Amanda BARRY
Originally from Geelong, Australia, Amanda graduated from the University of Melbourne with a BA(Honours) in 2004, and in 2008 obtained her PhD in Australian Indigenous history, also at Melbourne. Amanda’s academic work has been published in History Australia, the Melbourne Historical Journal, and in a number of refereed edited collections. During her studies Amanda worked as a tutor, lecturer and research assistant at the University of Melbourne and at the Australian Catholic University, was co-editor of the first edition of a Melbourne Scholarly Publishing open-access online academic journal, and was a regular presenter at academic conferences in Australian and New Zealand. Amanda was the recipient of the Dennis Wettenhall prize for best postgraduate Australian history thesis at the University of Melbourne in 2008, and received the Australian Historical Association’s prize for best postgraduate conference paper at its 2007 conference.
Amanda’s first taste of China came in the cold winter of 2003, meeting her future husband’s large extended Beijing family. Encouraged by the warmth and enthusiasm of this experience, despite the language barrier, Amanda returned in 2005 for several months to learn Chinese and explore China and began her long-term fascination and interest in the country. After completing her doctorate in 2008 Amanda Barry returned to China permanently, to commence work with the Australia-China Alumni Association in Beijing as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development, and helped to establish their Shanghai and Guangzhou branches and increase their sponsorship base. During this time she also managed the inaugural Australia-China Alumni Awards in 2009.
Amanda is currently Senior Cultural Relations Officer at the Australian Embassy Beijing, and has worked there since early 2010. She helps to manage the Australian Embassy’s broad and busy cultural and public diplomacy program in China, through events, cultural exchange programs and forums across literature, publishing, music and performing arts, film and television, visual arts/design, sport and academia. Amanda also regularly offers advice and guidance to a wide range of Australian cultural organisations on their China strategies.
Amanda is passionately committed to international cultural exchange. One of her proudest achievements in China was helping to run the Embassy’s high-profile, busy and successful Imagine Australia: Year of Australian Culture in China program in 2010-11. Amanda is also actively involved in Beijing’s cultural life, regularly performing with the International Festival Chorus Beijing and volunteering on its committee.
Daniel A. BELL
Daniel A. Bell was born in Montreal, Canada. He obtained his B.A.at McGill University and his masters and doctoral degrees at Oxford University. He taught at the National University of Singapore, the University of Hong Kong, and the City University of Hong Kong. He has since held research fellowships at Princeton's University Center for Human Values and Stanford's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He is currently Zhiyuan Chair Professor of the Arts and Humanities at Jiaotong University (Shanghai) and Professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy and Director of the Center for International and Comparative Political Philosophy at Tsinghua University (Beijing).
He is the author of The Spirit of Cities (with Avner de-Shalit) (2011), China's New Confucianism (rev. ed. 2010), Beyond Liberal Democracy (2006), and East Meets West (2000), all published by Princeton University Press. He is also the author of Communitarianism and Its Critics (Oxford University Press, 1993). He has edited and coedited nine books, including four with Cambridge University Press and three with Princeton University Press. He is the series editor of the Princeton-China translation series. He coedited and wrote the introduction for the first book in the series Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power (2011) as well as the second book, A Confucian Constitutional Order (forthcoming, 2012), both published by Princeton University Press. His coedited book The Idea of Political Meritocracy will be published next year by Cambridge University Press. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Globe and Mail, the Huffington Post, Project Syndicate, and to Chinese language publications (Chinese name: 贝淡宁). His writings have been translated in 22 languages. He has been frequently interviewed on NPR, CNN, CBC, ABC, as well as Chinese and Francophone media outlets. He is a regular participant at Davos meetings in Davos and Dalian. Website: www.danielabell.com.
Kate CROLL
For over 20 years Kate Croll has been a respected practitioner in the areas of Community Cultural Development (CCD) and Cultural Planning, sharing her practical knowledge with others through her positions as a facilitator and trainer.
She has had an extensive career in the areas of community capacity building, brokering partnerships between local government, arts workers, volunteers, non profit organisations and business sponsors.
In 2008/09 Catherine was employed as the Manager/Curator of the Sydney Olympic Park Traveling Exhibition – Coming Home – Featuring the work of 37 Chinese Australian Artists, this exhibition was held at the Linda Gallery – 798 Art District Beijing during May 2009.
Catherine is also the Manager of the Randwick City Council – Mayors Public Art Project, designed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Randwick being declared a city in 1859. A panel comprising; Tony Bond (AGNSW), Scott O’Hara (Resident Representative) and the Mayor of Randwick, Bruce Notley Smith assessed applications from a short list of 5 artists with Ruark Lewis being awarded the contract.
