Dr David Li AM
Dr David Li AM's formative years began in China, where he was a talented and famous musician.
During the mid-1980’s, he was invited to study in Australia under the auspices of two prestigious scholarships. He was the first recipient of the Australia-China Council grant funded by the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the BP Scholarship from the Victorian College of the Arts at The University of Melbourne. He completed his postgraduate study under the world-famous violin virtuoso, the late Professor Nelli Shikolnikova.
Following a stellar professional career in music, he entered the business sector as a new phase of his life. He held a number of senior local and international roles in the finance, project management and corporate development sectors. After three decades, his business has grown and has become a major building material distributor and manufacturer in Australia. A successful property developer and investor, Dr Li is widely recognised as an exceptional business entrepreneur.
Dr Li is the Chairman of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and has been the Board Director since 2013, one of the world's leading orchestras, founded in 1906. Dr Li created and founded the East meets West series of concerts more than a decade ago. These artistic programs include its annual Chinese New Year concert, now a marquee event of the Victorian arts calendar. Many of these concerts are broadcast directly across the globe, attracting an annual viewing audience of more than 20 million. Under his leadership, the MSO has risen to prominence in the Asia-Pacific region. The MSO has built strategic partnerships with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
As the incumbent MSO Board Chairman, Dr Li looks to the future of the MSO and seeks to secure its financial future to benefit generations. The Now and Forever Future Fund was conceived to serve the MSO with a recurrent source of revenue over its lifetime.
As a former board member of the 3MBS Radio Corporation, Dr Li values the radio's power and reach to champion quality music for all people, regardless of background. His significant support for Opera Australia, including the Young Artists Program and as production partners of operas Tosca and Faust, illustrate his commitment to nurturing the operatic arts.
His vital role at Monash University further extended his musical legacy. His tenure on the Philanthropy Campaign Council since 2018 and generous contribution to the Monash Digital Music Hub in 2019, heralded a new era 21st century performing arts facilities at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance. Additionally, the establishment of the "David Li Excellent Music Award" and the "East Meets West Music Scholarship" reflects his ongoing commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of musicians. In 2021, Monash University inaugurated the David Li Sound Gallery in recognition of Dr Li’s contributions to Monash University and the arts community.
In 2023, the Li Family Trust in collaboration with Monash University established the Li Transformational Hub for Research into Eating Disorders (Li-THRED) as a comprehensive and cutting-edge program of research and clinical trials in eating disorders focusing on utilising the latest developments in neuroscience and brain research to generate an evidence base for new approaches to treating eating disorders.
Dr Li was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2019 for his "significant service to the community through support for the performing arts." Dr Li's substantial contributions to arts and culture were fittingly recognised with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Hurun & PwC Australia 2022 Award Gala. Dr Li was appointed an Honorary Fellow of Monash University in 2019.
Dr Li is married with two children. His wife, Mrs Angela Li, is an accomplished pianist, and their children are proud Monash alumni.