An acclaimed author and journalist, Xinran began her career as a radio host in China, rising to success reporting on the lives of women across the country. She left China to publish her first book, ‘The Good Women of China’, an impactful account of the experiences of many women throughout the development of modern China; it quickly became an international bestseller. She has gone on to publish 11 books on China, with a particular focus on women, culture, and developments in Chinese society. 

She is a regular contributor to the Guardian and the BBC, has been a guest of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and continues to publish works on China in the modern world. In 2004, Xinran founded the Mother's Bridge of Love, a charity which seeks to support adopted Chinese children living outside China. She advises AAYA on its engagement with culture, and contributes to our mission to support students and young professionals make meaningful change in our region. 

Learn more about Xinran here.

A business professional with experience at the highest levels of both the public and private sectors, Wendy Holdenson is currently a Trustee of the Mitsui Educational Foundation. She herself studied in Japan as a university student, and rose through the ranks of many companies before being appointed Australia’s Consul-General and Trade and Investment Envoy for Japan. She then served as Austrade's State Director for Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

From there, Wendy was appointed Executive Director and COO of Mitsui & Co. (Australia), a subsidiary of one of Japan's largest and most successful conglomerates. She recently transitioned to a non-executive director role at Mitsui. She has been an advocate for greater corporate support of the New Colombo Plan, and serves on various boards in the Australia-Japan space, including the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Australia-Japan Foundation. In 2024, Wendy received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for services to the economic relationship between these countries. Wendy advises AAYA, preparing members to effectively engage with Asia, support the Australia-Japan relationship, and seek leadership opportunities in the corporate world.

Learn more about Wendy here.

Shiro Armstrong is a Professor of Economics and Director of International Partnerships at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. He is the Director of the Australia–Japan Research Centre, Editor of the East Asia Forum, and Director of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research. He is also a Visiting Professor at Keio University, a Research Associate at the Center on Japanese Economy and Business at the Columbia Business School, a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Tokyo and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan. 

Shiro advises AAYA on its academic engagement across Asia, identifying ways to grow the Asia literacy and professional capacities of our members.

Learn more about Shiro here.

Jerry Hultin is an executive, author and leader on innovation, urban science and technology, smart city design, the future of AI, automation and work, and national security. As a co-founder and the current chairman of Global Futures Group, Jerry advises cities, states and governments on ‘smart city’ development around the word, working closely on projects in China, India, and across South East Asia.

In 1997, Jerry was appointed Under Secretary of the Navy, where he crafted the strategy that built the Navy Marine Corps Intranet, at the time the world’s largest private communications network. From 2005 to 2012,  Jerry served as president of Polytechnic University, leading its strategic turnaround and successful merger with New York University. He was appointed by President Clinton to the board of Freddie Mac and he was a member of the Defense Business Board and the American Battle Monuments Commission for President Obama.

He has also served as Chair of the New York Academy of Sciences, Chair of NYC Educational Housing Services and created some of New York City’s first technology incubators. He is a co-founder of Smart Cities NY, a Distinguished Fellow of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, and a co-founder of Fighting Chance Ukraine. 

Jerry graduated from Ohio State University and Yale Law School.

Learn more about Jerry here.