Our Team
Cary Zhang
President
Cary Zhang is a Grade 11 student at Collingwood Secondary School. He is grateful to be serving as the President of VYMMA. He is an active core member and leader in VYMMA’s activities and enjoys to contribute his time and talent to this association. He has been working for his school math club and chess club as both of presidents, meantime contributing to business club at school. He also is the ambassador of Sea-Walk community in West Vancouver. He looks forward to holding community events as the President of VYMMA. Cary is gratified to spread kindness and warmth to society through the efforts of him and his peers. He is ready to devote his time and enthusiasm to the work of VYMMA.
Bob Mao
Vice President
Bob Mao is a Grade 11 student with a strong passion for mathematics and social practice. He has shown remarkable growth in both academic pursuits and community engagement, always seeking to connect what he learns with meaningful real-world impact. Bob has participated in prestigious mathematics competitions such as AMC 12, AIME, and USAMO, where he achieved excellent results through dedication, perseverance, and strong analytical ability. Beyond academics, he is also one of the core members of AOC, actively contributing to its initiatives and social practice projects. Bob hopes to continue using his knowledge, leadership, and sense of responsibility to make meaningful contributions to society and create a lasting positive impact on the community.
James Hong
Chief Outreach and Public Relations Officer
James is a student with strong interests in analytical thinking, strategy, and problem-solving. With a passion for mathematics, chess, and critical reasoning, he approaches challenges with a competitive mindset and a focus on logical solutions. James enjoys exploring how mathematical and strategic thinking can be applied beyond the classroom, from complex problem solving to real-world decision making.
Through his involvement with the Vancouver Youth Mathematical Modeling Association, he aims to deepen his understanding of applied mathematics while collaborating with other motivated students. James believes that disciplined thinking and curiosity are essential for tackling difficult problems and developing innovative ideas.
Chris Tan
(Chief Technology Officer )
Chris is a Grade 11 student at Point Grey Secondary School in Vancouver, and he is excited to serve as the Chief Technology Officer for VYMMA. With a strong passion for math and physics, he applies problem-solving skills to real-life situations, and he even took AP Physics 1 and AP Calculus BC in Grade 10, earning perfect scores. Beyond academics, Chris is also the president of a business club at his school and encourages students to challenge themselves through business competitions. He also enjoys playing sports such as basketball, badminton, and pickleball, and has demonstrated his skills by joining the school badminton team. Chris looks forward to working with peers in the organization, contributing his ideas, and collaborating with his teammates.
Selena Jiang
Secretary-General
She is a Grade 10 student at Lord Byng Secondary School who is always willing to explore new things and take on challenges with an open and adaptable mindset. She demonstrates strong leadership skills, shows great persistence in her work and activities, and is able to stay committed and responsible when working with others. She enjoys collaborating with peers, takes the initiative to support the team, and works hard to achieve shared goals. Outside of academics, she participates choir, dance, playing drums, and in the school choir, which help her develop creativity, focus, and a well-rounded personality. She is highly motivated to keep learning and growing, and she is eager to bring her dedication, positive attitude, and strong sense of responsibility to meaningful opportunities within the community.
Abby Li
Chief Financial Officer
Abby is a grade 10 student studying at Mulgrave School in West Vancouver. She is currently a student in the IB MYP program with a strong interest in Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology. Abby enjoys challenging herself academically and is especially interested in applying scientific concepts to real-world problems. Outside of school, she finds herself enjoying creative activities such as piano, art, design, singing, and dance. Abby looks forward to working with peers in the organization and hopes to create a meaningful impact on the community.
Emma Xiang
(Chief Marketing Officer)
Hi, I’m Emma, a grade 11 student and a member of the VYMMA. I joined VYMMA because I wanted to explore how mathematics can be used to solve real-world problems and make a meaningful impact beyond the classroom.
As a curious and motivated learner, I enjoy working with others to think critically, be creative, and apply mathematical modeling to real challenges. I’m excited to keep learning, collaborating, and discovering the power of math to create positive change!
Vivian Ding
Chief Outreach and Public Relations Officer assistant
Vivian Ding is a Grade 9 junior student in high school at Point Grey Secondary School. She is passionate about sports and outdoor activities, and she hopes to establish a snowboarding club in grade 10 to connect students who share the same enthusiasm. Vivian aims to encourage more people to experience the excitement
Ziyi Zhao
Chief Marketing Officer Assistant
Ziyi Zhao is a senior at Magee Secondary School in Vancouver, and she is honored to be the Chief Marketing Officer Assistant of the Vancouver Youth Mathematical Modeling Foundation. With a strong passion for mathematics, she is especially interested in applying concepts can be used to solve real-world challenges, which inspires her to keep learning and improving. She manages the organization’s budgeting, fundraising, and partnership initiatives. Beyond academics, she finds balance through her hobbies—Singing, playing the piano, playing the violin, and playing badminton. She uses these hobbies to participate in various rehearsals and performances of the school choir and orchestra, which help her stay creative, focused, and resilient. She looks forward to engaging with peers in the organization, contributing her enthusiasm for math.
Our Mentor
Rachel Shi
Chief Coach
Rachel is a University of Toronto student with a strong interest in mathematics, computer science, and creative problem solving. She was a HiMCM finalist in both 2024 and 2025. She is enthusiastic about using what she has learned to solve real-world problems, especially those that require both analytical thinking and innovative ideas. She believes that learning has the greatest impact when leads to meaningful action. Driven by a sense of social responsibility, Rachel hopes to create positive change and make meaningful contribution to the society. She approaches every challenge with a mix of logic and creativity, constantly looking for ways to connect her knowledge and real-world situations.
Paul Tian
Paul is fifth year UBC student finishing electives for his BSc degree. He has previously helped create a curriculum for contest biology. He has also co-authored a academic publication on ground source heat pumps, developing statistical models for forecasting ground temperature. He has been the co-captain for a engineering design team, and has administrative experience. With specialization in building mathematical and statistical models, Paul hopes to bring his know-how to aspiring students wishing to learn more about this field.
