Our team
Our team has held professional and executive positions with the following consulting, educational and business organisations:
McKinsey & Company
Bain & Company
KPMG
GE
GE Health
Johnson & Johnson
China Rehabilitation & Research
University of Melbourne
University of International Business (Beijing)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Deloitte
ShineWing
Telstra
Australia Post
Chengdu Aotian foods (and several Australian food/pharmaceutical suppliers
David Thomas
China Market Entry Consultant
David Thomas
David Thomas is well known in Australia and the Asia Pacific region as a China Expert, a passionate and engaging keynote speaker and a strong advocate of business, trade and investment collaboration between Australia and China. He has worked with SMEs from many industry sectors, including retail, professional services, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, food, tourism, real estate, design and technology, particularly in environmental protection.
As President of the Australia China SME Association (www.acsme.com.au), David has organised and led numerous trade missions and study tours to China, including the annual Australian mission to the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong and BRIC+ Study Tours for investment professionals to China and the other BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). He is the publisher of ‘China Bites’ (www.china-bites.com), his regular take on what’s happening in China and why it matters.
He is an Honorary Adviser to the Australia China Economic Trade and Cultural Association (ACETCA), Chair of Australia China Business Week and is regularly invited to represent Australia at official events to welcome official Chinese delegations. In recent years, working with his business partner, Vanessa Xing, David has provided advice, support and guidance to both Australian and Chinese entrepreneurs and investors as they navigate the challenges, barriers and opportunities of doing business and investing in both countries.
Bill Lang
Executive Chairman
Bill Lang
Bill’s qualifications include an MBA – Harvard Business School, Bachelor Commerce/LLB Hons (Melbourne University). And recently China Ready & Accredited (by the Government).
Bill’s career to date spans 25 years as international business strategy consultant and entrepreneur. He has launched technology, education and business services ventures with clients in over 50 countries. Bill’s present client focus is building an alliance between China Ministries of Health, Education and several Chinese Universities to fast track the development of an allied health care profession. This project is in partnership with several Victorian Universities and Australian health professional bodies.
Sector and functional specialisations include Education, Health, Business services, Digital technologies, Strategic alliances and Market entry strategies..
Organisations served include: Standard Chartered Bank Asia, HP Asia, Universities (include Melbourne, Monash, Harvard, Beijing Baille), Melbourne Health, Australia Post, McKinsey &Co, Bain &Co, KPMG, BHP, Shanghai Health Innovation Precinct (Putou District, Shanghai).
As Executive Chairman, he has recently lead IAB and a consortia including Victoria University and Melbourne Polytechnic to work with the Victorian Department of Training and Education to develop and deliver state-wide new skill development programs in the areas of Chinese Customer Engagement and Business (CCEB) Skills. These programs are currently under development and will commence delivery in July 2018.
Professor Claire Wang
China Financial and E-Commerce Consultant
Claire Wang
Professor Claire Wang holds the following qualifications:
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Beijing Jiaotong University), Masters in Accounting and Management (University of International Business and Economics, Beijing), PhD Applied Economics (University of International Business and Economics, Beijing)
She currently serves as the Chinese-Director, Victoria Business Confucius Institute (VBCI) and is an Associate Professor of University of International Business and Economics Beijing）
Now based in Melbourne, Claire is the founding Chinese-Director of the Victoria Business Confucius Institute (VBCI) since the establishment of VBCI in November 2015, She teaches “doing business in China” to university students at Victoria University, conducts training in doing business in China to local Australian industry and coaches Australian business leaders in the Education and Healthcare sectors on establishing and managing relationships with Chinese Business Partners.
Before that, Claire was an associate professor at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, China where she taught Management Accounting, Mergers Acquisition and Project Management to local and international students. She visited Australia to do research and teaching at the University of Adelaide from 2011 to 2013.
Claire has over 10 years of experience in international collaboration in higher education sector and continues to work closely with industry, especially the financial investment industry in China where she has advised as a senior consultant to some Chinese leading capital management corporations and funds.
