The ACYD is delighted to announce the delegates for the 2016 Dialogue
Alastair BAXTER
Australian delegate
Al played Rugby Union for the Wallabies and Waratahs from 1999 to 2011 and at the time of his retirement was Australia’s most capped test prop after having played in two World Cups (Australia 2003 and France 2007) and two Super Rugby grand finals. Before beginning his career as a rugby player, Al completed degrees in both Architecture and Science at the University of Sydney. While playing rugby, Al worked part-time with the national architecture firm Cox Architecture and during this time he also sat on the board of the Rugby Union Players Association and was a Principal of the sustainability engagement firm Sustainable Forward.
Since retiring from rugby at the end of 2011, Al has continued his work as an architect having joined the global sports architecture firm, Populous, focusing on sports projects in Australia and Asia. Al is also a Director on the board of Waratahs Rugby, a Trustee on the NSW Government Statutory Authority, Sydney Living Museums (SLM), and a Director on the SLM Foundation Board. Al lives in Sydney with his wife and 3 young boys where, when not working as an architect, attempts to coach his 3 sons’ rugby teams!
David BENNETT Australian National University Fellow
Australian delegate
David Bennett has been appointed as IP Australia’s first Intellectual Property (IP) Counsellor to China, to be based at the Australian Embassy in Beijing from early 2017. David will provide guidance to Australian businesses regarding the Chinese IP systems and enforcement options, giving them greater confidence to commercialise their IP in China.
David has strong interests in innovation and business. Prior to his appointment as IP Counsellor, he worked as Director of Intellectual Property at a California-based biomedical start-up company. David has worked in the international and domestic policy sections of IP Australia, the Government agency responsible for IP rights in Australia. His background is in molecular biology, and he first joined IP Australia as a biotechnology patent examiner.
David holds a Bachelor of Philosophy from The Australian National University with first class honours in biochemistry and molecular biology, and he studied as an exchange student at the University of California, San Diego. David holds a Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Osaka University, where he was a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship recipient. His Master’s thesis related to viral vectors for gene therapy applications. He is fluent in Japanese and is currently learning Mandarin.
Jason CHAI
Australian delegate
Jason is a Senior Adviser of Global Engagement and leads the Business Council of Australia’s policy development and advocacy on trade and investment related matters. He advises Australia's leading Chief Executives, ASX100 companies and government officials on how to better enhance and engage in trade and investment with our neighbouring countries.
He is an international public policy and government relations professional with a strong interest in China and climate change.
Formerly an Australian diplomat at the Embassy in Japan, Jason managed market access, environmental, and legal issues. At Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Jason worked in a variety of roles including as an international trade and climate change negotiator and international lawyer.
Before joining DFAT, Jason was a public policy and legal analyst at the Asian Development Bank in Beijing.
Jason holds a Master of Public and International Law from Melbourne University, and was an Asialink Leadership Fellow in 2008. He is fluent in English, Mandarin and Japanese.
Ye CHEN
Australian delegate
Ye is an ophthalmic surgeon based in Melbourne. Born in Shanghai, he immigrated to Australia with his family when he was 10 years old. He studied medicine at the University of Melbourne and completed a DPhil in transplantation immunology at the University of Oxford where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Ye is passionate about enhancing inter-cultural understanding through exchange. At the University of Melbourne, he was the president of the Melbourne chapter of International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, where he led a team of volunteers in organising and facilitating overseas medical student exchange to Melbourne-based hospitals. Since then, he has also helped host numerous medical students from Tsinghua University and Peking Union Medical College undertaking exchange in Melbourne. At Oxford, Ye was the president of the Oxford University Australian and New Zealand Society. As president, he encouraged fellow Australians to attend social events organised by the Oxford Chinese Students Association. This included the Chinese New Year Gala in 2007, where he was also the Master of Ceremonies. Ye also taught Mandarin for the Oxford Chinese International Awareness Group. Ye hopes to continue playing a role in promoting greater Sino-Australian exchange and collaboration in spheres of medical education, healthcare provision, and translational research.
