Course Team
Dr. Brenda Alegre – Lecturer / Course Coordinator
I am a transwoman born and raised in Manila Philippines. I moved to Hong Kong to join HKU. Dr Sam Winter served as my adviser in my unpublished thesis on Transgenders of the Philippines. This thesis was the first done by a Filipino transwoman psychology graduate student. I have done several guesting on various TV shows in the Philippines as a Psychology expert specializing on Sex and Gender Issues. I love music and singing and joined several choirs in the Philippines and Hong Kong as a Soprano. I am a member of STRAP the first ever Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines as well as visibility in women’s and LGBTQIA scenes in Hong Kong and ILGA World Trans Secretariat. I was awarded the 2018 LGBT plus Champion in Hong Kong and spoke at the U.N. My journey and experience helps me to be a conduit for learning so I hope you would take time to listen.
Contact me at brendara@hku.hk
Dr. Crystal Kwok - Guest Lecturer
I hold a PhD in Performance Studies and an advanced Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I'm an award winning filmmaker who started my career in Hong Kong as an actress, writer, director, and controversial talk show host. I taught courses in Women and Film/Media at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and currently is a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong. My works include The Mistress - Winner of The Audience Choice Awards at the Deauville Asiatic Film Festival, Blurring the Color Line - Winner for Best Documentary at the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival, Courage Award at DisOrient Film Festival, and the Mira Nair Rising Female Filmmaker Award at the Harlem International Film Festival. My Cable TV and RTHK radio talk show pushed boundaries in Hong Kong, addressing socially sensitive topics around sexuality and the body. Through both creative and scholarly work, I am committed to breaking boundaries and amplifying voices of women and marginal communities.
Contact me at kwoktalk@hku.hk or kwokthetalk@gmail.com
Dr. Nicky Runge - Guest Lecturer
I am a lecturer and researcher focusing on gender and language in the art world. My PhD research focused on gender and language use in contemporary art discourse, specifically looking at Yoko Ono, Marina Abramović and Tracey Emin. My current research examines the ways in which social identity is constructed in the art world as a professional environment, with special attention to the performance of gender stereotypes in contemporary art, as well as the discourses surrounding them.
Contact me at nrunge@hku.hk
Meg Baguio – Teaching Assistant / Tutor
I identify as queer/non-binary and was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. I used to work in the supply chain industry / BPO in Singapore for 9+ years before moving to Hong Kong and joining HKU. During those years, I also participated in annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Events in Singapore, Thailand, and Australia where I got to interact with diverse queer people and promoted inclusivity in the workplace via companies and organizations who supported the community. I’m advocating for the passing of the SOGIE Bill also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill in the Philippines which has been on hold for many years. I graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts – Mass Communications.
Contact me at meg3@hku.hk
Francis Dumaliang – Teaching Assistant / Tutor
I identify as non-binary/ gender queer. My degree from De La Salle University is in Political Science majoring in Policy Studies. I have more than 15 years of corporate experience in business process outsourcing, human resources and not-for-profits in the Philippines and the US. I am also on the Board of Directors of HappyYness Project, an NGO that assists marginalized women, children, and LGBTQ+ senior citizens in the Philippines. I'm a proud partner of Robert Siy and proudly Filipino.
Contact me at francisd@hku.hk
Respect and Gratitude
Dr. Sam Winter – Course Creator
I come from the UK, but have lived in Hong Kong and worked at the University of Hong Kong for 26 years. I am a psychologist and have researched, taught and done advocacy work in the area of sexual & gender diversity since 1999. I have published over 20 research papers, book chapters & encyclopedia entries, and am on the editorial board of two journals, and an elected member of the Board of Directors of WPATH (The World Professional Association for Transgender Health). I also work on several committees in Hong Kong & regionally which work for sexual & gender minority rights. Now I am happily handling the Sexology programs at Curtin University Perth, Australia.
Professor Timothy O’Leary – Former Course Coordinator
I joined the University of Hong Kong in 2001. I am currently Professor of Philosophy and Head of the School of Humanities. I teach and research in the field of contemporary European philosophy, with a particular interest in ethics. In addition to my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in philosophy (from Ireland, France, and Australia), I recently completed a Master in Counselling (Monash, 2012). I am interested in questions of gender, identity, and sexuality – from both a philosophical and an ethical/self-development perspective. I have now moved to the University of Sydney, NSW.
Contact me at: t.oleary@unsw.edu.au