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Zhang Guangjun
Vice Minister at Ministry of Science and TechnologyZhang was born in Tianjin, on 21 March 1965. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1986, a master's degree in 1989, and a doctor's degree in 1991, all in precision instrument and all from Tianjin University. He also studied at North Dakota State University from April 1997 to April 1998. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in June 1986.
After graduating from Tianjin University, he taught at Beihang University, where he successively worked as lecturer, associate professor, professor. He moved up the ranks to become vice-president and dean of the Graduate School in December 2008. He was honored as a Distinguished Young Scholar by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2001. He was appointed as a "Chang Jiang Scholar" (or " Yangtze River Scholar") by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China in 2008. In November 2015, he became president of Southeast University, a position at vice-ministerial level. In November 2021, he was appointed Vice Minister of Science and Technology by the State Council of China.
Scott Kennedy
Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business & Economics at CSIS- Keynote: Innovation in an Era of Strategic Competition
- Panel Discussion 1: Future of AI and Digital Transformation in China
Scott Kennedy is a senior adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A leading authority on Chinese economic policy, Kennedy has been traveling to China for over 30 years. His specific areas of expertise include industrial policy, technology innovation, business lobbying, U.S.-China commercial relations, and global governance.
He is the editor of China’s Uneven High-Tech Drive: Implications for the United States (CSIS, February 2020) and (with Jude Blanchette) Chinese State Capitalism: Diagnosis and Prognosis (CSIS, October 2021) and the author of The State and the State of the Art on Philanthropy in China (Voluntas, August 2019), China’s Risky Drive into New-Energy Vehicles (CSIS, November 2018), The Fat Tech Dragon: Benchmarking China’s Innovation Drive (CSIS, August 2017), and The Business of Lobbying in China (Harvard University Press, 2005). He has edited three books, including Global Governance and China: The Dragon’s Learning Curve (Routledge, 2018). His articles have appeared in a wide array of policy, popular, and academic venues, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and China Quarterly. He is currently finishing a report, Beyond Decoupling: Maintaining America’s Hi-Tech Advantages over China (CSIS, forthcoming Spring 2022).
From 2000 to 2014, Kennedy was a professor at Indiana University (IU), where he established the Research Center for Chinese Politics & Business and was the founding academic director of IU’s China Office. Kennedy received his Ph.D. in political science from George Washington University, his MA in China studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and his BA from the University of Virginia.
Allan Gabor
President of Merck China/ EVP Electronics at Merck GroupAllan Gabor is the chief representative of Merck Group (“Merck KgaA”, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany) in China, overseeing all three business units: Electronics, Healthcare, and Life Science. He also has operational responsibility for Merck´s local Electronics business, enabling digital living in China with cutting-edge solutions.
Jimmy Goodrich
Vice President of Global Policy at Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA)Jimmy Goodrich joined SIA in 2015 and is vice president for global policy. In this role, Jimmy leads SIA’s global policy team and directs SIA’s international competitiveness, trade, export control, supply chain, global market research, and China policy agenda.
Jimmy has a diverse background in international technology trade, supply-chain, and security issues spanning a wide range of geographies. Previously he was director of China policy at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) in Washington D.C. Before moving to Washington D.C. in 2012, Jimmy spent a total of seven years working in the tech sector in China, including for Cisco Systems, APCO Worldwide, and USITO.
Jimmy has a bachelor’s degree in comparative politics and East Asian studies from Ohio University. He is professionally fluent in Mandarin and serves on the Executive Committee for Beijing-based United States Information Technology Office (USITO), representing SIA in his capacity and on the Board of Directors of the American Mandarin Society, which promotes mandarin-language study for young Americans.
Jayne Leung
VP & Head of Greater China at MetaAs the Head of Greater China for Meta in Hong Kong, Jayne Leung is responsible for accelerating small and big businesses to build strong effective business growth through Meta’s innovative technologies.
With two decades of experience in the media and advertising industry, she has witnessed up-close the fast changes that industries have experienced over the years. In 2010, Jayne joined Meta and established the Hong Kong office. She was the first employee in Hong Kong and has since helped build Meta's team and grow the business from scratch.
