About The Moderator

Kimaayra Asrani, an 11.5-year-old student at Kennedy School, has lived in Mumbai, Singapore, and Hong Kong for over a decade. Her hobbies include tennis, swimming, reading, gardening, hiking, and playing with Lego to design houses. She also enjoys cooking and engaging in DIY projects using waste materials.

As an Eco Rep at her school, Kimaayra is fascinated by marine life and loves exploring the beach to discover new sea creatures. However, she is dismayed by the neglect of our oceans, with plastic, tin cans, gas, and litter polluting the environment. Determined to make a difference, she passionately advocates for change.

Kimaayra is also a plant enthusiast and strongly believes in Audrey Hepburn’s words: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” This sentiment echoes within Kimaayra as she actively engages in caring for plants and nurturing her own garden.

About The Panelist

Soumya Sirur, a 11-year-old residing in Hong Kong, has a passion for drawing, sketching, and writing, particularly poetry. Her artwork was first featured in a local Indian magazine when she was just four years old. Recently, the magazine also published two poems written by Soumya. Since then, she has achieved success in various art competitions in Hong Kong.

Notably, she has won first prize at a national level art competition for drawing at the age of 6 and poetry writing at the age of 10, competing against students from all schools in Hong Kong. Additionally, Soumya has received prizes twice at literary festivals held in Hong Kong. Recognising her leadership abilities, she was selected to serve on the Student Council of her school at the age of 8, where she actively contributed to school activities and represented student needs.

About The Panelist

Jayden Liu is a Taiwanese born in Hong Kong. He is a 6th grader at Hong Kong International School. During his free time, Jayden enjoys outdoor activities.

While snorkeling and trekking in the mountains, he often finds himself amazed by the breathtaking beauty of nature and develops a love and passion for wildlife. He wants to raise awareness among everyone to protect our planet and the struggling wildlife that is in danger due to pollution.

He also wants kids nowadays to spend less time on screens and make more connections to the world around us while we still can. Jayden believes that even a little help can make a significant impact, and everyone’s contribution matters.

About The Panelist

Krish Narain is a 10-year-old, 4th generation Indian, born and raised in Hong Kong. He studies at the International Montessori School. He is part of his school’s football team and has participated in several international football tournaments. Krish is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. He enjoys musical dramas and is about to take part in his first public performance with Faust International Youth Theatre namely, “Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” at the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Krish is naturally curious and an enthusiastic individual. He has a passion for books and loves Maths. Krish loves animals, especially dogs and is very conscious about the environment. During his spare time, he likes to spend time with his grandparents and his cousins.

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

Ananya Venkatesh, an eighth-grade student at an international school in Singapore, has a passion for mystery novels, particularly those involving murder. Her favourite subjects in school are Biology, English, and Drama.

She utilises her creative outlet by writing short stories inspired by events in her own life. Outside of school, Ananya actively participates in co-curricular activities focused on acting and music. Since the age of seven, she has practiced meditation, allowing her to understand and control her mindset. She is an only child, and strongly desires a pet.

About The Panelist

Ritisha Mathur is 8 years old. She goes to Haig Girls School in Singapore and is a student of Primary 2 Grace. She loves reading, painting, writing, sports, and helping others. She is enterprising and a philanthropist at heart.

Ritisha has also participated in activities such as beach clean-ups, and she is a part of the first-ever radio play for kids in Singapore. Additionally, she has taken a short course on kids’ entrepreneurship.

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

Ayaan Bhanchawat was born in Mumbai, India, and subsequently relocated to Lagos, Nigeria, with his family at the tender age of six months. After spending three years in Lagos, he moved to Singapore just before his fourth birthday. During his time in Singapore, Ayaan attended a British International school and resided there for nearly a decade. This year, he moved back to India along with family. 

At the age of 13, Ayaan has developed a passion for watching films, TV series, and has become an avid fan of Formula 1 and Japanese anime. Additionally, he finds great enjoyment in reading gripping and immersive fiction novels, with “One Piece” being a particular favourite.

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

About The Panelist

Aashi Sara Naskar, a 13-year-old cooking enthusiast from Dubai, is an introverted individual who expresses herself through food. With a focused approach to life, she believes that every child should discover their unique potential and strive for perfection.

Aashi follows the British Curriculum and successfully balances her studies with her culinary pursuits. Remarkably, she has already completed a professional culinary arts certification from a top school in Dubai, making her the youngest graduate.

Aashi’s dream is to become a professional chef and she plans to attend the Culinary Arts Academy in Switzerland after completing her studies. With her own cake baking business and aspirations of opening her own restaurant, Aashi is an ambitious rising culinary star to watch out for.

