Clout Asia

For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege to tell the stories of Australians and their journey to Asia capability.These are unique stories but also lived experiences shared by many Australians.I hope that these stories gave you a glimpse of the diverse fabric of what it means to be Australian, the dynamic region of Asia, and the many different opportunities that building Asia capability can bring.For our last episode, I am here with Peter Osborne, board director, advisor, surfer and Buddhist. I met Peter in Shanghai when he was the Managing Director Asia for Blackmores. By the time Peter left Blackmores, the Asian market accounted for 50% of the company’s profits.We talked about Blackmores' successes and failures in Asia, Peter’s plateaued Chinese language skills, and how it’s never too late to build an Asia career.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability.To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.I’m Lucy Du, and here is Peter.—Noosa • China • Taiwan • Fiji • Bhutan • Nepal • Singapore • Asia—FOOD: I'm a huge fan of Xiao Bing for breakfast, I guess it's the taste, the texture and the process to make them and they are such a classic Taipei breakfast and I've eaten them ever since my first trip to China in 1984 !MOVIE: Once Upon a Time in China 《黄飞鸿》 I've done a lot of martial arts in my life and Jet Li is without doubt one of the greatest practitioners of Shaolin Wushi ever. The martial arts and Wong Fei-Hung's story in the movie(s) are so classic and I must have watch the movies 100 times I think  PERSON: Audette Exel, AO. Audette is the founder and Chair of Adara Development and is a truly inspiration person and I have been a big supporter of Adara for many years, including doing a big project with Michelle Garnaut (of M on the Bund) sources PPE from China during 2020 to ship to Adara hospital in Uganda as Covid ravaged the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Hi everyone,Today’s a bittersweet moment, as Clout Asia comes to an end.For our penultimate episode, I am here with Louise Tran, a strong advocate for Asian-Australian leadership and a leading profile in the food and sustainability sector.Louise is the child of refugee parents, who fled Vietnam in the 70s.Although growing up with privilege and opportunity, it was her parents story that shaped how Louise viewed her purpose, and ultimately how she saw she could make an impact not only in Australia, but in Vietnam.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability.To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.I’m Lucy Du, and here is Louise.—Sydney • Vietnam—FOOD: PhoMOVIE: Food Fighter. A documentary about OzHarvest CEO Ronni’s crusade as she partners with the United Nations, rubs shoulders with royalty and Jamie Oliver's juggernaut, rifles through dumpster bins, and holds government to account.PERSON: Louise’s maternal Grandma This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

In this episode, I am joined by Weh Yeoh, a formidable force contributing to redefining the for-purpose space. Weh is the author of Redundant Charities and co-founder of Australian social enterprise Umbo.The youngest in a family of doctors, surgeons, and pharmacists, Weh’s initial goal was to build an empire of physiotherapy clinics in Australia. When he realised that wasn’t his dream, he moved to Asia. It was Asia that helped Weh understand more of his Asian heritage, and Asia that took Weh out of his Sydney-bubble and showed him a perspective and opportunity of how he could make an impact.Weh’s Clout is his decades of work in the social impact space, bringing his education and expertise into some of the world’s most needed places. He also has the humility to focus on building sustainable models for the for-purpose sector.We talked about cliche moments, the importance of language and other qualities that are crucial for success in the for-purpose sector, and how reducing dependency on charities is key to making a long-term impact.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability.To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.I’m Lucy Du, and here is Weh Yeoh.—Sydney • China • Vietnam • Cambodia—FOOD: Shanghai soup dumplings 小笼包 Xiǎo lóng bāoMOVIE: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India. It’s a Bollywood movie about a new land tax in India and how the villagers revolt, and then they get the British lords to agree to play them in a game of cricket - with the winner deciding whether or not the tax goes ahead.PERSON: Weh’s 95-year-old Grandma This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Welcome back to Season 3 of Clout Asia. For our first episode, I am joined by Penny Burtt, the former CEO of Asialink, Australia’s leading institution for driving Asia engagement and building Asia capability. Born and raised in her early years in Penang, Malaysia, Penny’s calling to Southeast Asia started long before her extensive career across government, not-for-profit and corporate. Penny’s Clout speaks for itself. A former senior diplomat, Penny represented Australia in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. She has held leadership positions with global multinationals in the region and is currently based in Singapore at a US fintech unicorn. In my conversation with Penny, she helped break down to first principles, the importance of learning language, understanding culture, and why Australians should not just be thinking of Asia as it related to trade in goods, but also as a destination to invest and to engage in the services and digital economy.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability. To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.I’m Lucy Du, and here is Penny Burtt.—Penang • Sydney • Kuala Lumpur • Jakarta • Singapore—FOOD: Thai food (despite never lived in Thailand)BOOK: Anything by award-winning Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng. Currently reading Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang-Bo-ReumPERSON: Peter Varghese This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

