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THE ARTS
Exploring new frontiers in culture and artistic expression
Nicola Dinan
AUTHOR
Novelist Nicola Dinan’s work delves into human relationships with subtlety and sensitivity while foregrounding Asian and queer perspectives. She won widespread acclaim for her debut novel Bellies, which was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award and is being adapted for TV. Her second novel, Disappoint Me, will be published in 2025. After growing up in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, she now lives in London.
Erica Eng
ILLUSTRATOR
Comic book artist Erica Eng rose to prominence in 2020 through her webcomic, Fried Rice, which depicted the life of a Malaysian teenager, based on her own experiences. A runaway success, it earned Erica an Eisner Award, becoming the first Malaysian to win at the comic industry’s version of the Oscars. It was joined in 2024 by a print edition. Erica also works as an animator in the gaming industry.
EDUCATION
Empowering populations through new learning tools
Max Han Kai Ding
CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YOUTHS UNITED FOR EARTH
Max Han Kai Ding’s non-profit, Youths United for Earth, uses storytelling and grassroots projects to shift the needle in environmental action. He has launched Malaysia’s first and largest online sustainability mentorship programme that prioritises indigenous
