Our People

CRCC Asia’s team is made up of experienced professionals, with extensive first-hand experience working, learning and living in both our placement cities Beijing and Shanghai in China. With offices from the Western to Eastern hemispheres.

UK - London Office

Laura Joyce Staff Image

Laura Joyce

UK General Manager Email: l.joyce@crccasia.com

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Laura completed an undergraduate degree in Advertising and Promotions Management at the University of Buckinghamshire, in addition to a Masters in Corporate Brand Management at Brunel University, West London. She lived in Beijing whilst taking part in the CRCC Asia China Internship program and gained a deep interest in Chinese business culture.

She worked as a marketing intern, developing the online social gaming brand, Kabam. Prior to joining CRCC Asia, she interned at the advertising agency Initials Marketing and is very much committed to promoting UK-China links at CRCC Asia.

 
Alice Thompson Staff Image

Alice Thompson

UK Regional Manager Email: a.thompson@crccasia.com

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Alice first visited Asia on her gap year, travelling through Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. She has also visited Japan, parts of Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She graduated with a BA in English Literature from UCL, and then worked and travelled in South America for a year.

While in South America she studied Spanish, volunteered in disaster reconstruction, and visited areas around the continent from Colombia to Patagonia. Alice enjoys developing a greater understanding of Asia and is excited to be building links between China and the UK

 
Dominic McDonagh Staff Image

Dominic McDonagh

Media and Communications Manager Email: d.mcdonagh@crccasia.com

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Having grown up in Hong Kong and Britain, Dominic studied for a BA in History at the University of Sheffield, during which time he also spent a year at McMaster University in Canada. After graduating  he moved to Guangdong, China on a British Council programme where he taught English in a Chinese secondary school for a year.

Since returning from China, Dominic has been keen to further develop his Mandarin skills and to increase his involvement in all things China related from here in London with CRCC Asia.

 
Sandy Persaud Staff Image

Sandy Persaud

UK Regional Assistant Email: s.persaud@crccasia.com

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Sandy recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a Bachelors degree in Politics and Modern History. Prior to working for CRCC Asia, Sandy has previously undertaken several internships with international development charities, and is particularly keen on working with developing economies.

Having travelled to South America, West Africa and Europe, she is interested in working abroad in the future and supporting cultural learning exchanges.

 

China - Shanghai Office

Daniel Nivern Staff Image

Daniel Nivern

Director Email: d.nivern@crccasia.com

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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 with Exxon Mobil. Daniel co-founded CRCC Asia in 2006 and was involved in successfully setting up education partnerships between UK and Chinese institutions.

More recently 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) and Sunday Times (UK) for his work with China and took 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. He was the Vice President of the Oxford Cambridge Club Beijing and one of the founding members of the UK based China Advisers Network.

Jenny Xu Staff Image

Jenny Xu

Business Development Manager Email: j.xu@crccasia.com

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Jenny is from Shanghai and studied Mandarin at Fudan University. She subsequently studied in The Netherlands and received a Bachelors Degree in International Business and Management from The Hague University. She lived in Paris for two years, working for a French Executive Training company and returned to Shanghai in 2007 where she worked for a Spanish Real Estate and Architecture company for three years.

Jenny enjoys travel and meeting with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Angela Lim Staff Image

Angela Lim

Business Development Manager Email: a.lim@crccasia.com

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Angela is from Vancouver, Canada and graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, concentrating in International Business and Human Resource Management. She also studied Global Enterprise Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2008 and Chinese Language at Tsinghua University in Beijing in 2009.

Prior to moving to Shanghai, she gained over two years of experience working in the Vancouver real estate industry. Angela enjoys traveling, good food, and is interested in the development of China’s economy and culture.

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Luika Bankson

Asia Pacific Marketing Manager Email: l.bankson@crccasia.com

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Luika is most recently from Los Angeles, but has lived all over the world and calls many places home. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and International Business.

She studied Mandarin at Fudan University and spent two years working for an international sports and entertainment company in Los Angeles and Shanghai before joining the CRCC Asia team.

Kelley Ma Staff Image

Kelley Ma

HR Manager Email: k.ma@crccasia.com

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Kelley is from Shanghai and graduated from Shanghai Maritime University with a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Engineering. She also studied at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and partook in an Exchange Program with Lehigh University in the US.

Kelley previously worked for the Human Resources Organization, FESCO and enjoys travel, reading and cross cultural training.