For our final episode in Season 2 of Clout Asia, I am joined by Edwin Chu, a Sydneysider who has had a compelling career in the commercial real estate sector across Asia.Edwin started his career in financial services in the middle of the GFC, so in 2009, he decided he would put his career in asset management on hold, and relocate to Shanghai to study Mandarin.Despite not fully mastering the language of his forefathers, Edwin’s Clout is his ability to stay relevant in a fast-moving market - He oversaw the development of Shanghai's iconic Xintiandi precinct and later managed a staggering $1.2 billion dollar commercial real estate fund for Capital Land, one of Asia's largest real estate groups.Our conversation delves into Edwin's unique experience navigating his Australian-Chinese heritage in the context of Chinese culture, both in the workplace and inside vibrant KTV rooms.We talk about the evolving landscape for foreigners in China and the need to up their game to stay competitive in the workforce.We discuss the potential for impact and growth as an Asian-Australian in the Australian landscape.And we unravel the captivating story of Howqua, a figure often overlooked, and his significant role in connecting China to the world.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience.To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.I’m Lucy Du, and here is Edwin Chu.—Sydney • Shanghai—FOOD: BBQ “烧烤 shāo kǎo” and skewers “串串 chuàn chuàn”MUSIC: California Love by TupacMOVIE: Comrades: Almost a Love StoryPERSON: Howqua This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

My guest today is Reggie Ba-Pe III, the founder of creative venture studio AWZA, and one of the great minds behind Shanghai’s nightlife scene in the mid to late-2010s.Reggie is a Burmese-born Australian creative entrepreneur living in Melbourne with an incredible catalogue of entrepreneurial pursuits in Asia.After a spontaneous decision to work in Shanghai as a music producer in 2006, Reggie saw an opportunity to bring a different type of music and nightlife culture to China’s youth. He kickstarted his 13-year stint in Shanghai with the groundbreaking promotion company STD and eventually gave birth to one of Shanghai’s legendary underground hotspots, Arkham.Reggie’s Clout is about injecting diversity into Shanghai’s creative scene through music. He brought in underground music influences from Australia and elsewhere in the world and helped foster the evolution and identity of Shanghai’s youth culture.We talk about Reggie’s personal creative inspirations, take a nostalgic walk back to 2015 Shanghai, and his advice on how Australian creatives should think about collaborating with and leveraging Asia today.—Yangong • Rockhampton/Brisbane • Tokyo • Shanghai • Melbourne—FOOD: Awzar - Burmese custard appleMUSIC: Trent Reznor/NINMOVIE: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-VersePERSON: Björk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

