Amanda's involvement with her mother's charity galas began in primary school, even before FIF was founded. Her mother was deeply involved in charity work for many years, including organizations like HKPhil and Girl Scouts, and Amanda would write the place cards for the galas—a tradition she continues today. "I'm not sure whether I have perfect penmanship," jokes Amanda, a Catalyse Category winner of the 2025 JESSICA Most Successful Women Awards. "But I love keeping this ritual to add that extra personal touch to express my gratitude to our FIF supporters."

Amanda is the middle child of Michelle Ong, FIF's founder and an acclaimed jewelry designer whose creations have adorned Kate Winslet and appeared in films like Crazy Rich Asians and The Da Vinci Code; and David Cheung, a cardiothoracic surgeon and scion of a confectionary and bakery company. Sharing the household are siblings Adrian—a corporate lawyer-cum-restaurateur who helps at FIF and contributes to the family business—and fraternal twin Jennifer, a teacher who also supports FIF.

Despite her family's enviable wealth and opportunity, Amanda, inspired by her parents' unique journeys, forged her own path. With an economics degree from the University of Cambridge and a master's from HEC Paris, she was groomed to take part in either her mother's or father's empire. Her work took her from Southeast Asia to Europe and Australia, ultimately bringing her back to Hong Kong to work with family. "I was fortunate to meet inspiring mentors and role models along the way," she says.

Food, Glorious Food

That path led to food and heritage–and sometimes, a combination of both, as exemplified by Auntie ĀYI, a Chinese restaurant Amanda developed and opened in 2021 while working for Maxim's Group. Part of the all-day-dining trifecta Wellwellwell in Pacific Place, Auntie ĀYI focuses on the "preservation of traditional culinary techniques in storied dishes."

The epitome of such a poetic ethos is the restaurant's renowned Sesame Candy Chicken—a delicious amalgamation of the silky White Cut Chicken and the crunchy Crispy Skin Chicken. The sesame candy within promises an extra kick, and the phoenix-shaped plating isn't just a feast for the eyes, but a cutting method that best retains the chicken's crispy texture.

"Whether in my F&B career or my involvement with FIF, I want to push boundaries and keep heritage alive by making them appealing for the modern palate," says Amanda, emphasizing that reinvention of the past must be done with integrity.

As a co-founder of GOKAN, Amanda is also behind one of the hottest spots in town—a unique cocktail bar and dining concept with celebrated mixologist and mentor Shingo Gokan, known for acclaimed bars like Shanghai's Speak Low. Working with creative legends she admires and respects to build platforms for aspiring craftsmen and future creatives sparks joy.

"Bringing impact is so important to everything that I do, to give the reins to others so they can take charge of their lives—that's the fuel that gets me going every day," she says.

The Art of Changemaking

Her devotion to creating change permeates her work at FIF. Though FIF's mission of supporting creatives in the city remains steadfast, Amanda's joining in 2018 enabled it to broaden its reach and impact, exploring new ways to achieve its goals through larger-scale public events and exhibitions. Its focus expanded to initiatives to make the arts more accessible, cultivating curiosity to bring the power and joy of the arts to all.

While scholarships, art exhibitions, Cantonese opera performances, and string quartet masterclasses remain vital in FIF's event lineup, 2018 was the year a full-sized T-Rex trotted into ifc mall, with parts of its skeleton free to touch. In 2020, FIF partnered with street artist Lousy in a zany Chinese New Year pop-up of neon pink lights and graffiti at Lee Tung Avenue. A year later, Amanda brought FURRYTALES to Lee Gardens, an interactive art experience raising awareness for pets. FIF's 2023 Charity Gala, Paper Poems: An Ode to Hong Kong Heritage, showcased paper craftsmanship through community workshops led by local masters, offering a fresh take on this historic craft.

"Not everyone who comes to these workshops is an artist or interested in becoming one, but they can definitely be uplifted and inspired by the creativity of something that's often overlooked," says Amanda.

Looking ahead, Amanda doesn't have a set plan but "keeps an open mind to new opportunities." Her biggest challenge lies in having to say no to fun and worthwhile projects. "It's so tempting to get involved, but there's only so much time and focus one can have—so it's necessary to resist as I would not want to compromise on the quality of my work," she says.

"There are just too many things I want to do and achieve and not enough hours in the day to do it!" she adds.