What was the highlight of your Arts degree?

My exchange experience was definitely the highlight of my degree. I went on exchange for six months at Peking University in Beijing, one of China’s top ranked universities. Beijing is an incredibly dynamic place, elegantly walking the line between its extensive ancient history, and its ever-changing place in the modern world. This atmosphere, supported by a multicultural student cohort, provided insight into a range of opinions and perspectives on international issues.

How did your exchange experience influence your decision to pursue a career in China?

After living in Beijing for six months, studying on exchange and making friends, I was confident that the decision to stay in China to continue my career was the right one. I knew that if I wanted to have any level of Chinese literacy, the fastest and most effective way to do this would be to invest a few years in-country. On a personal level I wasn’t finished with the adventure yet either. My exchange was in my final semester, so I graduated whilst overseas. I used that momentum to get an internship at AustCham and that internship led to a full-time position as Events and Communications Manager, which led to project management and now Operations Manager. It worked out really well for me and I was able to take advantage of that momentum straight after graduating.

How have the skills you learnt in your Arts degree helped you in your career?

I enjoyed my cross-cultural communication classes at Monash. These classes built the framework for understanding cultural nuance and how to effectively navigate that, which was very useful when I started working at AustCham. We oversee quite a large membership which means I’m often dealing with Chinese members, and it’s important to understand these cultural mannerisms on a personal and corporate level.

What’s it like working at AustCham?

One of the good things about working at AustCham is that you get a real bird’s eye view as to what’s going on across different sectors. We interact with members from agribusiness, financial services, education, health and life sciences, and energy and resources. When first starting out in my career I was unsure as to which direction I wanted to pursue. This bird's eye view allowed me to get a feel for what it was like across different industries, as well across both private and public sectors.

Another benefit of working at AustCham, and working in China more generally, is access to the Australia-China community. It's small and tight-knit and there's a sense of guidance from those at senior levels. I've been fortunate to learn from, and directly engage with, a range of senior business leaders in China. Opportunities to grow and learn are made accessible by the community - even those at senior levels are sympathetic to your China journey, having faced the same challenges throughout their shift to life in China.

Can you tell us about some of the stakeholders you get to work with?

We work with a range of stakeholders and industry associations, including Australian Federal Government and State Ministers, Chinese Government departments (including Ministry of Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade), local and provincial governments.

Being able to engage with these stakeholders has allowed me to experience the reality of bilateral relations at the social and industry level. You feel the vibrations of the bilateral relationship. It's also allowed me to get a more holistic understanding of the China market. While many are aware of China’s market potential, effectively operating within the market and forming lasting partnerships takes time and effort - something I'm fortunate to have experienced first-hand.

What’s an exciting project you’re currently working on?

I oversee a project called the AustCham FESCO Internship Program, which places Australian and Chinese nationals at fortune 500 companies in China. We do this in partnership with FESCO the Foreign Enterprise Human Resources Service Cooperation, China’s largest HR company. This program works as a conduit connecting business and student, helping strengthen Australia’s people-to-people and institutional relationships in China through the engagement of students, business and other stakeholders.

What do you love most about being a Monash Alumni?

The network. I'm constantly running into Monash Alumni both in China and Australia and it's a great basis for conversation. Attending Alumni events also allows me to leverage this network and meet a range of peers from different industry verticals, which is beneficial to my personal career progression.

What’s your message to current and future students?

I would highly recommend going abroad if given the opportunity. The good thing about exchange is that it puts into practice everything you’ve learnt at university. It’s all well and good to learn these skills and build that framework, but you can only add the scaffolding to that once you’re in-country, and you do so at such a rapid pace. What you learn in six months abroad, particularly with regard to Chinese language, would take years in Australia. It allows you to begin reading between the lines both in a business and cultural context.

What did you discover about yourself during your Arts degree?

My exchange experience made me realise that I’m more resilient and resourceful than I had previously given myself credit for. Living in a foreign country can be daunting and getting settled can be difficult. You have to reinvent yourself in a new place, form new networks and friendships. Putting yourself in these positions can be unsettling, but reaps long-term benefits both personally and professionally.