Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Sam BARRY
Sam is currently on Korean language training in Seoul, and will begin a posting
next year as the Trade and Economic Second Secretary at the New Zealand
Embassy in Seoul. He has been with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
for two years, with roles including Policy Officer for South America in
Wellington, and Acting Deputy Head of Mission in Brasilia. Sam was born and
raised in Westport, went to University in Christchurch and Wellington, and
held various jobs in New Zealand, South Korea and Canada prior to working at
MFAT - including English teaching, bar tending and snail hunting! Sam joined the leadership network in 2009,
where he’s met many good characters and hopes to meet many more.
Jeanine BEGG
Jeanine is a chocolate lover, political junkie and Antarctic expeditionary. She lives life at
full throttle, not wanting to miss any part of this crazy journey. Jeanine’s love of Asia
began 20 years ago and since then she has done a student exchange in Japan, 3 months
study at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, spent 16 months in Korea, and another
year in Japan where she ignited the Youth Advisory Council to the Japan NZ Business
Council (yJNZBC) concept. She has since held a board role at the JNZBC, an internationalfocussed advisory role in the PM’s office and is currently developing a successful
Antarctic science and logistics agreement with China.
Felix CAMPBELL
Felix is originally from Scotland but has lived in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin,
where he studied Japanese and economics. Felix has just finished two years in Japan on the
JET Programme during which time he was the Coordinator for International Relations. His
work included talking about New Zealand, translating and interpreting, and helping out
with various programmes and events in Sakai, which the Japanese sister city, of Wellington,
where he is headed to on return to New Zealand. Felix is a big fan of Japanese culture, the
outdoors, books and chess.
Wilson CHAU
Wilson works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and is currently in Taipei
for long-term language training prior to commencing his role in the New Zealand
Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei as the Section Head of Economic Affairs.
Before that, he was the Greater China desk officer in MFAT’s North Asia Division.
Wilson graduated from the University of Auckland with LLB Hons and BA Hons
(Political Science). His China experience includes having taught English in Dalian, and a
research internship on China’s foreign policy at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. His
hobbies revolve around food and drink.
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Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Lucy COGHILL
Lucy is a Policy Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with a special
interest in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. She is currently on secondment to the
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. Lucy previously
worked at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment as an investment law
policy analyst, and has held internships at the New Zealand Parliament, Volunteer
Service Abroad, and the US-NZ Council. Lucy graduated from Victoria University of
Wellington with a Law and Honors degree in international relations. Lucy has been in
the Leadership Network since 2010.
Jerry DAI
Jerry completed his PhD in Psychology at the University of Canterbury in 2012.
His academic interests include decision making, cross-cultural psychology, and
behavioural economics. During his pursuing of degree, he was recipient of the
Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship and the China National Award for
Outstanding Overseas Students. He founded the Christchurch Chinese Students
and Scholars Association in 2006, an organisation which promotes multicultural understanding among tertiary students in the Canterbury area.
Currently, Jerry is Associate Professor at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Harbin
Engineering University.
Katherine ERRINGTON
Katherine is currently the Second Secretary at the NZ embassy in Tokyo. She is
finishing up her language training and about to start an internship in the
Japanese government system. When she’s not working, Katherine is interested in
foreign languages, politics, feminism and history. Her Master’s degree was in
political economy, where she looked at illegal immigration in Europe. She will be
based in Japan until 2018 and is looking forward to meeting some other Kiwis
living in Asia at the hui. Katherine is also keen to expand her limited knowledge
of China.
Darren FOO
Darren is a proud Chinese-Kiwi, who has lived in 3 top-class cities in as many years Shanghai, Auckland and Hong Kong, aspiring to contribute to Aotearoa’s strengthening
relationship with Asia. Darren is currently Corporate Counsel at SunGard, a financial
technology MNC, having done time in law firms, consulted at Diageo, the world’s
leading alcohol beverage company, and afterwards, restored his liver at Fisher & Paykel
Healthcare. Darren has published in neuroscience and is a former world champion in
underwater hockey, but his greatest achievement to date is partnering with his wife to
overcome sleepless nights with their recently-born twins.
