Senator the Honourable Penny Wong

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs

Penny Wong was born in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Her family moved to Australia in 1976, when she was eight years old, and settled in Adelaide. She studied law and arts at the University of Adelaide. After university she worked for the trade union covering furniture industry employees, taking part in campaigns to improve pay and conditions for the union’s members, including poorly-paid female migrants working in upholstery workshops. She worked as an adviser to the NSW Labor Government where she helped develop forests policy, and then as a barrister, before being elected to the Senate for the Australian Labor Party in 2001. Senator Wong has been re-elected four times - in 2007, 2013, 2016 and 2022.

With the election of the Rudd Government in 2007, she was appointed Minister for Climate Change and Water. In this position she significantly expanded the Renewable Energy Target, which has driven significant investment in wind and solar power. She also represented Australia in international climate change negotiations and developed the Rudd Government’s emissions trading scheme, a market based mechanism to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in the most economically efficient way. After the federal election of 2010, Senator Wong was appointed as Minister for Finance and Deregulation. As Finance Minister she worked with Treasurer Wayne Swan to deliver three Budgets in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis. She also implemented a policy to ensure women are considered for appointments to senior positions in government agencies and corporations.

In 2013 Senator Wong was elected Leader of the Government in the Senate and, after the change of government in 2013, became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate – the first woman to hold either of these roles. She served as Shadow Foreign Minister for six years before the election of the Albanese Government in 2022, when she was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong seeks to rebuild Australia’s reputation as partner of choice - drawing on all elements of our national power – to build a stable and prosperous region, where sovereignty is respected and the rules of the road are upheld.

As a proud representative of South Australia in the federal Parliament she has advocated for her State’s interests, including safeguarding the future sustainability of the Murray River and advancing the State’s economy. Senator Wong lives in Adelaide with her partner and their daughters. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, shopping at the Central Market and, from time to time, enjoying one of South Australia’s great wines.

THE HOnourable TIM WATTS | ACYD’15

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs

Tim Watts is the Federal Member for Gellibrand and has served as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Albanese Government since 2022. Tim was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013 and for a decade has served one of the most diverse electorates in Australia. Before entering Parliament, Tim worked in the technology sector, as a Senior Manager at Telstra and a Solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons). Tim worked on critical tech issues including the roll out of the National Broadband Network, the auction and distribution of sections of the radio communications spectrum and network pricing regulation. He also worked as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Minister for Communications and a Senior Adviser to the Victorian Premier.

Tim is the author of two books, “The Golden Country: Australia's Changing Identity” and “Two Futures: Australia at a Critical Moment” (along with co-author and fellow MP, Clare O'Neil). Tim holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Bond University, a Master of Public Policy from Monash University and a Master of Science (Politics and Communications) from the London School of Economics.

THE HOnourable ZOE bettison

Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs

Zoe is the Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs in the South Australian Malinauskas Labor Government. From 2018-2022, Zoe held the role of Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Zoe became a Minister in 2014 and worked progressing the South Australian Government’s reform agenda on ageing, multicultural affairs, social housing and youth. During her time as Minister, she made energy bills cheaper for concession-holders, introduced the Cost of Living Concession, tripled the budget for multicultural affairs and gave people living in Retirement Villages a stronger voice. Zoe was elected to the South Australian Parliament as the Member for Ramsay in 2012. She has a longstanding interest in education, training and business investment. Participation in the economy for all South Australians is a key driver for her interest in politics. Born in Whyalla, Zoe lived in Gawler and Kapunda where she attended Kapunda High School. She now lives in Salisbury with her husband and son. She has a BA from Flinders University and a MBA from the University of Adelaide. Prior to her election Zoe worked for an iconic Australian tourism operator and was a director of a public affairs company.

