I am a first-generation American and the first of my family to attend college. I studied International Relations and Middle East & North Africa Studies at Boston University and graduated in 2016. I began my career implementing a social impact bond that provided vocational programming for immigrants and refugees in Boston, US. I then managed multi-million-dollar international development programming in the Middle East with Creative Associates International from the Washington, DC, office, with frequent field visits.   After two years with Creative, I transitioned in 2019 to management consulting at Strategy& in Dubai, UAE, advising public and private sector clients across industries and developing strategies to create value in the Middle East. In 2021, I was awarded a Henry Luce scholarship, a competitive fellowship that gave me the opportunity to spend a year in Bangkok, Thailand, working with an incubator for social enterprise, learning Thai, and immersing myself in the local culture. Following my Luce year, Michelle was a freelance consultant in Bangkok, working with NGO and social enterprise clients. I am now pursuing my MBA at LBS where I hope to continue pursuing my passion for social impact by exploring careers at the nexus of business and impact in emerging markets. I am interested in impact investing, impact consulting, and social entrepreneurship.

Amy is the Programme Director of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme. She works with universities, NGO’s, government departments, businesses and charity partners to manage and develop programmes which further the Laidlaw Foundation’s purpose – to reduce poverty and inequality by investing in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented and to develop a new generation of diverse and ethical leaders.   Prior to joining the Laidlaw Foundation, Amy spent 9 years leading the US-UK Fulbright Scholarship Programme, working with students, academics, professionals, and teachers across every discipline. She has gained 15+ years working within Higher Education and is passionate about cultural exchange and the benefits it can bring to impactful research and solving global challenges. Prior to this, she led faculty-led programmes hosting US students in the UK and managed a busy student services. She studied American Studies at Sheffield University and University of Pittsburgh.  

Audrey is Administrative Assistant I of the Horizons Office at the University of Hong Kong. Audrey has been working in the field of international education in Hong Kong since 2010; her portfolio of work spans from programme development and implementation at the undergraduate, postgraduate and faculty level, marketing and promotion, organisation of international conference and events, and providing secretarial support to various committees pertaining to scholarships, fellowships and international mobility schemes.  Her current portfolio includes management of the HKU Laidlaw Scholars Programme, Undergraduate Research Fellowship Programme, short-term experiential learning programmes outside of Hong Kong, and HKU-Common Purpose UK leadership development programmes in Bangalore, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Hanoi. Currently she is setting up two new initiatives, namely EUREKA and The Hong Kong Project, where students will have the opportunities to undertake research methods online course and conduct a EUREKA research project in the former, and collaborate with community partners by proposing practical solutions to real-life problems in the latter. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in TESL and has an MA (Hons) in Translation from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.