Trustees

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Katy co-founded the Islington Chinese Association in 1986, the only Chinese voluntary organisation in England that has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services. Katy is committed in helping her community to integrate into mainstream society through engaging in local and national politics and taking an active role in public life.

She is also one of the founders of Chinese for Labour to promote interest of Chinese people in the Labour Party. Amongst her voluntary roles, Katy served as a Trustee in different organisations including the MuLan Theatre Group, the Middlesex University Chinese Medicine Programme Bursary Committee, Chinese in Britain Forum, London Chinese Community Network, London Chinese Healthy Living Centre as well as being a Non-Executive Director with the Islington Primary Care Trust.

 

Co-Chair: Lady Katy Blair MBE

Katy co-founded the Islington Chinese Association in 1986, the only Chinese voluntary organisation in England that has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services. Katy is committed in helping her... Read more

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A fluent Chinese speaker, Luise has had a long and distinguished career with over 40 years' professional experience of China, and East Asia beginning with postgraduate studies in Chinese in 1980.

Her early career included positions at American and Japanese technology firms in Beijing, an executive post at a World Health Organisation programme in Cambridge, and latterly a senior role at the premier British consultancy assisting corporates break into or develop the China market.

Headhunted into the Foreign Office in 1994 as one of its first private sector appointments, Luise took up a posting as a senior diplomat at the British Embassy in Beijing. This enabled her to lead on a broad commercial portfolio, providing commercial advice to British companies, managing official and Ministerial visits in both directions and building effective UK-China partnerships across a range of key industries. She successfully led on the visit of the British Deputy Prime Minister in 1996 in the run-up to Hong Kong's handover, securing against the odds a meeting with the Chinese President, and brought to joint UK-China Ministerial signature an important bilateral maritime treaty, opening up major commercial opportunities to UK shipping.

Latterly headhunted into the Abacus Group, as Vice Chairman of their China operations, she grew the business and brand significantly over 16 years, in both China and other E. Asian territories. In 2010 she delivered on a new, larger, green-field facility in Shanghai, negotiating with both public and private partners.

Luise was Vice Chairman of the 48 Group in the 2000s, and latterly appointed an Honorary Member. Between 2008 and 2011 she served on the Board of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, where she was elected Chairman. Highlights of her tenure included meeting Xi Jinping when he became Party Secretary in Shanghai, Prime Minister Gordon Brown during his first visit to China, and hosting Sarah Brown at an intimate roundtable luncheon with leading women in Shanghai.

As the Chair of the first Women in Business group in China, Luise championed the woman's voice in industry and the professions, and encouraged those who wished to pursue public life and professional development. She has also held a number of other Board positions in NGOs and industry and is a staunch supporter or women and children's charities, including UN initiatives.

Since 2012, Luise has been an independent corporate advisor and non-executive Director, including Senior Advisor to CRCC Asia, a global consultancy provifing internship and training programmes throughout Asia, and a Director of Glim Consulting, a specialist consultancy based in Asia.

In the Queen's birthday honours list in 2012, Luise was honoured with an OBE for services to British business in China.

In 2013 Luise joined Mulan Foundation Network as a trustee, initiating and leading on Mulan’s mentoring programme, and coordinating the Mulan Awards as one of three judges. She feels privileged to be leading Mulan into exciting future projects, since her appointment as Co-Chair in early 2023.

Co-Chair: Luise Schafer OBE

A fluent Chinese speaker, Luise has had a long and distinguished career with over 40 years' professional experience of China, and East Asia beginning with postgraduate studies in Chinese in...

Alice is a fellow chartered certified accountant with more than 20 years of experience in accounting practice, specialising in business advisory and financial reporting. She is currently taking a lead role in developing the China Group proposition at Moore Kingston Smith. Having worked in multi-cultural environment of both small and large practices, she has mentored many trainees from different backgrounds including those from the Far East. She is also an active member of a committee at Moore Kingston Smith helping to promote a culture of understanding, equality and inclusiveness.

Alice Ooi FCCA

Alice is a fellow chartered certified accountant with more than 20 years of experience in accounting practice, specialising in business advisory and financial reporting. She is currently taking a lead...

Sharon qualified as a solicitor in March 2006 and is now a Partner at DKLM LLP practising commercial and residential property law.

Aside from fee earning, Sharon’s role involves supervising paralegals / trainees and developing strategies for the firm.

Sharon is a British-born Chinese with a passion for the Chinese language and culture.  She has found herself frequently helping the Chinese community through her work, with earlier employment roles in and around London’s China Town, and participation in events such as the annual Dragon Boat Festival.