HIS EXCELLENCY MR XIAO QIAN

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Australia

1986-1990 Staff Member, Attaché, Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia

1990-1993 Attaché, Third Secretary, Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1993-1996 Third Secretary, Second Secretary, Chinese Embassy in the Republic of India

1996-2000 Second Secretary, Deputy Director, Director, Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2000-2003 Counselor, Chinese Embassy in the United States of America

2003-2006 Counselor, Chinese Embassy in the Republic of the Philippines

2006-2012 Counselor, General Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2012-2015 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Hungary

2015-2016 Deputy Representative on Korean Peninsular Affairs and Ambassador on Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2016-2017 Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs and Deputy Representative on Korean Peninsular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2017-2021 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Indonesia

2022- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Commonwealth of Australia

DR MERRIDEN VARRALL

Partner, Geopolitics Hub, KPMG Australia

Dr Merriden Varrall heads up the Australia Geopolitics Hub at KPMG, where she helps business understand and navigate the complex global geopolitical environment. She provides business-relevant insights into global, regional and local geopolitical trends and works with clients to develop strategies and solutions. A former UN diplomat based in China, Merriden is a sought-after commentator on geopolitics, East Asia, China’s foreign policy, and Australia’s bilateral relationship with China. From 2014-2018, Merriden was the Director of the Lowy Institute’s East Asia Program. Before joining the Institute, Merriden was the Assistant Country Director and Senior Policy Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme, China, where she worked on China’s role in the world, focusing on its international development cooperation policy. Merriden spent almost eight years living and working in China, including lecturing in foreign policy at the China Foreign Affairs University and conducting fieldwork for her doctoral research.

MR SEAN KEENIHAN

National Board Director and President, Australia-China Business Council South Australia

Sean is a National Board Director and State President of the Australia China Business Council – Australia’s peak bilateral business investment and trade organisation. Sean is the Chair of the Board at Norman Waterhouse and specialises in major commercial, infrastructure, and property projects as well as foreign investment law and transactions. He is also the Chair of Norman Waterhouse’s business consulting arm, NW Alliance. Sean has a wealth of experience, gained from over 25 years of legal practice, both internationally and in South Australia. Previously, Sean was the Chair of the South Australian Tourism Commission for four years, up until July 2019, presiding over the most significant period of growth in the visitor economy in its history. Sean is also Chair of the Board of Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide, and Chair of StudyAdelaide – South Australia’s peak body promoting Adelaide as Australia’s premier learning city.

Dr Jade Guan

Senior Lecturer in International Politics and Strategy, Deakin University

Dr Jade Guan is a Senior Lecturer in International Politics and Strategy at Deakin University and the Convenor of Master of National Security and Strategy at the Centre for Future Defence and National Security. Jade received her PhD in International Relations from the ANU. She is a China scholar and has broad research interests in security and foreign policy issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Her scholarly works can be found from Asia Policy, Australian Journal of International Affairs, Australian Journal of Defence and Strategic Studies, National Interest, Diplomat, Lowy Institute, East Asia Forum, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, Fulcrum: Analysis on Southeast Asia. Jade is a 2021-22 Australian Strategic Policy Grants Program recipient.

mS ECHO HUI

Reporter and Researcher, ABC Investigations

Echo Hui is a reporter and researcher with ABC Investigations. She reports on political and social issues, with a focus on government and financial misconduct, cover-ups, abuses of power, and covert influence. Previously based in Beijing, Yangon, Hong Kong and Ching Mai, she has won multiple awards for her stories on the Australian casino industry, Xinjiang re-education camps, Hong Kong's civil disobedience, China's labour movement, and Burma's democratic reforms. You can read her stories at echohui.wordpress.com.

Dr Corey Lee Bell

Project and Research Officer, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney

Dr Corey Lee Bell is a Project and Research Officer at the Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI). His work has been published in The National Interest, The Diplomat, The Australian, The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s The Strategist, Yazhou zhoukan and other outlets. He has also contributed to edited volumes and think tank reports. He has served as a researcher or visiting scholar in Greater China, South Korea and Japan, and is a former editor of Taiwan Insight, a digital magazine affiliated with the University of Nottingham. His research interests include China’s international relations and geopolitics in the Asia Pacific. He attained his doctoral degree at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute.

MS SUSAN DIETZ-HENDERSON

Senior Executive Adviser China, Australian National University National Security College

Susan Dietz-Henderson is Senior Executive Adviser China at the Australian National University National Security College. She has extensive experience on China matters acquired through a combination of government diplomatic service and in the private sector in China. During her 20-year diplomatic career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Susan served on a number of diplomatic postings in China (including as Australia’s Consul-General in Shanghai), the United States, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. She then spent 15 years based in China as Director, China Affairs for the Capital Group, where she established and managed its China presence until 2023. She returned to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as First Assistant Secretary of the East Asia Division before commencing in her current role.