Emily CHEW
Australian delegate
Emily Chew is Global Head of Environmental, Social and Governance Research and Integration with Manulife Asset Management. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the firm's fulfillment of its obligations under the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.
Most recently, Emily was Head of ESG Research for Asia-Pacific at MSCI Inc., where she led a team of nine ESG analysts across the region, commencing her role in Beijing and later continuing in Hong Kong. Her team had oversight into research quality and issue identification for around 1,200 stocks, and under her leadership produced original research on the relevance of ESG to Asian and emerging markets, with a particular emphasis on China. In her work with MSCI, she interacted with some of the world's leading asset owners and asset managers regarding their ESG investment integration strategies, and utilization of ESG research in product development.
Previously, Emily was a capital markets lawyer with Baker & McKenzie in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on funds management, capital raisings, and REITs.
Brittyn CLENNETT
Australian delegate
Brittyn is a Beijing-based journalist. In 2014, she joined China Central Television to host “China Insight”, the highest rated feature news programme on CCTV News. Each week Brittyn leads a studio discussion with an expert guest about some of the biggest issues affecting the Middle Kingdom. She’s also produced long format stories for the channel - including an investigative piece about China’s illegal ivory trade.
Before joining CCTV, Brittyn was a reporter in Hong Kong. In her three years at Asia Television she covered a range of topics, including politics, crime and the environment.
Brittyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from RMIT University and an Msc in International Politics from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Brittyn has a long-held passion for Australia-China affairs, having grown up in both Adelaide and Hong Kong. She has a strong interest in regional security issues and diplomacy.
Thomas DAY
Australian delegate
Thomas has broad experience in the Asia-Pacific region where he has worked and studied for over five years.
Thomas is the External Relations and Projects Manager at the Confucius Institute at The University of Melbourne, where he promotes a greater understanding of China through managing and delivering a range of language, culture, and business training programs. He is passionate about increasing China-literacy amongst the school and business communities in Australia.
In 2016 he became a Westpac Multicultural Ambassador, for which he has been the face of a widely promoted campaign that expresses and celebrates the reasons why Chinese millennials should consider Australia as a destination for study, travel, and business.
Through his previous work at the Australia China Business Council, the Australia China Alumni Association, and the Australian Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, Thomas has developed a passion for and dedication to the Australia-China relationship, as well as in-depth knowledge and understanding of the cultural, political, and economic ties that exist between the two countries.
Thomas has travelled extensively for work, with roles in Qingdao, Shanghai, and Beijing and has completed exchange semesters in Osaka, Taichung, and Taipei. Over the years, he has enjoyed visiting 17 provinces and over 60 cities in China.
Thomas is an avid fan of Australian Rules Football (AFL), and has proudly played for the Beijing Bombers, Shanghai Tigers, and the China Reds.
Chloe DEMPSEY New Colombo Plan Fellow
Australian delegate
Chloe is a 2016 New Colombo Plan Scholar studying at Renmin University. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia, alongside a Diploma of Modern Languages in Mandarin.
Chloe is the National Education Director for the Australia China Youth Association(ACYA) and current secretary of ACYA Beijing. Previously completing a semester at Tsinghua University under the Westpac Bicentennial Foundation’s Asian Exchange Scholarship, Chloe has had the opportunity to understand the importance that Australian business, government and community organisations place on the Australia-China relationship.
She has recently returned from the Hansen Summer Institute where she completed three-weeks of intensive learning on international cooperation, leadership and social entrepreneurship. Chloe has experience with a number of charitable organisations in Australia and has a deep interest in charitable giving and social enterprise within China. She believes organisations like ACYA create real connections across cultures that encourage collaboration and social innovation in the Australia-China space, which she aims to contribute to.
Chloe’s passion for China originates from five months in Sichuan as a volunteer teacher under a Foundation for Young Australians program. Chloe has since spent time in Zhejiang, Taiwan and Beijing.
