Asia Society Australia Names CEO
Asia Society is proud to announce the arrival of Philipp Ivanov as Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Society Australia Center. The appointment coincides with the significant expansion of the Asia Society Australia’s programs, events, and membership network.
The Asia Society Australia Chairman of the Board of Directors and Global Trustee, the Hon.Warwick L Smith AM, welcomed Mr. Ivanov and the vast experience he brings to the Society.
“Philipp will lead the development of the Asia Society’s profile and presence in Australia and new original programming, strengthening of the membership base and closer integration with the Society’s headquarters in New York and other centers," Smith said. “Philipp will also advise on the opportunities to increase Asia Society’s footprint in Indonesia and New Zealand."
Ivanov has an outstanding record of leadership, public service, and dedication to building connectivity between Australia and Asia. He joins the Asia Society from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) where he was a Manager of the Australia-China Council (ACC) – a premier, long-standing and respected institution in the Australia-China relationship. In three years, Ivanov reinvigorated ACC’s profile as a prominent, bipartisan, cross-sectoral institution, which connects people, ideas and networks and provides opportunities for engagement between Australia and China.
In a message to the Australia Center Board, Ivanov wrote, “I look forward to working with you in 2015 and beyond on strengthening the profile and programming of the Asia Society Australia and expanding our network of members, supporters and friends in Australia and our region. Our region – the Indo-Pacific – was the key focus of Australia’s foreign policy in 2014, despite the fact that we were often forced to respond and divert our attention and resources to the events and calamities elsewhere – be it in the Middle East or Ukraine…I hope that in 2015, with your leadership, wisdom and enthusiasm, Asia Society Australia will capitalize on its significant recent achievements and start a new exciting stage in its history in Australia.”
Ivanov is a fluent Chinese and Russian speaker and considers himself an Asia-Pacific native. He grew up in Vladivostok, on Russia’s Pacific coast – less than a three-hour drive from the Chinese and North Korean borders and a day-long ferry ride to the west coast of Japan.
Ivanov received classical Chinese language, economy and history training at the Far Eastern National University in Russia. He also studied in Jilin and Liaoning Normal universities in China and holds a Master of Educational Leadership and Management from RMIT University in Australia.