In October, Australia welcomed new Chinese ambassador, His Excellency Mr Chen Yuming.

Mr Chen has previously worked at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has held diplomatic posts in Romania and Lithuania. He replaces Mr Zhang Junsai. To read Mr Chen Yuming’s new year message to the Australia-China community, click here.

Alan Bradford, General Manager – Business Development Central Asia, GroundProbe, is the recent recipient of a China Friendship Award for his contribution to the mining industry, work safety and economic development in China. The prestigious award honours a select number of foreign experts for their contribution to the economic, social and technological development of China. The governor of Liaoning province, Mr Chen Zhenggao, presented Alan with his award at a special ceremony in Shenyang. The Shenyang branch of the China Coal Research Institute has been a strong partner of Queensland-based GroundProbe which develops and supplies unique measurement systems and services to the mining and civil infrastructure industries. To read more about Alan’s work in China, click here.

Darren Lewis, Deputy General Manager, Sai Cheng Logistics International – a joint venture between Australia Post and China Post – is returning to Australia to take up a position with Australia Post Logistics’ China program. Darren and his family have lived in Shanghai since February 2008. As a board member of AustCham Shanghai, Darren was the chair and drive behind the Chamber’s Transport and Logistics Industry Committee. Darren’s wife Sarah has also been an active member of the Australian community in Shanghai playing a key role on the Great Australian Ball committee.

After two years in Shanghai Fleur Maidment and Daniel Moorfield are returning to Melbourne with their children. Fleur has been AustCham Shanghai’s Expo and Australia-China Business Awards coordinator since early 2010. Fleur has a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Environmental Studies from the University of Melbourne and is looking forward to resuming her career as an environmental scientist upon her return to Australia. In China, Daniel was CFO with McCormick Foods. He returns to Melbourne to take up the position of CFO for Coca-Cola Amatil’s SPC Ardmona business.

Dr. Ben Lyons has joined the Dulwich College Management education group in Shanghai as Director of Marketing. Ben has been in China since 1996 working for the Financial Times in Nanjing and studying Chinese literature in Xi’an and Beijing and most recently, working for the Australian Wool Innovation in Sydney. In his new role, Ben is responsible for marketing new education products in international and Chinese markets. Dulwich College has schools in Zhuhai Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou.

Conan Fahey, General Manager of The Australia China Development Company, has been appointed special consultant to the China Chamber of International Commerce Qingdao Chamber / Qingdao China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. Conan is also the Vice President of the Australian Asian Chamber of Commerce & Industry and recently won the 2010 Council for International Trade and Commerce (SA) Outstanding Long-Term Contribution award. The Australian China Development Company has also appointed Karyn Lanthois as Client Relations & Strategy Manager.

Wayne Richardson has been appointed the new CO-Principal at YCIS Beijing. Wayne first joined YCIS Shanghai in 2001 as a Primary Co-Teacher, going on to become Primary Co-ordinator and Western Co-Principal in 2006. In his new role, Wayne will oversee the ECE, Primary and Secondary Sections in YCIS Beijing along with Chinese Co-Principal Ms. Christine Xu.

Clive Herde has also joined the YCIS family as Co-Principal of YCIS Qingdao. Clive, who is originally from Adelaide, had lived and worked in China for two years prior to moving to Qingdao. He has 33 years experience in education and 18 in administrative roles with teaching positions in Australia, Great Britain, US, New Zealand.

GHD Corporation has appointed Barry Potter as its General Manager Asia and is based in Beijing. Barry replaces Peter Wood who returned to Melbourne in November to take up a senior executive role with GHD. Barry has more than 30 years experience in professional technical consulting in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and South America.

Stephen Porter has been appointed the Operating Centre Manager of China (including Hong Kong) of GHD Corporation. Stephen is also Business Leader Transport for GHD Asia and is based in Hong Kong and Beijing. Before joining GHD, Stephen was the Regional Managing Director, East Asia for Hyder Consulting, and was responsible for their regional business with offices in China, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

After three years in Beijing, Grant and Alison Keys are leaving Beijing. During their time with the Embassy in China, Grant was the China Projects Manager for the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and Alison was First Secretary in the DFAT Economic Section. Grant – better known as ‘Keysy’ to the wider Australian community in Beijing – played an integral role in lifting the profile of Aussie Rules in China through his role of Vice President for the Beijing Bombers Australian Rules Football team and Captain of the China Reds.

In a farewell message to teammates, Grant said playing with the Beijing Bombers had been a highlight of his time in the Chinese capital. “A love of the great game has brought us together, but it’s the friendships you make that keep you involved,” he said.

Grant and Alison are returning to Canberra with their two sons Max (3) and Harry (1) who was born in Beijing.

Kimberly Ashton has recently started her own Health Coaching and Integrative Nutrition consulting practice in Shanghai, working with individuals as well as conducting Corporate Wellness programs, after completing her stint as ANZ’s Senior Manager – Expo. Kimberley has spent more than seven years in Shanghai working in marketing communications and event management for Australian companies, MNCs and Austrade. Kimberley is also co-organiser of the Wellness Works fair in Shanghai.

After almost four years in China, Tim Leviny and his family are returning to Melbourne. During his time as General Manager, China for Elders Limited in Shanghai, Tim has overseen the business’s North Asia interests and various activities including country-to-country trade in sectors such as wool, dairy heifers and grain.

There have been many highlights for the family during their time in China – and for Tim personally, great satisfaction watching the Elders business continue to grow in China.

“One of the bits I have really enjoyed about my job has been getting out of Shanghai and visiting our agriculture related customers on their turf in the ‘real’ China… dairy companies, woolen mills, textile manufacturers, feedlots, abattoirs, corporate farms, farmers farms, farm services networks, chemical manufacturers and the like – but mostly the people behind them. Sure there are some differences – but there are also some similarities!”

Tim says things the family will miss most about China are “…rushing like mad to get ahead of the ‘pack’ to get on a plane or train – even though the seats are allocated, the wonderful depth and breadth of international and local food experiences a city like Shanghai has to offer, Xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung, arguing over 1 kuai with local vendors for their wares, snow in February and setting off firecrackers with the kids during Chinese New Year.”

“For the life of me I don’t know how you can summarise a few years of living in China – other than to experience it!” Says Tim. “Nothing can prepare you for ‘the China experience’ except for the China experience itself!”

*Tim and Vanessa Leviny pictured on a family trip to Guilin with sons Alex and Sam.

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