Leadership Team

INSPIRING GENERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION
Alia is the Chief Executive Officer of Mother’s Choice, and communicates the vision, sets the strategy, and leads our team of 150+ staff and 800+ volunteers to work towards every child in a loving family. Alia was a corporate lawyer in Hong Kong for Hogan Lovells and in New York for Skadden, Arps before she joined Mother’s Choice as CEO in 2012. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Centre and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University.

Alia was born and raised in Hong Kong, where she and her six younger siblings had the opportunity to volunteer at Mother’s Choice through childhood. Alia lives with her husband, an entrepreneur from Ireland, and their seven children. As a family, they are passionate about inspiring the wider community to play a role in transforming the lives of vulnerable children, youth, and families in our city. Because every child deserves a family.

WHICH CORE VALUE RESONATES MOST WITH YOU?
For our vision to be realized, we need to be a catalyst for positive social change across our whole community, as the issues that we tackle are complex. Our work in building families impacts not just one, but multiple generations.

ARCHITECTING VISIONARY TRANSFORMATION
Hélène is the Chief Operating Officer of Mother’s Choice, and oversees all frontline services, in addition to operations. This encompasses Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, and Facilities & Administration. Hélène joined Mother’s Choice in 2014 as the Assistant Director of Technology where she led data transformation projects throughout the organization. She was integral in taking global best practices in case management and incorporating them into data-driven and evidenced-based services.

Before joining Mother's Choice, Hélène held various IT management positions at investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, and she worked in London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Hélène holds an engineering degree from Ecole Polytechnique Féminine in France and has lived in Hong Kong since 1996. She and her husband — together with their four children — became a foster family in 2021. Because no family can do it on their own.

WHICH CORE VALUE RESONATES MOST WITH YOU?
Courage. We are not afraid to go into uncharted territory and to stand up for children in adversity. We are a voice for children and young people to be in family.

CHAMPIONING POTENTIAL INTO EXCELLENCE
As the Director of Clinical and Residential Programs at Mother's Choice, Charmaine oversees the operation of two residential services for children and young girls – our pregnant girl’s hostel and our child care home. She designs, delivers and upholds high-quality programs and training curriculums that ensures our care providers, including staff, volunteers, foster and birth parents, can access crucial training to care for their children and girls safely and lovingly. Her personal mission is to champion the rights of children and girls, and to enable them to reach their fullest potential. Because every girl deserves a second chance.

Charmaine is also Head of the Early Intervention team where she ensures that all children under Mother’s Choice care receive early screening and therapeutic intervention so that they can reach their optimum potential. Charmaine has a Masters’ degree in Infant and Early Childhood Development from the USA with an emphasis in Mental Health and Developmental Disorders. She is also a registered occupational therapist in both HK and the UK.

WHICH CORE VALUE RESONATES MOST WITH YOU?
We reach our full potential in authentic relationship. We are all created to be connected in a secure family, and family is the most powerful agent of change.

PURSUING RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE
Lea is Director of Services Case Management at Mother’s Choice. She is deeply passionate about child welfare and in being a voice for vulnerable children and seeing children in a permanent, safe and loving family. Lea was the driving force behind the first self-financed fostering program in Hong Kong called Project Bridge which is helping to build capacity and to change practices in the current foster care system. Because parenting can be a daunting challenge and needs to be surrounded by a supportive community.

Lea holds a degree in Social Work and a master's degree in Counselling from the University of Hong Kong. Her diverse career spans working in government, NGOs and the commercial sector. With this wide-ranging experience, she brings a unique blend of compassion and logic, coupled with a commitment to alternative care of children and social protection. Her personal mission is to change practices and measure outcomes for children and families on the edge of care. Lea and her family are an approved foster family and since 2017, have fostered six children.

WHICH CORE VALUE RESONATES MOST WITH YOU?
We see lives transformed through the power of hope. There is no such thing as a hopeless case. We believe that everyone deserves a second chance.

CREATING COLORFUL EXPERIENCES
Lily is Director, Communications and Philanthropy where she sees her role of resident storyteller to help tell of the many changed life stories as a result of the work of Mother’s Choice. She delights in creating distinct and authentic experiences that help to build connections and deepen engagement with the many stakeholders of Mother’s Choice. Because we believe it takes a village to raise a child, and everyone has a role to play.

Before joining Mother's Choice, Lily held senior regional marketing positions at The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. She joined the non-profit sector to help “disrupt” the child welfare system to meet the growing social needs of Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University in Toronto. Lily thrives in organizations that are purpose-driven because when they can mobilize their resources into powering a better world, they are game-changers.

WHICH CORE VALUE RESONATES MOST WITH YOU?
Community. Because we have seen how powerful it is when our community works together to turn crisis into hope. Everyone has a role to play, and everyone can make a difference.