Melon 2018
March 17 2018 at the JW Marriott Hong Kong
"Melon is like an incredible accelerator in which science, art and business collide and enlighten the future."
Stanley Chan, Writer
2018 Speakers
Some of the world's most interesting thought leaders from the world of science fiction, science, technology and media.
Zen Cho, Author
Author (UK).
Zen Cho was born and raised in Malaysia. She is the author of Crawford Award-winning short story collection Spirits Abroad and editor of anthology Cyberpunk: Malaysia. She has been nominated for the Campbell Award for Best New Writer and honour-listed for the Carl Brandon Society Awards for her short fiction. Her debut novel Sorcerer to the Crown (Ace/Macmillan), about magic, intrigue and politics in Regency London, won a British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer and was a Locus Awards finalist for Best First Novel. She lives in the UK.
Zen Cho was born and raised in Malaysia. She is the author of Crawford Award-winning short story collection Spirits Abroad and editor of anthology Cyberpunk: Malaysia. She has been nominated for the Campbell Award for Best New Writer and honour-listed for the Carl Brandon Society Awards for her short fiction. Her debut novel Sorcerer to the Crown (Ace/Macmillan), about magic, intrigue and politics in Regency London, won a British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer and was a Locus Awards finalist for Best First Novel. She lives in the UK.
Yoon Ha Lee, Mathematician/Author
Author (US).
A Korean-American sf/f writer who majored in math, Yoon finds it a source of continual delight that math can be mined for story ideas. Yoon’s fiction has appeared in publications such as F&SF, Tor.com, and Clarkesworld Magazine, as well as several year’s best anthologies.
His Machineries of Empire space opera novels are critically acclaimed and his first novel, Ninefox Gambit, received the 2017 Locus Award for Best First Novel.
A Korean-American sf/f writer who majored in math, Yoon finds it a source of continual delight that math can be mined for story ideas. Yoon’s fiction has appeared in publications such as F&SF, Tor.com, and Clarkesworld Magazine, as well as several year’s best anthologies.
His Machineries of Empire space opera novels are critically acclaimed and his first novel, Ninefox Gambit, received the 2017 Locus Award for Best First Novel.
Xia Jia, Professor of Chinese Literature/Author
Author (China).
As an undergraduate, Xia Jia majored in Atmospheric Sciences at Peking University. She then entered the Film Studies Program at the Communication University of China, where she completed her Master's thesis: “A Study on Female Figures in Science Fiction Films”. In 2014, she obtained a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and World Literature at Peking University, with “Chinese Science Fiction and Its Cultural Politics Since 1990” as the topic of her dissertation. Now she is an Associate Professor of Chinese Literature at Xi’an Jiaotong University.
She has been publishing fiction since college in the Science Fiction World. Several of her stories have won the Galaxy Award, China's most prestigious science fiction award. In English translation, her work has been published in Clarkesworld and Upgraded. Her first story written in English, “Let’s Have a Talk” was published in Nature in 2015.
As an undergraduate, Xia Jia majored in Atmospheric Sciences at Peking University. She then entered the Film Studies Program at the Communication University of China, where she completed her Master's thesis: “A Study on Female Figures in Science Fiction Films”. In 2014, she obtained a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and World Literature at Peking University, with “Chinese Science Fiction and Its Cultural Politics Since 1990” as the topic of her dissertation. Now she is an Associate Professor of Chinese Literature at Xi’an Jiaotong University.
She has been publishing fiction since college in the Science Fiction World. Several of her stories have won the Galaxy Award, China's most prestigious science fiction award. In English translation, her work has been published in Clarkesworld and Upgraded. Her first story written in English, “Let’s Have a Talk” was published in Nature in 2015.
Valentin Hitz, Filmmaker
Filmmaker (Austria).
Valentin Hitz was born in Stuttgart, Germany, but grew up in Zurich, Switzerland and studied film at the Vienna Film Academy in Austria. He started as an assistant-director for Jessica Hausner, Shirin Neshat, Barbara Albert and Peter Patzak, just to name a few. And the moment he gets behind the camera himself, there’s an immediate result. His first short film (Seemannsbegräbnis, 1995) and his first feature (Ratrace, 1998) are shown and awarded at several international film festivals (San Francisco, Zurich, Austin, Puchon, Vienna, etc.). His newest feature, Hidden Reserves, is a chilling vision of a dystopian future. Valentin Hitz also teaches at the “Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama and Dance” and produces clips and video installations for the theater and for art exhibitions.