About The Panelist

Ghazal Hasan is a Jordanian national who was born in the United Arab Emirates in 2013. Currently, she is a student at the School of Research Science in Dubai, where she has been honoured with the nomination as the Digital Leader.

Ghazal is a multi-talented individual with a diverse range of hobbies. She excels as a pianist and has been chosen to perform in numerous concerts in Dubai, earning recognition certificates for her exceptional performances.

In addition to her musical talents, Ghazal is also a skilled junior horse rider and displays confidence as a public speaker. Known for her remarkable self-assurance, she has had the opportunity to showcase her talents through modelling for a renowned automaker in the Middle East.

About The Panelist

Gibran Malaeb, a student at Gems Metropole School Motor City, Dubai, was born in 2011 in Los Angeles, California. He was recognised as a gifted individual through the Qatar Foundation Gifted Enrichment Program’s Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), demonstrating his exceptional abilities in various areas such as investing, ethics, and environmental efforts.

Recently, Gibran and his family moved to Dubai, a significant change after having spent his entire childhood in Qatar. The allure of Dubai’s futuristic appeal has captivated Gibran since his arrival. He is particularly drawn to the city’s vibrant creative energy and harbour aspirations of contributing to its dynamic landscape in the future.

About The Panelist

Ten-year-old Luca Ohanessian is the proud owner of two unofficial businesses, a customised products business and a bakery in Dubai. Luca’s leadership skills were manifested at an early age where he was elected as the class representative for his class for two consecutive years.

Luca enjoys relaxing with a book and a bag of Cheetos in the evenings. His musical preferences lean towards both Jazz and classical genres, while the scent of a new book never fails to bring him joy due to his deep passion for reading.

Driven by this passion, Luca took on the role of Student Librarian at his school, immersing himself in the serene atmosphere surrounded by books. He is also part of his school’s choir group. In addition to his love for literature, music, and writing, Luca plays basketball, likes horseback riding, and excels in technology to the extent that he occasionally assists the school’s IT department with his expertise.

About The Panelist

Lana Al-Khafaji, a 13-year-old British-Iraqi, was born in London, United Kingdom. She has been residing in Dubai with her mother since she was 18 months old.

Lana’s exceptional writing skills were evident when she received an award at the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature 2022. Her short story was even published by Oxford University Press, showcasing her talent as a young author.

Aside from her writing abilities, Lana is also passionate about the musical arts. She had the opportunity to perform in the opening ceremony for Expo 2020. Additionally, she has achieved a level 3 certification in Keyboard and is currently practising to obtain her piano certificate.

About The Panelist

Lilya Hasbini, a 15-year-old prodigy from Horizon International School Dubai, is no ordinary teenager. With a fervent passion for Virtual Reality (VR) and a talent for creating immersive VR games, she embodies the transformative power of technology. However, her talents extend beyond the digital realm.

Whether gracefully gliding down ski slopes, mastering a tennis serve, or captivating listeners with her piano melodies, Lilya showcases versatility and determination. With over four years dedicated to VR, this platform continues to play a pivotal role in her personal growth. In a world of rapid technological advancements, Lilya remains a beacon, not only championing the potential of VR, but also demonstrating how diverse talents can intertwine and inspire a new generation.

About The Panelist

Kaveer Sagar, an 11-year-old residing in lively Los Angeles, is a remarkable 6th grader brimming with dreams and a zest for life. Known for his academic excellence, he approaches his studies with dedication and curiosity, always eager to expand his knowledge. When not engrossed in books, Kaveer seeks outdoor adventures, biking through the beautiful mountains and showcasing his sportsmanship skills in volleyball. During winter, he gracefully glides on ice, displaying his agility in ice skating.

Gaming serves as another avenue for his strategic thinking and quick reflexes. Additionally, Kaveer indulges his artistic flair through origami, crafting intricate designs. As a water lover, he finds solace and fitness in swimming. With his diverse interests and cultural heritage, Kaveer is a young individual destined for greatness, poised to make a lasting impact on his community and beyond.

About The Panelist

Meet Vaid Nallu, a 15-year-old sophomore in high school from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Vaid is passionately dedicated to writing and eager to make his voice heard. He actively participates in various leadership programs, both within and outside of school, aspiring to use the power of words to raise awareness and inspire positive change.

Through his impactful message in “Voices of Tomorrow – The Future Thought Leaders Passionate to Change the World,” he aims to leave a lasting impression on those who read his work.