Mr James Tang | Executive Director, ACYD

Co-founder & Business Development Director

James has been passionate about bridging the language and cultural differences between Australia and China through people to people exchanges since his university studies in Hangzhou in 2007 and Taipei in 2009. His interests in understanding China have taken him to work as a consultant in Beijing from 2013-2017 for RPM Global in mining advisory.

James's professional career in Australia has been diverse, ranging from a FIFO engineer in the Pilbara for Rio Tinto, a senior management consultant at Deloitte Consulting and corporate developer at Fortescue Metals Group. His latest endeavour has been building and launching a fast-growing startup called Ready Team One, a social Virtual Reality (VR) gaming company that has sold its product internationally.

As an Australian born Chinese raised in Perth, James completed studies in Engineering (Mechanical), Arts (Chinese) and MBA from the University of Western Australia. He has been a proud member of the ACYD management team since 2016.

Mr James Scullin | ACYD'22

Director, Programs, Asia Society Australia

James Scullin joined Asia Society Australia in June 2021 as a program manager with 12 years experience developing programs for non profits in Australia and Asia in the areas of China's political economy, Asian business engagement, foreign policy, climate change and cultural awareness.

James leads Asia Society Australia's programs team and its strategic relationship with the Victorian Government and RMIT University. He is responsible for the organisation's major programs Asia Summit, Melbourne Asia Game Changers and international visitor program.

Previously, James was National Project Manager for the Australia China Business Council. In this role, James led high-level China policy briefings, China-Australia Free Trade Agreement training, market entry delegations to China and an Australia-China business podcast. James has worked with Southeast Asia trade advisory firm TradeWorthy and Beijing-based environmental consultancy DEVELOPMENT Solutions.

He also worked as a tour leader to North Korea and in 2020 self-published the now sold out photography book Hotels of Pyongyang. James speaks Chinese at HSK 5 level proficiency and fluent German.

Ms Ciara Morris | Curation Manager, ACYD

PhD Candidate, City University of Hong Kong

Ciara is a young Australian China watcher, with both Chinese and Australian experience and qualifications. She is currently a PhD Candidate at City University Hong Kong, researching the impact of nationalism on Australia-China relations. Ciara is also a part-time Editor at China Policy, a policy analysis and strategic advisory firm, and Director of the Young China Watchers Hong Kong chapter. Before moving to Hong Kong, Ciara worked as a principal researcher on the Australian Academy of Humanities' Australia's China Knowledge Capability project funded by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. Ciara has also worked as a policy officer at China Matters, former policy institute in Sydney, and as a research intern at APCO Worldwide Consulting in Beijing. Ciara was the Young Australians in International Affairs China Fellow in 2022. She has also been published in the South China Morning Post, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times, Australian Outlook, and the Chatham House magazine The World Today, among others. Ciara has a Master of Public Administration from the School of Government at Peking University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Government and International Relations and Chinese Studies from the University of Sydney.

Dr Rachel Swift | ACYD’19

Innovation & Enterprise Advisory Board, University of Melbourne

Rachel is an accomplished strategist and health executive with a blend of hands-on implementation and advisory expertise. With 18 years of international experience in the health industry, including a decade at The Boston Consulting Group, her work focuses on innovation and enhancing patient health outcomes. Dr. Swift currently serves on several boards, including the Innovation & Enterprise Advisory Board at the University of Melbourne School of Medicine and Dental Health Science, as Chair of Finance for GPEx, and on the boards of Akkadian and ECS Botanics (ASX: ECS). She is also the Vice-Chair of the Australian Advisory Board on Competitiveness. Her areas of expertise encompass health policy, health systems leadership, public health, infectious diseases, digital health, and medical research. Rachel’s executive career spans private health insurance, private equity, venture capital, and management consulting. Rachel served as an Expert Advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in West Africa, where she played a key role in shaping strategy and operations to combat the epidemic. Earlier in her career, she led a global health program in East Africa with the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Rachel has held teaching appointments at the Universities of Oxford and Adelaide. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health and the Australasian College of Health Systems Management, a Certified Health Executive, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Mr Mathew Benjamin | Board Director, ACYD

Mathew Benjamin served as the Executive Director of the Australia-China Youth Dialogue from 2019 to 2022, after participating as a delegate in 2018 and a speaker in 2017.