Dr Czeslaw Tubilewicz

Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Adelaide

Czes Tubilewicz is a senior lecturer at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide, Australia. His main research focuses on the international relations of East Asia. He has written on cross-Taiwan Strait relations, Taiwan’s relations with Europe, Taiwanese foreign aid and the United States' subnational foreign relations (paradiplomacy). He has published in Asian Survey, Australian Journal of International Affairs, Australian Journal of Political Science, China Quarterly, Diplomacy & Statecraft, Europe-Asia Studies, International Relations of the Asia Pacific, Pacific Affairs, The Pacific Review and The Russian Review. He has co-authored (with Natalie Omond) The United States' Subnational Relations with Divided China: A Constructivist Approach to Paradiplomacy (2021), authored Chinese Constructions of Sovereignty and the East China Conflict (2020) and Taiwan and Post-Communist Europe (2007), edited Critical Issues in Contemporary China (2006 & 2017) and co-edited (with Andrew Rosser) a special issue on foreign aid in the Indo-Pacific (published in The Pacific Review, 2016). He teaches courses in such areas as comparative politics, Chinese politics and foreign policy, and leadership studies.

DR JADE LITTLE

Chair of the Board, ACYD

Jade’s career has been focused in the resources industries. She is currently chief advisor to the COO of Newmont corporation in the US. Her previous work experience in Australia has included working for BHP across technical, production and strategic roles, at UBS Investment Bank as a director of Mining Research, and as a consultant for McKinsey & Company. In China she has worked as a Project Manager assisting in technical reviews used for mining related Initial Public Offerings for RungePincockMinarco based in Beijing. Jade holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering), a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) and a Bachelor of Arts (Chinese) from the University of Queensland (UQ). She also has a Master of Science in Global Finance jointly awarded by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and New York University’s (NYU) Stern Business School. She is a member of the UQ’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering Industry Advisory Board. She was awarded The Australian Financial Review BOSS Young Executive of the Year in 2017.

MR LI DONG

Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Adelaide

Mr Li Dong has a long career as a diplomat where he had been stationed in several countries across Asia, Africa and Europe as well as working in different departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Africa for a number of years where he attained valuable knowledge and understanding of international and multilateral mechanisms. Mr Li also worked in the management of a large Chinese energy corporation which operates both in China and overseas. His last post abroad before coming to Adelaide was Egypt where he was able to communicate with locals in Arabic and contributed to the enhancement of the fruitful bilateral relations.

mr Raj Surendran

CEO, Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia

Mr Surendranis a highly experienced senior executive with over 20 years of finance, business development, strategy, project management, and commercial leadership experience in Australia. He has previously held senior finance positions with Aurizon, Wesfarmers, BGC Australia, and DUET Group (Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline). Mr Surendran joined Tianqi Lithium in 2019 as General Manager Finance before being appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the newly formed Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia joint venture in September 2021. As COO, he led the Kwinana team through many milestone accomplishments including the achievement of first battery-grade lithium, in May 2022. Mr Surendran has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Australia.

senator the honourable simon birmingham

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate

Simon grew up near Gawler in Adelaide’s north on his family’s small horse agistment property and was educated at local schools before going on to study at the University of Adelaide where he completed a Masters of Business Administration. 

Prior to entering the Senate, Simon worked for a number of industry bodies, establishing particular experience in the wine, tourism and hospitality sectors – industries that are critical to South Australia’s prosperity. 

After less than three years in the Senate Simon was appointed to the Shadow Ministry, serving as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin and the Environment until the 2013 election. Following the change of government in 2013 Simon served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment, with responsibility for water policy, including the Murray-Darling Basin, National Parks and the Bureau of Meteorology.

In 2014 Simon was appointed to serve as the Assistant Minister for Education and Training in the Abbott Ministry, with specific responsibility for vocational education, apprenticeships, training and skills. Simon then went on to become Minister for Education and Training in the Turnbull government in September 2015 and was made Manager of Government Business in the Senate in February 2018.

Under the Morrison Government, Simon was appointed as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate in August 2018. Simon was then appointed as Minister for Finance in October 2020 while also having the responsibility as Leader of the Government in the Senate. Following the 2022 federal election, Simon was appointed Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

Simon is married to Courtney and together they have two young daughters, Matilda and Amelia. Simon is an active advocate for mental health and ovarian cancer and is a proud Adelaide Crows fan.