DONG Wei
Chinese delegate
Benjamin Dong Wei is an award-winning journalist from Beijing, China. Since 2008, he has spent seven years with China Daily, China’s largest English newspaper and bilingual website, as a digital journalist, website producer and media manager. Benjamin was a recipient of the Chevening scholarship awarded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Li Ka-shing scholarship awarded by the National University of Singapore. He received his master degrees from University of Westminster in London and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. Benjamin specializes in international politics and global development issues. He is highly interested in combining journalism, public policy, business and technology for social innovations. His latest research project was on the HIV/AIDS epidemic of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Benjamin is currently working for the Singapore-based Milken Institute Asia Center as a Google Policy Fellow.
Udo DORING
Australian delegate
Udo Doring is the CEO and Executive Director of AustCham Shanghai. Udo leads a team of staff across four departments and drives the Chamber’s mission to strengthen Australia-China business, government and community relationships. Udo is an Executive Director on the AustCham Shanghai Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall management of the Chamber including financial and human resource management.
Udo was previously the General Manager of AustCham Shanghai. Prior to joining the Chamber, Udo worked in a number of roles in human resources and business strategy consulting and with the Queensland Government. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Queensland University of Technology, and a Graduate Certificate of Chinese Law from Hong Kong City University and Murdoch University.
Udo first moved to China with his family in 1989 and has a deep connection with the country.
Will EWING
Australian delegate
Will recently commenced a three-year assignment as Consul (Political & Economic) at the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong. He joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2009 and has worked across a range of areas, including bilateral issues with Pacific and Asian partners; and multilateral issues such as free trade and cyber policy. He previously completed a posting to Honiara and short-term assignments to Los Angeles and Beijing. Throughout his career and studies (B. Laws / B. International Relations at Bond University), Will has always maintained an interest in China and Australia-China relations. He studied abroad at Suzhou University in 2005, worked on the Australia-China FTA, completed intensive Mandarin language training prior to his current posting, and has travelled widely around China (九寨沟 and 哈尔滨 still the highlights… for now). He is increasingly obsessed with Chinese cinema and binge watches 非诚勿扰. Will thinks the future holds much hope for Australia-China relations, and he looks forward to engaging with fellow delegates on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Karim ISSA University of Queensland Fellow
Australian delegate
Karim is a lawyer working for an international firm in Beijing. His practice focuses on representing Chinese and foreign clients in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions in the Asia region. His passion for China began when growing up in the Asian-centric suburb of Sunnybank, in Brisbane’s south. Surrounded by Chinese-speaking classmates from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Mainland, Karim immersed himself in the linguistic and cultural world from which so many of his friends came. Since this time, he has combined his formal studies of Chinese Mandarin with his career pursuits, embedding his fascination with Chinese history, culture and traditions in his professional life.
Outside of Karim’s professional endeavors, he has applied his love for China to propel his success in numerous cultural events, including representing Australia in the World Finals of the China Bridge Chinese Language Competition and various other language and cultural competitions. Most recently, he was a finalist for the Young Australian China Alumni of the Year Award, and was a panelist on the CCTV coverage of the G20 Leaders’ Summit held in Hangzhou in September 2016.
Karim holds a Bachelor of Laws with honours and a Bachelor of Arts (Chinese) from the University of Queensland and a diploma in Advanced Chinese Studies from the Beijing Language and Culture University. Prior to moving to Beijing, Karim worked in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Brisbane – his passion for cross-cultural and linguistic connections has seen him pick up a little bit of Japanese, Cantonese and Queensland-English along the way.
Tasharni JAMIESON
Australian delegate
Tash Jamieson is an international relations enthusiast currently working at the Australian Embassy in Beijing as the China Alumni Engagement Manager. Tash leads the Australian Governments alumni engagement strategy in China, and is in charge of developing relationships with alumni themselves, Australian universities, Chinese and Australian youth organisations, New Colombo Plan students and those involved in Australian Studies. She previously worked in Beijing at the Australia China Chamber of Commerce in Beijing and as a freelance journalist.
After graduating from a BA in International Studies from RMIT in 2011, Tash completed a Masters in International Relations at Tsinghua University. Whilst completing her thesis on refugee policy and geopolitics, Tash received a scholarship from the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network and UNHRC to undertake studies in Thailand on refugees and statelessness, and interned at the UNDP in Beijing.
