Secretary:
Fred Zhu is the Executive Officer for Waterloo Engineering and serves on the Executive Council at the University of Waterloo. He holds a Master of Laws from McGill University and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Additionally, Fred has completed executive education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. A strong advocate for culturally competent care, Fred is committed to addressing the ongoing mental health crisis, and recognizes the vital role that Hong Fook plays in supporting our diverse communities.
Warren Yu trained as an auditor and received qualification training in Australia. He has been in the real estate industry since he immigrated to Canada in 1987, working as an independent real estate broker since 1999. He regularly volunteers in his church’s children ministry and participates in various charity fundraising events. Warren has been involved with Hong Fook since 2017, after having witnessed first-hand the impact that this organization and its services have had on some of his close associates and friends. Warren believes that Hong Fook fills an important niche in the GTA, one that puts an emphasis on the well-being of the community. Given the traditionally taboo nature of mental illness in certain ethnic communities, Warren hopes that, through his work with Hong Fook, he can help promote mental health awareness and encourage open conversation.
Peter Lee started volunteering for Hong Fook in 2013 as a tax volunteer clinic. In September 2014, Peter joined the Board of Hong Fook Mental Health Association, in which he served for 6 years, 3 of which in the capacity as Treasurer. Being a CPA and CFP by trade, Peter was able to leverage his experience to provide financial and accounting advise to management of the Association. Peter has over 23 years of public accounting experience and have extensive experience in various industries, including the not-for-profit sector. Prior to starting his own practice, Peter K.C. Lee Professional Corporation in April 2014, Peter was an audit senior manager with EY. Peter believes in giving back to the community and that mental health is important to the society as a whole, thus he is contributing his expertise and time to Hong Fook. Peter also volunteered in other organizations and currently, he also serves on the board of a non-public mortgage investment corporation. When he is able to do so, Peter enjoys watching sports, taking dance lessons and travelling to Asia.
Emily Lee worked as a corporate tax manager. She is an Ontario Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). Her interest in Hong Fook started in early 2010s by following Vivian Thom to a fundraising meeting. She finds that even though Hong Fook is not a mainstream charity yet, it is a very worthy organization that helps marginalized or not so outspoken groups when it comes to mental health. Her satisfaction comes when she sees and hears community members coming to Hong Fook to reduce and confront their problems, with the aim of living a mentally healthier life. Community building is her passion and hopes that others will join as well. Her interests include gardening, swimming, biking, summer camping, and turning fruits into jam and preserves.
Jeff Kang is an experienced banker and has been volunteering in multiple non-profit organizations for years. He is passionate about advocating for mental health in local communities. By serving on the Board, Jeff has the honor to make an impact on the things he cares about, be heard and also contribute to Hong Fook. Jeff had held a previous board position in Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs (ACCE) for 6 years, and Hong Fook Mental Health Association for 3 years. Jeff holds an MBA degree from Ivey Business School. Jeff’s connection to Hong Fook started in 2007 when he attended the Mental Health Ambassador training program in Hong Fook, and has been involved in Hong Fook events and activities ever since.
Annie Hu, since 1987, has volunteered at various charitable organizations, including the Mon Sheong Foundation, North York General Hospital, etc. She joined the Hong Fook Mental Health Foundation Board in 2012 and started to focus her volunteer work on Hong Fook. She feels that mental health is a very important cause and Hong Fook is uniquely positioned to champion this cause. Since joining Hong Fook, she has made positive contributions, including broadening Hong Fook’s support and recognition in the corporate community. She is also an active member of the Fundraising Committee for Hong Fook’s annual Gala. Annie has been a banker for 35 years and is currently a Managing Director at Citibank Canada.
Dr. Ted Lo is a community psychiatrist in Toronto, active in ethno-cultural mental health. He was the founding member of Hong Fook Mental Health Service (now the Hong Fook Mental Health Association) and is the Medical Director of the Asian Clinic. He also consults to Across Boundaries Ethnoracial Mental Health Centre and provides cultural competence education for health professionals through courses, lectures and publication. He was given the Educational Excellence in Community Care award. His initiatives in alternative and complementary medicine also led to the Prix Clarite Award by the Canadian Complementary Medicine Association. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and developed the cultural curriculum in the training of psychiatric residents. He was a member of the Mental Health Commission of Canada and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award.