My guest today is Wesa Chau, the CEO and founder of Cultural Intelligence and one of the few Asian-Australians who ran as a candidate in the last Victorian state election.When she was 7, Wesa moved to Australia from Hong Kong with her family. Despite growing up in 90s Australia and the pressures to fit in, Wesa liked being different from others. She was proud of her Chinese heritage, and the Chinese culture that came along with it like language, food and her favourite - martial arts movies.Wesa’s Clout is the role that she played to advocate for the Asian Australian communities in Australia - first, for Chinese international students during her time at uni, and later giving a platform for Asian-Australians to have a stronger voice in Australia’s multicultural dialogue.We talked about the moment Wesa understood the impact advocacy could make to a community. Wesa’s own pathway from a girl who never put her hand up in class to someone leading more visibility amongst Asian-Australians across the Australian discourse, and her reflections on how cultural understanding for organisations and individuals can help give the Chinese diaspora a stronger voice and influence in Australia—Hong Kong • Melbourne—FOOD: Fishballs 鯪魚球 Líng Yú QiúMUSIC: Relaxing healing music with Chinese guqin or fluteSHOW: Who Rules the World 《且试天下》 Qiě Shì TiānxiàPERSON: Penny Wong This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

My guest today is Tom Parker, the Commercial Business Advisor at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Vice President of the Australia China Business Council in Victoria.Tom’s Asia journey was seeded in his mind when he saw his mum attend night school to study Chinese. Coupled with some rallying words from his Uncle Sharkey gave Tom enough encouragement to pursue studying Chinese in high school, then later at uni.Tom’s Clout is the ability to bring his China know-how back to Australia to help Australian businesses, and later leverage that same skillset to drive engagement with the Chinese-Australian communities, both here in Australia and in China, through the one thing that unites Australians, sport.We talked about Tom’s first memories of visiting China in the early 90s, how he got inspired by a professor wearing a tuxedo shirt which led him to do his thesis on a Chinese pop singer, and later setting up his own business in the Australia-China space and leading the first AFL regular season match for premiership points in China.—Melbourne • Beijing • Shanghai—FOOD: M&MsMUSIC: Teresa Teng 邓丽君MOVIE: Hard Boiled《辣手神探》by John WooPERSON: Geremie Barmé This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

My guest today is Celeste Koravos, a Principal in Decarbonisation & Energy Transition at Xodus, focusing on Japanese investors in Australia and their partnerships with Australian companies to achieve Net Zero.Celeste’s choice to study Japanese in high school led her to gain experience working as a foreign lawyer in Japan, and also to lead one of Australia’s oldest business organisations in the Australia-Japan space.To me, Celeste’s Clout is her ability to leverage her Japanese language capability and understanding of the Japanese business culture to help build a stronger Australia-Japan community in Victoria, and to build partnerships that help connect Australian and Japanese expertise and capital.We talked about Celeste’s experiences working in Japan, how she sees Australia’s expertise in helping Japan in their goal towards decarbonisation, how learning Japanese has shaped her Australia-identity and the Japanese contribution to female empowerment.———Melbourne · Tokyo———FOOD: Tokyo BananaMUSIC: Noriko TadanoBOOK: The Courage to be DislikedPERSON: Celeste's Family This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

My guest today is Kevin Wang, Product Manager at a Ride-hailing Company.Kevin’s Asia journey started in his birthplace Nanjing, where he lived until he moved to Sydney when he was 10. Kevin’s career has spanned across Asia, spanning financial payments platforms, a global digital advertising agency, and now SEA’s largest ride-hailing platform.To me, Kevin’s Clout is having the conviction to leverage his language and cultural abilities, whilst being able to successfully build expertise within the technology verticle that cuts across all regions.We talked about Kevin’s China experiences, being a bilingual Chinese-Australian but yet somewhat foreign in his birth country. And we talk about his perspectives as an Asian-Australian who has built a career in tech, on Australian innovation and the role that Asian-Australians play to uplift the Australian tech workforce.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience - to help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.———Nanjing · Sydney · Beijing · Chengdu · Singapore———FOOD: Bread soaked in fishhead soup 鱼头泡饼 Yú tóu pào bǐngMUSIC: Chengdu by Zhao Lei 趙雷《成都》 SHOW: Good Life《生活万岁》Shēnghuó wànsuìPERSON: Kevin's Kiwi manager who hired him to move to China This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

