Tony Chong
President at WA Chinese Chamber of CommerceTony is the President of the WA Chinese Chamber and holds various roles in both the commercial and non-profit sectors. He is currently the Managing Partner at Squire Patton Boggs in Perth, a global law firm, where he leads the Asian Desk and Corporate Group in Australia. Tony specializes in mergers and acquisitions, as well as investments and transactions between Australia and Asia. He also chairs Autoleague, one of the largest private car dealership groups in Australia, and Barking Gecko, Western Australia’s premier children’s state theatre.
Tony has a strong interest in the arts and philanthropy, and he is passionate about fostering people-to-people links between Australia and Asia. He is a champion for diversity and the recognition of Asian contributions to Australia. His achievements include being appointed as a mentor to the Department of Multicultural Affairs board program, receiving the Australian Asian Lawyers Association Diversity Leadership Award, and being recognized as a Murdoch University Distinguished Alumnus.
Tony has joined the WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce since youth and was the Senior Vice President before he was elected as President in 2022
Dingbin Long
Consul General at Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Perth
Keith Drage
Managing Director of WA Sandalwood PlantationsKeith immigrated to Australia in late 2000 and shortly after, together with Ron Mulder, founded WA Sandalwood Plantations (WASP). Keith has been involved with the development of circa 15,000 hectares of Australian sandalwood plantations managed by WASP on behalf of Institutional investors and HNW clients. Keith is the Executive Chairman of WASP and oversees commercial management including investor relations, finance and sales and is currently focused primarily on the marketing, distribution and sales of sustainable plantation sandalwood products into Asia. Keith graduated in Chemistry from University College, London in 1986.
Marc Anderson
CEO of Brolos Geraldon Fisheries CoMarc Anderson joined Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative as CEO in March 2024.
Marc is an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate and holds a Graduate Diploma in Business (Marketing).
Marc has over 20 years of experience driving superior results in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. Marc is a multi-skilled executive with extensive expertise in building and developing brands, international trade, supply-chain management, and stakeholder engagement.
Marc is passionate about food and beverage, as evidenced by his extensive experience with well-known Australian brands like Treasury Wine Estates and Brownes Dairy. His dedication and commitment to excellence in his senior roles have seen him sit on various advisory groups and boards throughout his career.
A collaborative leader, Marc understands the value of teamwork in achieving strategic results.
Fui K Soong
CEO/Founder of Centre for Strategic EngagementMs. Fui K. Soong is an experienced professional with over two decades of expertise in public policy research, advisory and strategic communications, both within Malaysia and internationally. With a strong focus on geopolitics, she has become a recognized authority in political analysis, particularly in the ASEAN region. Her extensive knowledge of political risks, projections, and regional dynamics has earned her a notable presence in the media and at international forums, where she is frequently invited to share her insights on a variety of political and geopolitical topics, making her a valuable voice in understanding the shifting landscape of Southeast Asia and beyond.
Her undergraduate degree from the University of Western Australia (UWA) provided her with a solid foundation in economic theory and analysis. While her Master's from the University of Malaya (UM), among the top universities in Southeast Asia, gave her a deeper and more specialized understanding of economic issues, with a focus on regional trade and international economics.
She currently runs her own public policy consulting firm as well as a media company with special focus on public policy for underserved communities.
Parwinder Kaur
Director, DNA Zoo Australia; Founder & Chair, WA Genome Atlas of The University of Western AustraliaDr Parwinder Kaur is an award-winning scientist, a passionate leader, inspiring pioneer and positive role model with 15+ years of initiating and delivering research outcomes in biotechnology. Major experience lies in leading cross-disciplinary applied biotechnology research for innovation, research translation – both as an academic and entrepreneur.
Parwinder’s work is a demonstration of the innovation and all-round impact that can be achieved through research partnerships between universities, industry, community, NGOs and government.
Parwinder is recognized as a leader in genome sequencing, translational genomics and capacity building in international agricultural and environmental biotechnology. She has made a pioneering contribution by integrating advanced discoveries in 3D-genomics with DNA Zoo to provide genomic empowerment to unique Australian biodiversity facilitating conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species.
Rustico Dulguime
Senior Partnerships Director of IDP EducationPrior to joining the world’s largest International Education Service Provider, IDP Education, Rustico spent 15+ years working in the university sector, in a range of international student and business development roles. Rustico has built and strengthened both commercial and internationalisation partnerships with universities, TAFE’s, provide providers, destination bodies and government departments, particularly across Australia, South and Southeast Asia.
Derryn Belford
CEO of StudyPerthStudyPerth is the peak membership body for international education in Western Australia.
The StudyPerth team promotes Perth as a top international study destination and welcomes, supports and connects students studying here with premier education and life experiences. Together these efforts boost WA’s economy, enhance cultural diversity, and foster lasting global relationships.
Derryn became CEO of StudyPerth in early 2022, following 13 years at Tourism Western Australia, where she facilitated the growth of quality hotels, the cruise industry, and Aboriginal tourism in WA. Before joining the international education sector, she served as Acting Managing Director of Tourism WA, supporting the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derryn has a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Business Administration (Marketing) from Edith Cowan University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Stephen Choo
CEO of Digital Survey Research Insight P/LDr. Stephen Choo is a highly seasoned business executive and board director with a distinguished career in strategic growth, market expansion, and executive leadership across multiple sectors. As CEO of DSRInsight, he has driven impactful market opportunities in Western Australia, supporting clients in energy, technology, and construction to scale and innovate. Stephen’s board roles, including as a non-executive director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Geniusto International Limited and multiple leadership positions at the Western Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, showcase his commitment to governance, community development, and fostering business collaboration. His prior executive roles at the Australian Data and Cyber Institute, Korn Ferry and Qualtrics underscore his strong international business background, complemented by a Ph.D. and an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia. With a unique blend of strategic acumen, dedication to social and economic impact, and deep industry connections, Stephen continues to drive high-value, sustainable outcomes in both executive and board roles.