Jian Lu
Corporate Vice President of LinkedIn, President at LinkedIn ChinaDr. Jian Lu joined LinkedIn China as President in April 2018, leading the R&D of products and technologies in the China market, and overseeing LinkedIn’s business in China. Dr. Jian Lu has over 20 years of experience in leading product and technology innovations in Silicon Valley and China. He is also an inspirational team leader, a renowned technologist, and an experienced entrepreneur.
Prior to LinkedIn, Dr. Jian Lu was the partner of Hujiang and CEO of CCtalk. He led the launching of commercial operations of CCtalk, turning an online teaching tool into an educational platform, and drove fast growth of the iTeacher community and Hujiang's platform business.
Dr. Jian Lu joined Apple in 1996. First as Senior Scientist at the Interactive Media Group and then Lead Principal Engineer of ProVideo Engineering, he led the design and development of the image & video compression, multimedia interaction, and other technologies in the large cross-platform multimedia software QuickTime. He was also in the engineering team that developed and delivered Apple’s first streaming media product QuickTime Streaming. He also led and coordinated Apple’s participation and contribution to the development of international standards including JPEG-2000 and MPEG-4. In 2006, Dr. Lu founded Vobile (03738.HK) and took the role of CTO, where he invented the VDNA® (VideoDNA) technology in video content fingerprinting and identification. Then in 2010, he was invited by the founder of Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited to go back and work in China. He was VP of Shanda Interactive Entertainment, Managing Director of Shanda Innovations, and CTO of Ku6.com, a Shanda subsidiary. During his tenure at Shanda, he established Shanda Innovation, Beijing from scratch and directly led the Shanda Innovation Multimedia team. In 2014, Dr. Lu became CTO of 360 Video and General Manager of 360 Live Video Cloud, where he managed the development of 360 video technology and founded the 360 Live Video Cloud platform and team that supports a range of live video products.
Dr. Jian Lu holds his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University and his master's and doctor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from China Academy of Railway Science and Dartmouth College, respectively. He also finished his postdoc study at the Computer Department of Dartmouth College and the Image Analysis Research Center of UC Davis.
Wenjie Gu
Co-Chair of AmCham China ICT Committee, China Chief Representative at ZoomMr. Wenjie Gu is the Co-Chair of AmCham China ICT Forum and China Chief Representative of Zoom Video Communications, Inc., heading government affairs, public relations, external partners and business related matters, with his team spreading across several important Chinese cities.
As the principle government interface in this fast growing Internet company, Mr. Gu is building up the company’s image, reputation and mutual trust with government, navigating policy and advocacy, and delivering the right message while maintaining the company’s substantive presence in China.
Before joining Zoom, Mr. Gu had held senior positions for nearly 20 years with the U.S hi-tech industry, including Director / Senior Director of government relations and public policy in Autodesk Software, Broadcom Semiconductor and Amazon, and China Vice President of the U.S. Information Technology Office.
Mr. Gu graduated from the English Department of Beijing Foreign Studies University, obtained his MBA degree and M.S. of Finance from the U.S. Fordham University. Upon college graduation in 1995 he began his career as a government official with China’s Ministry of Posts and Telecoms, the predecessor of the Ministry of Industry and IT, and worked there for 7 years in the Overseas Telecom Business Division.
Joanna Mao
Deputy Director of United States Information Technology Office (USITO)Joanna Mao joined the United States Information Technology Office (USITO) in Sept. 2015 serving as its Deputy Managing Director. Prior to that, Joanna was employed with Lenovo, Intel, A.P. Muller. Maersk, Microsoft and Ogilvy&Mather. She had 17 years of marketing, communication and partner management experience in the information technology sector, and when serving as spokeswoman, oversaw government affairs in North Asia. Joanna was once in investment banking, providing counseling for Chinese companies seeking overseas listing while serving for ING Baring.
Roan Kang
VP/GM of Marketing & Operations at GCR MicrosoftRoan Kang joined Microsoft in 2002 and is currently the General Manager of Marketing and Operations at Microsoft Greater China, responsible for all of the products and services of Microsoft Greater China and ensuring the effective operation of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Since the beginning of 2015, he also serves as the Internet of Things Lead (IoT) across the Microsoft Greater China Region, responsible for the strategy and promotion of Microsoft IoT solutions in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Previously, he served as the Office business group lead of Microsoft Japan, business manager of President Jean-Philippe Courtois of Microsoft International, speechwriter for Chairman Bill Gates, and worldwide launch lead of Office 2007. In 2015 he won a Platinum Circle of Excellence award, which is given to less than 1% of employees at Microsoft.