Filmography:
Ratrace (1998)
Kaltfront (2003)
Hidden Reserves (2016)
Valentin Hitz was born in Stuttgart, Germany, but grew up in Zurich, Switzerland and studied film at the Vienna Film Academy in Austria. He started as an assistant-director for Jessica Hausner, Shirin Neshat, Barbara Albert and Peter Patzak, just to name a few. And the moment he gets behind the camera himself, there’s an immediate result. His first short film (Seemannsbegräbnis, 1995) and his first feature (Ratrace, 1998) are shown and awarded at several international film festivals (San Francisco, Zurich, Austin, Puchon, Vienna, etc.). His newest feature, Hidden Reserves, is a chilling vision of a dystopian future. Valentin Hitz also teaches at the “Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama and Dance” and produces clips and video installations for the theater and for art exhibitions.
Filmography:
Ratrace (1998)
Kaltfront (2003)
Hidden Reserves (2016)
Tang Fei, Author
Author (China).
Tang Fei is a speculative fiction writer and a member of SFWA. She has been writing and publishing nearly 400,000 words of short stories and novelettes since 2005 in Jiuzhou Fantasy and Science Fiction World. She started using the pen name “Tang Fei” in 2008, and her works have been featured in various magazines in China, including Fiction World and Shanghai Literature. Since 2013, she has published 7 stories in the USA, UK and Australia. “Call Girl”, translated by Ken Liu, is published in APEX Magazine and reprinted in Rich Horton's The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2014. “Pepe”, translated by John Chu, is published in Clarkesworld and also reprinted in The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy.
Furthermore, she often explores genre boundaries by writing reviews, commentaries, poems, as well as doing research into installation art and photography. In 2016, Tang Fei was invited (and she is the first Chinese SF writer to be invited) as a guest for public meetings of LUNÄ, initiated by artist Marjolijn Dijkman, during the 11th Shanghai Biennale. Her short story collection The Person Who Saw Cetus has been published by Shanghai Literature & Art Publishing House.
Tang Fei is a speculative fiction writer and a member of SFWA. She has been writing and publishing nearly 400,000 words of short stories and novelettes since 2005 in Jiuzhou Fantasy and Science Fiction World. She started using the pen name “Tang Fei” in 2008, and her works have been featured in various magazines in China, including Fiction World and Shanghai Literature. Since 2013, she has published 7 stories in the USA, UK and Australia. “Call Girl”, translated by Ken Liu, is published in APEX Magazine and reprinted in Rich Horton's The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2014. “Pepe”, translated by John Chu, is published in Clarkesworld and also reprinted in The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy.
Furthermore, she often explores genre boundaries by writing reviews, commentaries, poems, as well as doing research into installation art and photography. In 2016, Tang Fei was invited (and she is the first Chinese SF writer to be invited) as a guest for public meetings of LUNÄ, initiated by artist Marjolijn Dijkman, during the 11th Shanghai Biennale. Her short story collection The Person Who Saw Cetus has been published by Shanghai Literature & Art Publishing House.
Sugi Widjaja, Investment Analyst
Equity Investment Analyst, Capital Group (Hong Kong).
Sugiharto Widjaja is an equity investment analyst at Capital Group with research responsibility for Asian internet and small-cap companies. He has nine years of investment experience and has been with Capital Group for four years. Prior to joining Capital, Sugiharto was a research analyst for Fidelity Management and Research. He holds an MBA from the Walter Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Sugiharto is based in Hong Kong.
Sugiharto Widjaja is an equity investment analyst at Capital Group with research responsibility for Asian internet and small-cap companies. He has nine years of investment experience and has been with Capital Group for four years. Prior to joining Capital, Sugiharto was a research analyst for Fidelity Management and Research. He holds an MBA from the Walter Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Sugiharto is based in Hong Kong.
Stanley Chan, Marketing Executive/Author
Author, Script Writer, Noitom Ltd. VP of Communications (China).
Chen Qiufan, Stanley, is a representative member of the China's new generation of speculative fiction authors. He is known for his stylistic combination of realism and New Wave, and has been called “China's William Gibson”. His works have been translated into many languages and received multiple local and international awards including 9 Chinese Nebula Awards (Chinese counterpart of Hugo Award), 3 Galaxy Awards and the World F&SF Translation Award. His representative works include Waste Tide, Censored, and Future Disease. He previously worked for Google, Baidu and other corporations for nearly ten years; at present, as the Vice President of Noitom Ltd., he focuses on the fields of motion capture and virtual reality.
