Our team
Founders
Cosmo Beatson, Executive Director, is British and grew up in Italy before moving to Hong Kong in 1989. He is married and has two daughters, Camelot 11 and Mira 0. He ran an automotive trading company for two decades, retiring in 2008 to devote his life to humanitarian affairs. A passionate teacher at the Catholic Cathedral’s Sunday School, he loves sharing his faith to inspire change through social engagement and responsibility. In spring 2009 he volunteered at Christian Action Refugee Services, in Chung King Mansion, prior to founding Vision First with a group of like-minded friends. His personal values and friendship with refugees ensure our driving spirit is solidarity - rooted in the fundamental rights and dignity of each individual. Cosmo studies theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary and contributes thoughts to RTHK Radio 4 “Minutes that Matter”, posted here as personal reflections.
Danielle Stutterd, has been living in Hong Kong for 10 years. In 2004 Danielle began working at Christian Action Chungking Mansions Refugee Services Centre in fundraising and adult education. In 2007 she became assistant manager of the centre and performed the dual role of case manager. Through these roles and the initiative to start up Vision First, Danielle brings her experience to provide much needed support to asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong through community participation. Danielle will be the Centre Manager from February 2012
Volunteers
Tiffany Sturman serves as Education Coordinator at Vision First. She has been living in Hong Kong for 3 years. In 2008 Tiffany began working at KELY Support Group as Youth Services Coordinator designing and implementing youth workshops covering social/behavioral health topics in the International Schools. She has her Masters of Public Health Education (Community Health) from UNT Health Science Center and is a proud member of TAMU ‘02. Tiffany has had a variety of experience back in the USA promoting sexual health programs and is excited to bring her background and experience to serve the asylum-seeking and refugee population residing in Hong Kong and will fight tirelessly to help empower them.
Andrew Parkinson, Director, is a Counsellor, Coach, and Teacher. He has studied Psychology, Education, NLP, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, Experiential and Constructivist approaches to Psychotherapy, and has a Masters in Counselling. Andrew has been working to Develop Human Potential for almost 20 years and has been providing pro bono counselling and trauma treatment to Refugees and Asylum Seekers since August, 2008. Mr. Parkinson joins our Board of Directors as Coordinator of our Counselling Service and Mental Health Research Project.
Dr. Pak Ho Tsang, Director, was born in Hong Kong, is a medical graduate of University of Hong Kong. He received further medical training in HK and UK and is a registered Specialist in General Surgery in HK. Being a surgeon he is also keenly interested in psychiatry, “cutting into the mind” as he said, for which he received further training and a post-graduate diploma in psychological medicine. Dr. Tsang is married with 2 daughters. He is a member of Vision First’s Board of Directors and supports the organisation with consultations, medications and medical supplies.
Belinda Flanders, Director and Chairperson, is Australian and has been living in and around Hong Kong for over 10 years. She is an accomplished coordinator of a range of projects in the travel and education fields. She is currently working as an activity coordinator at a local private primary school and is working towards gaining her master’s degree in psychology. Belinda joined Vision First as a founding member upon its conception and is actively engaged in contributing her skills to the development of Vision First services.
Annabelle Singaram, Director and Treasurer, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and degree holding graphic designer. Annabelle was born in the UK, grew up in Australia and has been in Hong Kong for 3 years. With a solid career in the corporate world, she finds balance and meaning through her volunteer contribution, particularly due to her personal connection to Sri Lanka and the refugee issue. Annabelle is a Vision First GED program English tutor, using her skills to help Vision First members gain academic qualifications to prepare them for life beyond Hong Kong.
David C. Donald, Director, is an American, has been living in Hong Kong since 2008, and is married to肖尚晖, who is originally from the Nanjing area. David works as a Professor, Faculty of Law, at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and as Director of the CUHK Law Faculty’s Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development (CFRED). He holds three doctoral degrees (Dr jur, JD, and PhD), is licensed as an attorney-at-law in the State of New York, and has worked in business law practices in Frankfurt (Germany), Milan and Rome (Italy), and Washington DC (USA). David has published books and articles on numerous legal subjects in English and German, and teaches company law, securities law, comparative law and history of law for CUHK, as well as teaching children at the Hong Kong Cathedral and GED candidates at Vision First.
Francesco Vecchio, Director, is an Italian and a doctoral candidate at Monash University, Australia, where he researches asylum and irregular border-crossing to the ‘global city’. He moved to Hong Kong to work with the refugee community in 2005, after gaining academic and working experience in his country, Canada, France and Japan. Since then, he maintained constant relationship with a number of refugees, based on trust and mutual respect. They were the reason for his pursuing further studies. Francesco serves as correspondent for ISMU Foundation, Italy, an independent scientific organization developing research with a focus on international migration and social cohesion. He contributes to the objectives of Vision First by aiding its long-term capacity.
AGM 2011