Roan received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and has an AB in East Asian Studies from Harvard University.
Maria Hou
Partner at Zhong Lun Law FirmMaria Hou is a partner in Zhong Lun Law Firm. She has more than a dozen of years of experiences in advising clients on cross-border commercial transactions and compliance matters. Maria has developed extensive experience in automobile and auto parts, entertainment, TMT, healthcare and life science, energy and natural resources, etc. Maria acted as the lead counsel in several mega-size cross-border M&A projects and advised on the national security review of several cross-border transaction. Maria is praised by clients for providing professional legal solutions in complex projects.
Chengyin Yuan
General Manager & Director of National NEV Technology Innovation CenterYuan Chengyin graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. In 2010, he served as the vice president of the Product Engineering Institute of Beijing Automobile New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd., responsible for the affairs related to the power battery assembly of the new energy vehicle, formulating the development plan and product development and production plan of the power battery system related to the Beijing New Energy Vehicle, and completed the power Power module configuration, undertake technical training related to the power battery system, and related patent applications. Doctor of mechanical engineering, professor-level senior engineer, an expert in the field of power battery and vehicle integration and control. Director of National New Energy Vehicle Technology Innovation Center, Secretary General of China Automotive Chip Industry Innovation Strategic Alliance. He led the team to lead a number of major national technical research projects, and achieved breakthroughs in key technologies common to the industry in key technical fields of new energy vehicles such as automotive chips, electronic control, power systems, fuel cells, and intelligent networking, filling the industry's technological gaps.
Michael Hart
President at AmCham ChinaMichael Hart is President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China based in Beijing. He has over twenty-five years of business experience in Asia, including nineteen years in mainland China.
As President, Michael oversees all advocacy, programs, partnerships, and insights provided by the Chamber to support the business growth of nearly 900 foreign corporations operating in China, including most of the U.S. Fortune 500. The chamber’s advocacy includes the impressive American Business in China White Paper and Business Climate Survey each published annually as well as numerous interactions with both the US and Chinese governments on behalf of our members.
Prior to joining AmCham China, Michael spent most of his career in commercial real estate in Taipei, Shanghai, and Tianjin including almost 20 years for a NYSE listed property services firm. He started in the research division briefing real estate owners, occupiers, and investors on transactions and macro trends, he then opened, built, and led a branch office for the company in one of China’s largest Tier 1.5 cities for over a decade. Following this, Michael opened a private consulting and investment firm that among other projects invested in quick service restaurants.
In addition to this work, Michael was a long-term AmCham member and served on the Tianjin chapter’s Executive Committee for nearly 15 years including several terms as the local Chairman.
Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on finance and banking from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the U.S. He is a fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese. Michael was born and raised near Kansas City, Missouri.
Alan Beebe
Former President at AmCham ChinaAlan Beebe is the former President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China based in Beijing. He has over twenty-five years of business experience in Asia, including seventeen years in mainland China.
In 2018, he launched AmCham China’s Technology & Innovation Initiative, which focused on the business and policy implications of disruptive digital technologies - such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and cloud computing – for U.S. companies in China.
Prior to joining AmCham China, Alan held various senior executive positions in China with EY, IBM, and management consulting firms AT Kearney and PRTM. He also led a Beijing-based start-up for five years, the China Greentech Initiative, which merged in 2014 with the Paulson Institute, founded by Hank Paulson.
Alan has advised a wide range of corporations and global investors on investing and operating in China. His clients have included global private equity firms, high technology companies, energy-related companies, and major state-owned and private Chinese enterprises.
He holds a master’s degree from Yale University in International Relations and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Computer Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the U.S. He is a Board of Advisor of the Yale Club of Beijing and in that capacity promotes academic and cultural exchanges between the U.S. and China. He is a fluent speaker of mandarin Chinese and reads and writes Chinese.