Mr Francis Wong OAM OSJ

Chair, Australian ASEAN Business Forum

Francis Wong is an accomplished Australian entrepreneur, and company director with 30 years of experience in developing positive trade, investments, tourism, and cultural developments in Australia. Mr. Wong brings strong management, board governance and global business experience through his various roles. His strong attributes also include governments relationships, public policy, international marketing, talent management and cultural diversity. With his extensive involvement in fostering Australia and International connections, especially ASEAN region, it has won the recognition from the industry, and the business community with numerous awards and accolades.

Ms shao-lu jin

Director, China Business Practice, KPMG Australia

Shao-Lu is a Director of KPMG’s China Business Practice team. She started her career in auditing with over 12 years of experience doing audit work in Australia and China. She has established considerable knowledge and know-how to bring the two very different business communities together. Her experience covers audit engagements of large state-owned-enterprises and private companies. Shao-Lu enjoys building relationships with clients, connections with cross-functional teams & cross-border networks. She brings the best experience, knowledge, perspective, and awareness to clients.

his excellency Mr Scott dewar

Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

Mr Dewar is a senior career officer with the Australian Public Service and was most recently Deputy Secretary, International and Security Group, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has previously served overseas as Consul-General in Honolulu and had postings in China and the Republic of Korea. Mr Dewar holds a Master of Arts in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Melbourne. He speaks Mandarin, Japanese and Korean.

Ms erin whitear

Public Affairs Manager for Australia & New Zealand, Treasury Wine Estates

Erin Whitear is the Public Affairs Manager for Australia and New Zealand at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), one of the world’s largest wine companies which sells wine into more than 70 countries and owns more than 10,000 hectares of vineyards in the world’s best wine regions. Joining TWE 18 months ago after serving as a political adviser to South Australian Premier Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Erin leads TWE’s engagement with government and industry on key public policy issues. Her work focuses on shaping policy that supports the sustainability and growth of the Australian wine industry, with an emphasis on tax, trade, consumer health, and sustainability.

ms marianne duluk

Manager of Food and Wine Exports, South Australian Department of State Development

Marianne is an accomplished wine industry expert with over 15 years of experience in international trade and export, marketing, and category development. Her career spans boutique and corporate settings within both the private and public sectors, with a focus on driving growth in Asia-Pacific and US markets. Known for her strategic leadership and deep industry insight, Marianne is dedicated to advancing the wine sector globally.

mr Paul Turale

General Manager, Marketing, Wine Australia

As Wine Australia’s General Manager, Marketing, Paul has responsibility for Wine Australia's marketing activities domestically and internationally and for the strategic leadership of Wine Australia’s marketing team, working closely with the entire Australian grape and wine sector to drive market development, open new markets and increase the demand and premium paid for all Australian wine. Paul brings over two decades of experience in the wine sector to his role with Wine Australia, having held senior leadership positions spanning general management, marketing and commercial functions. His knowledge gained from lengthy stints at Pernod Ricard (Orlando Wines), Peter Lehmann Wines and Casella Family Brands where he had significant exposure to both the Australian and key export markets.

mr andrew wei min lee

Asia Pacific Leader, Movius Consulting

Andrew Lee is Adelaide-born of Singaporean-Chinese descent. He has worked in China for more than 20 years in legal roles. He has managed Chinese Death Penalty cases. He has been Head of China for one of the world’s largest commercial dispute resolution institutions. He is a United Nations Ombuds mediator, focusing on matters with significant cultural issues. He is a negotiation coach to large global pharmaceutical and semi-conductor companies. Mr. Lee is a Fellow of Stanford and Harvard Law Schools. He has a Certificate from the Hague of Academy of International Law, a Master of Law from Peking University and First Class Honours from Sydney and Adelaide Universities.

ms yun jiang | ACYD’22

Adjunct Fellow, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney

Yun Jiang is an Adjunct Fellow at the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI). She is also working on competition policy research at Treasury and studying Arabic and Hindi at the ANU. She is a public policy specialist with extensive research and media experience. She is known for her interdisciplinary approach to public policy, with expertise in international policy, national security policy, and economic policy. She has published widely and appeared in Australian and international media to discuss China-related topics, focusing on assessing Australia's policies on China and the implication of the bilateral relationship for Chinese-Australian communities. She was recently the AIIA China Matters Fellow. Prior to this, she was the co-founder and editor of China Neican and the managing editor of the China Story blog at the Australian Centre on China in the World at ANU. Her public service experiences include the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury and the Department of Defence.

