Marking a Decade of Impact: HKU Welcomes 2026 Cohort of AsiaGlobal Fellows

The Asia Global Institute (AGI) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has announced the 16 mid-career professionals from 13 countries and territories for the 2026 edition of its AsiaGlobal Fellows (AGF) Program.

Now in its tenth year, the program introduces fellows from four new countries: Bulgaria, New Zealand, Thailand, and Venezuela. This addition expands the global AGF network to 120 fellows across 60 countries and territories.

The 2026 cohort averages 19 years of professional experience in public policy, business, civil society, and multilateral organisations.

"We are pleased to welcome this international group to HKU," said Professor Heiwai Tang, Director of AGI, Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics, and Associate Vice- President (Global) at HKU. "The AsiaGlobal Fellows Program continues to analyse complex global issues through Asian perspectives, facilitating the cross-cultural dialogue needed to address modern policy challenges."

Selected fellows in this year's cohort include:

• Angel Eduardo Cardenas Sosa, a Venezuelan finance executive managing a $12B+ transport, energy, and digital infrastructure portfolio for CAF.

• Priscilla Gatonye, a Kenyan UNESCO-UNEVOC officer coordinating global Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy across 250+ centres.

• Calum Handforth, a British UNDP digital transformation specialist who has advised heads of state on AI governance across nearly 40 countries.

• Mika Noh, a South Korean tech entrepreneur and founder of AI Culture Lab, pioneering AI, culture, and digital media to drive regional creative industries.

• Raquel Ramirez, an American vice-president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China who drives national policy advocacy, government relations, and market access for a network of over 1,700 European companies. 

The fellows will reside in Hong Kong from September 21 to November 13, 2026, and are available for media interviews, academic panels, and speaking engagements during this period.

To learn more about the fellows and their backgrounds, please visit: https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/fellows    

For more information about the program, please visit: 
https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/  

About Asia Global Institute
The Asia Global Institute at HKU is an independent think tank that generates and disseminates innovative thinking and policy-relevant research on global issues from Asian perspectives. It aims to inform global policy and actions towards a prosperous and sustainable future for all. 

For media enquiries, please contact:
Fiona Li
T: +852 3917 1275
E: fykli@hku.hk