Christine Xu
Country Manager Greater China at Tourism Western AustraliaA marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, specializing in strategic marketing, brand development, destination marketing, digital and social media marketing. Christine has been working with TWA for more than 5 years. Before TWA, Christine was the marketing director at UTour, a listed Chinese Outbound Tour Company and she was responsible for brand, digital marketing, social media, public relations and partnerships, etc. She also worked for Visit California and Pennsylvania Tourism in China as the senior marketing manager.
Expertise in driving visitation and yield in China market through innovative marketing programs and marketing strategies.
Christine holds a master's degree of Tourism Administration from Fudan University.
Kym Francesconi
Chair at Australia's North West Tourism (ANW)Kym Francesconi is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in tourism, small business, and external relations. Her career spans various roles, from Dive Master and tour guide to business owner, board member, partnership manager, and business advisor.
Kym's extensive experience includes senior positions at Tourism Western Australia and the Small Business Development Corporation. Kym has operated several successful tourism ventures, including the Underwater Explorer glass bottom boat at Rottnest Island and Coastline Tours, a boutique bus tour company. Her entrepreneurial spirit and deep knowledge of the tourism sector have made her a trusted leader in the industry.
Today, Kym works with a dynamic portfolio of companies, including WA’s newest regional airline, Nexus Airlines, and the multi-award-winning HeliSpirit and Aviair. Her passion for tourism, paired with her leadership experience, has also led her to proudly represent Western Australia’s North West as Chair of Australia’s North West Tourism.
Jillian Pan
Managing Director of Sun and Sea Travel ServicesJillian is the owner and the managing director of Sun and Sea Travel Services, an Inbound Tour Operator established in Perth since 2015. Jilian manages the day to day operations, marketing and sales. Along with a professional bilingual team of staff, Sun and Sea owns a fleet of coaches from 12 to 42 seaters. Sun and Sea operates premium tour packages for series groups, FIT, corporate and MICE customers of Chinese cultural background visiting WA.
Jillian graduated with a master degree of Social Work from the University of Western Australia. Prior to that, Jillian worked as an editor and reporter for a national magazine and newspaper group in Shanghai (China). Jillian has sit in as a committee member of ATEC WA Branch for a year and is keen on bringing more voices for tour operators in WA as well as to bring more creativities of Western Australia to the wider tourism communities from a culturally diverse perspective.
Sam Huang
Head of Centre, School of Business and Law Centre for Tourism Research (SBLCTR), School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan UniversityDr Songshan (Sam) Huang is Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Research Fellow, Professor of Tourism and Services Marketing at the School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University. He is the Head of the School’s Centre for Tourism Research, and the Founding Director of Australia-China Tourism Research Network (ACTReNet). Prof. Huang is the co-editor of Tourism Planning and Development and serves on the editorial boards of 7 tourism and hospitality journals. He is a leading researcher in the fields of China tourism and destination marketing. He is a Top2% scientist in the world ranked by Sandford/Elsevier. Prof Huang has both industry and academic experiences in mainland China, Hong Kong and Australia, and is ideally positioned to bridge the tourism academia and industries between China and Australia.
Raj Surendran
CEO of Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA)Raj Surendran was appointed CEO of Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia on 19 October 2022. He is a highly experienced senior executive with over 20 years of finance, business development, strategy, project management and commercial leadership experience in Australia. He held senior finance positions with Aurizon, Wesfarmers, BGC Australia and DUET Group (Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline) before joining Tianqi Lithium’s Kwinana operation in 2019.
Jop van Hattum
Managing Director of Gingerah energyJop is the managing director at Theia Energy. He has been leading the stakeholder engagement and exploration in the onshore Canning Basin since 2018. He has written extensively about the resource potential in the onshore Canning Basin and negotiated agreements with traditional owners to sustainably explore the energy resources. Previously, Jop has held a variety of executive roles in the energy sector including as senior director at the Northern Territory Public Service preceded by a distinguished career in the petroleum industry in Australia and internationally. He has broad senior executive experience in Stakeholder Engagement, Petroleum Engineering, Project Management, Operations Management, Commercial Law, Native Title and Business Management.
Jop holds postgraduate qualifications in Petroleum Engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and Business Administration and Commercial Law from the University of Melbourne. He is a Fellow, Chartered Professional Engineer and Engineering Executive with the Institute of Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Samantha Smart
Partner at Squire Patton BoggsSamantha Smart is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with more than 17 years’ experience advising clients in relation to project development, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate governance. Samantha’s practice is primarily focused on the power, energy and resources sector, including oil and gas, hard rock mining, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage and renewables projects.
Ting Chen
President at Chung Wah AssociationMigrated from Fujian, China, Dr Chen has a long history of community service and has been a member of the Chung Wah Association Executive Committee since 2009. Since then, he has played many roles within the Chung Wah Association, including Honorary Secretary (2015 - 2017), Vice President (2011 - 2015), Senior Vice President (2017 - 2019), and he is currently appointed as the President of the Chung Wah Association. From 2013 to 2017, Dr Chen was a member of the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Advisory Committee, WA