Mathew holds a Master of International Business and Law from the University of Sydney. Mathew has also undertaken coursework at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, and was awarded the Taiwan Ministry of Education MTC Scholarship to undertake Chinese studies at the National Taiwan National University, Taipei.

The Hon Jack Batty MP | ACYD'23

Member for Bragg

Jack Batty was elected the Member for Bragg in the Parliament of South Australia at the July 2022 by-election. Prior to entering State Parliament, Jack worked in international diplomacy as an adviser to HE the Hon George Brandis QC during his term as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Through this role Jack was a delegate to the 2021 Climate Conference in Glasgow, worked on Australia’s free trade deal with the United Kingdom as well as efforts to get over four million Pfizer vaccines to Australia during the pandemic.

Jack has also previously worked as an adviser to the Minister for Defence, an associate to His Honour Justice Besanko of the Federal Court of Australia and as a solicitor at Cowell Clarke Commercial Lawyers in Adelaide. Jack completed his Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Bachelor of Economics and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the University of Adelaide.

Together with his wife Charlotte, Jack has deep ties to the Bragg community and currently lives in Toorak Gardens.

Mr Harry Li | Partnerships Manager, ACYD

Business Development Manager, Linear Clinical Research

Harry currently serves as the Business Development Manager for Linear Clinical Research in Perth. His involvement in the Australia-China space dates back to 2014 when he arrived in Perth as an international student from Chengdu. Over the years, he has played key roles in organising conferences and events in both China and Australia, and recognises the significance of active engagement between the two nations. This understanding led him to the Australia China Youth Dialogue in 2022.

Recently, Harry completed his MBA at the University of Western Australia. He has prior experience as a Business Development Consultant spanning various industries, including Healthcare, Life Sciences, and International Education. Harry also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physiology and a Graduate Diploma in Health Science (Clinical Physiotherapy). Additionally, he is a NAATI certified provisional interpreter.

Ms Blaze Puksand | Logistics Manager, ACYD

Education Programs Coordinator, Asialink

Blaze has over a decade of experience working in education in both Australia and China, specialising in the teaching of Global Politics and Mandarin. Blaze currently works at Asialink, facilitating intercultural connections between Australian and Asian young leaders, as well as providing Chinese capability and language training across business, government, education, and the arts.

Prior to education, Blaze held various positions in the Australian Government and the Aid and Development sector. Blaze is passionate about cross-cultural relationships and supporting people-to-people connections. As an educator, she is driven by the need to cultivate critical thinking and media literacy in our future leaders, ensuring that they are prepared to tackle the complex global challenges that await them.

Blaze holds a Master of Teaching from The University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Arts (Global) from Monash University and has completed extended studies at King’s College London, Beijing Language and Culture University and Shanghai International Studies University. Blaze’s other interests include growing vegetables, craft beer and Chinese rap.

Ms Linda Lau | Company Secretary, ACYD

Head of Legal, Trina Solar

Linda is the Head of Legal at Trina Solar, a leading global solar technology company, where she plays a key role in advancing strategic collaborations in the renewable energy sector between Australia and China. With extensive experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, Linda has supported numerous investments involving Chinese companies entering the Australian market, as well as Australian companies expanding their trade and optimising supply chains in China.

Her work spans crucial industries for both economies, including renewable energy, resources, agriculture, and consumer goods. Originally from Shanghai and Hong Kong, Linda moved to Sydney to complete her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business degrees.

Now based in Brisbane, she remains committed to fostering mutual understanding and collaboration between Australia and China, both in her professional work and broader networks.