Deborah Kan Keynote Speaker

Founder and Executive Editor of 'Being Patient', a news site building single-subject platforms around specific health topics
Executive Producer, The Wall Street Journal (Asia) (2011-15)
Presenter/Senior Correspondent, Thomson Reuters (2009-12)

Deborah Kan's Biography

Deborah Kan is a media entrepreneur, journalist and award-winning news anchor. She is the Founder of BeingPatient.com, a health media platform focused on elevating the patient perspective and helping people navigate complex health information.

Previously, Deborah was Executive Producer at The Wall Street Journal, where she launched and expanded the Journal’s video operations across Asia, growing the business to span nine countries. During this time, she created and produced the global consumer technology show Digits and led multiple documentary and multimedia projects. Under her leadership, the documentary City of Imagination: Kowloon Walled City won several awards, including a Scripps Howard Prize and the Society of News Design’s Best Digital Design award.

Throughout her journalism career, Deborah has interviewed world leaders, senior policymakers and some of the most influential figures in technology and business, including Uber founder Travis Kalanick, Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk and former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo.

She later served as Executive Producer of Video & Interviewer for the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, where she developed video content and digital programming for Michael Bloomberg’s initiative focused on addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

Deborah was also the Managing Editor of Women & Girls at News Deeply, a publication launched in partnership with the Gates Foundation, covering key issues affecting women globally, including health, education, conflict and humanitarian crises.

Prior to joining The Wall Street Journal in 2011, Deborah was a news anchor with Reuters Insider, where she reported extensively on the 2008 global financial crisis, China’s economic stimulus programme and post-crisis regulatory reform.

Her reporting has taken her around the world. She was one of the few international journalists to interview Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the only television journalist from Asia to accompany the New York Philharmonic on its historic 2008 visit to Pyongyang, North Korea.

Deborah serves on the board of the Family Caregiving Alliance and has also been a member of the board of managers for Hong Kong International School. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Class of 2008.

The future of health media and patient empowerment

Leadership, innovation and digital transformation in journalism

Navigating misinformation and communicating complex health issues

Technology, entrepreneurship and building mission-driven businesses

Global trends in healthcare, ageing and caregiving

She is a media entrepreneur and award-winning journalist who combines global reporting experience with deep expertise in health, technology and public affairs.
She brings exceptional credibility through senior editorial and production roles at The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg New Economy Forum and Reuters.
She is an engaging and insightful speaker who has interviewed world leaders, policymakers and some of the most influential figures in business and technology.
Her work spans healthcare, innovation, global affairs and media, with a particular focus on helping audiences navigate complex and rapidly evolving issues.
Her insights equip organisations to better understand the intersection of technology, health, leadership and communication in a changing world.