My guest today is Natalie Lowe, an Aussie entrepreneur who has built her brand and business in Asia.In 1999, Nat packed her bags with $1,000, bought herself a one-way ticket, and flew to Singapore. 20 years on and she is still in Asia and has built a thriving creative agency business headquartered in Shanghai with her husband.We talk about Nat’s struggles with her identity as a global citizen versus the girl growing up in Sydney’s inner West, the importance of communication, and never believing failure to be an option.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience - to help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.———Sydney · Singapore · Hong Kong · Shanghai———DRINK: Coffee (lots of it)MUSIC: Lose Yourself by Eminem MOVIE: Fight ClubPERSON: Natalie's Father This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

My guest today is Andy Curtain, a recovering comedian having spent years touring China and Asia performing in Chinese and English.Andy is currently the APAC Head of Comedy for Asia, at US multinational entertainment company, Live Nation.Andy’s Asia journey started in the same way he ventured into comedy - on a whim.After moving to Shanghai in 2009, Andy built a thriving local comedy community that fostered the rise of stand-up comedy in mainland China.He owned and ran Shanghai’s Kung Fu Komedy Club, before moving to Hong Kong to launch the ill-fated Riff comedy club.We talk about lawyers becoming comedians, language as a tool to help unpeel the layers of a city, a Canadian becoming China’s “favourite foreigner”, and eggplants. Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience - to help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.———Melbourne· China · Hong Kong———FOOD: EggplantMUSIC: She Came to My Concert by Jacky Cheung 张学友《她来听我的演唱会》SHOW: Dwelling Narrowness 《蜗居》PERSON: Dashan 大山 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Karan Anand is the Managing Director for Australia at fintech company Hnry.Unlike my other guests, I didn't know much about Karan's background apart from what was on his LinkedIn, but we had a great conversation. Perhaps it was because our journeys were so parallel yet so different.We discuss Karan's experience growing up in Darwin as the only kid with a turban and delve into the inspiration behind his creation of a community that empowers Sikh young professionals.Today, Karan cuts across cultures and diasporas, standing at the forefront of revolutionizing how freelancers and self-employed professionals approach taxes. As the Managing Director for Australia at Hnry, he tackles a universal issue faced by many in Western nations.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience - to help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.***FOOD: Butter ChickenMUSIC: Enter Sandman by Metallica TV SHOW: The West WingPERSON: Virat Kohli (Indian cricketer) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

In our mini bonus episode, Lucy interviews Victoria about her new role at the ANU's Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership (CAAL). Victoria shares insights about her position and highlights some of the exciting projects that CAAL is currently involved in. These projects aim to break the bamboo ceiling and encourage more Asian-Australians to take up leadership roles.More on the Counting for Change projectMore on the William Ah Ket Leadership Program (applications close Sunday 25 June 2023 at 5pm AEST)More on the Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Victoria Kung is an Australian-born Chinese to Shanghainese and HK parents.At uni, Victoria was one of the few Asians who studied English Lit and Philosophy. Upon graduation, she took a non-linear career path and accepted an offer to study international relations at Tsinghua University. After returning to Australia, she joined the Australia China Business Council and later the School of Asia-Pacific at ANU.Since our interview, Victoria has joined the esteemed Jieh-Yun Lo at the ANU’s Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership.We delve into Victoria's cherished childhood comfort food - Shengjianbao, her most influential figure, and the challenges she faced professionally upon returning to Australia, as companies did not recognize the value of her experience in Asia.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience - to help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.***FOOD: Pan-fried Pork Buns 生煎包SONG: Simple Love by Jay Chou 《简单爱》 TV SHOW: Nothing but Thirty《三十而已》PERSON: Victoria's Mother This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

