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Chris Allison
Political and Economic Chief at U.S. Consulate ShanghaiChris Allison leads the Political and Economic Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, China. Prior to his arrival in Shanghai, he was a member of the Secretary's Policy Planning Staff (S/P) at the U.S. Department of State, where his work focused on environmental issues, economic policy, and U.S. relations with countries in the Western Hemisphere. He also served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Global Change in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, leading U.S. engagement in multilateral negotiations to address climate change and overseeing foreign assistance programs to advance U.S. climate policy goals. Prior to joining OES, Chris spent four years at U.S. Embassy Beijing, first working on U.S.-China trade issues and later as the Counselor for Environment, Science, Technology, and Health. He has also served in Tokyo, Japan and Chennai, India, as well as in variety of offices at the Department of State in Washington, DC. On his first tour, Chris received the American Foreign Service Association’s Averell Harriman Award for constructive dissent by a junior officer, for advocating policy changes to processing of H-1B temporary worker visas. Chris is a graduate of St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is joined in Shanghai by his wife, Beth Rollins, and their two sons.
Shen Dingli
Professor at Fudan University’s Institute of International StudiesShen Dingli is a professor and former executive dean at Fudan University’s Institute of International Studies, and former Director of Center for American Studies. He is also an Honorary Visiting Professor of Washington University in St. Louis. He has taught international security, China-US relations, China’s foreign and defense policy in China, the US and the “Semester at Sea” Program. His research and publication covers China-US security relations, regional security and international strategy, arms control and nonproliferation, foreign and defense policy of China and the US etc. He is Vice President of Chinese Association of South Asian Studies, Shanghai UN Research Association, and Shanghai Public Policy Research Association. He was Vice President of Shanghai Association of International Studies, Shanghai Association of International Strategic Studies, and Shanghai Association of American Studies. He received his Ph.D. in physics from Fudan in 1989 and did post-doc in arms control at Princeton University from 1989-1991. He was an Eisenhower Fellow in 1996, and advised in 2002 the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for his strategic planning of second term. He is on the Global Council of the Asia Society. He has been appointed by both Shanghai and Hangzhou Municipality as Convention Ambassador, respectively. He has co-edited 17 books and published over 2,500 papers and articles worldwide.
Reggie Lai
VP & General Manager China at TE ConnectivityReggie Lai is vice president and general manager China of TE Connectivity (“TE”), a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Reggie represents the Company on significant matters to government, media and broader business community in Greater China.
Reggie is the executive sponsor of TE’s Women-in-Network and Young Professionals employee resource groups in China, promoting equity and inclusion. Reggie is very proud of TE China’s recognition of Best WorkplacesTM for Women in Greater China.
Prior to TE, Reggie advised global clients on matters of public affairs, policy advocacy and market entries at APCO Worldwide. Reggie also served for the Welsh Development Agency and ALSTOM in the earlier part of his career.
Reggie currently serves as chair of the advisory board for American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai’s Suzhou Chapter and was the founding chair of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee. Reggie also served on the board of the U.S. Information Technology Organization from 2012 to 2019.
Reggie earned a bachelor’s degree in Thermodynamics at Tongji University in Shanghai and an MBA at Durham University Business School in England. Reggie’s mother tongue is Shanghainese and he speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and English and basic Japanese.
Sean Stein
Senior Advisor at Covington & Burling LLP Shanghai Representative Office (USA)Sean Stein is a senior advisor in Covington’s Public Policy Practice Group. Prior to joining Covington, Sean served as the U.S. Consul General in Shanghai. He has over twenty years of diplomatic experience in Asia and has served in leadership positions in China, Washington, and the region. His insights informed policy making at the highest levels in Washington and he assisted dozens of U.S., Chinese, and international firms to develop strategies, manage risk, and identify opportunities for growth in response to the changing U.S.-China relationship.
Sean, a non-lawyer, is a key resource to businesses on issues related to political risk, public affairs, problem solving, and communications. He regularly assists companies facing acute or long-term issues to resolve them, often through discussions with U.S. and Chinese government officials. He is well placed to provide strategic advice to U.S. and international clients on issues relating to securing market access and protecting investments in China, assessing risk, navigating trade controls, sanctions, and supply chain restrictions, and resolving disputes and regulatory investigations.
Jean Liu
Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Education First (EF)Jean Liu is a seasoned executive in business leader in the services sector from education, technology, telecommunications to marketing and advertising. Her career has spanned the globe from North America to Asia. She is currently Executive Vice President at EF, the world's largest privately held education company. A leading industry player with over 42,000 employees and over 500 schools in nearly 200 countries. EF leads the field of language training, culture exchange and travel with nearly 20,000 employees and 300 schools. EF is also the largest employer of expatriates in China, with over 1000 international teachers, many of whom are from the USA.
