Jury 2026
Candida NG (President of the Marai Photo Grant 2026 jury)
Deputy Photo Director for the Asia-Pacific region at Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Candida NG manages a team of 60 photographers and three photo editing desks to ensure the Asia-Pacific region is well-represented in terms of news coverage, visibility, and diversity. With 20 years of experience in international wire agencies, Candida has directed coverage of key events to match the daily news agenda and led live editing teams to work under tight, deadline-driven conditions. She was the Asia-Pacific and Oceania jury chair for the World Press Photo 2025 competition, jury member for the 15th edition of the Carmignac Award and part of the 2022 Women Photograph Mentorship Class.
Photo by Sarah Isaacs
Ami Vitale instagram
Photographer and Filmmaker
Ami Vitale is an Ambassador for Nikon and a contract photographer with National Geographic magazine. Her journey as a photographer, writer and filmmaker has taken her to over 100 countries where she has witnessed civil unrest and violence, but also surreal beauty and the enduring power of the human spirit. She has lived in mud huts, and in war zones, contracted malaria, and even donned a panda suit — all in keeping with her philosophy of "living the story".
Palani Mohan instagram
Photographer
Acclaimed photographer and speaker Palani Mohan works with the world's leading media outlets, companies and publishers on his editorial, corporate and fine artwork. He is the author of eight books including "Hunting with Eagles: In the Realm of the Mongolian Kazakhs' which has been lauded as an anthropological treasure. His work has been shown at the prestigious Visa Pour L'Image in Perpignan, France, featured in the New Yorker magazine and is a part of the collection at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Palani has been recognised with awards including World Press Photo, Picture of the Year International, CHIPP, Communication Arts, and Sony International.
Edwin Koo instagram
Photographer
Edwin Koo is a documentary photographer whose 20-year practice explores displacement, identity, and belonging — from the Himalayas to Singapore's changing cityscape. He has documented Tibetan exiles in Nepal, Maoist guerrillas, displaced communities in Pakistan's Swat Valley, and Singaporeans navigating electoral change and urban densification. International recognition includes the Getty Images Grant for Editorial Photography (2009), third place in UNICEF Photo of the Year (2009), and the ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu (2012). His photographs have appeared in GEO, International Herald Tribune, and The New York Times, and been exhibited across Europe and Asia.
Sara Hussein
Future of the Planet Reporter, Asia-Pacific region, Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Sara Hussein is AFP’s first Future of the Planet reporter, covering climate change and environmental issues across the Asia-Pacific region. She has reported from more than a dozen countries across three continents during her career. She has covered conflict, natural disasters, major summits, political upheaval, and the Olympic Games. She is based in Bangkok, after postings in Tokyo, Beirut, Jerusalem and Washington DC. Her role involves producing original reporting on climate and environmental issues, and coordinating coverage across the region.