Chen Qiufan, Stanley, is a representative member of the China's new generation of speculative fiction authors. He is known for his stylistic combination of realism and New Wave, and has been called “China's William Gibson”. His works have been translated into many languages and received multiple local and international awards including 9 Chinese Nebula Awards (Chinese counterpart of Hugo Award), 3 Galaxy Awards and the World F&SF Translation Award. His representative works include Waste Tide, Censored, and Future Disease. He previously worked for Google, Baidu and other corporations for nearly ten years; at present, as the Vice President of Noitom Ltd., he focuses on the fields of motion capture and virtual reality.
Yeoh Siew Hoon, Travel Writer & Industry Pundit
Travel Writer & Industry Pundit
(Singapore).
Yeoh Siew Hoon combines her love of travel and writing in her profession as a travel industry journalist and commentator. She runs her own travel conference and website, Web In Travel, which she founded in 2005. She saw a need for the industry to recognize and deal with the changes that would come from the Internet and technology.
Siew Hoon is also an established speaker and facilitator at conferences and workshops. She’s moderated at the Singapore Writer’s Festival, conducting interviews with Pico Iyer and Paul Theroux. She is also a published author, having written titles including “Truth, Lies & Other Stuff”, “Around Asia in 1 Hr: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries” and “Losing My Innocence, Finding My Groove”. In 2009, she published a children’s book “The Adventures of Habibi, The Wise Turtle”, for Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Oman, to promote environmental awareness and conservation of green turtles in the Oman area. In August 2012, a children’s book that she co-wrote was also published. Called “The Story of Baitong & Boon”, it’s aimed at raising awareness of elephants living in Thailand as well as English literacy in rural Thailand and under its’ “Buy One, Print One” initiative, free books are given to children in rural Thailand by the Himmapaan Foundation.
(Singapore).
Yeoh Siew Hoon combines her love of travel and writing in her profession as a travel industry journalist and commentator. She runs her own travel conference and website, Web In Travel, which she founded in 2005. She saw a need for the industry to recognize and deal with the changes that would come from the Internet and technology.
Siew Hoon is also an established speaker and facilitator at conferences and workshops. She’s moderated at the Singapore Writer’s Festival, conducting interviews with Pico Iyer and Paul Theroux. She is also a published author, having written titles including “Truth, Lies & Other Stuff”, “Around Asia in 1 Hr: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries” and “Losing My Innocence, Finding My Groove”. In 2009, she published a children’s book “The Adventures of Habibi, The Wise Turtle”, for Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Oman, to promote environmental awareness and conservation of green turtles in the Oman area. In August 2012, a children’s book that she co-wrote was also published. Called “The Story of Baitong & Boon”, it’s aimed at raising awareness of elephants living in Thailand as well as English literacy in rural Thailand and under its’ “Buy One, Print One” initiative, free books are given to children in rural Thailand by the Himmapaan Foundation.
Seth Shostak, SETI Astronomer
Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute (US).
Seth is the Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute in California, and is part of the research team using large radio telescopes to search for evidence of intelligent life elsewhere. His educational background includes a BA in physics from Princeton University and a PhD in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology. His research work on galaxies, using radio telescopes around the world, included 13 years at the State University of Groningen, in The Netherlands.
Other activities include a software startup in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a computer animation company in Holland.
For most of a decade, Seth was a Distinguished Lecturer for the International Academy of Astronautics, and for ten years was chair of the IAA’s SETI Permanent Committee.
In addition to publishing more than 60 papers in refereed research journals, Seth is heavily involved in science outreach. He has appeared on hundreds of national and international TV and radio shows, and is host of the SETI Institute’s weekly, one-hour radio show, “Big Picture Science,” now broadcast on more than 100 stations in the U.S. and Canada. He has penned more than 500 popular articles on science, technology, photography and film. He is the author of four books, including a college textbook on astrobiology.
Seth is the Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute in California, and is part of the research team using large radio telescopes to search for evidence of intelligent life elsewhere. His educational background includes a BA in physics from Princeton University and a PhD in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology. His research work on galaxies, using radio telescopes around the world, included 13 years at the State University of Groningen, in The Netherlands.
Other activities include a software startup in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a computer animation company in Holland.
For most of a decade, Seth was a Distinguished Lecturer for the International Academy of Astronautics, and for ten years was chair of the IAA’s SETI Permanent Committee.
In addition to publishing more than 60 papers in refereed research journals, Seth is heavily involved in science outreach. He has appeared on hundreds of national and international TV and radio shows, and is host of the SETI Institute’s weekly, one-hour radio show, “Big Picture Science,” now broadcast on more than 100 stations in the U.S. and Canada. He has penned more than 500 popular articles on science, technology, photography and film. He is the author of four books, including a college textbook on astrobiology.