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Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Charlie GAO
Charlie joined the Network in 2007 after receiving a scholarship from the
Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Auckland. In 2009, Charlie
relocated to Beijing to work as the liaison officer of the New Zealand Centre
at Peking University. He is now deputy managing director and a partner at
Mahon China Investment Management, perhaps New Zealand’s oldest
business based in Beijing. Charlie is a proud Dad to little Raymond, who is
eight months old and really, really good looking.
Shannon GOLDSMITH
Shannon is a property developer with Ngāi Tahu Property. He is a father to three girls,
Aoife, Naimh and Ciara and husband to Letitia. He is currently studying toward an MBA
through the University of Canterbury where he is also a player/coach with the
University of Canterbury Rugby Club and a member of the University’s Global China
Connection group. Shannon has a strong interest in Asia, especially China, where Ngāi
Tahu has exposure to its Seafood, Tourism and Property business ventures. Shannon,
keen to complement his understanding of Te Reo Māori, has studied Mandarin at an
introductory level through the University of Canterbury’s Confucius Institute and is keen to increase his
exposure to China and Asia.
Graci KIM
Graci is a Korean-Kiwi diplomat currently working at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing.
Graci has worked in government for about 8 years and used to run a transmedia
publishing company, making interactive children’s books for the iPad. She has dabbled in
an online cooking show called Graci in the Kitchen that was broadcast on a number of
TV-On-Demand networks, reaching almost a million viewers within its first year. Graci
has been a member of the Leadership Network since it first started in 2007.
Michelle KIM
Michelle is a nutritionist and a columnist. She has been writing a column about nutrition
and health for a community magazine in Seoul for 9 years. Michelle has a Master of Science
degree (First Class Honours) in Nutritional Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Science in
Nutritional Science from Massey University. She also has a Bachelor of Science in
Pharmacology from the University of Auckland. She currently lives in Seoul, Korea. She has
been a member of the network since 2007.
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Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Jordan KING
Jordan is a public policy professional with a strong interest in New Zealand's
emerging international relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Based in Wellington, Jordan is a policy analyst for the New Zealand Customs
Service. Jordan holds a BA (Hons) and an MA from Victoria University of
Wellington. He has recently completed an MA in Chinese Development Studies
at the University of Hong Kong where he was a New Zealand Prime Minister's
Scholar. He has an academic interest in contemporary China's social structure and is working towards
commencing PhD study in 2016.
Thomas LAM
Thomas was born in Hong Kong and grew up in New Zealand. He is fluent in Cantonese
and Mandarin and studied at the University of Auckland (Commercial Law and
Accounting). Thomas worked for Ernst and Young and Vector Limited in New Zealand
and relocated to Hong Kong in 2011 to work for KPMG as Tax Manager. Thomas
changed his career path in 2012 to work as an asset manager for a private equity fund
which specialises in beachfront land in South East Asia (with land portfolio in
Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Palau and Western Australia). Thomas has a
keen interest in town planning and property development in South East Asia. Thomas joined the Leadership
Network in 2010.
Onnuri LEE
Onnuri is a Korean New Zealander based in Seoul, Korea. Onnuri has been in the
Leadership Network since 2011. He has participated in two previous Offshore
Forums in Hanoi and Seoul. He has also been involved in the Network's Steering
Committee. Onnuri works for Education New Zealand, a New Zealand Government
agency responsible for promoting New Zealand's education system internationally.
He also volunteers for the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea serving as
one of the Chamber's Board of Directors. He enjoys travelling, eating, and training
for triathlons.
Michelle McCARTHY
Michelle has spent the past two years in Tokyo, working in business
development for Comvita Japan and Shuttlerock- a NZ technology
start-up. From September, she will study Mandarin for a year in
Taiwan. Michelle’s key areas of interest include; how culture and public
policy influence business and labour productivity. One of her
aspirations is to create opportunities for people to reach their potential
in roles where they wake up in the morning excited to go to work. In
her spare time Michelle loves to play table tennis, go on adventures,
learn new languages, and to paint.