She is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia with deep expertise in the areas of Corporate finance, Operation and corporate governance of Chinese state-owned companies, the Financial Analysis of Chinese Enterprises and cross-border joint-ventures and Private equity investment
Andrea Ding
China Healthcare Consultant
Andrea Ding
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Marketing), from the University of Melbourne 2000, is fluent in English & Chinese (Mandarin) and Certified Six-Sigma Green belt & black belt in the process.
Andrea has 17 years’ experience working in multi-national businesses in the Finance, Healthcare and NGO Sector. Her current project focus is advising the United Nations Office in China to Identify and transfer healthcare services, biotech & innovative medical technologies and systems (cancer treatment, IVF, senior living, translational medicine, stem cell, rehab, HIT etc.) from the Pacific region to UN endorsed and managed projects in greater China.
Sector and functional specialisations include Finance, Healthcare, Government-NGO alliances, Joint venture structuring, Acquisitions and Introduction of innovations into China.
Before commencing her project with the UN she worked for the General Electric Company offices in the USA, China, Australia, Japan, UK, Germany, Singapore & Malaysia. Her roles included Healthcare China Marketing Director where she lead a dedicated team to drive sustainable business growth by offering customers with right, competitive and accessible financing tools to meet their financing needs. This involved the following activities:
- Developing structured mechanism in identifying, building & maintaining a funding source pool and strategic business partners
- Managing relationship & intelligence with government, financial institutions, investment community & leading Chinese enterprises
- Designing and commercializing categorized financing products to drive incremental sales & meet GE healthcare’s long term sales growth targets
As GE’s Healthcare Business Development Manager from 2010-2013, she worked with the global and regional team to identify and source business development opportunities, lead due diligence, evaluate, structure & negotiate acquisitions & JVs to support organic growth initiatives. As project leader in China, Andrea structured & negotiated a JV model to support GE’s in vitro diagnostic business’ global expansion, and led GE cross functional team in winning a $20M Medical city project. She also worked on several joint ventures and acquisitions, including the acquisition of a Korean based medical equipment company
Jeremy Oliver
Agribusiness and Wine Consultant
Jeremy Oliver
Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne.
Jeremy is one of Australia’s foremost wine industry professionals and educators and as such is Australia’s most influential wine presence throughout the Asian region. The author of 26 books including The Australian Wine Annual and Enjoy Wine with Jeremy, the first wine book by a westerner in Chinese for the Chinese market, he contributes to publications throughout Australia, China, Russia, Japan, Singapore and Korea. Fully independent, he was named the inaugural Wine Writer of the Year in 2005 by the widely circulated Australian Wine Selector Magazine.
Now in his 30th year as a wine industry professional, Jeremy is recognised as Australia’s foremost wine educator presenter. He regularly hosts corporate and wine-related events globally, from around Australia, to New York and Shanghai. He is a past host of the wine program for the Victorian Government’s Super Trade Mission to China.
A qualified winemaker, Jeremy became the world’s youngest published wine author in 1984 and has written for dozens of publications in countries including the UK, USA, Russia, Korea, Singapore, Japan and China. He appears regularly on the Australian Business Channel and has made hundreds of other appearances on radio and television.
The 4th series of his highly successful on-line bilingual TV show in China is in production and is distributed via all major Chinese social networking and blogging sites. The series will attract around 20 million viewers, including most China-based wine industry business owners.
Jeremy advises several of Australia’s leading wineries and leads the development of business relationships between the Australian wine industry and major buyers within China’s business, SEO and government circles.
Dr Catherine Lou
China Technology and Logistics Consultant
Dr Catherine Lou
Dr Catherine Lou holds the following qualifications from Victoria University: PhD (VU supply chain optimisation), BSc (Applied Math), MSc (Applied Math)
Catherine’s current roles include lecturing in supply chain and logistics in the College of Business and Project Manager at the Victoria Business Confucius Institute at Victoria University.
Catherine joined VU as a lecturer after she completed her PhD (Supply Chain Optimisation) in 2015. During her PhD she was awarded the International Student of the Year – Postgraduate by Victoria State in 2013 and has since been awarded the VU Outstanding Student Alumni Award 2015.