In 2008 Catherine was employed as Manager/Curator of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority From Mao to Now exhibition which featured the work of 80 Chinese Australian artists and other contemporary Australian artists who had studied or worked in the People’s Republic of China.
In 2007, Catherine spent 3 months traveling ‘solo’ through remote areas of China’s Yun’nan, Sichuan and Fujian provinces, prior to taking up a 6 week residency at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing.
In 2006 Catherine received a professional development grant from the Australia Council for the Arts to: Research and document traditional Chinese cultural practices and the ways in which those practices are being interpreted in contemporary arts. She traveled ‘solo’ overland through China for 3 months, culminating in an exhibition of her work titled Catherines Great Adventure, at John Paynter Gallery – Newcastle.
In 2004/5 Kate traveled to the Northern Territory to interview representatives from the key arts organisations and indigenous arts cooperatives from Katherine to the Tiwi Islands. Using the data gathered she developed and delivered an intensive training course for Top End artists called ‘Working with Communities’.
In 2001, Kate was responsible for the artistic design and construction of the Hunter Region Float for Centenary of Federation Parade. She was then seconded as Parade Coordinator for Zone 1 (Botanical Gardens to Oxford Street) which involved the recruitment and training of hundreds of volunteer marshals to assist in the coordination of thousands of performers and oversee the event which saw 500,000 people line the streets of Sydney.
Catherine Croll with her Exhibition - Catherines great Adventure In 2000, she was seconded from Arts Hunter by SOCOG (Sydney Olympic Games Organising Committee) to assist with the management of volunteers at the Sydney Olympic Games 2000. In this capacity she was responsible for over 2,000 volunteer performers in the Awakenings and Fire Sections of the Opening Ceremony and 8,000 performers in the Closing Ceremony.
As Principle Trainer for CCD NSW (Community Cultural Development NSW) from 2000 until 2008, she conducted ‘Assessment and Workplace Training’ Certificate IV for facilitators from across NSW, Tasmania and the NT and facilitated the ‘Creative Volunteering – No Limits’ training course offered by Regional Arts Australia to community organisations, volunteers and local government staff.
She is also the author of Australia’s first online Diploma in Community Cultural Development offered annually through CCDNSW from 2003 to 2008
Marina GUO
Dr.Marina Guo works as the Vice Director of John Howkins Research Centre on Creative Economy at School of Creative Studies, Shanghai Theatre Academy, She works closely with UNCTAD as Executive Director for the Global Education Conference on Creative Industries. She was visiting scholar of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) & the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI). Marina holds Ph.D. in Economics, Master of Arts and bachelor in Economics.
Marina was granted the prestigious merit-based Australian Endeavour Award 2010 (now Australian Award) by Australian government. She won the most competitive Creative Leaders Award at China Creative Industries Award in 2011, and the finalist for Research and Innovation Award at ACAA Australia China Alumni Awards 2011.
Marina Guo is the author of Creative Transformation (China Economic Press 2011), she has collectively completed the translation of the book How Creativity is Changing China written by Prof. Li Wuwei and published internationally by Bloomsbury Academic in 2011 (London, UK). Marina is also a guest lecturer of Manchester Business School, Copenhagen Business School, Kaospilots Int’l, QUT, ACAA, AustCham etc. She is currently board member of American Institute of Performing Arts, and is sitting on the editorial board of International Journal of Cultural and Creative Industries (IJCCI).
Marina Guo used to be a cultural entrepreneur and executive professional before her role in education & research. Marina has been founder and Director of Shanghai Yorkie Investment Management Co., Ltd. which was established in 2004 offering management consulting on project development, creative entrepreneurship, cultural policy and international marketing strategy. She was the co-founder and General Manager of Shanghai Sunspirit Cultural Development Co., Ltd., a leading organization in cultural communication and arts education for children and young people. Previously Dr. Guo worked as Director of International Affairs, Research Centre for Creative Industries, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences from 2008-2010, and editor & reporter for Journal of Creative Industries. She has performed a couple of managerial positions in retail operations, manufacturing procurement, marketing for leading multinational corporates like IKEA, Henkel & GEA, from where she gained her entrepreneurial experiences
Marina Guo is interested in developing cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary creative projects. She has been working with leading international organizations to run international conferences, festivals & cultural events as well as to facilitate international business development for Chinese creative enterprises. By working with London-based BOP Consulting, Marina Guo has contributed greatly to the World Cities Cultural Report 2012, a cultural initiative by Mayor of London among 12 world leading cities. Her potential is being further explored in a few creative cluster developments in China.
Douglas KIRSNER
Jo LUSBY
Jo Lusby was appointed General Manager of Penguin China, with the task of opening Penguin's China office in 2005. She is responsible for acquiring English rights to excellent Chinese titles, establishing local partnerships with Chinese publishers, and developing Penguin's branding through English language sales and online marketing.