John Chemillian
Mr. Chemilian arrived to Canada in the 78’ with his family from Lebanon. Like many immigrant families, he was attracted by the beauty and peacefulness of this country. A proud father of two lovely and brilliant daughters, he builds his home in Toronto. Started out as blue-collar worker, and later rooted in the construction industry, John always take ownership of his works. Hard working and always optimistic, he devotes himself to a new residential development company for the past 13 years. With great interpersonal and leadership skills, he connects to the outside parties and build a strong industry network. The company he works for, JD Development has been a visionary developer and started the trend of high-quality student residence. In 2020, the company successfully completed five first-class high-rise student residence in Waterloo; have projects spread across London, Waterloo, Cambridge, Barrie, Mississauga and GTA. John’s contributions play a big part to this achievement. He helps build the JD team by recruiting resourceful team leads. He believes that each person can extend their potentials and grow in the company if opportunities arise. To people around him, he is a funny and selfless friend. Never shy to extend a helping hand. It’s his nature to ensure his co-workers are supported and treated like family. John is kind and generous with his time. He actively participates in community events and support local charity fundraisings, hospital researches, non-profit organizations, homeless shelters and many more.
Julia Zhang
Julia Zhang obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University and a Master’s Degree in Law from Peking University. From 1991 to 1994, Julia worked with many international organizations to assist companies to enter into China. In 2010, she established JD Development Group in Markham, Ontario. Currently, she has been managing the company as a team leader to design, build, and operate over 1700 Rez-One student bedrooms in Waterloo, Ontario. She joined Hong Fook Mental Health Foundation since October 2011. She was the Gala Co-Chair in 2017 and 2018.
Kristin Ling
Kirstin Ling is a highly accomplished leader in healthcare philanthropy, currently serving as Director of Major Gifts at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. With a background in government and international development, Kirstin’s career took a pivotal turn when a personal crisis involving her father's critical illness inspired her to transition into healthcare philanthropy. Since then, she has passionately driven transformative fundraising efforts, raising over $100 million for groundbreaking medical research and patient care initiatives. Kirstin is deeply committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and anti-racism in all aspects of her work. She holds several board positions with the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Canada and serves as Co-Chair of the Alumni Association Executive and Trustee for The Bishop Strachan School, where she leads efforts to create more equitable and inclusive environments. Recognized for her strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit, Kirstin was honored as one of AHP’s 40 Under 40 in 2023.
Michael Mak
Michael Mak is a sleep medicine specialist and staff psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He also provides cultural mental health care for the Hong Fook Mental Health Association. He received his MD from Queen’s University in Kingston, and subsequently completed his Psychiatry residency and fellowship in Sleep Medicine at Western University in London. Dr. Mak is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Adjunct Assistant Professor at McMaster University and an Adjunct Research Professor at Western University. His academic interests include medical education, simulation as a teaching modality in Psychiatry, management of insomnia and the study of sleep disorders in psychiatric patients. He is currently the Site Director for Undergraduate Medical Education at CAMH and the PGY5/Transition to Practice coordinator for the postgraduate Psychiatry training program at the University of Toronto. He is the director for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry. He serves on the Education Committees of the Canadian Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He was named Fellow of the Canadian Psychiatric Association in 2022.
Monica Lee
Monica Lee is a corporate lawyer and entrepreneur. Prior to her current role as VP of legal at a supply chain coop for a national franchise, she was instrumental in growing her family real estate company that focused on real estate development in the GTA and Muskoka. She is deeply involved in the Korean community, actively volunteering with the Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation, Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, and Korean Cultural Association. A mother of three wonderful teenagers and an adorable Maltipoo, Monica loves spending time at the cottage with family and friends. In her free time, she enjoys the challenge of jigsaw puzzles and reading historic novels.