Speakers & Moderators

Lim Cheng Tju (Keynote)

Lim Cheng Tju is the co-editor of Liquid City Vol. 2, an anthology of Southeast Asian comics published by Image Comics in 2010, which was nominated for an Eisner award for best anthology. He is also the country editor (Singapore) for the International Journal of Comic Art. He writes and edits comics sometimes.

Felix Cheong (The Author-Editor)

Felix Cheong holds a master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Queensland. He has been an adjunct lecturer in Singapore with Murdoch University since 2011 and University of Newcastle since 2009. He has written numerous collections of prose and poetry, and won the National Arts Council’s Young Artist of the Year for Literature Award in 2000.

Samantha de Silva (The Author-Editor | Workshop: Improving Editing Skills)

Samantha develops and conducts courses in communication skills and also runs writing workshops and mentorships. She creates content, copy-edits and proofreads for corporate, academic and creative projects like script analysis and writing for film and fiction projects. She has been a contributing writer and voice talent on the satirical podcast, The Mr Brown Show, since 2008.

Patrick Balo (Monetising Writing)

Patrick is the regional creative director of Havas Worldwide, an advertising and branding company, and is currently based in Bangkok. He has previously worked and has gained extensive experience in varied capacities at Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann Worldgroup and Publicis.

Wendy Wong (Self-Publishing)

Wendy has more than 12 years of experience in the print and digital media design industry. She is currently the creative director for Tusitala. Her rich design journey so far includes corporate identities, magazines/brochures/posters design, user interfaces for applications, websites, just to name a few. Wendy directs and manages the start-up of this digital publishing business, continuously developing the business with the director, and overseeing the branding, designs and creative direction.

Sarah Mounsey (Self-Publishing)

Sarah Mounsey grew up in Australia and now lives in Singapore. She is a teacher, writer and publisher and is utterly obsessed by children’s books. Sarah has published three picture books in the Paw Prints series and they have been awarded a medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

Zed Yeo (Self-Publishing | Being the Full-Time Author)

Zed Yeo is the author of Unapologetically Insane Tales. He is a local pioneer in crowdfunding books for publication. Previously, a librarian working for the National Library Board, Zed has contributed to the establishment of several book clubs island-wide, performed storytelling in public, written and edited various literature reviews. He has a keen understanding of the reading habits and preferences of the country. He is currently writing a series featuring a jiangshi and other influences from Asian folklore.

Hirzi Zulkiflie (Social Media Singapore)

Hirzi Zulkiflie’s claim to fame began from his outrageous YouTube Channel (MunahHirziOfficial) that has garnered more than 20 Million channel views to date. Outside the internet, comedian Hirzi Zulkiflie also actively writes and performs for both stage and television. His most recent appearances include an Esplanade stand-up comedy show called, “Happy Ever Laughter” and the self-titled television drama, “Munah Hirzi: Action!” Hirzi was also awarded Singapore’s Most Engaging Online Personality in 2012 and Singapore’s Most Popular Online Personality in 2014 for the M:Idea Awards. His works in Chapman University has made it to international film festivals such as the Palms Springs International Short Film Festival, DC Short Film Festival and Cinekink 2014 NYC.

Maimunah Bagharib (Social Media Singapore)

A communications and new media major from NUS, Munah skyrocketed to social media stardom with Hirzi Zulkiflie in their hilarious YouTube Channel. She has done professional hosting for events organised by Fox International Channels, Starbucks, AXA Singapore, Mediacorp, and the Arab Network Association Singapore, among others. She has also starred in several TV and theatrical productions by Mediacorp, AXN, Scrawl Studio, Kakao Talk MY and Oak 3 Productions.

Geetha Creffield (Writing for Theatre)

Geetha is the Head of department for ACJC’s English and Drama department. She is a postgraduate student reading for a second MA in Performance and Culture at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is doing the field work to start a PHD in Culture, sociology and performance. She is on professional development leave from her job as Head of department, arts in a high school in Singapore where she teaches and develops theatre and drama studies programmes. Geetha is the director of ACSian Theatre, a prize winning youth ensemble that travels extensively and performs across the world.

Joel Tan (Writing for Theatre)

A freelance theatre writer, director and performer, working across different genres, styles and cultural contexts, Joel also writes creatively in non-fiction, prose fiction and music. He is an Associate Artist with Checkpoint Theatre. Graduating from the University Scholars Programme at NUS with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Joel writes for Checkpoint Theatre’s publications, and provides features for Pioneer and * Days Magazines. He is the playwright and producer of Mosaic, under the direction of Chen Ying Xuan, as part of the M1 Fringe Festival.

Liyana Othman (Blogging as a Career)

Professionally, Liyana has had extensive experience in banking and finance. Aside from her exploits in the business world, she has become an active participant in the United Nations Youth Association Network (UNYANET) General Assembly in Rome in 2014, becoming the only delegate from Singapore since UNYANET was founded in 2011. She is the PR Manager for UNYANET, managing a team of youth journalists focusing on the topics of international affairs, human rights, and sustainable development, among other concerns.

Melissa Koh (Blogging as a Career)

Melissa’s fondness for food and photography has led her into the food photography field, creating drool-worthy images for corporate clients, editorials, and most of the time just for memory’s keepsake. She documents her food journeys on her blog, melicacy.com.

