About Duke Kunshan

Advisory Board

33 distinguished business, government and education leaders are serving on Duke Kunshan’s Advisory Board, a voluntary non-governing group that provides strategic guidance to the Duke Kunshan leadership. Chaired by Zhang Yichen, Chairman and CEO of CITIC Capital, each member of the advisory board is deeply committed to improving educational opportunities for future generations of students in China and around the world.

Duke Kunshan Advisory Board Members

Zhang Yichen (Chair)

Chairman and CEO, CITIC Capital Holdings Limited

Yichen Zhang is the Chairman and CEO of CITIC Capital and the Chairman of Trustar Capital. Mr. Zhang began his career on Wall Street in 1987 at Greenwich Capital Markets. He later joined Bank of Tokyo as Head of Proprietary Trading, and Merrill Lynch as Managing Director of Debt Capital Markets for Greater China. In 2000.he joined CITIC Group as the President of CITIC Pacific Communications ...

William C. Kirby (Vice Chair)

T. M. Chang Chair Professor of China Studies, Harvard University
Spangler Family Chair Professor, Harvard Business School

William C. Kirby is the T. M. Chang Chair Professor of China Studies at Harvard University and the Spangler Family Chair Professor at Harvard Business School. Professor Kirby was awarded the title of Distinguished Contribution Professor at Harvard University, and now serves as the chairman of the Harvard China Fund and the Harvard Center Shanghai. At Harvard, Professor Kirby served as Director ...

Undraa Agvaanluvsan

President, Green Building Council of Mongolia

Undraa Agvaanluvsan, PhD is a seasoned leader with a diverse background in government, academia, and corporate governance. She is currently the President of the Green Building Council of Mongolia, where she is leading efforts to promote sustainable development and green building practices throughout the country. Undraa has served as a Member of Parliament of Mongolia from 2016-2020, where sh...

Karim Alwadi

Member, China-Arab States Expo Advisory Committee
Founder, Yuan Li Sports Group

An entrepreneur, scholar and author based in Beijing since 2001. Started up and founded several companies in China spanning sectors from machinery manufacturing, infrastructure investment, and development to the Merchant Banking industry. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in International Relations, focusing on Sino-Arab Relations, at China Renmin University. Obtained his Ph.D....

Dhanin Chearavanont

Senior Chairman, Charoen Pokphand Group

Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont is Senior Chairman of the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP). Founded in the 1920’s in Bangkok, Thailand, CP today comprises of global businesses covering animal protein production, food manufacturing, industrial production, services including financial and international trading, modern trade and retailing, telecommunications, and property development. With 250,000 employees an...

Chen Dongsheng

Founder, Chairman and CEO, Taikang Insurance Group Inc.

Chen Dongsheng, founder of China Guardian Auctions and Taikang Life Insurance, currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Taikang Insurance Group. Mr. Chen is also a Member of Advisory Committee of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Economic Adviser of Hubei Provincial People’s Government, President of Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum...

Chen Xiaohong

Founding Partner, H Capital

Xiaohong Chen is Founding Partner of H Capital, a private equity fund focusing on mid-to-late-stage investments in the Internet and education industries. H Capital currently manages approximately $1.3 billion in total assets. Prior to founding H Capital in 2014, Ms. Chen was at Tiger Global for 8 years responsible for Tiger Global’s investment activities in China. Previous experiences inc...

James Ding

Managing Director, GSR Ventures

Mr. James Jian Ding is a Managing Director at GSR Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage companies in the artificial intelligence, big data, IT-related health care, VR/AR and new media sectors. Prior to GSR Ventures, James co-founded AsiaInfo, which played an important role in the design and construction of China’s Internet infrastructure. From May 1999 to April 1, 2003, he successf...

Victor K. Fung

Group Chairman, Fung Group
Honorary Chairman, Li & Fung Limited

Dr. Victor K. Fung is an international business leader, thought leader and philanthropist, who holds professional and civic appointments in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas. He is Group Chairman of the Fung Group, a Hong Kong-based multinational which comprises major subsidiaries in trading, logistics, distribution and retailing. They include publicly-listed Li & Fung Limited...

Gao Xiqing

Trustee Emeritus, Duke University
Former Vice Chairman and President, China Investment Corporation

Gao Xiqing is the former Vice-Chairman and President of the China Investment Corporation. He was Vice-Chairman of the National Council for Social Security Fund of China between February 2003 and 2007, and was Vice-Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) between 1999 and February 2003. He was an adjunct professor at the Law Schools of Tsinghua University, University of Inte...

