Thinking Chinese 思華華思
Speaker Biographies
Prof Tim Barrett: SOAS, University of London
Tim Barrett studied Chinese at Cambridge and East Asian Buddhism at Yale. Following further study in Japan he returned to
Cambridge to teach for over a decade, after which he became Professor of East Asian History at SOAS, retiring at the end of
2013. He writes mainly on the history of religion in China, but also about the history of the understanding of China in the
United Kingdom.
Emile de Bruijn: National Trust
Emile de Bruijn studied Japanese at Leiden University and museology at Essex University. He worked in the Japanese and
Chinese departments of the auctioneers Sotheby’s in London before joining the National Trust, where he is now part of the
collections management team. Emile has lectured and published on various aspects of chinoiserie in historic houses and gardens.
He co-authored Chinese Wallpapers in National Trust Houses (2014) and his paper on chinoiserie in British country houses will
be included in The Country House: Material Culture and Consumption.
Dr Nathaniel Adam Tobias Coleman: UCL Philosophy
Heir to enslaved, emancipated, and self-emancipated negros Africans in Jamaica, born and bred in Brum, educated at Oxford
(Double First, in Greats), Paris (Entente Cordiale Scholar), and Michigan (MA and PhD, in Philosophy), Nathaniel is a
philosopher, working in ethical, moral, social, and political philosophy, with a focus on the gendered and racialised injustice of
'slavery'. Nathaniel joined UCL in October 2013, as the College's and as the country's first and only Research Associate in the
Philosophy of 'Race'. Each year, Nathaniel has taught a senior undergraduate seminar in 'The philosophy of anti-slavery'.
Nathaniel's teaching is led by his groundbreaking cross-disciplinary and anti-Eurocentric research for a monograph, accepted by
UCL Press, entitled 'Why was negro slavery wrong?'.
Prof David Colquhoun, UCL Pharmacology
David Colquhoun, FRS held the established (A.J. Clark) chair of Pharmacology at UCL, and was the Hon. Director of the
Wellcome Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology. In October 2004, he became a Research Fellow. Like many previous holders
of the chair (in particular, A.J. Clark, J.H. Gaddum, H.O. Schild and J.W. Black) his interests are in quantitative analysis of
receptor mechanisms. He graduated from Leeds with a BSc and then went to Edinburgh to work for a PhD. After doing
research at University College from 1964-69 on immunological problems and completing a book on statistics, he went to Yale
University to work on nerve conduction. After returning from the USA he eventually returned to the Pharmacology Department
at UCL in 1979, and has worked on single ion channel mechanisms since then. In 2004, he was made an Honorary Fellow of
University College London. Since “retirement “ in 2004 he has increasingly spent time on his blog, http://dcscience.net/, which
aims to explaining the nature of evidence to a wide audience, and to debunk bad evidence.
Robert Fleming, National Army Museum
Robert Fleming is the Information and Community Outreach Curator of the National Army Museum. He studied Arts/Law at
the University of Tasmania, and History and Archaeology at the University of Sydney. Robert specialises in new imperialism,
decolonisation and post-colonial society, and the military history of British colonial and Commonwealth forces. He also has an
interest in wider Australasian history, including post-contact and the ethnography of the indigenous cultures of Oceania. He
regularly gives public lectures, and has published journal articles on related subjects, as well as two books, one on the Australian
Army in World War I, and one the Posters of the First World War.
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Prof Zheng Xiao Guo, UCL Pro-Provost for China
Zheng Xiao Guo is UCL’s Pro-Provost for China and professor of Materials Chemistry. As Pro-Provost for China, he
contributes to UCL’s overall international strategy and oversees UCL’s specific interactions with the China region (including the
Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau). He is the Chair of the Education Ice-Breakers of the 48 Group Club, promoting
positive education and education-business links between the UK and China; and an Overseas' Expert Adviser to the Chinese
Academy of Sciences. He was the “Focal-Point” for UK-China collaborations in Nanotechnology and Materials Science,
appointed by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign Commonwealth Office, to promote UK-China
collaborations in the subject area. He has been involved in and facilitated various UK-US, UK-Japan, UK-China and UK-Korea
clean energy and nanotechnology links.
Rachel Hasted
Rachel Hasted is a heritage and diversity consultant and researcher. She retired as Head of Social Inclusion and Diversity at
English Heritage in 2013. Previously Rachel was the first Social Inclusion Manager at The National Archives from 2003-6.