She is an advocate for women’s leadership and empowerment through education, and has been on the organising committee of the Beijing Mentor Walks since 2014 and supports the Beijing Women’s Network.
In her spare time, Tash performs with her bands The Groove Collective and The Hunters as part of Beijing’s thriving music scene, and practices armature martial arts at Living BIGG.
Anna KÖSTENBAUER
Australian delegate
Anna Köstenbauer is a policy officer working in strategic policy and intelligence for the Australian Department of Defence. Anna joined the Department as a graduate in 2014, and has held roles in international policy, strategic policy, capability development and parliamentary liaison. Prior to joining Defence, Anna worked as a specialist consultant for Gerson Lehrman Group, based in Dublin.
Anna has travelled extensively and has an abiding interest in conflict prevention, global development and good governance. Having spent much of her childhood in Papua New Guinea, Anna is passionate about development pathways in the Asia-Pacific arena. She believes resilient relationships between regional partners, including Australia and China, will generate benefits for our whole region and looks forward to debating her perspectives at the 2016 Australia-China Youth Dialogue.
Anna graduated from the London School of Economics with a Masters in Comparative Politics in 2013. Her thesis focused on diaspora communities and their role in shaping political discourse. Anna was awarded a National Undergraduate Scholarship for academic excellence to complete a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws at the Australian National University (2011). During her undergraduate, Anna also completed an internship at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and volunteered for the ACT Women’s Legal Centre. Anna speaks German, Spanish and French but unfortunately, neither Mandarin nor Cantonese.
Shuang LI University of Melbourne Fellow
Chinese delegate
Shuang Li is a young entrepreneur who firmly believes that we can make the world a better place using technology and entrepreneurship. He co-founded EstateBaron, an online property crowdfunding platform in Australia which allows mum and dad investors to invest in property projects with small amounts. Launched in early 2015, EstateBaron successfully raised 2 Million AUD in total for three property development projects and has over 1500 subscribed investors on the platform. It has also secured 400,000 AUD in seed funding from local angel investors as well as the main developer behind Australia’s signature building Eureka Tower.
Apart from this venture, Shuang is also passionate about cutting-edge life science technology and he is currently pursuing his PhD in biomedical engineering at The University of Melbourne after completing his bachelor of engineering with first class honour in 2013. He’s working on the next generation of artery stent which aims to improve the efficiency in heart disease treatment.
Yushan LI
Chinese delegate
Yushan Li is a project manager at one of the Fortune Global 500 corporations, China State Construction Engineering Corporation. She is a very passionate professional who constantly seeks to maximize her full potential in eliminating the gap among different cultural backgrounds using her expertise.
Yushan has worked both in Australia and China, and enjoys working with a diverse network of people in a multi-cultural context. She is an active promoter of dialogues among Australia, China, US and Europe, and has been involved in different kinds of cross-cultural projects. Examples of these include an academic exchange with Hawaii University and collaboration with Finland VTT.
Yushan has extensive experience in delivering results for a variety of clients. Her team collaborates with architects, researchers and economic experts to study the practice and exploration of new urbanisation in China. In their work they identify how their company can play a vital role in urbanisation process, and based on their research, position themselves strategically to achieve this goal. Prior to entering her career in planning, she worked in an international media company in Australia as she sees media as a catalyst, an enlarger to direct public opinion.
Using her fluent bilingual skills Yushan has been able to establish strong connections overseas and convince her network abroad to find potential markets in China.
Academically, Yushan holds a Master Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Engineering from Beijing Forestry University.
Jiaxing LIU
Chinese delegate
Jiaxing Liu is working as an International Political Editor at the China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters in Beijing. With 16 internationally broadcast channels and over 1.2 billion viewers, CCTV is unrivalled in providing a global platform for Chinese news and entertainment.
Jiaxing Liu is an experienced editor with excellent political analysis and communication skills. In her role, she is responsible for the International Political News of some influential problems, such as 'Correspondent Network', 'Midnight News', 'Live News' and 'Night News' on CCTV13 (News Channel). Through her work, she had been honored for several awards .
