a wide variety of roles across Hong Kong’s performance and entertainment industry, including as a set, costume and lighting designer for theatre, film and television. She has designed displays for luxury brands including Tiffany and Hermès, presented a classical music TV programme, and edited architectural and fashion magazines.

She has been serving the community actively and is on many boards and committees of organisations and advisory groups that include Create HK, the Advisory Committee on Arts Education, and the Human Resources Planning Commission, HKSAR Outstanding Students’ Union, HKJC Music and Dance Fund, HK Society for the Deaf, Spastic Association of HK, Federation of New Territories Youth, HK Youth & Tertiary Students Association, VTC’s Design Discipline Advisrory Board, Hok Yau Club, Woo Foo Leaders Network, Zonta Club of Hong Kong, and so forth.

Cherie Chen is a bilingual educational professional with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from The University of Hong Kong and a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from New York University. With over 10 years of experience, she has led playgroups in Hong Kong and Shanghai, specializing in nurturing children from infancy to age 8 through play-based, hands-on, and creative learning environments. Her background as a classroom teacher at Victoria Organization and Malvern College Preschool equipped her with expertise in implementing IB and EYFS curricula and supporting diverse learning needs.

Cherie has a passion for designing meaningful play and community activities, fostering holistic development, and conducting research on future education trends to remain at the forefront of innovative teaching. Committed to creating enriching and engaging experiences, she is dedicated to supporting children in their earliest and most formative years.

PhD (La Trobe University in Australia)

DipChSt (CGST)

B.A., PGDE, M.A. (Ed) (CUHK)

Parker is the founder of Cobli, the most advanced vehicle telematics and mobility platform in Latin America. Launched in 2017, the company has already raised more than $20mm from investors such as Fifth Wall Ventures and Valor Capital Group. Cobli won the Harvard Business School New Venture Competition in 2016, becoming the first Latin American startup to receive the award. In 2019, Cobli was elected by LinkedIn as one of the top ten startups in Brazil. Previously, Parker founded First Help Financial, the tenth largest independent vehicle finance company in the U.S., funding over $600mm of historical originations. Parker studied mathematics at Duke University, has an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is a member of Forbes Technology Council.

Professor Kevin W. H. Tai is Assistant Professor of Language and Literacy Education and Co-Director of the Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education (CAISE) at the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU).

In relation to his editorial positions, Kevin Tai is Editor of The Language Learning Journal (Routledge), Assistant Editor of the International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism (Routledge) and Executive Guest Editor of Learning and Instruction (Elsevier).

Kevin Tai's research interests include Conversation Analysis for Second Language Acquisition, translanguaging in education, classroom discourse and qualitative research methods.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Dominica, HK born and bred, is a keen supporter of the arts, education, and philanthropic causes in Hong Kong and in the United Kingdom for many years. She currently works on projects focusing on art, culture, education, disabilities and dementia, helping to network bringing together fruitful collaborations and ventures.

Dominica was the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre 2018-2024. She also sits on the Culture Commission set up by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR.

From Charities, NGOs to Education bodies, she has helped with branding, outreach, networking, and fundraising projects.

After her secondary and tertiary education in the United Kingdom, she went onto to pursue art and did a Diploma in Photography at the London School of Photography. In 1987, she returned to Hong Kong and worked in the rag trade, before running her own interior decorating business for 10 years. Her passion for cooking resulted in her publication of 4 cookbooks, all to benefit charitable causes – Children’s Thalassaemia Foundation, Facing the World (UK), Room to Read ( HK and UK), Hong Kong Red Cross & Fu Hong Society (for the Disabled). She is the co-founder of the Dementia support group ‘Brain Health Initiative’ in Hong Kong.

Dominica went to St Leonard’s Mayfield School and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies which is now part of University College London.

Daniel Tan has over 10 years experience in agile project management, strategic planning and business development with Fortune 500 companies such as Adidas, Lululemon and DFS.

Daniel has a BMgt from University of British Columbia.