Eric Wang Staff Image

Eric Wang

Program Coordinator Email: e.wang@crccasia.com

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Eric graduated from Beijing University of Chemical Technology in International Economics and Trade. Eric enriched his college life by taking various social activities including drama and soccer.

Prior to joining CRCC Asia, Eric worked at an immigration consulting firm which helps Chinese entrepreneurs to migrate to Quebec, Canada and was a coordinator at NBC in Beijing during which time he worked on the Beijing Olympics.

Hannah Leeming Staff Image

Hannah Leeming

Program Coordinator Email: h.leeming@crccasia.com

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Hannah is from Suffolk, England and graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Biology. Her first year in industry was working for a luxury international events company based in London.

Hannah relocated to China thereafter to join the CRCC Asia team in Shanghai.

China - Beijing Office

Michael Lee Staff Image

Michael Lee

Beijing General Manager Email: m.lee@crccasia.com

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Michael moved to Hong Kong in the late-90’s after studying Mandarin at the University of Leeds, and quickly moved into the recruitment industry. After a brief Mandarin refresher course at Heilongjiang University in Harbin in the winter of 2002, he moved to Shanghai to open and run a local recruitment company.

More recently Michael was the Director of Business Development at the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, where he was able to continue his great interaction with multi-national organisations through-out China. Overall, Michael has over 15 years of business experience in Greater China. In his free time, Michael is a keen triathlete and has competed in competitions all over China, and is also a dedicated Scrabble player.

Maysha Lin Staff Image

Maysha Lin

Senior Consultant Email: m.lin@crccasia.com

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Maysha was born and raised in Groningen, The Netherlands. She received her Masters degree in Psychology, with a first major in cognitive neuroscience and work psychology and a second major in statistics and methodology. After graduation, Maysha has worked in the fields of HRM consultancy, corporate training (E-Learning) and organizational development consultancy in multinational companies like Dutch Telecom and Microsoft, in both The Netherlands and China.

As a Dutch born Chinese Maysha’s link with China has always been very strong, and from 2007 on she has spent most of her time working and living in China. In her free time, she loves everything related to music and plays bass guitar in her Beijing based band.

Michael Benson Staff Image

Michael Benson

Asia Pacific Regional Manager Email: m.benson@crccasia.com

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Michael studied Politics and International Relations at Lancaster University, in the cold North West of the United Kingdom. After arriving in Beijing at the start of 2011 as an intern on the CRCC Asia Internship Program he was bitten by the “Beijing bug” and developed a strong interest in Chinese business culture since.

Working as a Marketing Intern for the popular social networking service Renren. In his spare time Michael can often be found furthering his Chinese Mandarin language study, or knee deep in HTML as he codes/design websites.

Andrew Moffat Staff Image

Andrew Moffat

Senior Program Coordinator Email: a.moffat@crccasia.com

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Andrew graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. As an undergraduate he spent his time playing Ultimate Frisbee and taking semesters studying Mandarin Chinese at the Beijing Institute of Education in China.

He has always had a keen interest in Chinese language and culture and before joining CRCC Asia he continued his language studies in Beijing while working as a General Manager for a Great Wall touring company.

Chicka Chai Staff Image

Chicka Chai

Program Coordinator Email: c.chai@crccasia.com

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Chicka Chai has been working in Beijing for three years. She received her BA in English from the University of Hebei Province. After graduation, she worked as a tour guide during the summer holidays and in an educational recruiting company in Beijing doing marketing, recruiting and visa service.

Chicka loves travelling, music, foreign literature and communicating with people from all over the world.

Sara Monteabaro Staff Image

Sara Monteabaro

Program Coordinator Email: s.monteabaro@crccasia.com

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Sara grew up in Santa Barbara, California before graduating with a BA in International Relations from American University in Washington, D.C. As an undergraduate, she spent her junior year abroad in Beijing at Peking University, sparking her initial interest in Mandarin language and Chinese culture.

Outside of CRCC Asia, Sara spends her spare time playing soccer, traveling, and practicing origami.

John Nuega Staff Image

John Nuega

Program Coordinator Email: j.nuega@crccasia.com

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John graduated last December with a Dual BA in International Trade from a Joint Chinese and American University. Born in the Philippines John was raised in an American community for the past eight years in China, enjoying the challenge of experiencing three different distinct cultures.

In his spare time John enjoys making music (playing the guitar) and playing sports like Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball. He loves to travel and hopes to see more of what the world has to offer.