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Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Nova MERCIER
Nova completed her BA (Hons) at the University of Auckland, but has spent the best
part of four years living and working in South Korea. A chance opportunity to teach
English in a rural South Korean village sparked a passion for the country, and led her to
enrol as a domestic student and complete her MA at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul
on a full scholarship from the Korean Government. During this time she volunteered as
an English tutor for North Korean refugees and worked as an editor for Daily NK, an
online news website with a network of sources living inside North Korea. Nova now
works as a policy advisor in Wellington, but keeps her Korean up through her role as the coordinator of the
Wellington branch of the Kimchi Club.
Sarah NG
After finishing off her degree in the University of Waikato, Sarah continued her studies at
the Baptist University of Hong Kong, and has since started working in the communication
industry for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Sector. She finds CSR fascinating as it
is still a rather young and dynamic industry, with different meanings for every
corporation. Recently, Sarah has focused on working with a range of stakeholders on
potential business benefits, compliance monitoring and workers’ empowerment in Asia.
Sarah is excited to spend time with fellow network members and hopes to exchange ideas
during discussions in Xi’An.
Ben O’BRIEN
Ben was born and raised in Christchurch. Ben joined the Leadership Network in 2011
after being selected for the Foundation’s KPMG internship in Vietnam. After a short
stint in property law, Ben now works for Ernst and Young in Christchurch in tax
controversy, and is a member of the EY NZ Chinese Business Group. Outside of work,
Ben enjoys keeping fit and active, travels often, and has dabbled in various Asia
related activities over the years, ranging from language learning to KPOP dancing.
Michelle ONG
Michelle has been with the Network for over two years and is thrilled to participate
in her first overseas hui with the Network. Until recently, Michelle was a corporate
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) solicitor in the Auckland office of DLA Piper. She
has since taken up a position in an Australian law firm, and will be moving to
Melbourne shortly where she will continue as an M&A lawyer. Michelle has been
active in the China-NZ business community through positions in various
organisations, and looks forward to engaging in similar activities following her
move. Her other interests include travelling, snorkelling and most water activities,
and reading.
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Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Rennie QIN
Rennie spent her childhood in Xi’an before her family migrated to Auckland. Now a medical
student at the University of Auckland, she has been in Beijing this year on an exchange
researching the health effects of air pollution and climate change for her intercalated
Honours in epidemiology. Previously, she has volunteered in Leyte in the Philippines hit by
Typhoon Haiyan and in the Mid-Western hills of Nepal affected by the civil war. She speaks
Chinese and Nepali. In the future, she hopes to improve healthcare in developing countries
in Asia through working as a doctor and a researcher.
Graham RHODES
Graham is a CFA who left New Zealand in 2009 to study in the UK and has
lived in Hong Kong since graduating in 2011. He is currently a manager in
the China Business Department of the Bank of East Asia. Graham has been
a member of the Leadership Network since 2008. During the Hui, Graham
would love to have some conversations around peoples’ experiences of
moving back to New Zealand from Asia.
Charlie ROWE
Charlie is currently based in Tokyo where he is training at Nippon Suisan Kaisha, a
marine products company. Previous to this, Charlie was in Beijing studying
international relations at Peking University. He also has a BA in Japanese, Asian
Studies and a BSc in Food Chemistry from the University of Otago. Charlie is aiming to
pursue a career involving New Zealand food exports to Asia.
Jessica ROWE
Jessica is currently working as a producer on the TV3 Paul Henry Show. Over
the last 10 years she has been working as a journalist and producer in New
Zealand and abroad. In 2013, she spent the year working at China Central
Television and studying Mandarin in Beijing. Jessica is pursuing a Masters in
Global Diplomacy at London University’s School of Oriental and African
Studies. She is a member of the Asia New Zealand Leadership Network
Advisory Group and a St. Gallen Leader of Tomorrow.
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Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Daniel SCOTT
Daniel is a civil and geotechnical engineer who works for Riley
Consultants Ltd in Auckland. Daniel has worked on a range of projects in
the water, transport and energy fields, especially the practical side of
engineering and construction, and is interested in clean and sustainable
technology. He is a keen sportsman who is interested in outdoor sports
and plays soccer regularly. Daniel is learning Japanese and is always
looking to further improve his language skills. He studied engineering at the University of Auckland, and at
Cornell University where he was a Fulbright Fellow.
