ABOUT US

GILLIAN HOWARD
FOUNDER & FAIR DIRECTOR

Gillian founded Digital Art Fair in 2020. Accomplished in fine galleries and museum management, Gillian has previously managed private museum collections and international galleries in Hong Kong and London. She has also consulted museum projects in Hong Kong, China and Russia. Studied Global Art Business with the Sotheby's Institute of Art in London, with an extensive knowledge of digital art, she is now leading the Digital Art Fair Asia team and curators on creating a brand new art experience combining art and technology such as blockchain, 3D mapping, VR and AR.

JAMES NEARY
CO-FOUNDER

An avid art collector for over 20 years, his collection includes Banksy, Andy Warhol, Yang Yongliang, Refik Anadol and many prestigious digital and new media artworks. He is fascinated by generative and immersive art and the future they foreshadow. With a background in finance, he is a cultivated investor in crypto and also co-founded some of the biggest Art Tours in the world.

​

​

​

HEIMAN NG
HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Heiman Ng (伍常) is a senior art advisor with more than 10 years of experience in art consulting, curating and training in Greater China. Prior to joining Digital Art Fair as the Director and Head of Business Development, he was the Course Leader of Christie’s Education (Asia) and Head of Press for Bonhams. Heiman was also the Co-Founder and Director of Collect Art, a multifaceted platform which provides professional art consultancy services such as art advisory, curating, corporate training, branding and communications strategy, etc.

DERRY AINSWORTH
HEAD OF CREATIVE

Derry Ainsworth is a Hong Kong based NFT digital artist, photographer and architecture graduate from Bournemouth in the UK. Since arriving in Hong Kong in 2014, Derry worked in architecture before pivoting to a 6 year Photography & video career, covering events and commercial projects, with a strong focus and passion for capturing the beauty of Hong Kong. Derry's unique, mixed portfolio of skills make him a strong asset to the DAFA team.

Derry's NFT work has seen huge recognition in the city, having been commissioned for the HK Tourism Board and the M+ Museum for the official 2021 NYE Hong Kong countdown. In 2022, Derry's NFT work was selected and sold at the 2022 Sotheby's spring contemporary auction.

FRANCIS RICAFORT
HEAD OF OPERATIONS

Francisco Ricafort (b.1982) brings expertise in Management and Development, with experience in the cultural sector of Hong Kong spanning 16 years. He has helped launch products and brands, and taken these services to the next level, contributing to the cultural landscape of the city.

Always with his ear to the ground, Francis has a highly extensive network of individuals and companies in Hong Kong and across Asia. Over the recent years, he has brought together these qualities into the Art World, helping execute multiple, highly successful art projects, from small gallery shows to large, ticketed fairs and showcases.