Our Directors

Daniel Nivern

Daniel read Modern Languages at Keble College, Oxford University and obtained a Masters of Science in International Management for China from the University of London (SOAS). He taught at the University of Hebei before working for Exxon Mobil . Daniel co-founded CRCC Asia in 2006 and was involved in successfully setting up education partnerships between UK and Chinese institutions.

He has been working with the IFC and has been sponsored by the World Bank to co-develop a program to assess and evaluate corporate governance in Chinese companies, prior to listing overseas. Daniel has been profiled in The Guardian (UK), Sunday Times (UK) and  Bloomberg for his work with China and he was the main role in a documentary on doing business with China for American TV.

He is a UK Government connector, with the role of encouraging entrepreneurship amongst young Brits, was the Vice President of the Oxford Cambridge Club Beijing, is a committee member of the China Britain Youth Association and is one of the founding members of the China Advisers Network.

Email – d.nivern@crccasia.com

Edward Holroyd-Pearce

Edward read Oriental Studies (Chinese) at Trinity College, Cambridge and obtained a Masters of Science in International Management for China from the University of London (SOAS). He spent six months at Beijing University and three months in Singapore studying Mandarin. Edward was as an assistant manager at China Eastern Airlines before working in an asset management company with over US$2Billion under management and specializing in investments into China.

Edward co-founded CRCC Asia in 2006 and has been heavily involved in various M&A projects, company due diligence and strategic analysis. Edward is a founding member of the China Advisers Network and has been interviewed for TV and radio for his expertise on China. He is also involved in supporting charities in Thailand and China.

Email – e.h.pearce@crccasia.com

Thomas Kirkwood

Tom was born in Thailand in 1967 and educated in Singapore, Pennsylvania and England. He has an MA degree in Oriental Studies (Chinese) from Cambridge University and wrote his Master’s dissertation on “China’s Oil & Gas Development Strategy”. Tom began his career at the emerging Markets Group of Wall Street investment bank, Wasserstein, Perella & Co. In 1991 he moved to China where he established several businesses in oil & gas, property, telecommunications and investment.

He is the owner of Kirkwood & Sons LLP, a board member of Sino Geophysical, a shareholder in Yeepay and an adviser on energy matters to KW&Co. Tom is fluent in written and spoken Mandarin Chinese and his interests include family time, oil and gas exploration, geophysics, fly-fishing, ice hockey and tennis. Tom and his wife Kate have been involved in co-sponsoring China’s first private charity for the blind (The Bright Angel Fund) and are active supporters of the Peace Corps and Special Olympics in China.

Email – t.kirkwood@crccasia.com

Senior Advisor

Luise Schafer

Luise Schafer is a senior international executive with 30 years’ professional experience of China. A literate and fluent Chinese speaker, completing postgraduate studies in Beijing in 1983, she is a sought-after commentator on China’s business environment. Her early career included positions at American and Japanese technology firms in Beijing, followed by a Consultancy role assisting British companies break into the China market. A stint as First Secretary, Commercial at the Embassy in Beijing in the 1990′s allowed Luise to lead on a broad commercial portfolio, building UK-China partnerships across a range of key industries and ministries. She successfully led on the visit of the British Deputy Prime Minister in 1996 in the run-up to Hong Kong’s handover and brought to signature an important bilateral maritime treaty opening up huge commercial opportunities to UK shipping.

Latterly head hunted into the Abacus Group, as Vice Chairman of Abacus’s China operations she grew the business and brand significantly over 15 years, in China and E. Asia, and in 2010 delivered on a new, larger greenfield design/manufacturing facility in Shanghai.

Luise is the immediate past-Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and has held a number of other board positions, in the past, including Vice Chair at The 48 Group. She was honored at the Chinese Embassy in London in 2010 with an award acknowledging her deep contribution to Sino-British relations.

Email – l.schafer@crccasia.com