James Scullin is the Programs Director at Asia Society.James' Asia journey started when his Melbourne school made Mandarin studies compulsory for the first four years of high school.James and I first crossed paths via our China connection. But what intrigued me about his Asia journey was his experience leading guided tours to North Korea, which later inspired him to create a photo book documenting the hotels in the country’s capital city.We talk about the juxtaposition of China’s rapid development versus its enduring cultural identity, I discover James’ love for Japanese surf rock, and we dive behind the scenes into his time in North Korea, including the making of his book Hotels of Pyongyang.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience - to help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about.***FOOD: Pyongyang cold noodlesMUSIC: Takeshi TerauchiTV SHOW: Early movies by Zhang YimouPERSON: Ri So Hyang (North Korea tour guide) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Joanna Capon is an Art Historian, Industrial Archaeologist, curator, writer, art consultant, cataloguer, and lecturer.Joanna was born in the UK, and her interest in Asia, specifically China, began when she received the book The Dragon Fish by Pearl S Buck for her 8th birthday.In 1974, Joanna travelled to China for the first time, and since then, visited almost all of its provinces, mostly to visit Museums and Buddhist sites.We talked about her memories of her first time in China, walking across the bridge that connected HK to Guangdong, her excitement when she flew over the Yangtze River, and how she saw the country and people grow over the past 50 years.Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask our guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability and nominate a food, song, TV show, and person that captures the essence of this remarkable journey.***FOOD: Steamed CrabSONG: East is RedTV SHOW: Martial Arts SeriesPERSON: Mr Han (Joanna's first China tour guide) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Andrew Nip is a Chinese-Australian born to Shanghainese parents in Hong Kong.Andrew moved to Australia when he was in Year 7 and lived in Sydney until 2012 when he moved to Shanghai with his former employer, Hays.11 years later, Andrew is still in Shanghai and is now the Director of Talent for LVMH Fashion Group APAC, and the proud father to a 5-year-old son.Professionally, Andrew is passionate about helping businesses see the true potential of maximising talent capabilities, through innovative HR practices and building an inclusive culture.Personally, he’s a big advocate for supporting the next generation of talent and is involved in a number of volunteering commitments across both education and consulting.We talked about Andrew’s Chinese-Australian identity, building empathy, connecting with people through words, and the rise of Asian leaders and how multinationals should reframe their definition of leadership as it relates to the Asian market.***FOOD: Chicken Noodle SoupSONG: Finding Nemo SoundtrackTV SHOW: The West WingPERSON: Andrew's Wife This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Friska is Indonesian-Australian and has worked for the biggest names in mining, engineering and technology, leading change programs that have influenced over 20,000 people across 6 continents, transforming organisations to enable them to better respond to the changing environment.Not just a global change management leader, Friska has led by example for women in business and women in leadership, and Friska regularly speaks and advocates for minority women in leadership on the global stage at events such as TEDx, Women in Tech, Women in Leadership, Future of Mining Sydney.We asked Friska to take us on her journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, song, movie, and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***FOOD: DurianSONG: Gregorian monk chantingMOVIE: Minari directed by Lee Isaac ChungPERSON: Esther Perel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