Dr Jeffrey Gil

Senior Lecturer, Flinders University

Jeffrey is a Senior Lecturer in ESOL/TESOL in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, where he is involved in the development, teaching and administration of ESOL and TESOL topics. He was also the coordinator of the Chinese program from 2011-2014. Jeffrey has previously taught at university level in China and worked as a language tester using the International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR) system. His research interests are: China’s foreign policy; China’s international relations; Chinese as a second/foreign language; English as a global language; English language learning and teaching in China; Ethnic minorities and minority languages in China; and Use and status of the Chinese language in the world.

professor mobo gao

Professor of Chinese Studies, Adelaide University

Professor Gao's research interests include studies of rural China, contemporary Chinese politics & culture, Chinese migration to Australia and Chinese language. Professor Gao's publications include four monographs and numerous book chapters and articles. One of his books, the critically acclaimed Gao Village, is a case study of the village that he came from. His latest book The Battle of China's Past: Mao and the Cultural Revolution is a reassessment of the Mao era and the Cultural Revolution.

ms joyce chen

Leader of Bilingual and Global Perspectives, Plympton International College South Australia

Joyce Chen is a bilingual educational leader known for driving curriculum innovation, leading diverse teams, and organising school-wide events that promote cultural awareness and community engagement. Her collaborative approach unites colleagues and external partners to create inclusive learning environments where bilingualism enhances both academic success and real-world connections. With experience as the Key Language teacher in the Murray River region and as President of the Chinese Language Teachers Association of South Australia (CLTASA), Joyce has successfully led language initiatives, mentored educators, and advocated for language education. Under her leadership, CLTASA has expanded its influence on Chinese language education, and she has presented her expertise at national and state conferences. Joyce’s dedication to fostering strategic partnerships and implementing bilingual programs continues to empower students and educators, building a culture of lifelong growth and intercultural competence.

MR Andrew Scrimgeour

Adjunct Research Fellow, UniSA Education Futures

Andrew is Adjunct Research Fellow, UniSA Education Futures, and formerly lecturer in Language Education and Asia Literacy in the Education Futures unit at the University of South Australia, and course coordinator for the Master of Teaching, Languages Education specialisation. Andrew has been recently involved in a federally funded national project to review program provision and student participation in languages learning in Australian schools as part of a project to develop a national strategy and plan for Language Education in Australian schools. Has also undertaken projects for the Department for Education SA to develop a quality assurance framework for the Chinese bilingual program in a local state school. Research interests focus on aspects of languages teaching and learning in schools, including curriculum design, textbook design, learner engagement, and assessment practices. His primary focus is on Chinese language teaching and learning, particularly on issues in teaching and learning Chinese characters.

Mr Stanley Wang

Deputy Principal, Haileybury

Stanley Wang is the inaugural Deputy Principal of Haileybury. Stanley first joined the school in 2001 after receiving a Haileybury Music Scholarship. In 2006 he graduated as Dux. A keen linguist, Stanley then studied Linguistics and Economics, followed by a Master of Teaching (Secondary) at the University of Melbourne. He later completed a Master of Social Sciences (Nonprofit Management) at the University of Hong Kong. Stanley’s career in education began at Charles La Trobe College through Teach For Australia. He was appointed Head of Languages at Haileybury in 2015 and he led and managed Australia’s largest school-based languages team. Stanley moved to Taiwan to take up senior leadership roles with Teach for Taiwan as Chief Strategy Officer and then Chief Executive Officer but in 2020 he returned to Melbourne as Principal of Abbotsford Primary School. During this time, Stanley’s pioneering work at the bilingual Government school earned him a 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australian Award. Stanley speaks English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and French and is currently studying Russian.

Mr Douglas Gautier AM

CEO and Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival Centre

Mr Gautier is the CEO and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival Centre, where he has worked to position the Centre as a hub for Asian-Australian cultural engagement. He is an Advisory Board member of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, Chair of the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres and the Board of Global Cultural Districts Network, and is a Deputy Chancellor of Flinders University. Mr Gautier was founding Vice-Chairman of the Asian Arts Festival Association and a board member of the Asian Cultural Council (Rockerfeller Foundation).