Jo has lived in Asia for 13 years, first in Japan and Indonesia before moving to China in 1998. Prior to joining Penguin, Jo spent five years with Swiss group Ringier, spending the final three years as editor-in-chief of English language publishing, including City Weekend entertainment magazine and custom publishing.
She studied English Literature and Language in the Universities of Leeds, UK and Salzburg, Austria, and plays fiddle in an Irish band with no name. She comes from Manchester, UK.
Michael LYNCH
Michael Lynch, CBE, AM, is the CEO of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. He is responsible for the establishment of Hong Kong’s ambitious arts precinct. Michael Lynch was formerly General Manager of the Sydney Theatre Company 1989-94. He was then General Manager of the Australia Council, the Federal Government's arts funding and advisory body, 1994-98. In 1998 he became director of the Sydney Opera House, and from 2002 to 2009 he was chief executive of the South Bank Centre in London.
Lynch has overseen the successful rehabilitation of the Royal Festival Hall, which was re-opened in October 2007 by The Queen (King George VI having opened the original building in 1951). Lynch was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2001 for services to arts administration (principally as General Manager of the Australia Council) and in 2008 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Birthday Honours.
In March 2009, Lynch was appointed a director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[4] He is also a member of the Board of Film Victoria.
Geoffrey RABY
Dr. Geoffry Raby is a former Australian Ambassador to China. Dr. Raby has had a long and distinguished career as an Australian diplomat which commenced upon his appointment to Beijing in 1986 as the head of the Embassy’s Economic Section. He has held a number of senior positions in Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (“DFAT”), including First Assistant Secretary, International Organisations and Legal Division (2001-2002), Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation, Geneva (1998-2001) and First Assistant Secretary, Trade Negotiations Division (1995-1998). In addition, he was Australia's APEC Ambassador from Nov 2002 to Dec 2004. He is now head of the consulting firm Geoff Raby & Associates. He is also an Executive Director of Riverstone Advisory, an adviser to law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth and a Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow at Monash University.
Between 1993 and 1995, Dr. Raby was head of the Trade Policy Issues Division of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.
In 1991, Dr. Raby established in DFAT the Northeast Asia Analytical Unit which subsequently became the East Asia Analytical Unit. He was head of the Unit from 1991 to 1993.
Between 1986 and 1991 he served in Beijing twice as head of the Embassy's Economic Section.
Dr. Raby took the post of Ambassador of Australia on 3 February 2007 and presented his Credentials to the President of the People’s Republic of China HE Mr Hu Jintao on 11 May 2007. Dr. Raby officially retired from his post on the 5th of August 2011.
Through his role as Ambassador, Dr. Raby gained significant insight and knowledge into China’s growing economy and its need for raw materials in order to sustain domestic growth. He has gained a deep understanding of the bureaucratic system inside of China and also a significant understanding of the domestic resource industry.
Dr. Raby holds Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics and PhD degrees from the Latrobe University in Melbourne.
Willy TSAO
Willy Tsao has been instrumental to the development of the modern dance in China. Tsao was born and educated in Hong Kong and received his modern dance training in the U.S. from 1973 to 1977. In 1979 he graduated from the University of Hong Kong with an MBA degree, and established the Hong Kong City Contemporary Dance Company. He was invited to teach modern dance at the Beijing Dance Academy in 1986. From 1987 to 1991, he was the teacher and advisor for the Guangdong Dance School modern Dance Program. He has conducted intensive modern dance workshops in many cities in China since 1987, Including Shanghai, Wuhan, Kunming, Fuzhou, Taiyuan and Daqing etc. He helped to set up the Guangdong Modern Dance Company, the first professional modern dance company in China, and had been its Artistic Director from 1992 to 1998. He was invited to be the artistic director of the Beijing Modern Dance Company in 1999. In September 2005, he left the Beijing Modern Dance Company and set up the BeijingDance / LDTX.
Tsao’s choreographic works vary in style and have been presented in the U.S., Canada, Korea, Japan, Israel, Germany, France as well as Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei in China. In July 1999, he was awarded the “Bronze Bauhinia Star” by the Hong Kong SAR government for his significant contribution to the development of local arts. Other honors and awards include the “Dancer of the Year” award from the Hong Kong Artists Guild (1988), the “Ten Outstanding Young Persons” (1990) “The Badge of Honor” from H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II (1993) and the “Louis Cartier Award of Excellence-Outstanding Choreographer” (1998).
His major choreographic works include: “Bird Songs”, “Kunlun”, “China Wind, China Fire”, “Wandering in the Realm of Lightness”, “One Table Two Chairs”, “Sexing Three Millenniums”, “In Search of the Grand View Garden” etc.
Please Note: More speaker biographies for this day’s sessions will be profiled shortly