Cover Jane Goodall at the Tatler House Dialogues (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
Jane Goodall at the Tatler House Dialogues (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
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On November 28, Tatler and The Upper House welcomed Dr Jane Goodall to the hotel’s Sky Lounge for an unforgettable evening
When? November 28, 2024
Where? The Sky Lounge at The Upper House
Who? Jane Goodall, Lindsey McAlister, Tansy Lau-Tom, Sonalie Figueiras, Natalie Chung, Angela Cheng-Matsuzawa, Olivia Cotes-James, Arthur Lam, Elaine Ng, Sarah Garner and Stephanie Ho Poon
Here’s what you missed: From William Shakespeare to Rosa Parks and Mahatma Gandhi, the roster of the most influential figures in history we yearn to meet appears boundless. Yet, when we narrow our focus to the present, the list significantly shrinks, with Dr Jane Goodall often emerging at the forefront.
During her short visit to Hong Kong, the English anthropologist and primatologist made a stop at Tatler House Dialogues’ latest iteration in the intimate setting of The Sky Lounge at The Upper House to share her life experiences. She was surrounded by many of Hong Kong’s sustainability champions—like Sonalie Figueiras, Natalie Chung, Angela Cheng-Matsuzawa, Tansy Lau-Tom, Olivia Cotes-James and Arthur Lam—as well as arts veteran Lindsey McAlister, Hong Kong-London-based architecture, art and design writer Catherine Shaw and representatives of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in Hong Kong, including its chairman Ericson Chan, CEO Tony Tse and member Janice Lee.
You might also like: 10 key takeaways from primatologist Dr Jane Goodall, who returns to Hong Kong after six years
Above Inside Tatler House Dialogues featuring Jane Goodall (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
Above (L-F) Shelley See Davies, Sonalie Figueiras, Angela Cheng-Matsuzawa (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
Inside Tatler House Dialogues featuring Jane Goodall (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
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Dr Goodall, now 90 years old, knows that no message is more powerful than experience. She narrated her life story from her childhood, starting with how her dream of working in Africa came to fruition—and how her mother supported her “unusual dream” in the 1950s.
“I was ten when I read The Jungle Book,” she said. “I was jealous because I felt that Tarzan, this glorious Lord of the Jungle, married the wrong Jane.”
Because of her lack of academic education in ethology and her curiosity for adventure, Goodall’s path to understanding apes was unusual—so much so that it revolutionised the field.
Natalie Chung (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
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Her candid spirit shone through as she demonstrated chimpanzee communication and body language, with light-hearted jokes woven in between. It was clear that her first love was studying apes; though other topics close to her heart, like climate change, deforestation, animal trafficking and increasing pollution, also resonated with the audience.
Time and time again, Goodall had seen the planet sacrificed for economic gain. “We have harmed nature to a point of almost no return.” We still have time to reverse our damages, however—and there’s a way to do that while being grounded in our economic reality, she added. “It hit me: ‘Why don’t we help these people find a way of making a living without destroying their environment?’”
Above Inside Tatler House Dialogues featuring Jane Goodall and the Tatler community (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
Inside Tatler House Dialogues featuring Jane Goodall and the Tatler community (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong / Zed Leets)
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That thought led to the establishment of her institute, and with 25 of them around the world, Goodall has been spreading her values to a new generation. The innovative youth programme Roots & Shoots, which brings young people together to work on environmental and humanitarian issues, is now taught in 96 countries.
Goodall ended the night with a note that sparked thunderous applause. Recognising the immense responsibility resting on the shoulders of younger generations—and the exhaustion that comes with it—Goodall emphasised that this is precisely why she tirelessly shares her message and holds steadfast to an unshakeable sense of optimism. “My main reasons for hope are the youth, because of their creativity and passion; and nature—because of how resilient it is.”
You can support the JGI by donating via Simply Giving to help protect wildlife and promote sustainability; bid on a signed photo of Jane Goodall in an exclusive auction by the organisation; or take action for our planet by sponsoring the “Cherish Our Ocean” shoreline cleanup campaign 2025, which empowers communities to restore and protect our oceans.
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Salomé Grouard was Digital Editor and Front & Female Content Lead at Tatler Hong Kong. Primarily focused on managing Tatler Hong Kong’s digital platform and content, she also covers gender equality, the music scene and sports through interviews with industry leaders, experts and trendsetters.
Interview highlights include renowned conservationist Dr Jane Goodall, Korean actor Park Seo Jun, singer Jorja Smith, Chinese TV host Yue-Sai Kan, YouTuber Kimono Mom, Japanese rapper Awich, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Mikey Musumeci.
She has also produced stories on revolutionising sexual wellness in Asia, activism within the surfing community, Asian trans musicians reclaiming their narratives through music and looked at the toxicity of gym culture through the lens of the plus-size community. She also covers music festivals, such as Hong Kong’s Clockenflap and Bali’s Suara.