Philip Qu, Media/Tech Lawyer
Partner, TransAsia Lawyers and media industry lawyer (China).
Philip is based in Beijing, China. TransAsia Lawyers is generally considered to be one of the leading law firms licensed in the People's Republic of China. The firm was founded over 20 years ago by attorneys who have been advising on investments into and out of China since the early 1980s. The majority of our lawyers are admitted to practice in China, while others are qualified in the United States, Australia and Malaysia.
Philip is based in Beijing, China. TransAsia Lawyers is generally considered to be one of the leading law firms licensed in the People's Republic of China. The firm was founded over 20 years ago by attorneys who have been advising on investments into and out of China since the early 1980s. The majority of our lawyers are admitted to practice in China, while others are qualified in the United States, Australia and Malaysia.
Paul Aiello, Media Investor
MD, Emerald Media, KKR
(Hong Kong).
One of the most respected executives in the media industry in Asia Pacific, Paul is the Managing Director of Emerald Media. Paul was formerly the Co-Founder and CEO of CA Media. Paul has 25 years of professional experience as a media executive and investment banker with Morgan Stanley and CS Frist Boston, most of his career focused on Asia Pacific. Prior to CA Media, he served as the CEO of STAR Group Ltd., the region’s leading pay television broadcaster. Prior to STAR, Paul was the head of TMT Investment Banking and the COO of Investment Banking for Morgan Stanley Asia and a corporate finance banker at CS First Boston. Paul received a B.A. degree in Economics and International Relations from the University of Notre Dame and Ph.D in Economics from the University of Cambridge.
Led by industry veterans Paul Aiello and Rajesh Kamat, Emerald Media is a pan-Asian platform established by KKR to fund investment opportunities in the fast-growing media and entertainment industries across Asia. KKR has committed up to $300mm from its KKR Asian Fund II and The Chernin Group will join as a minority co-investor. The platform primarily focuses on providing growth capital to media, entertainment and digital media companies across a wide range of subsectors spanning from content to platforms.
(Hong Kong).
One of the most respected executives in the media industry in Asia Pacific, Paul is the Managing Director of Emerald Media. Paul was formerly the Co-Founder and CEO of CA Media. Paul has 25 years of professional experience as a media executive and investment banker with Morgan Stanley and CS Frist Boston, most of his career focused on Asia Pacific. Prior to CA Media, he served as the CEO of STAR Group Ltd., the region’s leading pay television broadcaster. Prior to STAR, Paul was the head of TMT Investment Banking and the COO of Investment Banking for Morgan Stanley Asia and a corporate finance banker at CS First Boston. Paul received a B.A. degree in Economics and International Relations from the University of Notre Dame and Ph.D in Economics from the University of Cambridge.
Led by industry veterans Paul Aiello and Rajesh Kamat, Emerald Media is a pan-Asian platform established by KKR to fund investment opportunities in the fast-growing media and entertainment industries across Asia. KKR has committed up to $300mm from its KKR Asian Fund II and The Chernin Group will join as a minority co-investor. The platform primarily focuses on providing growth capital to media, entertainment and digital media companies across a wide range of subsectors spanning from content to platforms.
Regina K. Wang, Storycom Int. PR Manager/Author
Writer, Co-founder of AppleCore, Int. PR Manager at Storycom.
Born in 1990, Regina Kanyu Wang is a writer from Shanghai and member of Shanghai Writers’ Association. She has been invited as a guest for Shanghai-Taipei Writing camp, Melon HK, Shanghai International Literary Week and Euro-Asia Economic Forum. She is a multi-winner of Xingyun Awards for Global Chinese SF. Her stories and articles can be found in Mengya, Science Fiction World, Bund-pic, Numéro, ELLEMEN, Wenyi Daily, UNITAS a literary monthly, Mithila Review, Amazing Stories and etc. Her first short story and novella collection, Of Cloud and Mist 2.2, is coming out in 2018. She has co-founded SF AppleCore and is now working as International PR Manager for Storycom.
Born in 1990, Regina Kanyu Wang is a writer from Shanghai and member of Shanghai Writers’ Association. She has been invited as a guest for Shanghai-Taipei Writing camp, Melon HK, Shanghai International Literary Week and Euro-Asia Economic Forum. She is a multi-winner of Xingyun Awards for Global Chinese SF. Her stories and articles can be found in Mengya, Science Fiction World, Bund-pic, Numéro, ELLEMEN, Wenyi Daily, UNITAS a literary monthly, Mithila Review, Amazing Stories and etc. Her first short story and novella collection, Of Cloud and Mist 2.2, is coming out in 2018. She has co-founded SF AppleCore and is now working as International PR Manager for Storycom.
