Thomson Ch’ng

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Thomson Ch’ng

Thomson Ch’ng

International Specialist Advisor

Thomson Ch’ng is a specialist education sector advisor who undertook undergraduate and postgraduate study in Australia as an international student from Malaysia. He is a founding delegate and former National President of the Council of International Students Australia (CISA) and has worked extensively since graduation with the government, media, community, and business sectors in both countries with a focus on Australian and ASEAN education activities.

Since 2018, Thomson has co-convened the highly regarded ASEAN-Australia Education Dialogues (AAED). He has won international education awards for his work including from the Australian High Commission in Malaysia as its Distinguished Young Alumnus 2019, the PIE News as International Alumni of the Year 2020, and in October 2021 received the Tony Adams Rising Star Award from the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) for his ongoing contribution to the international education sector globally and locally.

In December 2021, Thomson was elected the 23rd President of the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association (AMSA). Established in 1970, AMSA is one of the oldest community groups in Australia serving the interests and welfare, while facilitating network building, among the Malaysian, and Singaporean diaspora in Australia.

Peter Church’s professional experience in Asia commenced in 1978 when he was the first Australian to practice law in Indonesia. Since then, he has continued to live and/or work throughout South East Asia and India as a lawyer and corporate adviser and has represented many of Australia and the world’s largest corporations in their activities in those markets.

Lindley Edwards has spent most of her professional career undertaking cross border transactions (debt, equity and M&A) with Asian based companies and individuals. For many years Lindley was a director of Asialink, which organisation also focuses on strengthening Australian and Asian ties and networks. Through these experiences Lindley has developed long term relationships throughout China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Singapore.

Michael Fay, who heads our Education and Skills Training division, has over 30 years of experience of the education and training sector in Australia and South East Asia. He was the co-founder and managing director of Insearch Education at the University of Technology Sydney UTS. Michael has a particular focus on Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam and has provided strategic advice to a wide cross section of Australian education stakeholders from schools, English language, skills training, higher education and EdTech. Michael has convened the ASEAN Australia Education Dialogue since 2018 which is a highly regarded regional platform linking Australia and ASEAN www.aseanaustraliadialogue.com

Garry Hersey has had many years’ experience working in senior executive roles with both listed and private companies in relation to their Australian and Asian businesses. He has a particular focus on Vietnam and other countries within ASEAN. He has significant experience working with companies facing strategic and financial challenges, undergoing significant external corporate developments or requiring debt and equity funding.

Sherman Mak is a multi-disciplinary strategic advisor, investor and entrepreneur. He has over 25 years of strategy, investment, banking and advisory experience. He has held senior appointments in global strategy, marketing, human capital and products with a range of international brands, such as Citigroup, HSBC, J.P Morgan and Westpac. He personally advises a number of Asian private family wealth offices, governments, DeepTech investment groups, one of South East Asia’s largest telecommunications companies and one of the world’s largest vertically integrated multi segment agri-food conglomerates (Charoen Pokphand Group of Thailand).