Dr. Kean Poon

Before joining EdUHK, Dr Poon completed her doctoral degree in educational psychology at the University of Hong Kong, specialising in cognitive deficits in students with reading difficulties (RD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Her research interests are (1) executive function in special education; (2) adolescents with ADHD and/or RD; and (3) juvenile delinquency. Dr Poon has published numerous research papers in reputed peer-reviewed international journals (e.g., Research in Developmental Disabilities, Frontiers in Psychology, BMC Pediatrics, Heliyon) and book chapters in the areas of executive function in children with ADHD as well as antisocial and moral behavior. Her work has been cited in more than 100 studies. She has also developed three evidence-based electronic training applications: i-maze, Task-switching, and the Mr Fox games, which are the first training apps to enhance executive function in Chinese children with special educational needs. Dr Poon won the silver medals and special awards at the 2019 Silicon Valley International Invention Festival as well as at the 2020 and 2022 International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada. She was selected among the Top 10 best woman inventors of the competition. In recognition of her outstanding contributions in knowledge transfer to the local and international fields, she was awarded the 2020/21 President’s Award for Outstanding in Knowledge Transfer.

 

Outside academia, Dr Poon is keen to apply the latest psychological theories and research findings to provide support for students with special educational needs. She has taken up various advisory roles. These include being appointed as an associate fellow of The Hong Kong Psychological Society and a member of the Rehabilitation Subcommittee of the Riding for the Disabled Association. Dr Poon is a former expert member of the Committee on Candidates with Specific Learning Disabilities at the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority and a former school manager at Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui Primary School (Branch).