David Seow (Being the Full-Time Author)

Having graduated with a degree in communication from the University of Portland, David has been the author-publisher of Bonnie Books since 2009. He was nominated as a finalist in the 2011 Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Kite Member’s Choice Book Award, and in the same year became a finalist in the Hedwig Anuar Book Award for his book There’s Soup On My Fly!

Otto Fong (Being the Full-Time Author)

Otto has a basic foundation in the study of electromagnetic waves and transistors at university level. He studied in the Ministry of Education because he has a strong drive to make science accessible and enjoyable to the masses. During his stint as a film directing student in Beijing Film Academy and apprentice in Beijing Film Factory, he learnt the skills to construct a visually-appealing and emotionally compelling case for science.

Harry Corro (Writing for Radio)

Harry got his big break in 1993 when he was hired as a radio newscaster. Moving up the production ladder, eventually becoming the programme director for SAFRA Radio Power 98FM and Imaging Producer and morning host of JAM 88.3FM. Currently a visiting lecturer for Broadcasting at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Harry hones students to become future broadcasters, production directors, writers and producers.

Gregory Loo (Journalism at its Core)

Currently involved in The New Paper as a sports journalist, Gregory is also a content producer for the Singapore Press Holdings. He finished a Bachelors in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Mass Communication from the Oklahoma City University in 2009, and has been in the media industry since then, in various capacities, both online and print.

Stacey Anne Rodrigues (Journalism at its Core)

Stacey is the Features and Lifestyle editor of ELLE Singapore, having 10 years of experience in publishing. With a keen interest in communication research, she recently completed a Masters in Mass Communication at NTU. As editor, she manages the editorial team in development of and transition toward a 360-degree approach to content creation in print, video, digital, social media.

Ray Pang (Workshop: Short Film Writing)

Born and raised in Singapore, Ray’s developed his passion for film at 18 while studying for a diploma in Interactive Media Design at the local Temasek Design School. Awarded “The Shooting Gallery Prize” for excellence in his course of study, Ray’s final year project, a short film, “Connection” was screened at *SCAPE youth park’s “STORYBOARD’08” event.

Catherine Carvell (Workshop: Speed-Pitching)

Catherine Carvell was born in England and as a child she loved reading, writing, earthworms and frogs. Her family migrated to Australia when she was eight and she was raised in the northern suburbs of Perth. Darcy Moon and the Deep-fried Frogs is Catherine’s first children’s book. Catherine currently lives in Singapore with her husband, two children and pet turtles. Sometimes, she talk to the turtles, but thankfully, they don’t talk back.

Verena Tay (Crafting Effective Characters, Plots and Settings)

A Singaporean theatre practitioner for over 25 years, Verena Tay has published three collections of plays: In the Company of Women (2004), In the Company of Heroes and Victimology (2011). An Honorary Fellow at the International Writing Program, University of Iowa (Aug–Nov 2007), she now focuses on writing fiction. Spectre: Stories from Dark to Light (2012) is her first collection of short stories.

Adan Jimenez (Keynote)

Born in the San Joaquin Valley in California to Mexican immigrant parents, Adan Jimenez became an immigrant himself when he moved to Singapore after completing his studies at New York University. He has worked for comic book stores, book stores, and gaming stores. And a hoagie sandwich shop once. Now he writes and edits all sorts of things. He is currently an Assistant Director for NBDCS, handling Awards.

Linn Shekinah (The Author-Editor | Being the Full-Time Author)

Linn Shekinah made her first foray into children’s picture books with “The Watchtower Warrior”. It won the Media Development Authority’s [MDA’s] First-Time Writers & Illustrators Publishing Initiative Award and a reviewer described the book as “a gateway into a fascinating chapter of Chinese cultural and social heritage”. The time spent experimenting with sauces, spices and recipes inspired Linn to write “Dou Dou, the Imperial Chef”, and the “Asian Spice Kids”, her first series of bilingual books, sponsored by the Ministry of Education’s Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism.

Kelvin Ang (Monetising Writing)

Kelvin graduated with a Masters in Sports Business Management from the University of Central Florida, and a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University. He currently works as the manager for corporate affairs of Singapore Power Ltd, overseeing media relations and crisis communications. He was previously a sports writer and editor for the Idaho State Journal and did similar roles for media outfits in Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, and Connecticut.

Andrew Chow (Social Media Singapore)

Andrew Chow is a Social Media & Public Relations Strategist, Certified Life Coach, Entrepreneur, Speaker and Author in Singapore. Andrew has spoken in many conferences to business leaders of South east Asia and civil servants in Middle East and North Africa region. His insights on Social Media Strategy, Media Management and Personal Branding have made his a choice selection for workshop leaders. His dynamic presentation style and thought leadership make him a frequently sought-after keynote speaker.

Peter Lin (Blogging as a Career)

An engineer by training, Peter carried a minor in English Literature from Nanyang Technological University. Although was previously in the banking industry, he was a technical writer for a software company in 2010. Serving in NS, Peter was part of Power 98FM as a broadcast journalist, covering news events and sports activities.

Andre Frois (Journalism at its Core)

Holding an engineering degree from NUS, specialising in bio-engineering, Andre is a freelance writer for several publications including Men’s Health, Longitude, Lexus, SC Global, Time Out and the Edge. He is also a freelance model and actor, having several stints in online commercials and ad campaigns, as well as short films.