Jack SHEPPARD
Hailing from Wellington but currently based in Shanghai, Jack has had studied, lived
and worked in China for most of the past 10 years. His career has focused on
connections between Asia and NZ with a particular focus on China, jumping from
public sector contracts at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Shanghai Expo to
aviation, digital publishing and video games. In his spare time Jack likes running,
music, comics, and has the honour of captaining the Division 3 team of Shanghai's
finest cricket club, the Bashers of Leisure.
Robert THOMSON
After completing an MA in media and communications, Robert Thomson is now a Japan
Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) PhD Research Fellow at the Department of
Behavioral Science at Hokkaido University, in northern Japan. His research interests lie at
the intersection of cross-cultural psychology and cyber-behavior. Specifically, he
conducts multi-country studies exploring predictors of self-expression on social network
sites. His aim is to uncover culture-specific challenges and opportunities relating to social
capital and online connectivity between people
Herman VISAGIE
Herman is currently living in sunny (sometimes) Taranaki. He works for TSB Bank as
Manager Governance and Legal. In his daily role, Herman provides legal and compliance
support, as well as being secretary to the Board of Directors and the Executive Team. In
his spare time, Herman gets involved in amateur dramatics. He is performing in Annie in
October and then a Christmas variety show after having a ball earlier this year in Mamma
Mia. Herman is also a marriage celebrant, and is very excited to be officiating Anna’s
wedding later this year! Herman has had an active interest in China since going on
exchange in 2008 in Dalian. He went to Xi’an in 2012 on the NZ-Sino Youth Exchange, and
is very excited to return. Herman has been in the Network since 2010, and has been involved in a number of
capacities including two years as Co-chair of the Advisory Group.
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Leadership Network
North Asia Hui 2015
Participant Profiles
Leon WALKER
Leon is currently living in Shanghai, working for ANZ Bank in Institutional Banking. Half
Swedish and half American, Leon grew up in Mt Maunganui on NZ's sunny North Island
and is now considered at least half Kiwi as well. In his time off he enjoys surf trips to
Indonesia and snowboard trips to cold mountainous places. Leon graduated from Otago
University with a BCom majoring in International Business and Chinese language.
Corey WALLACE
Corey is currently the Einstein Visiting Fellowship Postdoctoral Fellow in the Graduate
School of East Asian Studies at Freie Universitat, Berlin. He completed his Master of Arts
in 2005 at the University of Canterbury and was awarded his PhD in 2015 by the
University of Auckland. He was a member of the Leadership Network's advisory group
between 2011 and 2013. In between his Masters and starting his doctorate, Corey was a
participant on the JET program (2004-2007), and on returning to New Zealand he worked
at the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology from 2007-2010 as a policy adviser.
Corey has lectured courses on Asia-Pacific, American, and Chinese Security and IR at the
University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury prior to his current post.
Alex WORKER
Alex, 29, is a New Zealander living and working in Beijing. Alex leads marketing and
communications for Fonterra's International Farming business unit China, as well as
being actively involved in two food and beverage start-ups, Highground Brands and
Rascals Hospitality Group. He has an MBA from the MIT-Tsinghua University and speaks
English, Spanish and some Chinese. He has completed a term on the Leadership Network
Advisory Group and is a member of the Beijing Global Shapers Hub, World Economic
Forum.
Frances YAMADA
Frances works for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) in Wellington as a
Ministerial Advisor where she is responsible for supporting NZTE’s Ministers in
their work; including a number of upcoming Ministerial visits to China. Frances
has previously worked as a Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Business Innovation
and Employment (MBIE), and at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand
(IPONZ). Frances works to promote the sister-city relationship between
Wellington and Sakai, Japan as the President of the Wellington Sakai Association,
and is also the Deputy Chair of the youth advisory council to the Japan New
Zealand Business Council (yJNZBC).
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