Jin Haitao

Chief Executive Partner, Qianhai FOF
Former Chairman, Shenzhen Capital Group

Mr. Jin Haitao is one of the most influential leaders in China’s venture capital industry and high-end integrated financial services. Formerly Chairman of Shenzhen Capital Group Co., LTD, Mr. Jin is currently Chief Executive Partner of Qianhai Fund-of-Funds and Chairman of QHFZ Capital Management Co., LTD. He is also counselor to Guangdong Province, Chairman of the Venture Capital Fund Committe...

Natalie G. Lichtenstein

Inaugural General Counsel, Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (retired)
Adjunct Professor of China Studies,
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Natalie Lichtenstein is a US lawyer who has specialized in legal issues at international financial institutions and legal development in China since the 1970s. Until August 2016, she served as the inaugural General Counsel at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Prior to that, she served as the Chief Counsel for the establishment of AIIB, and the principal drafter for the AIIB Ch...

Howard Marks

Co-Chairman, Oaktree Capital Management

Since the formation of Oaktree in 1995, Mr. Marks has been responsible for ensuring the firm’s adherence to its core investment philosophy; communicating closely with clients concerning products and strategies; and contributing his experience to big-picture decisions relating to investments and corporate direction. From 1985 until 1995, Mr. Marks led the groups at The TCW Group, Inc. that were ...

Dede Nickerson

Head of Strategy and Producer, Huanxi Media
Advisor, NBA China

Dede Nickerson has been living in China for over 25 years and has been a leading pioneer in China’s film industry. In 2015, Dede founded Infinity Pictures with China Media Capital. Infinity developed and produced a slate of both Chinese films and English language films for the global audience. Dede is currently producing Lu Chuan’s film Bureau 749 and is doing advisory in the sector. Prior t...

David M. Rubenstein

Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, The Carlyle Group

David M. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. Mr. Rubenstein co-founded the firm in 1987. Since then, Carlyle has grown into a firm managing more than $150 billion from 36 offices around the world. A native of Baltimore, Mr. Rubenstein is a 1970 magna cum laude graduate of Duke, where he was elected Phi Beta Kap...

Chauncey Shey

Managing Partner, Softbank China Venture Capital Pte. Ltd.

Mr. Chauncey Shey is Managing Director of SBCVC Pte. Ltd. He is responsible for strategic direction, investments and portfolio management at SBCVC. Mr. Shey has extensive venture capital investment experience. He has established extensive contacts with the entrepreneur community. SBCVC’s spotlight portfolio companies include Alibaba, Taobao, Focus Media, GDS, Shenwu, Precise, Di’an, and Edan et...

Adam Silver, ex officio

Chair, Duke University Board of Trustees
Commissioner, National Basketball Association

Adam Silver’s tenure as NBA Commissioner began on Feb. 1, 2014. Silver presides over a global sports and media organization built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League. Silver joined the NBA in 1992. Prior to becoming commissioner, he served as NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, President an...

David S. Taylor

Senior Advisor, Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC.
Former Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Procter & Gamble Company

David Taylor is the former Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of P&G. David is a proven leader with 36 years of experience across many of P&G’s core categories and markets. He and P&G’s leadership team are driving the transformation of P&G to return the company to sustainable, balanced growth and value creation. Prior to becoming CEO, he was Group P...

Lawrence Tian

Chairman, Mevion Medical Systems Inc.
Founder, Yuanming Capital

Dr. Lawrence Tian is Chairman of Mevion Medical Systems Inc., Founder of YuanMing Capital, Founder and Chairman of China Entrepreneurs Forum and China-U.S. Business Leaders Roundtable. As a core organizer of various high-end meeting for entrepreneurs of both countries, Dr. Tian is an influential figure in the Sino-China business scene and has extensive social influence. In 2015, Dr. Tian fou...

Daniel M. Tsai

Chairman, Fubon Bank (Hong Kong)

Daniel M. Tsai is the chairman of Fubon Bank (Hong Kong). Originated in 1961 when Fubon Insurance was founded, Fubon Group offers the most comprehensive financial services in Taiwan, and is also involved in property development, telecommunications and media services, e-commerce, the cultural and creative sector, and charitable activities. Group members Fubon Financial Holdings, Taiwan Mobile, a...

Wang Huiyao

Founder and President, Center for China and Globalization
Former Counselor of China State Council

Dr. Huiyao (Henry) WANG is the Founder and President of Center for China and Globalization (CCG), the leading Chinese think tank that ranked among the top 100 think tanks in the word and No. 1 social think tank in China. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang appointed Dr. Wang as a Counselor of China State Council, China’s cabinet. Dr. Wang is also Vice Chairman of China Association for International Econ...