James Oswald is an Aussie in Beijing who has had more careers than he's had farmers union ice coffee. Not only does he have a doctorate in Asian Studies, but he's also a qualified electrician. Jimmy's career has crossed the fields of translation, policy research, and government relations, leading him in taking on the cloud industry in China as Product Manager for AWSWe asked Jimmy to take us on his journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, song, movie, and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***FOOD: Yóu Miàn "Oat Noodles" 莜面 (special mention to 莜面窝窝)SONG: Friend《朋友》 by Wakin Chau 周华健BOOK: The Importance of Living by Lin YutangPERSON: Associate Professor Xianlin Song This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Aimee Zheng is the Founder of Oplay, an online community promoting women’s sexual health wellbeing across cultures. Before empowering female communities Aimee was trained as an architect and was involved in a number of residential and commercial architectural design projects in Australasia.We asked Aimee to take us on her journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, song, movie, and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***MOVIE: Eat Drink Man Woman《飲食男女》FOOD: Chinese Donut "You Tiao" 油条PERSON: Professor Kerry BrownSONG: Jasmine Flower "Mo Li Hua" 《茉莉花》rendition by Lucy Jakubowski-Laxon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Jessica Mudditt is the author of Our Home in Myanmar – Four Years in Yangon, a memoir that describes her life in Myanmar in the lead-up to the historic general elections of 2015. She worked in Myanmar as a journalist at the state-run newspaper The Myanmar Times, as well as for the British Embassy and the UN.Jessica is also a freelance journalist currently based in Sydney. Her articles have been published by Forbes Magazine, BBC, The Economist Intelligence Unit, and CNN.We asked Jessica to take us on her journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, song, TV show, and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***MOVIE: The LadySONG: Kabar Ma Kyay Bu” (ကမ္ဘာမကြေဘူး), also translated as “We Won't Be Satisfied Until the End of the World” (Lyrics: The song that will be remembered in history is written with our blood | To our heroes that have fallen fighting for democracy)PERSON: Dr SasaFOOD: Burmese tea leaf salad (lahpet thoke) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Christopher Kong is the founder of Data Hero Network, a company that helps organisations build data capability, identify business use cases and recruitment to find data talent.Chris has a deep understanding of data transformation and understanding consumer behaviour, with 18 years of in-market experience in Australia, Singapore & China, where he held leadership positions at Danone, Nielsen & Cadbury.Spending 14 of those years he spent in China, Chris has since returned to Melbourne and continues to tell the stories of Chinese people through his podcast China Mic-Mac.We asked Chris to take us on his journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, song, TV show and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***FOOD: ChocolateSONG: Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love IsMOVIE: The GodfatherPERSON: Gregory Zhang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Natalie Liddiard-Gray is an educational leader. She has spent the last decade recognizing and developing the talents of a generation of young Shanghainese at the renowned YCIS International School, following earlier stints in Melbourne, Sydney & Guangxi Province, China.   Her journey to Asia capability spans deep friendships with punk rockers in China's Zhuang Autonomous Region through to mentoring volunteers at Lifeline Shanghai who support members of the public in times of emotional crisis.  We asked Nat to take us on her journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, song, TV show and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***FOOD: Oil tea "Youcha" 油茶SONG: P.K. 14 - Tell the Children《告诉孩子们》MOVIE: Chungking Express 《重庆森林》PERSON: Christopher Doyle 杜可风 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Frances Goh is an innovation expert, serial entrepreneur and champion of women-led businesses.Frances was born in Melbourne to Chinese-Malaysian parents and retained her hybrid American-Aussie accent after spending a part of her life in the Philippines.Frances has spent her professional life working in mainland China, Kuala Lumpur as well as Hong Kong, and is now the Chief Community Officer at One Roof, a community of female leaders and entrepreneurs.We asked Frances to take us on his journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, song, TV show and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***FOOD: Mum's Asam LaksaSONG: Michael Wong - Fairy Tale 光良 《童话》TV Show: Journey to the West 《西游记》PERSON: Natalie Tran aka communitychannel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Ben McMahon (孟杰明) is a Mandarin-language social media influencer turned property developer.With studies from Beijing’s Peking University and Shanghai’s Fudan University under his belt, Ben founded a Mandarin-language walking tour company in Melbourne before taking to the silver screen to star in television shows such as "If You Are The One" (非诚勿扰) and his very own "Informal Talks" (非正式会谈) telecast. We asked Ben to take us on his journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, a song, a movie and person that help us understand what being an Asia-capable Australian is all about.***FOOD: Shanghai dumplings - Xiaolongbao - 小笼包 SONGS:Song Dongye - Miss Dong (宋冬野 - 董小姐)Eric Chou - The Distance of Love (周兴哲 - 以后别做朋友)TV Show: Informal Talks - 非正式会谈PERSON: Meng Fei - 孟非 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