Sharon is keen to see true equal opportunities for women and men take its form in this 21st century, and help raise the profile of unsung “Mulan” heroines.

Sharon Lai

Sharon qualified as a solicitor in March 2006 and is now a Partner at DKLM LLP practising commercial and residential property law. Aside from fee earning, Sharon’s role involves supervising...

Sally is a trusted China communications advisor and thought leader, with a mission to empower businesses to fulfill their China dreams. She has almost 20 years of solid experience and proven records in strategising and delivering award-winning campaigns for multinational and national companies in China, Hong Kong, across Asia, and globally. 

Sally is currently the Founder and Managing Director of the fast-growing, UK’s leading China communications consultancy, 11K Consulting, which specialises in real estate, interior design, architecture, and luxury lifestyle.

11K’s vision is to take the 11,000 kilometer borders between the UK and China/Asia and transform them into bridges through the power of strategic communication. 11K’s current clients are a mix of luxury property developer, interior design, architecture, hospitality, and luxury lifestyle companies.

In 2023, Sally received "Highly Commended" recognition in the Business category by Mulan Foundation Network; and was a Finalist of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards (Entrepreneur Category) in 2021. 

Sally is a regular public speaker at conferences, events and webinars, mainly on China PR and marketing, entrepreneurship, and leadership. She is also a Co-Founder of The Chinese Mums in Business Club, with a mission to empower and inspire Chinese (and culturally Chinese) mums in business to reach their full potential. 

Her life mission is to be a positive influence on others, at work and in life, everyday.

 

Sally Maier-Yip

Sally is a trusted China communications advisor and thought leader, with a mission to empower businesses to fulfill their China dreams. She has almost 20 years of solid experience and proven...

Tracy is a qualified solicitor with almost 20 years’ experience in all aspects of property law and throughout her career, she spent many years travelling to South East Asian countries for business developing and expanding relationships, and providing legal advice to clients who reside in those countries seeking investment opportunities in the UK. This experience has enriched her understanding of the diverse cultures and values of her business associates and clients who are located in countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and China.

Tracy is currently practising residential property law at Forsters LLP, and actively participates and contributes to the firm’s Asia business development focused group involved in developing the firm’s strategies for those regions. She is also a qualified Notary Public of England and Wales.

Tracy is of British born Chinese origin, and had previously worked with local London Chinese communities, both voluntarily and in employment. She has a keen interest in supporting organisations and groups whose aims are to encourage and to recognise the work of the Chinese community in this country, whether as an individual or as part of a wider team and network.

Tracy Hon

Tracy is a qualified solicitor with almost 20 years’ experience in all aspects of property law and throughout her career, she spent many years travelling to South East Asian countries...

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Of Malaysian Chinese origin and living in the UK since 1970, to describe Mei Sim as a high achiever would not do her justice. Alongside her work as the Founder and Principal of LaiPeters & Co, Chartered Accountants , Mei holds and has held several Board appointments in the Public, Private and Not for Profit and Charity sectors.

She is also very active in a number of UK and international business groups including running IoD City since 1991 and chairing its China Interest group, serving as Honorary Treasurer and Executive member of the influential 48 Group Club and serving as the Finance Director of Arab international Women's Forum. Mei Sim is also a Founder Charter member of PAWA (Pan Asian Women's Association).

Honorary President: Mei Sim Lai OBE DL

Of Malaysian Chinese origin and living in the UK since 1970, to describe Mei Sim as a high achiever would not do her justice. Alongside her work as the Founder... Read more

Lord Sonny Leong CBE is a successful entrepreneur in publishing, education and social enterprises. He is the Chief Executive of Civil Service College, an international training provider for public sector staff. He was the founder and Chief Executive of Cavendish Publishing until it was acquired by a FTSE public listed Company in 2006.

He created and led several charitable organisations including the Commonwealth Caribbean Law Publishing Programme; AccessBooks, which promotes publishing skills in Africa; Book Power, a charity providing reduced price textbooks to students in developing countries; the MuLan Foundation Network which promotes inclusion for the British South and South East Asian community; and FutureFirst, a social enterprise building alumni networks for state school students. He sits on the Council for Education in the Commonwealth and the advisory panel of the Changing Work Centre.

Sonny was awarded a CBE for Political Service in 2014 and elevated to the House of Lords in 2022 as Baron Leong CBE of Chilton and Camden Town. He is the Shadow Spokesperson for Business & Trade in the House of Lords.

Mulan Patron: Sonny Leong CBE

Lord Sonny Leong CBE is a successful entrepreneur in publishing, education and social enterprises. He is the Chief Executive of Civil Service College, an international training provider for public sector...