Maria is Associate Director of the Centre of Urban History, Culture and Media at CUHK’s Institute of Future Cities, as well as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology. Her expertise is in ethnic relations and the sociocultural significance of human movement. Safe to say that Maria, born and bred in Hong Kong, was matched up with the study of anthropology by her times.

The team is on a mission to record and promote Hong Kong's linguistic profile – including indigenous and minority languages, and different varieties of Chinese and English – lest any of it eventually disappear, along with its associated culture.

A lack of interaction creates misunderstanding, as with Chinese Hongkongers and local ethnic minorities. The team brings together the two in intercultural activities, empowering women of minority communities in particular.