International Essay Contest

Brian Wong

_{Brian is a geopolitical strategist, advisor, and philosopher publishing extensively on Sino-American relations, medium statecraft, and where nascent technologies intersect political theory and public policy. A Hong Kong Rhodes Scholar (2020) and third-year DPhil in Politics at Balliol College, Oxford, they hold an MPhil in Politics at Wolfson College, University of Oxford, and an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, having attended Oxford on a full scholarship on a Kwok Scholarship. Brian has taught modules in politics to undergraduate students at Oxford and Stanford Universities (latter on exchange). Brian has spoken at Carnegie-Tsinghua, Stanford, and Tufts, and briefed leading MNCs on macro risks in Asia.}

_{As a columnist at the Hong Kong Economic Journal and the Editor-at-Large for ThriveGlobal, they have contributed to publications such as TIME, Foreign Policy, Aeon, Financial Times, Diplomat, Fortune, SCMP, Nikkei, Japan Times, the US Asia Law Institute, SupChina, E-IR, Institute of Art and Ideas, USCN Perception Monitor, Neican, The Hindu, having also presented and written on issues of public philosophy for the Journal of Practical Ethics, the American Philosophical Association, and the Royal Institute of Philosophy. Brian's comments have been featured on The Atlantic and POLITICO. They also serve as Strategy Head for Polemix, a Web 3 start-up.}

Hung Wei

_{Hung Wei was born and raised in Taiwan, Republic of China.  She came to the States in 1979 to study at UCLA, received a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as A Second Language, moved to west San Jose in 1981, and to Cupertino in 1990.}  

_{She is the current Mayor of Cupertino, the city home to Apple’s main campus, and located in the heart of Silicon Valley. She served as Trustee and Past Board President with Fremont Union High School District from 2007 to 2018, serving 10,000+ students and their parents from five high schools. While her children were in school in the Cupertino Union School District and the Fremont Union High School District, she volunteered in many school activities and took leadership roles as PTA President, School Site Council member, event chairs, and fundraising chairs.}

_{Hung is a dedicated community volunteer for over thirty years, serving on many local non-profit organization Boards.  She was elected to the Cupertino City Council in November 2020. She believes in Servant Leadership and will dedicate her passion, energy, and action-taking abilities in the next decade for public service.}‍

Sophie Paris

_{Sophie (she/her) has a genuine curiosity about the world and loves connecting with people. She carries the memories of her travels with her through her daily accessory choice. Sophie loves eclectic and fun fashion, music, jewelry, and hearing people’s stories. She is a photojournalist, and her work with PCGL allows her to merge her passion for exploring the human experience with a focus on women and children with her professional endeavors. Traveling with Hillary Clinton during her primary run for US President as her personal photographer from 2007-2008, Sophie learned the challenges women face in any career.}

_{In 2004, the UN sent Sophie to Haiti to photograph the political insecurity; within days, her love for Haiti was ignited, and she decided to make her home in a seaside fishing village, where she lived until moving to Farmington in 2012 to join the Miss Porter’s faculty. Sophie’s Haiti work has been widely exhibited in Haiti, New York City, and Geneva.}

Kamy Akhavan

_{Kamy Akhavan, former CEO of ProCon.org, the nation's leading source of nonpartisan research on controversial issues, now leads the Center for the Political Future at the University of Southern California. Kamy has more than 20 years of experience in bridging divides at national levels. His work has served more than 200 million people, including students at more than 12,000 schools in all 50 states and 100 countries. He has been published and interviewed in textbooks, magazines, television, radio, newspapers, and websites including Reuters, Associated Press, Fox News, ABC, Washington Post, NPR, CNN, and CBS. He holds a BA and MA in History from UCLA.} 

Vanessa Zaehring

_{Vanessa Zaehring is the current COO of Represent.Us, the largest US-based anti-corruption group. Under Vanessa's leadership, Represent.Us has become one of the leading nonpartisan organizations in the United States, and has grown their budget to over $10M. Additionally, she is the current Chief of Staff at the Digital Climate Coalition, where she is an environmental advocate at an organization serving to promote digital innovation and sustainability.With an extensive background in politics, social activism, and environmental strategy, she is a passionate changemaker advocating for the implementation of large-scale changes in American politics, from a nonpartisan view. Her work has made her a leading voice in the fight against political corruption, both on the social and environmental front.}