Jacob Cooke
Co-Founder & CEO of WPIC Marketing + TechnologiesJacob Cooke is the Co-Founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, a leading e-commerce and technology consultancy that drives growth for global brands in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
As CEO, Jacob is the driving force behind WPIC’s world class data tools, e-commerce services, and artificial intelligence technology. Under his leadership, the firm has built out an expansive solution set covering data analytics, e-commerce activations and store management, brand strategy, creative campaigns, merchandising, warehousing, 3PL integrations, and more.
Jacob has lived in Beijing since 2003 and is a regular contributor to international media on e-commerce, retail, and technology trends in China. He is a member of the MIT Sloan School of Management and holds an Advanced Certificate in Engineering from MIT’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
Zhijun He
Corporate Affairs Director of Merck ChinaMr. HE joined Merck China in 2017, in his position as Corporate Affairs Director, he is in charge of the formulation and implementation of the China Strategy of Merck China Corporate Affairs, corporate sustainability key projects as well as liaison & partnership with governmental departments of central and key provinces/cities, academia and industrial organizations.
Before joining Merck, Zhijun used to work for Eli Lilly and Company. He was responsible of the public relations and corporate social responsibility initiatives and took the leadership of the Lilly Global Health Programs in China and the related charitable funds.
Mr. HE has rich experience in corporate affairs, public relation and strategy consultancy for multinational companies. He started the career as English teacher in a university.
Grace Chen
Senior Director, Solution Consulting of AspenTechGrace Chen is the Senior Director of Solution Consulting in China at Aspen Technology (AspenTech).
As a digital transformation expert and entrepreneurship mentor, Chen has extensive experience in business development and strategic consulting globally. She has consulted world-class enterprises in driving business value via innovation-centric growth. Committed to championing women’s causes in the digital workplace, Grace is keen to explore the integration of digital solutions to solve global issues relating to health, energy, and the environment (water).
Prior to joining AspenTech, she was the General Manager of Industry Solutions for Greater China at Microsoft. Grace was also the Executive Director for Strategic Accounts in China at SAP.
She has received her MBA from HEC Paris and was the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Xishan Angel Investor Association in China.
Grace Kwok
Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Intuitive Surgical - FosunGrace Kwok is Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Intuitive Surgical-Fosun. She is responsible for corporate strategy, government affairs and market access, medical and clinical affairs, and public relations.
Before joining IntuitiveFosun, Grace worked at a surgical robotics company in China where she held leadership roles including corporate strategy and affairs, investments, and legal and compliance. Prior to that, she was an attorney specialized in mergers and acquisitions at prominent international law firms.
Grace holds a Masters of Business Administration for Executives from Peking University Guanghua School of Management and Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management program, a Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Political Science and International Studies from the University of Miami.
Rachel Li
Partner at Zhong Lun Law FirmRachel Li is a partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm. She has assisted a number of American companies in doing business in China for more than 15 years and is able to comprehensively and deeply understand customer needs from multiple dimensions such as law, business, and government regulation, and provide customers with pragmatic solutions.
Since 2017, Rachel has provided network security and data compliance consulting, data compliance system construction, network and data compliance investigation response, and training and teaching for many companies at home and abroad, and has participated in the data compliance of many leading companies in the industry. She is also engaged in regulatory risk screening and benchmarking government investigation projects, and actively participates in the legislative process in the field of data compliance.
Rachel’s clients cover various types of economic entities, mainly focusing on the Internet, Artificial Intelligence, Locomotives, Wireless Communications, Retail, Energy, and other industries.
Dong Liu
GA Director of HoneywellDong Liu serves as Honeywell China Director of Government Relations as of January 2020. He is responsible for exploring and maintaining relationships and partnerships with Chinese central governments, state-owned enterprises and critical local governments. Honeywell is a Fortune Global 500 high-tech company covering various sectors including aerospace, performance materials and technologies, building technologies, safety and productivity solutions, etc.
Before joining Honeywell, Dong Liu worked for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as senior program officer where he led the establishment of partnerships with multiple Chinese governments and enterprises in sectors across agriculture, health, environment, and investment. Prior to that, he served in Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM), as a trade negotiator and used to work in Chinese Embassy to the United States in Washington D.C.
Dong Liu graduated from Peking University where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Law degree in international relations from School of International Studies and his Double Bachelor of Economics degree from China Center for Economic Research (CCER).