Lisa Nip, Synthetic Biologist
Synthetic biologist, MIT Media Lab (US).
Lisa Nip is a Ph.D. candidate at the MIT Media Lab's Molecular Machines group. She uses her training in biochemistry and biotechnology to translate synthetic biology into real-world applications. She spends much of her time concocting biological solutions to long-duration space travel and works to make them a reality.
Nip was trained as a biochemist at Boston University, and previously did research in the Douglas Lab at UCSF and the Church Lab in the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard Medical School.
Lisa Nip is a Ph.D. candidate at the MIT Media Lab's Molecular Machines group. She uses her training in biochemistry and biotechnology to translate synthetic biology into real-world applications. She spends much of her time concocting biological solutions to long-duration space travel and works to make them a reality.
Nip was trained as a biochemist at Boston University, and previously did research in the Douglas Lab at UCSF and the Church Lab in the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard Medical School.
James W Hedges, Artist/Writer/Publisher
James W. Hedges is an artist, writer and editor based in Hong Kong. He is the co-editor of living in the future, an occasional journal of science fiction and future topics.
Jo Lusby, Publishing Industry Expert
Publishing industry expert (Hong Kong).
Jo Lusby is the former Managing Director of North Asia for Penguin Random House, the world’s largest consumer book publisher. She has set up successful operations in Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, and, most recently Hong Kong, where she is now based.
Jo established the first Penguin Books based in the region in 2005, in Beijing. Under her guidance, Penguin Random House has emerged as the leading trade book publisher operating locally in the highly restricted China market. A fluent Mandarin speaker, Jo is responsible for all business operations, across publishing and acquisition of books for the Chinese, Korean, and English language markets, through to sales and distribution of English language imports from the UK and US.
Jo Lusby is the former Managing Director of North Asia for Penguin Random House, the world’s largest consumer book publisher. She has set up successful operations in Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, and, most recently Hong Kong, where she is now based.
Jo established the first Penguin Books based in the region in 2005, in Beijing. Under her guidance, Penguin Random House has emerged as the leading trade book publisher operating locally in the highly restricted China market. A fluent Mandarin speaker, Jo is responsible for all business operations, across publishing and acquisition of books for the Chinese, Korean, and English language markets, through to sales and distribution of English language imports from the UK and US.
Howard Tian, VR Director/Founder
Howard Tian is a media business strategist and an award-winning content creator. He help created a television program that won the Best Creativity Award at the “Unleash Your Creativity” Program hosted by TVB in 2014; he also created a cinematic VR game that won a Special Mention Award at the HKICT Best Digital Entertainment Awards 2016.
He is now the Co-Founder of Go VR Immersive, a startup that specializes in creating immersive, interactive and innovative content for Virtual Reality.
Howard made his directorial debut working together with Media Asia and iQiYi, by directing a 4-episodes VR Series for the well-known franchise “Infernal Affairs”, which was broadcasted on China online video platform – iQiYi.
He is also the Technical Director of Global VR/AR Creator Series - Hong Kong Community.
He is now the Co-Founder of Go VR Immersive, a startup that specializes in creating immersive, interactive and innovative content for Virtual Reality.
Howard made his directorial debut working together with Media Asia and iQiYi, by directing a 4-episodes VR Series for the well-known franchise “Infernal Affairs”, which was broadcasted on China online video platform – iQiYi.
He is also the Technical Director of Global VR/AR Creator Series - Hong Kong Community.
Hilke Schlichting, Planetary Scientist
Planetary Scientist, UCLA/MIT (US).
Dr. Schlichting’s work focuses on the formation of planets and exoplanets. She is a professor of planetary science and astrophysics at UCLA and holds a visiting faculty appointment at MIT. She received her PhD in astrophysics from Caltech in 2009 and a bachelor and master degree from the University of Cambridge, England, in 2004. In her work she combines exoplanet-research with the study of the Solar System and takes advantage of this powerful synergy to develop a comprehensive understanding of planet formation. Her group focuses on pioneering new theoretical models, which are motivated by cutting-edge observations, with the goal of explaining the origin and diversity of exoplanets and placing the formation of our own Solar System into context. Ultimately, she would like to answer where we come from and why life evolved in the Universe where it did. She was a recipient of the prestigious NASA Hubble Fellowship, has Asteroid (9522) named in her honor, is Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow, and was awarded the UCLA chancellors award for exceptional accomplishments in postdoctoral research. In her free time, she loves to paint and to explore the world above and under water on her travels.
