“The best way to deal with China is through understanding and engagement — while strengthening ourselves.
After a decade of rising anxieties about China — as a competitor, challenger, and co‑operator — the West continues to fall short in developing China capabilities at a scale commensurate with the opportunities and risks before us.
The UK National Committee on China (UKNCC) is the leading initiative addressing this systemic gap. Our approach is grounded in education and dialogue.
Those who reject the need to learn and engage are choosing ignorance, and with it, sowing the seeds of both domestic failure and international conflict.”
Oliver Shiell, Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Former Cabinet Minister under PM Thatcher and Major; Secretary of State for Scotland; Defence Secretary; Foreign Secretary.
Entrepreneurial investor, board advisor. Founder of Shared Planet Capital and SILK Ventures, a China cross-border investment platform.
Businessman and philanthropist. Former Chairman, Lloyds TSB Bank. Chairman of charitable organisations.
Over 40 years of experience in investment, development and advisory roles. Chairman Wilton Capital Advisers.
Former CEO of UK Trade and Investment at the UK Government. Former Chair of the Audit and Risk Committees Huawei Technologies (UK).
Strategy Advisor & VC. Co-founder of CS Cyber Ventures. Chairman, National Advisory Board for Performing Arts.
Chairman, Great-Britain China Centre (GBCC) 2015-2025, former CEO, British Council. Rich experience in diplomacy and UK-China relations.
Entrepreneur, extensive experience building British business in China. Chairman, British Chambers of Commerce South China. CFO C2W Group.
Former Global China Editor at the FT. Author ‘Global Tech Wars: China’s Race to Dominate’ and ‘China Shakes the World’.
Director, PingPong Payments. Non-Exec. Chair, Serica. Northern Powerhouse Champion, DBT.
Strategy specialist for philanthropies, international development non-profits and social enterprises.
Founding Director of the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall. Entrepreneur, visionary optimist.
Frank is a seasoned chairman and board advisor. During his career he has worked as a banker in regional and global roles and has extensive experience in the Far East and the Americas. Frank lived in Hong Kong for 17 years working at the forefront of the emergence of Chinese companies onto the international stage from the 1990’s. He has operated as adviser on foreign investment into China and Chinese investment overseas. Formerly, he was Chairman of House of Fraser and Hamleys, where he navigated culturally contrasting ownership and managerial styles. He also chairs British Cycling.
Ollie has over 20 years' working experience on China. His previous roles include China Ambassador for the Ditchley Foundation, Chief Representative for Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (Europe), and Director of Development and Corporate Relations at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. Working at the c-suite level he has advised many British companies and Universities on their China strategies and capabilities needs. He has delivered training for the Cabinet Office and private sector clients. Ollie has served on the boards of the London Symphony Orchestra, Social Bite, and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC).
Andrew has over 25 years’ experience advising companies and governments on China. Previous positions include Managing Partner of Booz & Company’s Greater China operations, Partner-in-charge for Asian Government Advisory with Tony Blair Associates and Partner leading the Asia-Pacific Financial Institutions Practice of Boston Consulting Group. He is a Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI and a non executive director of Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company PLC. A graduate of Harvard Business School and Cambridge University he speaks French, German, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Winnie is a Director of UKNCC and academic in Chinese International Political Economy at the University of Bristol. Research interests include Chinese economic and development policy and the impact that both domestic and international factors play in its decision-making process; Taiwan-China relations and Greater China Economic regionalisation; China’s Nuclear and Energy Strategy; China’s Economic Security; and China’s tech strategies. Winnie has served as a Parliamentary Academic Fellow in the House of Commons Library (International Affairs and Defence Section).
Glen leads the UKNCC Higher Education Practice with expertise in research strategy, policy, and international partnerships. He previously served as Deputy Director for UK Research and Innovation China within the British Embassy in Beijing, and as Director of Research at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Glen has a strong track record of supporting academics and university leaders to develop high-value collaborations and implement ambitious research strategies. After many years in China, he returned to the UK in 2023.
Sam 10+ years experience building organisations as an entrepreneur. He graduated with a BA in Economics and East Asian Languages & Cultures from Columbia University and was recognised by Forbes Under 30 as a leading Social Entrepreneur. He earned his MBA from Cambridge University as a Beyond Profit Scholar. Sam‘s role at UKNCC is to support the business planning, operations and learning and development of the team. He also Chairs the recruitment assessment panel.
Co-Chair Intellectual Steering Committee (AI Governance). Paul is External Associate, Lau China Institute, King’s College London, and Honorary Fellow, Foreign Policy Association. He has over three decades experience of working with China in banking; strategy consulting; and with a global US technology firm. He earned his Ph.D. in modern Chinese history at SOAS; studied at Peking University; is fluent in Chinese; and has published books on China’s economic reforms and integrated logistics.
Co-Chair Intellectual Steering Committee (AI Governance). Sana is a leading AI expert and Professor of Practice in AI at King’s College London. She also leads AI policy initiatives for Responsible AI UK. With over 20 years of experience in technology and business, she has worked in software engineering, management consulting, and AI policy. As the first Head of the UK Government’s Office for AI, she led the UK’s National AI Strategy and major AI investments.
With over fifteen years’ experience in China market analysis, business development, and strategic planning, Alex specialises in delivering in-depth research and actionable insights on China’s evolving landscape. His expertise spans open-source research, Chinese social media trends, and multinational business strategy, helping clients navigate complex market dynamics. Alex has worked with international firms and government bodies.
