BritCham Shanghai Annual General Meeting 2023

In a career spanning 30 years, Ray has lived & worked in China for 20 of them and before Gleeds worked for ABB, Johnson Matthey and ICI. Ray sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Nottingham Ningbo Campus. Ray was co-author of the inaugural Position Paper on behalf of all four British Chambers in China and was part of the London outreach delegation presenting the Paper to the UK government and other stakeholders.

Kirsten has 27 years design industry experience. She set up her brand design firm in London in 2003 before expanding it to Shanghai and Hong Kong in 2015. Under her leadership, JWDK has won more than 30 international awards for its brand strategy and design work, particularly in the property and place branding sector. Kirsten’s mission is to deliver effective design that has a positive social and economic impact in China.

Kirsten graduated from her International MBA with Distinction in 2019, having conducted extensive research into Placemaking and its influence upon China’s cities and urban environments. In addition to her work as CEO & Founder of JWDK, Kirsten is the Vice Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai and is the Chair of BritCham’s Creative Industries and Marketing Committee.

Prior to her time China, Kirsten’s design career spanned many nations Australia, Hong Kong, Sweden and most extensively, the UK where she was also a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts.

Ted is a seasoned corporate executive. He has a diverse industrial and automotive background in his past 20+ years’ experience serving leading global companies including JD Power, Danaher, Stanley Black & Decker and Smiths Group.

Born and brought up in Beijing, Ted and his family have lived in Shanghai for over 12 years.

Steven moved to Shanghai in 2002, where he currently works as an Audit Partner at KPMG servicing European multinational companies operating in China. Steven is also responsible for KPMG China’s digital transformation programme.

Prior to 2002, Steven worked in Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea and is originally from London, where he trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996.

Steven has previously been both the Treasurer (2009-11) and Vice-Chairman (2011-13) of the British Chamber Shanghai, being involved in supporting the Chamber’s business, social and back-office activities. Steven will continue to contribute to the Chamber, its sustained future, and to benefit its membership.

Alex Roberts has been working in Shanghai with British-headquartered law firm, Linklaters LLP, since 2012 and previously studied and worked in Beijing (first in 2005). Alex has been involved with the Chamber almost since arriving in Shanghai and am proud to have seen its development over this time with a dedicated group of staff and members. Alex is passionate about continuing to drive British and international business opportunities in China through his legal expertise and network, helping to organise framework for knowledge-sharing events and improving the dialogue between the UK and China for the good of all stakeholders.

Eric is the partner responsible for managing PwC’s government relationship and the services to government in Shanghai and central China. He has more than 20 years experience in professional services. Eric graduated from Fudan University in Shanghai. He lived and worked in New York.

Eric acts as advisors for many government agencies and has led or been involved in various sizable projects, including consulting, auditing and financial advisory. Eric has extensive experiences in providing strategy, management, financial consulting services and audits to government organisations and companies. Eric has in-depth knowledge in accounting, auditing and global capital markets.  He helped many companies to complete unique transactions including IPOs and M&As.

Eric is a member of China Institute of Certified Accountant. He is a member of the standing committee of Sichuan CICPA.

Born in Wolverhampton, Chris graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1981 and joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Previous roles with the FCO include as HM Consul-General Guangzhou (2003-6); Minister and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Beijing (2008-12); and Director, British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei (2013-16). Prior to his current role, Chris was Deputy Head, EU Delegation to China for the European External Action Service. Chris has also worked at the Cabinet Office and the Department of the Environment (from May 1997 Department of the Environment, Transport & the Regions).

Sohail joined the China DBT team as Sector Director and Minister Counsellor in September 2021, the Sectors he covers are Consumer, Creative, Learning, Sports, and Food & Drink.

Prior to joining the DBT, Sohail had a successful career in the Private Sector where he led the development and expansion of British Retail brands across a global footprint.

Between July 2019 and August 2021, he was the CEO of the Global Franchise Business for Hamleys of London. Hamleys presents in 15 countries outside the UK, including China, with expansion into new markets through stores and online a strategic priority.

Before Hamleys Sohail had a long career (1995 – 2019) at Mothercare PLC, a leading global Retailer of Mother to be and Baby products. Whilst MD of the International Business at Mothercare, Sohail was a frequent China visitor and was a board member of a JV with their China partner.

James graduated from University of Manchester in 2015 and began his career with the British Chamber in Shanghai as the Business Development Manager. James comes with a truly international perspective having worked in three different continents throughout his studies and has now lived in China for over 5 years. James has a vast amount of knowledge on how British business operates within the China market with an oversight of their operational challenges and the market access barriers.

James was made Executive Director in June 2019.