Dr. Schlichting’s work focuses on the formation of planets and exoplanets. She is a professor of planetary science and astrophysics at UCLA and holds a visiting faculty appointment at MIT. She received her PhD in astrophysics from Caltech in 2009 and a bachelor and master degree from the University of Cambridge, England, in 2004. In her work she combines exoplanet-research with the study of the Solar System and takes advantage of this powerful synergy to develop a comprehensive understanding of planet formation. Her group focuses on pioneering new theoretical models, which are motivated by cutting-edge observations, with the goal of explaining the origin and diversity of exoplanets and placing the formation of our own Solar System into context. Ultimately, she would like to answer where we come from and why life evolved in the Universe where it did. She was a recipient of the prestigious NASA Hubble Fellowship, has Asteroid (9522) named in her honor, is Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow, and was awarded the UCLA chancellors award for exceptional accomplishments in postdoctoral research. In her free time, she loves to paint and to explore the world above and under water on her travels.
Gu Shi, Urban Planner/Author
Author (China).
Gu Shi is a speculative fiction writer and an urban planner.
A graduate of Shanghai's Tongji University, she obtained her master's degree in urban planning from the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design. Since 2012, she has been working as a researcher at the academy's Urban Design Institute.
Ms. Gu has been publishing fiction since 2011 in markets like Super Nice, Science Fiction World, Mystery World, and SF King. She has won a Galaxy Award for Best Short Story in 2017 with "Möbius Continuum", a Gold Award for Best Novella at the Chinese Nebula (Xingyun) Awards with "Chimera" in 2016.
Gu Shi is a speculative fiction writer and an urban planner.
A graduate of Shanghai's Tongji University, she obtained her master's degree in urban planning from the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design. Since 2012, she has been working as a researcher at the academy's Urban Design Institute.
Ms. Gu has been publishing fiction since 2011 in markets like Super Nice, Science Fiction World, Mystery World, and SF King. She has won a Galaxy Award for Best Short Story in 2017 with "Möbius Continuum", a Gold Award for Best Novella at the Chinese Nebula (Xingyun) Awards with "Chimera" in 2016.
David Li, Investor
At Queen's Road Capital, David mainly focuses on investments in China where he combines his experience in tech investment banking and passion for startups in his daily interaction with entrepreneurs.
Prior to joining Queen's Road Capital, David was with Credit Suisse's investment banking team where he worked on a number of M&A and IPO transactions mainly in the internet and technology sector in China.
Prior to joining Queen's Road Capital, David was with Credit Suisse's investment banking team where he worked on a number of M&A and IPO transactions mainly in the internet and technology sector in China.
Fritz Demopoulos, Entrepreneur/Investor
Founder of Melon (Hong Kong)
Fritz Demopoulos has been a technology and media industry entrepreneur in mainland China and Hong Kong for a number of years. He coordinates his entrepreneurial business and investment activities through Queen's Road Capital. Fritz was educated at the University of California, Los Angeles, Karls-Ruprect University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He supports The Arsenal Gunners of the English Premier League.
Fritz Demopoulos has been a technology and media industry entrepreneur in mainland China and Hong Kong for a number of years. He coordinates his entrepreneurial business and investment activities through Queen's Road Capital. Fritz was educated at the University of California, Los Angeles, Karls-Ruprect University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He supports The Arsenal Gunners of the English Premier League.
Dominik Nagiller, Entrepreneur
Founding Partner of Melon (Hong Kong)
Dominik is a founding partner of Melon conference. He is also with Queen’s Road Capital a HK-based venture fund undertaking early stage investments in TMT across Asia. Previously he was with Volkswagen Group China and did stints in academia and contemporary art trading in Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei. Dominik graduated from School of Oriental and African Studies in London with BA in Politics and Economics.
Dominik is a founding partner of Melon conference. He is also with Queen’s Road Capital a HK-based venture fund undertaking early stage investments in TMT across Asia. Previously he was with Volkswagen Group China and did stints in academia and contemporary art trading in Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei. Dominik graduated from School of Oriental and African Studies in London with BA in Politics and Economics.