Rachel trained as a museum curator and worked for most of her career in London museums, starting with Bruce Castle Museum,
Tottenham (1986-2001), before moving to the Commonwealth Institute. From 1994-1997, Rachel undertook freelance
commissions while studying for an M.A. in social and cultural history at Essex University. From 1997-2003 Rachel managed
Croydon Museum and Heritage Service. In 2014 Rachel was appointed to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s London regional
committee. Current research interests include the history of housing designed for disabled war veterans and the
commemoration of contributions to the First World War by Empire troops and Labour Corps. Publications include aspects of
women's history, LGBT history and inclusive representation in museums.
Prof Therese Hesketh: UCL Institute of Global health
Professor Therese Hesketh works at the Institute of Global Health at UCL. She is a paediatrician and public health physician
who has worked as a clinician and a researcher for over 25 years in China. She has conducted research across a range of
population health issues in China.
Russell Keith
Russell Keith’s qualifications are MA (Hons) history of art (Glasgow university 1998-92), MSc (by research) fine art (Edinburgh
university 1994-5). He has been a lifelong fan of Chinese kung fu and began training in wing chun kung fu in 1998. Through
martial arts he became interested in Chinese healthcare and culture. China provided another ancient literate culture with which
to compare his knowledge of European art, philosophy, and culture and he completed a degree in TCM with Middlesex
University before moving to Beijing where he taught medical English to the Olympic Games shooting venue medical team and
to the Capital International Airport Terminal 3 medical team as well as working in Jishuitan, Fuwai, Guanganmen, Beijing
Oncology, Wukesong, and SOS International hospitals. He has also worked in many SOE's and companies like Huayi Brothers
media as well as becoming an IELTS examiner for the British Council.
Aubrey Ko, Ming-Ai (London) Institute
Aubrey Ko is the Research & Development Coordinator of Ming-Ai (London) Institute. Aubrey has extensive experience in
project management and planning and was the Project Coordinator of the British Chinese Food Culture Project. Currently she is
working on the Healthy Chinese Cuisine Ambassadors project with Lee Kum Kee as well as the British Chinese Workforce
Heritage project which is the fourth oral history project she has worked on. She plays many roles in this project including
planning and supervision, handling budget and cost, coordinating with working partners, volunteers and interns, conducting
interviews and writing articles. In short, her job is to keep track of project progress and ensure that the project will be delivered
to a high quality. She is also Programme Leader of the Ming-Ai (London) Institute MA in Chinese Cultural Heritage
Management with Middlesex University.
Rosa Kurowska, Ming-Ai (London) Institute
Rosa Kurowska is Project Coordinator of the British Chinese Workforce Heritage project and Thinking Chinese Conference
Coordinator. She is responsible for overseeing the projects oral history interview production, research, events and exhibitions.
She previously studied Literature, History and Mandarin at the University of Liverpool, SOAS and Yunnan University and has
worked on various community and youth work projects including oral history, creative writing and film production.
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Chungwen Li, Ming-Ai (London) Institute
Chungwen Li is the Dean of Ming-Ai (London) Institute. She worked for a joint project on Comparative Literature between the
Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong before she joined the Institute in 1999, and has since
worked towards cultural heritage management and has taken special interests in the British Chinese collection.
Prof Jonathan Liu: Regent’s University London
Jonathan is Professor of Global Business Management and is Regent’s University London, Business and Management Faculty’s
Research Leader. In 2002 he became Middlesex University’s Professor of Chinese Management. Jonathan publishes extensively
and has over a hundred articles and nine books published in subject areas relating to Business and Management. Jonathan is on
the Council of the National Conference of Universities Professors, a Council member of the Universities China Committee in
London, and a Board Member of the Directors of Ming-Ai (London).
Dr Kai Liu: Yanfu Foundation / University of Greenwich
Dr Kai Liu is the Chair and Trustee of YanFu Foundation. He is an expert in the field of intercultural communication, cultural
industries and economic sociology and is currently a Senior Lecturer in Economic Sociology at the University of Greenwich. He
obtained both his PhD and MA degree from the University of Nottingham, UK. He is a member of the American Sociological
Association, the British Academy of Management and the Academy of International Business. Dr Liu has strong links with the
leading industrial, cultural and educational institutions in China and frequently advises them on the matters related to the
internationalisation of higher education, intercultural communication and cultural industries.