Jiaxing Liu graduated from the University of South Australia, with a Master of International Studies. As a university student, she was invited to serve as an interpreter at the North American Auto Show in Michigan, 2010. Additionally, she volunteered with some NGOs, such as the Australian Refugee Association (ARA), as a homework tutor.
Miya LIU
Chinese delegate
Miya graduated from Peking University School of Transnational Law (STL) (with a Juris Doctor degree for American Law and Juris Master degree for Chinese Law) in July 2015. She received the Dean Citation Awards, Study Award and Pacemaker for Triple A Students Award. She was an exchange student to the University of Lausanne, Switzerland for one semester. She was a research assistant for three professors and the Managing Editor in the Peking University Transnational Law Review for more than three years. She was the Second Winner of the 6th Frankfurt International Investment Arbitration Moot Court in 2013, competing with applicants from 20 countries.
Miya interned in the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, in two international law firm - McDermott Will & Emery Frankfurt Office doing international investment arbitration, as well as in Herbert Smith Freehills Beijing Office doing capital markets for a whole year. After graduation, She joined the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) last August right after its establishment. She was first assigned to Project team, and then to Legal team doing both corporate legal work and project finance. In addition, She also worked for the Corporate Secretary team doing preparation work and communication for all the Board meetings, Committee meetings and organizing events like World Bank seminars. She is the only Chinese in both teams.
Yi QIAN ANZ Fellow
Chinese delegate
Yi Qian is currently working as the Head of Research & Analysis, North Asia, Natural Resource Group, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (“ANZ”). He leads an analyst team based on Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The team is primarily in charge of the credit assessment for ANZ’s clients in natural resource segment originated from these locations. He also provides support on industrial expertise for natural resource customers in Japan, Korea & Taiwan.
Prior to the current role, Yi Qian has assumed various roles in ANZ including Director, Business Management, Institutional Banking China and Senior Credit Analyst, Corporate & Institutional Banking China.
Before joining ANZ, Yi Qian has worked for Standard Chartered Bank, ICBC and several other financial institutions in China.
Yi Qian has 17 years of work experience in financial industry in China and holds an MBA degree.
Patricia SAW Corrs Chamber Westgarth Fellow
Australian delegate
Patricia is a lawyer in Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s Environment and Planning practice, based in Melbourne. Patricia is passionate about climate change, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency in Australia and China. So much so, her law thesis analysed the carbon tax and pilot emission trading schemes in China and its impacts on manufacturers and businesses operating in the country.
In addition to her Bachelor of Law and Arts from Melbourne’s renowned Monash University, she has also completed a Diploma in Languages (Mandarin), a short course at Shanghai International Studies University, as well as studying Mandarin for a year at South East University in Nanjing on a Chinese Government Scholarship.
Patricia works with government, statutory authorities and private sector clients across a number of industries including urban development, agribusiness, energy and resources and infrastructure projects. She also advises clients in relation to climate change law and policy.
Patricia is excited to take part in this year’s ACYD and the opportunity to be a part of the continuing spirit of collaboration and partnership between Australia and China.
Yitong SHAO
Chinese delegate
Dr Richard Yitong Shao is a doctor based in Melbourne, Australia.
Richard was raised and educated in Hangzhou, China until the age of 18. He then moved to Australia to obtained his Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Melbourne. Richard has extensive working experience in metropolitan Melbourne, rural Australia, and top-tire hospitals in Beijing, Hong Kong and Hangzhou.
Since 2013, Richard has worked closely with the Faculty of Medicine, Melbourne University in establishing the inaugural exchange program between Melbourne Medical School and top two medical schools in China (Peking Union Medical College in Beijing and Fudan University in Shanghai). He is passionate about developing Australia-China’s partnership in health care system reform, international medical education and health workforce training.
Apart from his career in medicine, Richard worked as an intern in the Department of E-commerce in Alibaba Group and the Department of SME Finance (small and medium sized enterprises) at the Bank of China. He also previously worked in journalism at the State Television Station of Zhejiang. He is a member of the Chinese debating team at Melbourne University.