Georgiana is pursuing an MSc China and Globalisation at King’s College London with a focus on China’s international relations and Chinese business. She graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2023 with a BA in Spanish and Contemporary Chinese Studies. She has lived in Spain, Taiwan and the UK.
Thomas is an MSc China and Globalisation student at King’s College London and holds a first-class BA Hons in Chinese Studies from the University of Sheffield. Thomas has lived in Taiwan and the UK and has research interests in social and public policy, political economy.
MPhil in Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge with a focus on Chinese nation building processes and policy development. Fynn previously completed a BA in history at University College London. He is originally from Germany and has lived in the US, UK, and China.
Tom was a Sir Andrew Witty Scholar at Nottingham University and read Management studies in Malaysia whilst travelling in Asia. He works for Unilever in Cyber-Security on developing resiliency on cyber-attacks and supports on assessment of interns at UKNCC.
Asia Pacific & languages at the University of Central Lancashire. Interests include; the cultural and economic landscape of Eurasia; fostering better informed discussions and comprehension of the region; and how to improve the quality policymaking. Harry supports company operations.
Rowan studied International Relations at the University of Sheffield before moving to South West China. His research has examined China-ASEAN relations and China’s strategic industrial policy. He works to support UKNCC Dialogues on AI.
Anna graduated with a first class BSc Hons in Medicine from the University of St Andrews and is now finishing her MBBS in London. For three years she served as a Governor for Dorset NHS Foundation Trust and now works as an Associate Editor at the British Student Doctor Journal.
Max is a final year masters student at the LSE. He previously obtained a dual bachelors degree in Business and Europe-East Asia studies from Sciences Po Paris and the University of Hong Kong. He also counts with experience in political risk research and corporate intelligence in the APAC region.
Theo is currently an MSc student at King’s College London, having previously graduated with First-class honours in Politics and Modern History from the University of Manchester. Theo spent eight years of his Childhood in Beijing, and now lives in the UK.
Over the years many people of different nationalities have given their time and expertise to support our mission. UKNCC is grateful to all volunteers past and present. As part of our commitment to transparency all those who have supported UKNCC are listed here.
Studied her BA Liberal Arts (Politics) degree at the University of Leeds, with a focus on modernity, international political economy, and political philosophy in EU and China.
Graduated from Newcastle University in 2022 with a BA in Chinese Studies. Completed a virtual year abroad at BLCU in 2020. Working as a translator and editor.
Max graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2022 with a Double First and two distinctions in Chinese & Russian. Studied at Schwarzman College, Beijing.
Charlie played a key role in establishing and helping to develop UKNCC from 2019 – 2025 as an Associate Director and as UKNCC’s first individual benefactor.
A Mandarin speaker with a first-class BA in International Relations and History from SOAS, Eve studied MA in International Relations at the University of Exeter.
A Mandarin speaker, with a 1st class with Distinction BA in Politics & Chinese from The University of Manchester. Kate worked to support our Advisory Board.
Georgia Graduated in 2023 with a degree in MA Chinese Studies from the University of Edinburgh where she also served on the committee for the China Future’s Society.
Wenjing served as Acting Programme lead Climate Change and Sustainability 2023-24. Prior to this she played a major coordinating role facilitating bilateral engagement.
Stefan Harvey has a BA in Chinese studies with Korean from the University of Oxford and an MA in Intercultural Communication studies from Shanghai Theatre Academy.
Paul served as Programme Lead Climate Change and Sustainability 2020-2023. He was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen as Pioneer to the Life of the Nation.
Christian graduated from UWTSD with a degree in Chinese Studies in 2018 and a Masters in Chinese Studies in 2020 from the University of Edinburgh.
Studied an MSc in China and Globalisation at King’s College London having completed an MA in Chinese at the University of Edinburgh. Alice was awarded best intern of 2023.
Studying her Masters of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, with BA in International Affairs, George Washington University.
Jonah completed a BA in Chinese Studies from the University of Oxford and an MA in International Studies at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.
Mark is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, with 17 years experience at Merrill Lynch and HSBC. He served as a volunteer Company Secretary 2021–22.
Studied Masters of Arts, Chinese Studies at The University of Edinburgh, a British national who grew up in Shanghai studying at Dulwich International School.
David served as a Director of UKNCC 2020-2023. He is a former Chairman of the Manchester-China Forum and spent over 10 years in China as a UK diplomat.
Studied Masters of Science in Contemporary Chinese Studies at Oxford University, a US national who worked as a Defence Congressional Analyst in Washington, D.C.
Studied an MSc in China and Globalisation at King’s College London focussing on public policies, business strategies, modes of international cooperation and finance.
Studied International Political Economy with a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Graduated with a BA at the UK Centre for Events Management (UKCEM) at Leeds Beckett University, focusing on complex and challenging issues.
Ioana completed a dual degree BA between Sciences Po Paris and University College London, majoring in International Relations with a special interest in China.
Selected for the prestigious Rotary Peace Fellowship in Sweden; holds a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from Uppsala University, Sweden.
Chengkai was the first Chinese born President of Oxford Union, studied PPE at Brasenose College, Oxford University. He studied at Schwarzman College, Beijing.