Neil Fraser Staff Image

Neil Fraser

Senior Business Development Manager Email: n.fraser@crccasia.com

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Neil graduated from Loughborough University with a B.A. in Politics and International Relations while his undergraduate dissertation addressed the topic of ‘Sovereign Wealth Funds and the Rise of State Capitalism’. Neil’s dissertation introduced him to China’s strategic global position and influenced his decision to study Mandarin at Beijing Language and Culture University. Prior to joining CRCC Asia, Neil worked at Threadneedle Asset Management as well as with a London based mechanical engineering firm.

Neil recognises the importance of maintaining and strengthening British-Chinese relationships and is involved with the British Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network. Neil is interested in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility within China through the work and promotion of youth, NGO and corporate platforms.

Shiwei Liao Staff Image

Shiwei Liao

Business Development Manager Email: s.liao@crccasia.com

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Shiwei studied international business in Haaga Helia University of Applied sciences in Helsinki, Finland. Prior to joining CRCC Asia, Shiwei was based in Shenzhen, where he worked in the field of logistics for TNT Express as well as Expeditors International. Besides that, he worked in the oil and gas sector, specializing in marine fuel oil and bunker operations.

Shiwei’s interests outside CRCC include playing soccer and tennis, travelling as well as exploring different cultures.

Claire Tolley Staff Image

Claire Tolley

Business Development Manager Email: c.tolley@crccasia.com

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Claire completed a Bachelors degree in German and Spanish at the University of Manchester. She developed a keen interest in China when she participated in a school exchange to Shanghai at the age of 15. This experience taught her a great deal about life in China and inspired her to travel, learn languages and experience different cultures. Since then, Claire has completed study programmes in China, India and Switzerland. She has also interned in South America and was selected by BP as one of fifty students from around the world to participate in an Antarctic expedition.

Experiencing the Beijing Olympics before participating in the UK Study China programme confirmed Claire’s long-standing ambition to return to China and pursue an exciting career in the capital. In her free time, Claire enjoys music, meeting new people and learning Mandarin.

Ivy Ma Staff Image

Ivy Ma

Business Development Associate Email: i.ma@crccasia.com

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Ivy Ma was born in and grew up in Beijing where I also finished my BA degree, her major is Information management and information system, she had worked in a training company for more than 1.5 years , managed international interns recommended from CRCC Asia. After that, She worked as an international marketing specialist in an oversea study organization, seeking co-operations with institutions from US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan.

She enjoys working in cross-culture environment, would like to make friends with different people and learn different cultures. In her spare time, She’s happy to join in some events organized in Beijing and learn French.

USA - Shawnee Office

Thomas Kirkwood Staff Image

Thomas Kirkwood

Director Email: t.kirkwood@crccasia.com

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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.

Brian Paugh Staff Image

Brian Paugh

US Regional Manager Email: b.paugh@crccasia.com

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Brian obtained a BS from Lynchburg College in Virginia; he has more than 10 years of Management experience in the Insurance and Real Estate industry in the United States. Brian has also worked on Oil and Gas projects in Canada and the US. Brian has a keen interest in Chinese culture, language, and business practices.

Brian’s interests outside of CRCC include spending time with his family, cycling and playing bass guitar

Connie Meyer Staff Image

Connie Meyer

US Regional Assistant Email: c.meyer@crccasia.com

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Connie joined CRCC Asia with many years of administrative experience in such fields as Wall St. and the stock market, TV Broadcasting, and law where she was part of the Attorney General’s office of New Jersey. She resides with her husband and a beagle named Toby.

Her son Alexander is presently enrolled in a Culinary Arts course and hopes to be a world class chef.

USA - San Francisco Office

Edward Holroyd Pearce Staff Image

Edward Holroyd Pearce

Director Email: e.h.pearce@crccasia.com

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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. Professionally, 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.

Jill Richardson Staff Image

Jill Richardson

US Marketing Manager Email: j.richardson@crccasia.com

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Jill was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has lived in Los Angeles, Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in History and Global Studies. She has an immense love of traveling and travels at every opportunity.

Future plans involve the Trans-Siberian Railway and visiting India. She enjoys yoga, reading, and trying new exotic restaurants around town.

Caitlin Bicknell Staff Image

Caitlin Bicknell

US Regional Assistant Email: c.bicknell@crccasia.com

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Caitlin was raised in Marin County where she grew up hiking in the Marin headlines and Muir woods. She studied abroad in Dublin Ireland and continued to travel all over Europe. She currently resides in San Francisco after graduating with a degree in psychology from San Francisco State University.

In her spare time Caitlin likes to maintain her interest in education reform, and plans to continue to travel as much as possible all over the world.