She has conducted research in supply chain modelling since 2008 and has a very strong background in Applied Mathematics and supply chain management. Catherine has published various articles in peer-reviewed international journals/international conferences and has received competitive research grants in the supply chain related area during her research career. She has been working closely with several industries on a range of research projects which include:
- Supply chain management (optimisation modelling, operations management, corporate governance application in supply chain network, risk management) )
- Value chain framework analysis in various industries (e.g., international education, sports industry)
- Green tourism (sustainable supply chain framework)
- Business information systems through the application of optimisation modelling, statistics, and other quantitative analysis.
Dr Lou also serves in the following roles: Research Associate at the Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities, Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics and the Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies.
Ian Roberts
Marketing Research Consultant
Ian Roberts
Ian Roberts is one of Australia’s leading big data and analytical marketing professionals. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics RMIT University and has numerous industry qualifications which include: ADMA, IAPA and TDWI Certifications, T Unleashed – High Performance Culture (McKinsey & Company), Telstra Leaders Program (Abbot Training Systems),Financial Management (Centre for Management Development), Marketing, Business & Customer Loyalty Management Certification (with Philip Kotler, James Anderson, Dr. Peter Wilton), Marketing Analytics & Choice Modelling (with Chuck Chakrapani & Dr. Jordan Louviere)
For over 25 years Ian has developed and delivered effective analytics, marketing strategy and digital transformation programs to leading organizations across the globe. These organisations include British Telecom, Australia Post, Telstra, Sharinga Networks (Silicon Valley), Commonwealth Bank and Roy Morgan Research. Ian has a unique blend of analytical and digital marketing skills with technical expertise across data analytics, spatial analysis, digital marketing and traditional marketing verticals. 1999 Marketing, Business & Customer Loyalty Management training with Philip Kotler, James Anderson, Dr. Peter Wilton, 1998 Marketing Analytics & Choice Modelling training – Chuck Chakrapani & Dr. Jordan Louviere
Within IAB-Asia Business Consulting; Ian focuses on the design and implementation of Asia Market research programs and development of Market Entry Strategies.
Frank Fang
West China and China Marketing Consultant
Frank Fang
Frank holds a Masters in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business from the University of Tasmania. Prior to attending the University of Tasmania, he received an Advanced Diploma in Business & Marketing from Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Frank is actively involved in helping Chinese companies and provincial and city level government’s source business partners, expertise and products and services from Australia. He has a strong understanding of the differences in culture, business, and politics between Australia and China. He has both a Chinese government work background through his administration of talent workstation for Chinese provincial and city level governments in Melbourne. In addition, he has run businesses both in China and Australia, with a focus on the use of Chinese internet and social media platforms for Chinese customer marketing success. He has strong trust-based relationships with Australian authorities in China, including the Consulate-General, Austrade various Australian state and Chinese Provincial government officers.
Frank is fluent in English and Mandarin, both written and spoken.
His past roles have included:
- Partner- Vice-General Manager Qiyue Internet Tech Co., Ltd in China, Here Frank managed the company’s general affairs, including advertising strategies, WeChat accounts and APP operation strategies;
- Owner – Cocoon (KE EN) imported goods Living Hall in China. Here Frank provided overall business administration and management in terms of marketing and sales analysis and directing sales promotions to achieve business targets; and provided logistic support for sales team and POA meeting, including budget control, hotel/equipment settlement and material preparation;
- Owner – Edinburgh Gallery Bed& Breakfast in Australia. Here Frank provided overall business management, including management of different hotel reservation websites, designed various efficient marketing promotion strategies to improve occupancy rates.
In addition to his Consulting project work with IAB- Asian Business consulting, Frank is also the Administrator of Sichuan Luzhou Municipal Government Talent Workstation (Australia station) based in Australia where he has to identify and directly Introduce projects and talents that comply with Luzhou city’s development trends back to China. He also coaches and facilitates Luzhou government and local businesses to interact with Australian business related authorities. Luzhou Pilot Free Trade Zone’s is also seeking Australian business partners wishing to enter the Chinese market or Belt Road countries. A core focus are the medical & pharmaceutical industries.