Kai TAN Macquarie Fellow
Chinese delegate
Kai Tan, Associate Director from Macquarie Securities Group, is a Hong Kong / China Equities Sales specialist based in Hong Kong covering over 40 global institutional long-only and hedge fund investors. Before joining sales, Kai was the Head of Asia gaming research and a senior property analyst covering 24 stocks listed in Hong Kong, Singapore and the US. Kai has been working at Macquarie since 2008, and Kai has a deep understanding of Macquarie product offerings cross the equity platform. Prior to joining Macquarie, Kai worked at Lehman Brothers. Kai graduated from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (First Class Honours) with a full-time Bachelor's Degree (minor in Mathematics) in Finance and a part-time Master’s Degree in Financial Analysis. Kai was born in the Northeast China and he went to Shenzhen in 1995. He had his secondary education at Shenzhen Foreign Language School.
Melissa WOLSLEY-FINDLAY FASIC Fellow
Australian delegate
Melissa Wolsley-Findlay is approaching the final semester of her Master of Education (Studies of Asia) and has spent the last three years introducing initiatives into the education sector to improve the Asia capabilities of Commerce secondary students. With degrees in Arts (Sociology), Business (Management) and Education, Melissa has a range of interests. As Head of Commerce at The Peninsula School in Victoria, Australia, Melissa developed a ‘Commerce with Asia’ subject for year 10 students. She also planned and ran a Commerce and Languages Tour of China for students where they visited Chinese and Australian organisations in Shanghai. She regularly presents at conferences to encourage other teachers to recognise the value of Asia literacy, and how important it is for the next generation to have a much stronger understanding of the Australia-China relationship. In her current studies Melissa has written a number of papers on China. Areas of focus have been business etiquette in China, urbanisation, the cultural significance of tourist sites, a comparison of Chinese art, and the issues of Western businesses in Eastern cultures. Melissa combines her passion for business, education and Asia together to ensure the importance of international education to Australia’s economic prosperity is highly valued.
XIONG Xing FASIC Fellow
Chinese delegate
Dr. XIONG Xing (Jason) is an Associate Research Fellow from the Center for Taiwan & East Asian Studies, Central China Normal University. He received academic training from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan University, Central China Normal University, the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University (SAIS Nanjing) and National Chi Nan University (Taiwan, China) successively. He has been working for several years, including the Center for New Energy Access Technology, National Energy Administration of China as an Assistant Research fellow, Center for Global New Energy Strategic Studies (CGEESS, Peking University) as a Project Research Fellow, and Hubei University as an Assistant Professor. Dr. XIONG did many works in actor-sector analysis and investigation by means of integrating international relations theories with international social practice. He has published some research papers and finished many professional consulting reports with rich experience in energy issue. His research fields not only in energy area but also in international studies. In addition, he authored some books like The Peaceful Rising of China：Theory, History and Strategy; A Study of Sino-U.S. Cooperation on Clean Energy：Impetus, Procedure, and Risks; On the International Cooperation of Yangtze River Economic Belt.
Jenny YANG
Chinese delegate
Jenny is a strategist, innovator and entrepreneur passionate about enabling businesses through innovation and design. As the Innovation Strategy Director at China Bridge Design Consulting, based in Shanghai, her work focuses on helping organizations to take human-centered approaches to solving complex business problems. She empowers organizations to explore untapped opportunities, building creative cultures and internal systems that unlock their creative potential for sustainable growth.
Prior to working in China, Jenny specialized in interior design, branding strategy and project management. Over the past 10 years she has developed comprehensive portfolios in the creative industry, working with organizations like the National Gallery of Victoria and Amcor.
After running a startup in Melbourne, Jenny discovered a strong passion for business. In 2013, she began her MBA study with Melbourne Business School and later on exchange to IESE in Barcelona. Her experience and balance between design and business provided Jenny with a rare appreciation and ability to truly apply innovative thinking to resolve complex business situations and challenge the status quo.
Jenny has international experience, living, working and studying across Asia, Australia and Europe and her diverse cultural insights provide her the ability to adapt to different situations quickly. Jenny’s global outlook has fostered a personal and professional passion for Australia-China relations and she is eager to contribute her expertise in arts, design and social innovation in both China and Australia.