ms anna lin

Senior Manager Partnerships, Western Sydney University

Anna Lin is the Senior Manager of Partnerships and Precinct Activation at Western Sydney University, where she leads the development and implementation of key partnership and precinct strategies. With a background in international trade, Anna has held diplomatic roles, including Trade Commissioner in Dubai and Guangzhou, and worked with AusAID in Mongolia. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters in International Business from The University of Sydney. Passionate about cultural diversity and leadership, Anna was awarded the Dr John Yu Fellowship in 2020. She is known for her expertise in business development, strategic advisory, and fostering innovation.

 mr john zhong

Australia and New Zealand Country Manager, Trina Solar

John have over 14 years of working experience in the energy and resource industry with 2 years with Trinasolar ISBU. John holds bachelor degree with major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University of Adelaide. Prior to joining Trina, Mr. Zhong worked as Vice General Manager in Risen Energy Australia. Much earlier, Mr. Zhong worked as Senior Power Consultant in GHD, Power Consultant and Project Manager in Worley Parsons and ExxonMobil respectively. Mr. Zhong has accumulated bunch of rich experience in managing and delivering projects in a variety of engineering industries including concept and feasibility study, detailed design, (de)commissioning, project management and business development. John's main involvement are over 2.5GW development in Solar Farm and BESS with Trinasolar ISBU, 134MW Yarranlea Solar Farm and 132MW Merredin Solar Farm.

dr muyi yang

Senior Electricity Policy Analyst, China,

Ember Energy

Dr Muyi Yang is responsible for leveraging Ember’s analytical capacity to promote the transition towards a clean and more sustainable energy future in China and beyond. He holds positions as an Adjunct Fellow at the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) in the University of Technology Sydney and serves as the Secretary of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS). Additionally, Dr. Yang holds a role as a non-resident Senior Policy Fellow at Asia Society Australia. Drawing from his extensive experience in teaching, research, and consulting, Dr. Yang specialises in energy policy across China, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. His areas of expertise encompass electricity market reform, clean energy finance, coal power phase-down, transport electrification, energy governance, and political economy.

mr gary cowan

Chief Executive Officer, National Foundation for Australia-China Relations

Mr Gary Cowan took up his role as CEO of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations in March 2024. Gary is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Gary served overseas as Australia’s Representative in Taipei from 2018 to 2021 and earlier in roles in Australia’s missions in Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo. In Canberra Gary served as the First Assistant Secretary, North and South Asia Division (later South and Central Asia Division) from 2021 to 2024, managing Australia’s relations with Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, and the countries of South and central Asia. In earlier roles he headed Australia’s international climate policy and negotiations team at DFAT and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and was speechwriter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Gary holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Australia New Zealand School of Government (2010), and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (1997) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (1995) from the University of Sydney. He speaks Mandarin.

her excellency The honourable frances adamson AC

Governor, South Australia

Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC was born and grew up in South Australia. She studied economics at the University of Adelaide, while there becoming the first female captain of the boat club in its 103-year history and went on to join the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs in 1985. Her Excellency worked in Hong Kong during the early years of China’s reform and opening, headed the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei and later served as Australia’s Ambassador to China. Earlier in her career she served twice in the Australian High Commission in London.

In 2016, Her Excellency was appointed head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, pursuing Australia’s interests as world powers shifted and the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. She also led the department through a period of cultural change, encouraging more women into senior ranks. She has also been International Adviser to the Prime Minister and Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister and Defence Minister. In June 2021, Her Excellency was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration through the advancement of Australia's diplomatic, trade and cultural interests, particularly with the People's Republic of China and the Indo-Pacific region, to innovative foreign policy development and high level program delivery, and as the 36th Governor appointed in South Australia.

She is also a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John and patron of some 120 organisations in her own right and more than 50 jointly with her husband Rod. Her Excellency is a Fellow of both the Institute of Public Administration of Australia and the Australian Institute of International Affairs. She holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Adelaide and the Australian National University. Her Excellency is married to Mr Rod Bunten, a physicist, former British diplomat and high school teacher. They have four adult children and a Cavoodle, Alfie.

Mr Jing Li

Central Ward Councillor, City of Adelaide
Jing has a corporate analysis and business consulting background and was formerly a senior executive advising the State Government on investment attraction and international engagement. He loves Adelaide’s easy-going lifestyle and is passionate about protecting our city’s unique heritage and Park Lands. With 15 years of private and public sector experience, he wants to support business growth in the CBD and promote Adelaide to attract more international students, tourists, major events, luxury brands and investors to the city. In his spare time Jing enjoys spending time with his family, reading, travelling and playing sports.