Advisory Board

The SOAS China Institute Advisory Board consists of up to 10 distinguished individuals who have had extensive experience dealing with and knowledge of China.

The Board meets regularly to advise the Director on a range of matters including external policy priorities, fundraising opportunities, engagement with the corporate and public sectors, and emerging academic trends.  At present, it has six members. 

Sir Andrew Burns is a former British diplomat who has served as the UK’s Special Envoy on Post-Holocaust Issues, High Commissioner in Canada, Consul-General in Hong Kong and Ambassador to Israel, as well as a BBC Governor, University Chair and Legal Services Regulator.

Ruary Neill is a Director of JP Morgan Emerging Markets Investment Trust plc and Baillie Gifford UK Growth Trust plc. He was previously Chair of the Investment Committee, Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Children’s Charity. He previously worked in investment banking at UBS Investment Bank and Schroder Securities. He is an alumnus of SOAS.    

Charles Sands is an international lawyer specializing in complex commercial transactions, with broad global experience. He had served as head of Herbert Smith's International and Banking Department, a Consultant to the Board of Eversheds, and director of a number of enterprises, including a major company in Southern China.

Priscylla Shaw has supported arts and culture, education, and health services in Singapore for the last three decades, chairing and serving on various national and non-profit organisations, including the Asian Civilisations Museum, Home Nursing Foundation and INSEAD. She is an alumna of SOAS.

Henry Wang is President of Gate International, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineering. He had previously served as a director of both Shell China and SABIC in Riyadh, He advises international leaders and is a member of the G20/B20 International Taskforce. He has published widely, including six books. 

Elizabeth Wright was a former British diplomat, serving in Beijing, Director of the Great Britain-China Centre, Head of the Asia and Pacific Region of the BBC World Service and Executive Chair of the China Policy Institute of the University of Nottingham. She served as a Trustee of SOAS and is currently a Trustee of the Needham Research Institute.