Jenny holds a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School, and a double degree in Interior Design and Visual Communication from Swinburne University of Technology.
Zhixuan YANG
Chinese delegate
Dr. Zhixuan (Jenny) Yang is a lecturer in the Department of Real Estate Development and Management, School of Investment and Construction Management, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE), China. Her major teaching courses are Real Estate Laws and Regulations, Real Estate Valuation and Real Estate Development and Operation at undergraduate level, and China Real Estate and Urbanisation at postgraduate level.
She is a master student supervisor in the field of city governance as well as real estate management. Her research specialty is in the city governance and 3D land and property management. Currently she works on the research project from China Ministry of Education on 3D City Governance [Project No. 15YJC630158]. The project contributes to the deep insight of integrated information platform for city governance at three dimensions by adopting GIS plus BIM.
She visited the University of Melbourne as a visiting scientist for one year and was involved in the Australian Research Council (ARC) research project. After the visit, she works on research projects as a research associate with the Centre for SDIs and Land Administration, the University of Melbourne. She is an active researcher in the international publications and symposiums of her research field, contributing greatly to the Australia-China common understanding of cities, land and properties from economical, institutional and technical perspectives.
Dongyi ZHANG
Chinese delegate
Dongyi Zhang currently works for the Admissions Department at Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne. She is responsible for managing admissions process of MBA programs and liaising School’s Scholarship projects. She is actively involved in business activities to support Melbourne Business School’s continued transformation to world-class excellence. Her contribution was recognised by colleagues and she was awarded the 2016 Women and Management ‘Champions of Change’.
At Melbourne Business School, Dongyi is selecting and interacting with future business leaders on a daily basis. Prior to her journey at Melbourne Business School, she worked for Australian government employment services assisting people with disabilities find sustainable employment and engaging with not-for-profit organisations. These experience instilled in her the skills to deal with people from all walks of life along with the cultural sensitivity to understand and respect.
Born and grew up in China, Dongyi first came to Australia in 2006 as an exchange student. She holds a Bachelor of Bio-Engineering and is currently completing her MBA at Melbourne Business School. She has a keen interest in the flourish of Australia and China’s relationship and hopes to draw from her experience and contribute to the prosperous developments of both countries which she considers as ‘home’.
William ZHAO
Chinese delegate
William Zhao is a Mergers and Acquisitions Analyst at a boutique corporate advisory and management consulting firm. Based between Sydney and Beijing, he has cross-border transaction experience that has led to a deeper understanding of business between Australia and China.
His passion for Sino-Australian relations has also been fostered through his work at the Australia China Business Council NSW Chapter, the China Australia Millennial Project, and the University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre, as well as through his leadership roles as National General Manager (Australia) of the Australia-China Youth Association and committee member of the Australia-China Young Professionals Initiative Sydney Chapter.
Prior to this, William was elected as the National Vice-President of the Council of International Students Australia in 2013, the national student peak body representing all international students in Australia including 150,000 Chinese students. He was the first Chinese student elected to the Council since its inception.
William holds a Master’s degree in Banking from the University of Sydney, where he proudly served on the Chancellor's Committee. In addition to having completed exchange programs at the University of Nottingham and the State University of New York, he has studied, worked, volunteered and travelled across 5 continents.
Aimee ZHENG
Chinese delegate
Aimee has deep experience in multiple sectors in new business development, corporate relations as well as China business engagement. She is passionate about disruptive innovation, entrepreneurial challenges and creating sustainable partnerships. She is professionally fluent in both English and Mandarin and is a double native to both Australia and China. She holds a MBA and a Bachelor of Design Architecture (Urban Planning). She was involved in a number of residential and commercial architectural design projects in Australasia.
Aimee is currently Sherpa for the G20YEA in Australia. She is also the Business Development Manager at PTW Architects with a focus on expanding China Business through building sustainable bilateral partnerships. Prior to this, she also held a number of partnership focused roles within tertiary education, scientific research & commercial real estate. She co-founded the inaugural China Australia Millennial Project in 2015, a social enterprise building bilateral relations by engaging young entrepreneurs from both Australia and China.