Dr Vivienne Lo: UCL China Centre for Health and Humanity
Vivienne Lo is the director of UCL’s China Centre for Health and Humanity. She teaches Ancient and Medieval Chinese history
and the Medical Humanities in UCLs History Department. Her research interests involve the origins and transcultural
transmission of medicine and food studies in China. At this event she is also talking about family and migration.
Dr Fanyi Meng: Association for Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTM)
Dr Fanyi Meng graduated in Beijing Chinese Medicine University in 1983, and then qualified as a medical doctor. He gained his
research degree of Medical Master (China’s equivalent of PhD in medicine) in Beijing. He was a senior academic in the
Diagnostics Department at Beijing Chinese Medicine University from 1988-1997. His research projects carried out in China and
Japan, mainly on Pulse and Tongue diagnosis and clinical effectiveness of Chinese medicine on conditions of circulation system.
Fanyi came to the UK to teach Chinese medicine at Middlesex University and in 2004 he moved to the University of Lincoln as
the Course Leader of Acupuncture programme. He is also an elected Council member of ATCM (UK) and Academic
Committee member of the World Federation and Europe Federation of Chinese medicine.
Dick Middleton, British Herbal Medicine Association
Dick Middleton is Chairman of the British Herbal Medicine Association: The British Herbal Medicine Association has
represented the interests of herbal medicine in the United Kingdom for almost 50 years. It was founded in 1964 at a time of
increasing regulatory control, when herbal medicine in this country faced an uncertain future, and played an important role in
convincing the government of the day to include provisions for the herbal industry and profession in the Medicines Act 1968.
Michael Murray: Heritage Lottery Fund
Michael Murray joined HLF in 2009, managing the Development Team’s pre-application support and community relations
services. Michael supports the Head of London Region with strategic partnerships and marketing of HLF in the capital. Prior to
working with HLF, Michael was the London Manager for AdviceUK, supporting the infrastructure needs of nearly 300
independent legal advice charities. He is also a past chair of the Voluntary Sector Forum. Before that, Michael was a Grants
Officer with the Big Lottery Fund. Michael spent 6 years in Asia, working as an English Teacher at the University of
Aeronautics and Astronautics in Nanjing and at corporate training companies in Tokyo. Michael has an MA from the University
of Toronto in International Relations, and an MSc in Sustainable Heritage from University College London.
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Prof Adrian Renton: University of East London
Professor Adrian Renton is a Public Health Physician with 25 years of experience in multi-methods research at St Mary’s
Hospital Medical School, and subsequently Imperial College. He is an honorary consultant in Public Health Medicine with
Public Health England and Professor of Public Health at UEL. His international work includes the direction of two research
programmes on HIV and Development funded by the UK Department for International Development. In the UK he has
recently completed several research projects into the health and well-being amongst the most deprived communities within
London. He is currently developing new research in the areas of social prescription, living and dying well, the economics of
public health evidence and public understandings of the value of public health. Adrian has extensive experience of working
within policy and practice at both local and national levels.
Dr Leon Rocha: University of Liverpool
Leon Rocha is Lecturer in History and Chinese Studies at the University of Liverpool. At present he is working on two
monograph-length projects, the first is tentatively entitled Harnessing Pleasure: Imagining Chinese Sex in the Twentieth Century,
and the second on British Sinologist and biochemist Joseph Needham (1900-1995), simply called Needham Questions.
Prof Volker Scheid: EASTmedicine Research Group, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of
Westminster
Volker Scheid is Professor of East Asian Medicines at the University of Westminster. He holds a PhD in medical anthropology
from Cambridge University and postgraduate certificates from the Universities of Chinese Medicine in Beijing and Shanghai.
Volker has conducted postdoctoral research at the School of Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS), funded by the Wellcome Trust,
and the University of Westminster, funded by the Department of Health. He was awarded one of the first Senior Researcher
Fellowships by the Wellcome Trust and currently directs EASTmedicine (East Asian Sciences and Traditions in Medicine), a
unique interdisciplinary research group that aims to facilitate dialogue and debate among scholars in the medical humanities, the
social and natural sciences as well as clinical researchers and to develop innovative research agendas in the field. Volker’s own
research reflects this interdisciplinary orientation. It includes ethnographic accounts of Chinese medical practice and it’s
articulation with biomedicine, historical studies of the development of East Asian medicine from the 10th century to the present,
and a clinical study. He has published two monographs, a textbook on Chinese medical formulas, an edited volume on the
integration of Chinese medicine into contemporary healthcare, and a wide range of papers in biomedical, historical,
anthropological, and Chinese medicine journals. Besides his academic work, Volker also practices Chinese medicine at the
Clinic@Southbank in London.