Frank also acts currently as the Administrator of Sichuan Chengdu Pidu District Government Talent Workstation (Australia) in Australia. Here the focus is Introducing Australian High-Tech Projects and High-Talents directly to Pidu District Government.
Based in China Frank is an office-bearer for the following organisations:
- Vice-Secretary of the Chengdu Pidu District Municipal Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese: Governed by Chengdu Municipal Party Committee, is an interface between the party committee and the government that bridges overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese and the family members and ties at large.
- Secretary of the Australia-China Chamber of Commerce West China. (AUSTCHAM West China). Mr Fang’s role is to liaise with the Australian Consulate-General Chengdu and AUSTRADE on business and cultural events as well as other matters. He is actively facilitating business to business cooperation between Australia and the west China regions of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Chongqing.
Marita Taylor
Digital Platforms Consultant
Marita Taylor
Marita holds a Diploma of Management and several digital platform accreditations.
Marita has over 10 years’ experience in the development and operation of digital business processes and services in the core functions of Marketing, Sales, Fulfilment, Relationship Management and Operations. She has deep experience with multiple e-commerce platforms including HubSpot, WooCommerce, STRIPE, WeChat, WeChat Pay, Alipay, WordPress, PayPal, Active Campaign, Google Analytics and the Microsoft suite of platforms including .NET.
She has developed multi-lingual web sites (English and Mandarin) for www.thecareermentor.com and www.gdayfriends.com.
In addition, she manages the Operations of IABS and the Project Management and Resource co-ordination of the Consulting Projects undertaken by the IABS-Asia Business Consulting team.
Dr Greg Li
China Medical System and Device Consultant
Dr Greg Li
Dr Greg Li, MD MMSc. Is a Peking University and Harvard University educated Surgeon, Strategic Medical & Health Marketer and Asia Business Consultant.
Greg holds a PhD, Orthopaedic Spine Surgery from Peking University Health Science Centre and was the first Chinese student to be admitted and to graduate from Harvard’s MMSc. Medical Science & Management program. He is fluent in both English and Mandarin, with deep multi-lingual ability in the Asian and Western health sector and licensing terminologies.
In his consulting work Greg provides advice and coaching in the areas of:
- Medical Device marketing, branding and get China – FDA approval process as well as investment and management
- Orthopaedic and rehabilitation profession education and development strategies, systems, guideline and protocol etc. for China based hospitals, doctors and patients;
- mHealth (mobile and tele-health platform) between US, Australia and China;
- Healthcare advisory, consulting and investment;
His current and past roles include:
- President and Director, International Rehabilitation Institute
- Chairman of Executive Committee and China Investment Partner, July 2016 – Present (Set up and received first licence for Sino Rehabilitation in Beijing – first Western style Rehab Centre attached to Chinese University in China)
- Chief Clinical Officer: China Rehabilitation & Research Ltd. (2016-Present)
- CEO and Healthcare Investment Partner January 2014 – June 2016 (2 years 6 months) for China Rehabilitation & Research Ltd.
- Director, Strategic Marketing Asia, DePuySynthes (Medical Device Company)
- Business Analysis, Orthopaedics Division, Johnson & Johnson – USA Headquarters
Clinical and Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School Education
Tracy Driscoll
Leadership Coach
Tracy Driscoll
Tracy Driscoll is a professional coach and facilitator who lived and worked in China for 23 years, the last decade spent helping diverse teams in large companies improve organisational and leadership effectiveness. Tracy heads up the coaching practice for The Leadership Group with a team of 70 professional coaches in Australia, China and the region. Since June 2019, after relocating back to Australia and now running a virtual coaching practice, she is one of the few coaches here with a decade of experience coaching leaders from diverse backgrounds tackling multi-cultural team-development and cross-cultural communication challenges in China.
Tracy’s style is collaborative and intuitive, and she has a unique ability to connect with and understand the needs of individuals, teams and organisations, particularly in China. She has strong experience and knowledge from working with culturally diverse organisations including some well known multinational brands operating in China like BMW, Daimler, SAP, Alibaba, Merck, Coca-Cola, Homecredit and Shankai Sport. She also facilitates strategy for top teams, runs organisation transformational programs and helps organisations to develop a coaching culture.