Movements, promotions and new appointments in the Australia China business community.

Hamish Neale (pictured left) is China World Hotel, Beijing’s new executive sous Chef. Prior to this role, Hamish was the executive chef overseeing food and beverage operations at Shangri- La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns. In his new capacity at China World Hotel, Beijing, Chef Neale will be responsible for food quality standards and overall operation of the hotel’s three restaurants.

 Robert and Ros Rath are returning to Sydney after three and a half years in Beijing. Rob was the CEO, Telstra Sensis China, and was responsible for establishing Sensis’s role in China. He returns to Australia to use his China experience to help the domestic Sensis business develop new avenues for growth in digital and mobile mediums. To read an interview with Robert, click here.

Luke O’Neill and Rae Walters and their son Finn (pictured right) have returned to Australia after three and half years in Beijing. Luke was Telstra Sensis Operations Manager and his role was to establish Sensis’s operations in China which has included four acquisitions across the digital media industry. Luke is returning to Sydney to take up the position of Product and Innovation Manager for Sensis Digital Marketing Services Group. Rae is well known to the Australian community having worked as the Marketing and Events Manager for AustCham Beijing and was involved with numerous Aussie Ball committees.

John and Amanda Habgood have returned to Melbourne after two and half years in Shanghai where John was Head of Relationship Management for Westpac in Shanghai. He takes up the new role of Head of Government for the bank in Melbourne. John was heavily involved in the successful establishment of Westpac’s first branch in China.

Luisa Rust has recently joined Austrade Shanghai as Trade Commissioner. Luisa has worked in Austrade Food and Beverage Team for five years and just completed a short-term posting with Austrade Tokyo promoting the Australian food and beverage industry’s credentials in food safety. Luisa will be Austrade China’s Agribusiness Team Leader working to increase cooperation and collaboration of Australian and Chinese agribusiness sector through exports, investment and joint research activities.

Jane Wallis also joins Austrade in the position of Trade Commissioner, Beijing. Jane previously worked for Rio Tinto and Bankwest in financial analysis, investment and planning roles. She also has over eight years experience in the professional services sector, working for Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Sydney. Jane is a graduate of the Beijing Language and Culture University.

Lucy Luo, who joined Austrade in 2002 has recently returned to Australia. Lucy began as an Office Manager for the Beijing post moving on to become a BDM from 2004, working closely in Building Construction, Infrastructure and Clean Tech sector. She currently works in the Automotive slot machines online and Advanced Manufacturing network as an Industry Adviser in Austrade’s Melbourne office.

Austrade Trade Commissioner Natasha Fong has also recently returned to Australia having spent the last 18 months in Shanghai and Beijing. She returns to Sydney in the role of Industry Advisor in Austrade’s Professional and Business Services sector.

John Miller has been appointed Editor in Chief of That’s Shanghai. John has been with the That’s magazine group since arriving in Shanghai five years ago. He is originally from Brisbane.

Jane and Brodie Mcdougall have lived in Shanghai since July 2006 and will be returning to Sydney in August. Brodie is currently a Senior Manager with Michael Page International and has been President of Shanghai AFL (SHAFL). Brodie will be returning to Australia as Associate Director NSW for Michael Page.

Kate Thornburn is returning to Australia after almost a decade in China. Kate first arrived in Shanghai in 2001 to teach at Shanghai American School, Pudong when it was a tiny school of less than 200 students. As the school has grown, Kate has taught art at Elementary, Middle and High School levels, including IB.

Brooke Normoyle (pictured right) is leaving Beijing to take up the role of Director, HR Projects: Asia Pacific, for Kraft Asia Pacific in Singapore. Originally from Melbourne, Brooke has been in China since 2008 as the HR Director for Cadbury’s Greater China business. In her new position, Brooke will be responsible for working on HR projects across the Asia Pacific region.

White Lotus Catering and Events business, an Australian venture based in Shanghai, has recently employed nine additional staff to keep up with booming business including Australians Joseph Clayton and Chris Griffin. Joseph has taken up the role of Sales Manager having previously worked as a sales representative for a leading stationery manufacturer in China. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney. Chris is White Lotus’s new Executive Chef and brings over 10 years of experience in cooking, catering and food preparation to the business. Alex Harper is the company’s Senior Manager and Founder and began his career in Sydney in some of the city’s most respected restaurants, including Café Morso in Pyrmont.

Adam Liston has been appointed T8’s new chef in Shanghai. Adam spent much of his apprenticeship working in coastal seafood restaurants including Dish in Byron Bay. While the sous chef and later, head chef at Melting Pot, Adam was labelled one of Australia’s top five new talents by Gourmet Traveller. ■

*If your company or organisation has an Aust-China HR related announcement to make or you know of people on the move, send details to sophiel@chinaconnections.com.au