Philipp commenced as CEO in January 2015 and is leading Asia Society Australia through an exciting period of growth and transformation. Philipp is a China specialist with extensive experience in policy, education and research and commitment to building an Asia-connected Australia. Previously, he was a Policy Officer and Manager of the Australia-China Council at the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In this role, Philipp led the strategic renewal of the Council and had broader responsibilities for the Australia-China bilateral relationship. Philipp was one of the principal authors of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper – China Country Strategy. Previously, Philipp was Acting Director and Deputy Director of the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific at the University of Sydney, advised the University of Sydney on China strategy and managed La Trobe University’s partnerships in the Gulf States, Vietnam and Thailand.

Philipp spent over 6 years in China working in education and development. He is the recipient of the ‘Rose Award’ by Shenyang Municipal Government for his contribution to Shenyang City. In 2009 he was also awarded the Australian Government’s Endeavour Executive Fellowship to research China’s policies on leadership development at the China National Academy of Education Administration in Beijing. He is a board member of Asia Recon, Haymarket HQ and Sydney City Council’s Chinese New Year Advisory Panel. In 2015, he was invited as the only Australian to the 2015 Congress of Vienna – a preeminent global track-two dialogue on major powers conflict, migration, equality and innovation. Philipp studied Chinese language and history at the Far Eastern National University in Russia. He also studied in Jilin and Liaoning Normal universities in China. He holds a Master of Educational Leadership and Management from RMIT University in Australia. He grew up in Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast and is a fluent Chinese and Russian speaker. Connect with Philipp on Linkedin or twitter @philippivanov