Wang Jingbo

Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Noah Holdings

Ms. Jingbo Wang is Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Noah Holdings. Ms. Wang has over 20 years of experience in the asset and wealth management services industry. From May 2000 to September 2005, Ms. Wang worked in several departments and affiliates of Xiangcai Securities, a securities firm in China. Ms. Wang served as the head of the private banking ...

Wang Peng

Co-Founder and CEO, Synear Food

Wang Peng is Co-founder and CEO of Synear Food. He holds a Master of Business Administration from China Europe International Business School. Over the past 24 years, Wang Peng has led the team to make continuous innovation and promoted Synear Food brand influence with forward-looking thinking and international vision. Synear Food takes nearly 30% China domestic market share. He not only buil...

Wang Xiaodong

Director and Senior Investigator of the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing

Dr. Xiaodong Wang was born in 1963 in Wuhan, China. He is currently the Director and Senior Investigator of the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing. He received his B.S. degree from Beijing Normal University and his Ph.D. degree of Biochemistry from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Since 1995, Dr. Wang’s research has mainly focused on the biochemi...

Frank Wei

Former Head of China, Warburg Pincus

Frank Wei joined Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm in 2002. Prior to his private equity career, Frank was with the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong during the late 1990’s, and McKinsey & Company in Shanghai during the mid-1990’s. He sits on the boards of 58.com Inc and Anjuke Inc. Frank received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, from...

Elizabeth Yang

Chairman, Country Garden Holdings

Ms. Elizabeth Yang was born in September 1981 in Shunde, Guangdong Province. In 2005, Ms. Yang graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Logistics. From March 2005 to December 2006, Ms. Yang worked as a procurement manager in Country Garden Group. In December 2006, she was appointed executive director of Country Garden Holdings. From March 2012 to Decembe...

Yang Yuanqing

Chairman and CEO, Lenovo

Mr. Yuanqing Yang joined Lenovo Group in 1989. Mr. Yang has played a key role in Lenovo’s transformation into a global company. Under his leadership, in May 2005, Lenovo completed the acquisition of IBM PC business. In October 2014, Lenovo completed the acquisitions of IBM x86 server business and Motorola Mobility. Now, Lenovo is not only a leading PC company in the world but also one of the...

Michael Yu

Co-Founder, CEO and President, Innovent Biologics

Dr. De-Chao Michael Yu (“Dr. Yu”), is the founder, an Executive Director, the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. He is responsible for the overall strategic planning and business direction of the Group and management of the Company. Dr. Yu received his doctoral degree in Molecular Genetics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Shanghai, China) and compl...

Yuan Ming

Honorary Dean, Yenching Academy of Peking University
Professor, School of International Studies, Peking University

Professor Yuan Ming is Honorary Dean of Yenching Academy of Peking University, Associate Dean of Peking University’s Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Director of its Center for American Studies, and Professor of its School of International Studies. Yuan Ming received her bachelor’s degree in Western Language and Literature from Peking University in 1968, and Master of Laws i...

Denny Zhang

Chairman of the Board, Red Avenue New Materials Group Co., Ltd.
Founder and Honorary Chairman, Red Avenue Foundation

Ms. Zhang Ning is Chairman of the Board of Red Avenue New Materials Group Co., Ltd., Founder and Honorary Chairman of Red Avenue Foundation, and Honorary Trustee of Peking University. Ms. Zhang Ning, an authority in the field of material development, founded Red Avenue Group as the world’s largest tire manufacturer of phenolic resin. Red Avenue has consecutively been the global leader ...

Jim Zhang

Chairman, Knicks Capital Co., Ltd
Chairman, The Forever Nature Capital Foundation

Mr. Jim Zhang used to hold senior management position in government agencies, state-owned enterprises, transnational corporations and American public companies, he has extensive and strong experience in company management. Mr. Jim Zhang is not only an active venture capitalist and also an active social entrepreneur. He has inspired groups of prominent Chinese entrepreneurs to join the cause ...

Zhang Youjun

Chairman, CITIC Securities Co., Ltd.

Mr. ZHANG Youjun, serves as secretary to the Communist Party Committee of the Company, an Executive Director, Chairman and a member of the Executive Committee of CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. (the “Company”). Mr. ZHANG joined the Company at the time of the establishment of the Company in 1995, and was appointed as an executive Director of the Company on 19 January 2016. During the same...

Zhou Xuzhou

Chairman, the Board of U-Home Group and Meilleure Health International Group (02327.HK)
Chairman, ZhongJia Capital

Mr. Zhou Xuzhou graduated from Wuhan University with a Master of Arts degree. During his study, he has published more than 30 translated papers in provincial and national academic journals. In late 1992, Mr. Zhou founded U-Home Group and has led the group to develop into a large comprehensive enterprise group since then, investing in more than 30 cities at home and abroad, covering real estate ...