Shalini Mahtani

A leading advocate for diversity, inclusion and social equity, Shalini Mahtani established The Zubin Foundation in 2014 following the death of her three-year-old son, Zubin, due to medical negligence. The organisation focuses on reducing suffering and providing opportunities through direct outreach and systemic, change initiatives. Its programmes provide support to ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong, particularly in areas of education, job assistance and healthcare.

To enhance the understanding of race discrimination, the foundation has established the Institute of Racial Equality Hong Kong, which provides racial equality training to companies and NGOs, as well as provides policy recommendations to the government. “Our focus at The Zubin Foundation has been on improving the lives of ethnic minorities by helping them with direct services, such as therapy for special needs children, placement of jobs and scholarships, and assisting women and girls in crisis,” she said to Tatler.

In the next five years, the founder says she “...would also like us to do much more work with the Chinese population by enhancing their knowledge about ethnic minorities and encouraging more inclusion. We need the majority to be champions for the minority in Hong Kong, in order for it to be an inclusive city”.

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Mahtani’s contributions have been widely recognised. She has been honoured with numerous awards, including an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II and the Hong Kong Humanity Award.