22 Aug: Vol 24, #12 - UWA News staff magazine - The University of ...

UWAnewsDragon brings leaders togethercontext, focusing onifferent from most of, said Mr Donaldson,ound the world. Thea variety of spaces toss networking, as wellign through materials,eel. While the buildingtiles will be used onatic angle is the mainures a design inspireduniversity. He gainedomething back to myUWA Business School lecturer Dr Fang Liu (pictured on an earlier trip to China,above left) is in Hong Kong this week as one of 100 delegates selected toattend the Dragon 100 Young Chinese Leaders Forum.Dragon 100 is sponsored by the Hong Kong-based Dragon Foundation, set up in 2000 to create anetwork of young Chinese future leaders. Each year the foundation brings together 100 talented under-35sfrom around the world for a forum and study tour. The aim: to provide a platform for them to exchangeideas on global issues and contribute to their communities while at the same time promoting Chineseculture and heritage.The theme of the 2005 program, which runs from August 21-29, is ‘Opportunities in China: A Vision fora Shared Future’. It involves a three-day forum followed by a five-day study tour in Shanghai.“I feel very proud and privileged to be selected by the Dragon Foundation to attend this internationalevent. I understand this is the first time that UWA has nominated someone to attend this highlycompetitive event,” says Ms Liu, who lectures in marketing. “I would like to thank everyone at UWA whomade it possible.”On the study tour she expects to meet government officials and young professionals heading up varioussectors, and to visit local universities. “I want to see how China is developing and how overseas Chinesecan contribute. As Shanghai is the most developed city, there are a lot of things going on. I would like tosee the achievements, but probably also to discuss some of the social problems that have arisen from thisfast growth – such as the disparity between the rich and poor – and what is being done to solve them. Thefoundation wants us to see both sides and to contribute.”Although she visits China regularly to carry out research and attend conferences, Dr Liu has notpreviously had the opportunities that Dragon 100 will offer. “I think I have never had a really good chanceto meet and share ideas with people from different areas and diverse backgrounds such as industry,education and regional development. Being with 99 other delegates from different countries will be a goodopportunity to see what they are thinking and what I can learn from them.”Dr Liu was born and educated in China, where she gained a BA in linguistics and literature at ZhongshanUniversity, which she describes as one of the most prestigious in China. She garnered numerous academicawards during her studies, and founded a Spoken English Club and an English campus newspaper Pilgrimage(“maybe the first of such at universities in China”). A member of the Zhongshan debating team, she alsochaired the Student Union at the School of Foreign Languages. Prior to leaving China, she worked ininternational trade and management with large state-owned enterprises.While studying for her MBA and PhD in marketing at UWA, where she has been lecturing since 1999,she chaired the Chinese Scholars and Students Association for two years; she was a founding member ofthe Western Australian Chinese Scientific Association and is now treasurer.THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 22 AUGUST 2005