Prior to joining EF, Jean led the global Cloud Marketing Team for IBM's Growth Market Unit in Shanghai. She later led IBM China's marketing team for Cloud and Technology Services. Before IBM, Jean was Vice President at EDS Corporation. Based in Shanghai, Jean was responsible for government relations, business development, partner relationships, and marketing & communications for EDS. She was on the Board of Directors of EDS' joint venture in China and served as Vice Chairman of the China Association of Services Trade. Jean also spent five years in the telecom industry, holding global leadership roles in brand management and advertising for AT&T and its joint venture with BT.
Earlier in her career, Jean gained extensive advertising, PR and marketing experience with leading global agencies in the U.S. and in Asia.
Jean holds a BA degree in Economics and Political Science from Wellesley College and an MBA from the University of Chicago. She has been an active and continuous member of AmCham Shanghai since 2004.
Haiqing Lu
Chief Corporate Affairs & Strategic Relations Officer at InterContinental Hotels Group Greater ChinaLU Haiqing joined InterContinental Hotels Group in 2013. He’s currently the Chief Corporate Affairs & Strategic Relations Officer responsible for managing all external and internal communications and key stakeholders’ relations, such as owners, media, industry organizations, government authorities, and communities in Greater China.
LU Haiqing has nearly 30 years’ experience in corporate affairs. He started his career in the foreign service of the Chinese government. Subsequently he was a lecturer for a brief period in the School of Public Affairs, and an assistant researcher in the China Center, both with the University of Maryland at College Park. After his tenure in the public sector, he moved on to senior positions in multi-national companies such as Fortune, Ogilvy, Baxter, Diageo, and Tesco. The unique mix of his experiences offered him comprehensive perspectives and contributed to the strategic guidance and insights he has been providing to the business community on all aspects of public affairs, in terms of both capitalizing on market opportunities and managing corporate risks.
LU Haiqing holds a master’s degree in Public Administration & International Relations from the University of Maryland at College Park. He lives in Shanghai. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities and reading as well.
St. John Moore
Partner, Head of Beijing at BrunswickSt. John provides counsel to Chinese and foreign companies on matters related to public affairs, issue and crisis management, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and long-term corporate reputation management. He has been based in Beijing since 1999 and through that time has worked with a wide variety of foreign companies operating in China and Chinese companies going global.
St. John joined Brunswick in 2008 following seven years at APCO Worldwide where he advised foreign multinationals on investment, public affairs, government engagement, and corporate communications issues across China.
St. John has extensive hands-on experience advising on technology, media, and telecom issues as well as natural resources sector. He is a key author and driver of Brunswick’s government and policy analysis.
Recent issue and crisis counsel includes high profile environmental incidents; multi-jurisdictional product recalls; food and safety recalls; anti-corruption investigations; intellectual property litigation; bankruptcy and criminal matters; class action cross-border lawsuits; and corporate espionage matters. He has advised on Chinese companies going global, including the acquisition of key assets and integration matters, as well as foreign companies acquiring assets in China.
Thomas Shao
Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Abbott ChinaWith a Master’s Degree in International Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Thomas Shao started his career in Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce in 2000. He served as the Chief English Interpreter for Mayor of Shanghai for 7 years before he was promoted to Assistant Director for Foreign Investment Promotion Department in 2007. In 2012, he joined Evonik Degussa China as Senior Manager for Public Policy. In 2014, he joined Abbott as the Associate GA Director. Now he is
GA Director of Abbott China, responsible for policy & strategy and crisis management as well as supporting manufacturing operations in China.
Heather Deng
General Manager at Top Word ConsultingDeng Xiaoyu is a seasoned professional with internationalized views with over two decades of experience in Government & Public Affairs in multi-national companies, deep understanding of MNC’s operation and hit-to-key skills from a variety of key projects and growth plans.
Deng Xiaoyu was Government & Public Affairs Director, INVISTA China from 2005 to 2016. She was in full charge of Government Affairs, Public Affairs and involved in all important projects from greenfield, projects of M&A, business spin-off as well as several relevant investment and industry policies lobbying. Prior to INVISTA, she was Government & Public Affairs Manager, Syngenta China. Her first job with MNC was as Administrative Manager, Novartis.
Xiaoyu earned her MBA from Fudan-BI Norwegian Management School and Master of Change Management.
邓小玉女士曾任职于多家全球知名跨国公司担任不同岗位，拥有超过 20年的制药业和化工行业行政管理、政府事务和公共事务经验。她早先任 职于诺华植物保护担任行政经理，之后加入先正达中国担任政府和公共事 务经理，从此在该领域不断提升发展。 2005年，邓小玉女士加入英威达中国担任政府事务和公共事务总监， 全面参与管理公司在华相关事务。自此，她全程参与了公司所有重要项目， 包括工厂新建、收购与合并、业务拆分等。期间，她还兼管对外宣传、企 业社会责任等公共事务直至退休。 邓小玉女士拥有丰富跨国公司经验, 熟悉化工行业战略业务项目实操, 是政府事务和公共事务领域的专家人士。 邓小玉女士拥有复旦-挪威管理学院MBA学位及变化管理研究生学位。