All the latest appointments in the Australia-China business community in China, Hong Kong and Australia.
Duncan Calder (pictured left) is the Australia China Business Council’s new national president, replacing outgoing president Frank Tudor. Prior to taking up his position, Duncan was the ACBC’s Senior Vice President and State President for ACBC Western Australia. Duncan is also a partner of the international accounting firm KPMG and is the partner in charge of both KPMG’s China Business Practice and Forensic Services teams in WA. He has extensive experience as a corporate adviser on many Sino-Australian trade and investment activities, working for major Chinese state owned enterprises, Chinese private companies and Australian companies engaging in trade or seeking capital from China. Ian McCubbin has been elected the ACBC’s Senior Vice President, John Li Treasurer, and Shanghai-based Paul Glasson reappointed as the ACBC’s China National Vice President.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau has announced the appointment of Dean White as the Chamber’s new Chief Executive. Dean has an extensive background in business development, event management, hospitality, and recruitment having previously worked with global companies including Hyatt International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Manpower Group. Dean replaces Kirsty Boazman who held the position since 2011. Kirsty left the Chamber in November to take up the role of Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for Industry, Ian Macfarlane.
Christopher Wright has relocated from Shanghai to Amsterdam to take up his new role of Compliance and Risk for Sandvik Mining on a global basis. Christopher has been Sandvik Mining’s Sales head for Sandvik Mining in China for the past two years and was based in Shanghai. Prior to that, he was the China country manager for Austrade starting in 2006. Previous appointments have included appointments in BAE Systems in China and Australia, Siemens and the RAAF.
The Buchan Group Shanghai recently appointed Joburt Betadam as Head of Business for China / Asia, leading business growth from the firm’s Shanghai office. As one of the leading Australian architectural practices across Australasia, The Buchan Group has seen significant expansion in China and with this appointment, it is expected that the future business model will be further integrated into the Asian marketplace. Joburt has over 10 years’ experience in China, having established and run two successful architectural practices, designing a range of projects across China, prior to joining The Buchan Group. Joburt is leading the business into the next phase of growth with a particular emphasis on retail and mixed-use developments.
Ranelle Cliff is returning to Sydney to join engineering consulting firm Arup’s consulting team in the role of Senior Project Manager where she will project manage a number of existing key infrastructure projects in the Sydney area. Ranelle will continue to develop and build the Arup knowledge network throughout Australia and Asia in her new role. Ranelle has spent the past three years in Shanghai with Arup as a Project Manager primarily working with a global client managing their corporate real estate profile in Shanghai and across North Asia. Her role included working to connect staff and best practice across a number of offices and clients. She has also served as chair of AustCham Shanghai’s CSR committee.
Global engineering and management firm Aurecon continues to strengthen its capability in Asia with the appointments of Warren Yeung as Unit Manager Buildings China and John Webb as Buildings Leader – Asia.
Warren joined Aurecon in September 2013 and brings over 25 years of mechanical electrical plumbing (MEP), design and project management experience. Warren has worked extensively in all facets of the property industry in China, Hong Kong and Macau. He has particular expertise in hotels and high technology industrial projects. Previously, Warren has held senior positions with WSP and J Roger Preston.
John moves to Aurecon’s Hong Kong office as Buildings Leader – Asia. John has relocated from the Sydney office where he was the Development Manager for Property across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. He has worked with Aurecon for over 25 years and has been involved in tall building projects in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Abu Dhabi, Vietnam and Australia. ■
*If you or your organisation have a human resources related announcement to make, or you know of people on the move, please send details to sophiel@chinaconnections.com.au