Derek Ting, Filmmaker
Film Writer, Director, Producer (Hong Kong/US)
A writer, director, producer originally from New York, now based in Hong Kong, Derek strives to challenge himself in everything he does. He has written and produced several feature films: $upercapitalist, shot in Hong Kong and New York, released internationally in 2012 with millions of views; Always, a romance drama shot in Hong Kong and Shanghai, released globally in 2016 and has an 8.5 rating on QQ.com from China with 300K+ views, and Agent, a science fiction thriller, shot in 2016 and entirely in California that explores the origins of the Pyramids, Stone Henge, and the Great Wall as well as Alien conspiracies. Recently, he wrote and directed a science fiction short film, Lucid, about the possible future use of “virtual reality” as a way to reconstruct memories.
He writes and directs lifestyle branding videos, corporate and music videos, and has had the opportunity to work with some of the greatest stars and brands in the entertainment industry, both in Asia and North America.
He loves to travel, play sports and exercise. He's a former CNN Producer, ex-Doubleclicker (now Google), Mercer consultant, and Cornell University graduate.
A writer, director, producer originally from New York, now based in Hong Kong, Derek strives to challenge himself in everything he does. He has written and produced several feature films: $upercapitalist, shot in Hong Kong and New York, released internationally in 2012 with millions of views; Always, a romance drama shot in Hong Kong and Shanghai, released globally in 2016 and has an 8.5 rating on QQ.com from China with 300K+ views, and Agent, a science fiction thriller, shot in 2016 and entirely in California that explores the origins of the Pyramids, Stone Henge, and the Great Wall as well as Alien conspiracies. Recently, he wrote and directed a science fiction short film, Lucid, about the possible future use of “virtual reality” as a way to reconstruct memories.
He writes and directs lifestyle branding videos, corporate and music videos, and has had the opportunity to work with some of the greatest stars and brands in the entertainment industry, both in Asia and North America.
He loves to travel, play sports and exercise. He's a former CNN Producer, ex-Doubleclicker (now Google), Mercer consultant, and Cornell University graduate.
Becky Chambers, Author
Author (US).
Becky Chambers is the author of the science fiction novels The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, A Closed and Common Orbit, and the upcoming Record of a Spaceborn Few (July 2018). Her work has been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction, among others. She grew up in a family heavily involved in space science, and thinks everybody should see Saturn through a telescope. After some years spent bouncing around the world, she's currently back in her home state of California.
Becky Chambers is the author of the science fiction novels The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, A Closed and Common Orbit, and the upcoming Record of a Spaceborn Few (July 2018). Her work has been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction, among others. She grew up in a family heavily involved in space science, and thinks everybody should see Saturn through a telescope. After some years spent bouncing around the world, she's currently back in her home state of California.
Bao Shu, SF World Contributor
Author (China).
Bao Shu is a Chinese SF writer living in Xi’an. He began his writing career since 2010, and has published four novels, such as Three body Problem X: the Redemption of Time, Ruins of Time, etc., and two collections. His shorter works are often published by Magazines like Science Fiction World, ZUI Fiction, Knowledge is Power, and People’s Literature. He has won several major awards for Chinese SF. Some of his works are now available in English, published by F&SF and Clarkesworld.
Bao Shu is a Chinese SF writer living in Xi’an. He began his writing career since 2010, and has published four novels, such as Three body Problem X: the Redemption of Time, Ruins of Time, etc., and two collections. His shorter works are often published by Magazines like Science Fiction World, ZUI Fiction, Knowledge is Power, and People’s Literature. He has won several major awards for Chinese SF. Some of his works are now available in English, published by F&SF and Clarkesworld.
Ah Que, Author
Writer (China).
Ah Que was born in 1990 in Hubei province, and now lives in Chengdu. Works are regularly published in top magazines like Science Fiction World. Has won both Chinese Nebula and Galaxy Awards for short fiction. His collection “Travel With My Dear Android“ was published in 2015.
Ah Que was born in 1990 in Hubei province, and now lives in Chengdu. Works are regularly published in top magazines like Science Fiction World. Has won both Chinese Nebula and Galaxy Awards for short fiction. His collection “Travel With My Dear Android“ was published in 2015.
Alfie Bown, Academic/Technology Theorist
Hong Kong
Allen Steele, Hugo Award Winner/Author
Author (US).
Allen Mulherin Steele, Jr. became a full-time science fiction writer in 1988, following publication of his first short story, "Live From The Mars Hotel" (Asimov's, mid-Dec. `88). Since then he has become a prolific author of novels, short stories, and essays, with his work translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide.
His work has won many prestigious genre awards, including three Hugo and three Locus Awards. His critically-acclaimed novelettes include ”The Death Of Captain Future”, "`...Where Angels Fear to Tread’”and “The Emperor of Mars”.