Qiang Lv
Divisional Vice President at Abbott LaboratoriesMr. Qiang Lv is Divisional Vice President of Global Government Affairs at Abbott Laboratories. He is based in Beijing and leads the North Asia Regional Government Affairs team, reports directly to the headquarter. Qiang joined Abbott in 2014 as Vice President of Abbott China, responsible for corporate government affairs and supports the rapid development of Abbott's nutrition, medical devices, diagnostics and established pharmaceuticals in China.
Prior to join Abbott, Qiang was the Corporate Affairs Director of Mars Wrigley. He served several senior positions for corporate affairs and market development in Siemens and Sandoz, the generic division of Novartis before he joins Mars Wrigley.
Qiang was born in Beijing. He was professionally trained in the area of stomatology and medical engineering and received bachelor’s degree from the Fourth Military Medical University of China. He holds EMBA of INSEAD and Tsinghua University.
Renato Roldao
ICF China Managing Director and Vice President – Climate Change of ICF International Consulting (Beijing) Co., LtdRenato Roldao is ICF China Managing Director and Vice President – Climate Change with over 18 years of working experience in the fields of Climate Change, Clean Energy, Environmental issues, and Sustainability. He is the project Team Leader of “EU-China ETS Platform” and an industry respected and recognized expert in Climate Policy. He has been working and living in Asia for over 14 years. He holds a Master of Arts (MA), Chinese Studies (Business and International Relations); Thesis: ‘The Use of Renewable Energies in Northwest China: Bridges for a Green Sustainable Future’. University of Aveiro, Portugal, 2004 and B.A. International Relations (with Merit Award), School of Economics and Management, University of Minho, Portugal, 2001. Besides that, Mr. Roldao completed one semester of coursework for PhD on sustainable energy systems (research focus on carbon markets and carbon finance), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Portugal, 2007-2008. He also completed all coursework for Master of Arts (MA) in economics, energy, and environmental policy but transitioned into the PhD programme before completing requirements for diploma, ISEG-UTL School of Economics and Management, 2004-2007.
Li Wan
VP of Government Affairs at Audi ChinaLi joined Audi China as Vice President for Government Affairs on April 2019. Her main responsibilities are focusing on establishing and developing a solid partnership with China authorities, think-tanks, associations, and chambers, and the embassy in China to support Audi business in China; she leads on tracking, interpreting, and advocating China policy and regulation to ensure a leveled playfield and support Audi business strategy success in China.
Prior to joining Audi China, Li worked for Cummins China Investment Co., Ltd. for 10 years as Executive Director for Corporate Affairs and Strategy. Before that, Li also worked for Caterpillar and Rockwell
Automation.
Li is active in Women's Development and Gender Diversity. She was elected to be Vice Chair of Government Affairs Committee in EU Chamber and served as Board member for AmCham for 4 consecutive years and Chair for China Government Affairs Committee (CGAC) at AmCham before.
Peng Zhang
Automotive Industry Director of Microsoft (China) Co., Ltd.Peng is responsible for the automotive industry strategy and business development. He has 20 years of work experience driving the automotive industrial digital transformation by leading the solution development, business development, and consulting service. Peng is working closely with the China local innovators and global automotive ecosystems, to accelerate the globalized autonomous driving development and business transformation.
Sufang Zhao
China General Manager for Low Carbon Solutions Business at ExxonMobilSufang Zhao is China General Manager for ExxonMobil’s Low Carbon Solutions Business.
In this role, Sufang is responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities across a wide range of low carbon areas including carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, bio-fuels and nature-based solutions for China.
Sufang received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Tsinghua University and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of Pennsylvania.
In 2006, Sufang joined ExxonMobil Research and Engineering in Fairfax, Virginia where she held multiple technical roles. She has subsequently worked in a variety of projects, Research and Development, manufacturing operations, strategic and planning roles of increasing responsibility for ExxonMobil in the U.S. and Asia.
In 2021, Sufang joined ExxonMobil’s Low Carbon Solutions as Planning Manager in Houston, Texas. Her responsibilities include leading the planning organization and supporting senior management of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions for activities related to strategy, policy, advocacy, business development, technology and ventures. She assumed her current position in March 2022.