Dr Anne Witchard: University of Westminster
Anne Witchard is a Senior Lecturer in the department of English, Linguistics and Cultural Studies at the University of
Westminster. She is the author of Thomas Burke’s Dark Chinoiserie: Limehouse Nights and the Queer Spell of Chinatown
(Ashgate 2007); Lao She in London (Hong Kong University Press, 2012) and England’s Yellow Peril: Sinophobia and the Great
War (Penguin, 2014). She is co-editor (with Lawrence Phillips) of London Gothic: Place, Space and the Gothic Imagination
(Continuum, 2010) and editor of British Modernism and Chinoiserie (Edinburgh University Press 2015).
Dr Diana Yeh: University of Winchester
Dr Diana Yeh is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Winchester. A former holder of the Sociological Review
Fellowship, her research interests lie in race/ethnicity, migration, diaspora and culture. She is author of The Happy Hsiungs:
Performing China and the Struggle for Modernity (Hong Kong University Press, 2014) and has presented her research on BBC
Radio Four, and at institutions such as the Royal Geographical Society, the Wellcome Trust, National Portrait Gallery and Tate
Britain.
David Yip
David Yip has spent over forty years as an actor having left the E 15 Acting School in London in 1973 and during that time has
worked in Film, Television, Theatre, Radio and other voice work both in the UK and internationally. Still remembered by many
people for creating the role of Detective Sergeant John Ho, in ‘The Chinese Detective‘ for BBC TV. Roles in feature films like
‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’, directed by Stephen Spielberg, James Bond - ‘A View to a Kill‘ directed by John Glen
and ‘Entrapment‘ directed by Jon Amiel, have served to widen his fan base. From 2008 - 2013 he has been involved in writing
and acting in a theatre project entitled, Gold Mountain with Unity Theatre in Liverpool and Les Deux Mondes in Montreal. A
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theatre company that specializes in multi-media work to brilliant effect. Gold Mountain has its roots in his experience of
growing up in Liverpool and the relationship he had with his father. Ideas and themes of identity and belonging were developed,
in a series of workshops and rehearsals in both Montreal and Liverpool. It has been performed in Montreal, Vancouver,
Liverpool, London, Sweden and Mexico. The reviews and public acclaim have been fantastic in every country.
Dr Kaicun Zhao: Middlesex University
Dr Kaicun Zhao, a Senior Lecturer, is currently the programme leader of the Traditional Chinese Medicine programme at
Middlesex University. Dr Zhao graduated with a Medical Bachelor's Degree in Chinese herbal medicine from Beijing University
of Chinese Medicine in 1981. Following graduation, he studied clinical pharmacology and graduated with a Master's of Medicine
Degree from Peking Union Medical College. In 1988, he moved to the UK for further studies supported by a Royal Fellowship
awarded by the Royal Society. In 1994, he graduated and gained his PhD degree in clinical pharmacology from the Royal
Postgraduate Medical School, University of London. He is also the president of the Association of Traditional Chinese
Medicine and Acupuncture, the largest professional body in Chinese medicine and acupuncture in the UK.
Dr Yijie Zhuang: UCL Archaeology
Dr Yijie Zhuang, Lecturer in Chinese Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL. He completed his PhD at the
University of Cambridge and had taken up a Junior Research Fellowship at Merton College of the University of Oxford, after his
BA training in Northwest University and MA degree in Peking University. His PhD dissertation, entitled "Geoarchaeological
Investigation of Early Agriculture, Ecological Diversity and Landscape Change in the Early Neolithic of North China", focused
on key issues concerning early agriculture, ecological diversity and evolution of people, environment and landscape in the early
Neolithic. Apart from continuing the research on ecology of early agriculture in China, he is also involved in a number of
collaborative projects in investigating the relationships between intensified land use, increased erosion and the development of
early civilizations across the Eurasian continent.
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