Advisory Board

Chair, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement, The University of Auckland

Dr Erik Lithander

The Chair of the Board of the Confucius Institute in Auckland, Dr Erik Lithander is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement of The University of Auckland and a member of its Senior Management Team. He is responsible for international education and international relations, government and stakeholder engagement in New Zealand, alumni relations and development and Pacific strategy and engagement.

Prior to commencing this role in 2021, Dr Erik Lithander was at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, where he held the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Global Engagement) from 2016. He was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International and Outreach) at the Australian National University in Canberra and Director of International Affairs at University College Dublin.

Vice President, Fudan University

Prof. Chen Zhimin

Professor Chen Zhimin is the Vice President of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. His research interests include international relations theory, diplomacy studies, Chinese foreign policy and EU studies.

Deputy-Vice-Chancellor External Engagement, The University of Otago

Prof. Tony Ballantyne

Professor of Chinese, The University of Auckland

Prof. Paul Clark

Paul Clark is Professor of Chinese at The University of Auckland, Director of the North Asia CAPE (Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence), Associate Director of New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre and Academic Director at The New Zealand Centre at Peking University.

Deputy Chairman, Academic Colleges Group Limited

Danny Chan

A third-generation New Zealand Chinese, Danny was brought up in Wellington. He holds a number of directorships in New Zealand. He was a co-founder and is the Deputy Chairman of Academic Colleges Group Limited, the largest private education group in New Zealand.

Former Executive Director, New Zealand China Council

Patrick English

Patrick English is the former Executive Director of the New Zealand China Council, established in 2012 as a key part of the Government’s NZ Inc China Strategy, aiming to retain and strengthen New Zealand’s relationship with China.

Director, Global Partnerships Office/Confucius Institutes Office, Fudan University

Prof. Lu Li’an

Professor Lu Li’an is the director of Fudan’s Global Partnerships Office and Confucius Institutes Office, and a professor of English literature.

Dean, International Cultural Exchange School, Fudan University

Prof. Luo Jianbo

Professor Luo Jianbo is the Dean of the International Cultural Exchange School of Fudan University, His research fields include Chinese classical literature, Chinese classical literary theory, and international Chinese language education.