Steele is a former member of both the Board of Directors and the Board of Advisors for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and is also a former advisor for the Space Frontier Foundation. In April, 2001, he testified before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the U.S. House of Representatives, in hearings regarding space exploration in the 21st century. “Live from the Mars Hotel” is among the many stories and novels included on the “Visions of Mars” disk aboard NASA’s Phoenix lander, which landed on Mars in 2008.
He lives in western Massachusetts with his wife Linda and their dogs.
Allen Mulherin Steele, Jr. became a full-time science fiction writer in 1988, following publication of his first short story, "Live From The Mars Hotel" (Asimov's, mid-Dec. `88). Since then he has become a prolific author of novels, short stories, and essays, with his work translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide.
His work has won many prestigious genre awards, including three Hugo and three Locus Awards. His critically-acclaimed novelettes include ”The Death Of Captain Future”, "`...Where Angels Fear to Tread’”and “The Emperor of Mars”.
Steele is a former member of both the Board of Directors and the Board of Advisors for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and is also a former advisor for the Space Frontier Foundation. In April, 2001, he testified before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the U.S. House of Representatives, in hearings regarding space exploration in the 21st century. “Live from the Mars Hotel” is among the many stories and novels included on the “Visions of Mars” disk aboard NASA’s Phoenix lander, which landed on Mars in 2008.
He lives in western Massachusetts with his wife Linda and their dogs.
Anna Wu, Contributor to Galaxy's Edge
Anna Wu, Contributor to Galaxy's Edge
Antoine Blondeau, AI Expert
CEO, Sentient Technologies (HK/US).
Operating out of San Francisco and Hong Kong, Antoine is a visionary leader with extensive experience as CEO, senior officer, investor and director in technology companies, from start-ups to listed companies. Over the past 20 years he has dedicated himself to the development of Artificial Intelligence. He was the chief executive officer of Dejima, the company that powered DARPA’s foundational CALO project that later evolved into Apple’s Siri. Antoine was also chief operating officer of Zi Corporation, whose predictive text input software was embedded in hundreds of millions of devices. He is the co-founder and Chairman of Sentient Technologies, one of the world’s largest AI technology startups, and the leader in massively scaled, distributed, AI.
Antoine has also held senior leadership positions at Good Technology, Salesforce, and Sybase. He is an investor in 20 technology companies in California, New York, and Greater China, and sits on the Boards of a number of these firms. He is an advisor to Pictet et Cie.’s $2B Global Digital Fund, and a founding member of Audi’s Beyond think tank dedicated to the economic and societal impact of AI.
Operating out of San Francisco and Hong Kong, Antoine is a visionary leader with extensive experience as CEO, senior officer, investor and director in technology companies, from start-ups to listed companies. Over the past 20 years he has dedicated himself to the development of Artificial Intelligence. He was the chief executive officer of Dejima, the company that powered DARPA’s foundational CALO project that later evolved into Apple’s Siri. Antoine was also chief operating officer of Zi Corporation, whose predictive text input software was embedded in hundreds of millions of devices. He is the co-founder and Chairman of Sentient Technologies, one of the world’s largest AI technology startups, and the leader in massively scaled, distributed, AI.
Antoine has also held senior leadership positions at Good Technology, Salesforce, and Sybase. He is an investor in 20 technology companies in California, New York, and Greater China, and sits on the Boards of a number of these firms. He is an advisor to Pictet et Cie.’s $2B Global Digital Fund, and a founding member of Audi’s Beyond think tank dedicated to the economic and societal impact of AI.
Li Bo (Scott), Space Entrepreneur/Investor
Li, Bo (Scott)
Founder of GSegment Space Technologies, Inc
Bo Li is the founder of GSegment Space Technologies, Inc., which has been an active contributor of science software on international space programs (ESA, NASA & China), including the largest infrared space telescope ever launched, the largest radio telescope and a space telescope for GRBs observation. He is an early member of Qunar.com and an angel investor in the fields of internet, VR, game, and film.
His most recent endeavor is creating a new type of nighttime theme park. By combining art, technology, game, and entertainment, he aims to inspire children to explore and reach for the stars.
Founder of GSegment Space Technologies, Inc
Bo Li is the founder of GSegment Space Technologies, Inc., which has been an active contributor of science software on international space programs (ESA, NASA & China), including the largest infrared space telescope ever launched, the largest radio telescope and a space telescope for GRBs observation. He is an early member of Qunar.com and an angel investor in the fields of internet, VR, game, and film.
His most recent endeavor is creating a new type of nighttime theme park. By combining art, technology, game, and entertainment, he aims to inspire children to explore and reach for the stars.
2018 Event Photos
