Sydney Salon with Geoff Raby AO and Jennifer Wong in discussion on our Relationship with China

Former Australian Ambassador to China, Dr Geoff Raby AO shares his strategic insights on our often challenging relationship with China, and explains why Australia and the West suffer from Sinophrenia, facilitated by Jennifer Wong, highly acclaimed writer, performer, comedian and culture leader.

Geoff and Jennifer will be appearing in person. This is a sit-down event. Ticket price includes wine, antipasto and cheese, and Covid surcharge.

Speakers' Bios

Dr Geoff Raby AO was Australia’s Ambassador to China from 2007 to 2011. After completing his Ambassadorial term, he established Geoff Raby and Associates, a Beijing based corporate advisory firm providing strategic advice and analysis on China.

Geoff was Deputy Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) from 2002 to 2006; Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation, Geneva (1998 to 2001); First Assistant Secretary, Trade Negotiations Division (1995 to 1998); and APAC Ambassador (2002 to 2004). He was head of the Trade Policy Issues Division in the OECD in Paris from 1993 to 1995.

Geoff also holds a number of non-executive directorships, including Yancoal, OceanaGold and previously Fortescue Metals Group. He serves as Co-Chair of Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s China practice, and is a member of the not-for-profit Advance Global Advisory Board, University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre Advisory Board, La Trobe University Asia Advisory Board, and the Foundation of the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2015, Geoff was part of the consultative committee for the draft of Australia’s National Strategy for International Education.

In recognition of his contribution in advancing relations between China and Australia, Geoff was made Friendship Ambassador to Shandong Province and an Honorary Citizen of Chengdu City.

Geoff’s most recent book, China’s Grand Strategy and Australia’s Future in the New Global Order (2020), which will be available for sale on the night, provides hard-hitting analysis and sharp proposals for getting this crucial relationship back on track.

Geoff was also a contributor to Australia-China: A Series of Reflections (2019). His earlier books include Making Rural Australia: An Economic History of Technical and Institutional Creativity (1996), The New World Trading System: Readings (1994), Economic Reform in China: A Lesson From Tian’anmen Square (1991) and Other Economic Systems (1989).

Jennifer Wong is a highly regarded performer, comedian and writer. Her new ABC iview show, Chopsticks or Fork?, a food/travel show about Chinese restaurants in regional Australia filmed during Covid, will air in May 2021.

She is the creator and host of many shows including Lunar New Year Comedy, Comedy vs Racism, Pitch a Classic Today and Book Club Impro, and has performed at arts and comedy festivals in Australia, Edinburgh and Shanghai.

In 2017, her stand-up show, How to English Harder, was sold out at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney’s Belvoir St Downstairs. She was a writer/performer in The Serpent’s Table, which was sold out at the Sydney Festival 2014, and in 2015 she was a supporting cast member in the TV comedy, Plonk.

As writer and presenter of ABC iview’s Bookish, she interviewed local and international authors, poets and illustrators. Her interviews with writers and artists have aired on ABC RN’s Books and Arts program, and she is a regular guest on ABC Sydney’s Thank God It’s Friday. Jennifer’s first role in TV was writing for Good News Week (Network Ten in 2008) and since then has worked on comedy and factual programs with a number of production companies including Roving Enterprises, Zapruder’s Other Films, Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder, ITV and Blackfella Films.

As an MC and facilitator, Jennifer works regularly with community organisations on events relating to anti-racism, arts and culture, mental health and education.

Sydney Salon is an NFP discussion and networking forum for leaders, founded by Kim McKay AO and Michelle Wood in 2013.