With the holiday season upon us, we thought we might go back to where it all began. ⁠⁠Today's episode is an early cut with Clout co-founder Lucy, diving into a few themes that showcase the journey of Asia capable Australians. ⁠⁠We hope you enjoy, and look forward to bringing you new chats and more stories in 2023. ⁠⁠Listen where you get your podcasts. Happy New Year! ⁠⁠— ⁠⁠FOOD: Roujiamo - 肉夹馍 ⁠SONG: Jay Chou - ‘East Wind Breaks' - 东风破 ⁠SHOW: Chinese New Year Gala - 春晚 ⁠PERSON: Kylie Kwong ⁠ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Tim Martin is an entrepreneur at the start of the journey. An MBA graduate from the University of Melbourne, Tim recently made the big decision to relocate to Bali with family in tow and a long term plan to make a mark in one of the regions fastest growing economies - Indonesia.We asked Tim to take us on his journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, a song, a movie and person that help us understand what being an asia capable Australian is all about.***FOOD: GudegSONG: Tesla Menaf - Part 3MOVIE: The Raid PERSON: Inkarani PrayantoLearn more: sutasoma.id // Insta @sutasomaconsulting // LinkedIn @sutasoma-consulting This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Did you know the characters for clout are the same in Japanese (影響力) as they are in traditional Chinese (影響力)? Today we talk to Joanne Warrin. A long term Aussie expat in Asia, Joanne calls Kyoto, Beijing and Shanghai her second, third, and fourth homes. Originally from Melbourne, Joanne's journey started with her own major sports event business in Japan, before working at the Australian Embassy in China, and most recently serving as Global EY Private Brand, Marketing & Communications Leader, Family Enterprise.  We asked Joanne to take us on her journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, a song, a movie and a person that help us understand what being an Aussie, with clout, is all about. *** FOOD: Hot Pot - 火锅 - しゃぶしゃぶ  SONG: Kareoke - K-TV - 卡拉OK - カラオケ  MOVIES:Shanghai Triad with Gong LiThe Road Home with Zhang ZiyiHouse of Flying Daggers with Zhang Ziyi PERSON: Plucky Japanese elders who share their culture and language with newcomers  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Matthew Wong is an entrepreneur with interests in hospitality, education and real estate. An Aussie-born Malaysian-Chinese who grew up in Sydney, Matt moved to Beijing in 2008 as a young professional, to get out of his comfort zone, a journey which lasted for 10 years, and included opening an Aussie pie shop, Two Guys and a Pie. We asked Matt to take us on his journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, a song, a show and person that help us understand what being an Aussie, with clout, is all about.***FOOD: Chuànr "Meat Skewers” 串SONG: David Tao - Love is Simple / 陶喆《爱很简单》TV SHOW: Anthony Bourdain: Parts UnknownPERSON: Michael Chang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Emma Pitt is an experienced professional in financial services and higher education in Australia and China. In her first year of uni, Emma took a break to spend 6 months teaching English to students in the tiny city of Sihong, in Jiangsu province China. We asked Emma to take us on her journey to Asia capability by nominating a food, a song, a movie and person that help us understand what being an Aussie, with clout, is all about.    ***PERSON: MuyunSONG: Dao Lang - The First Snows of 2002 / 刀郎《2002年的第一场雪 》MOVIE: In the Mood for Love《花樣年華》FOOD: Xiao Long Xia "Crayfish" 小龙虾 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com

Welcome to Clout Asia!!  A brand new podcast that will help you navigate the journey to being an Asia capable Aussie.  We talk to Australians about their journey to Asia capability with a focus on the food, music, movies & stories of our near neighbours.  Whether you are an old China hand or just dipping your toes in the waters of the Pacific, subscribe now to Clout Asia.  Available wherever you get your podcasts.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com