Asia Society Australia names new Chairman
SYDNEY, 27 APRIL 2016 — Asia Society Australia today announced the appointment of Doug Ferguson, Partner in Charge, Asia and International Markets at KPMG as the new Chairman of Asia Society Australia.
The new appointment coincides with the growth and transformation of Asia Society Australia as the nation’s most innovative centre for all-inclusive engagement with the Indo-Pacific Asia in the areas of business, policy, culture and education.
Doug Ferguson said: “I am thrilled to work with the remarkable Board to lead Asia Society Australia as it embarks on the implementation of an ambitious new strategic plan. As we celebrate Asia Society’s 60th anniversary globally and approach our 20th birthday in Australia, our mission to build an Asia-connected Australia has never been more relevant and critical to our nation’s prosperity. I look forward to working with the Asia Society’s Australian and global community to consolidate our position as the pre-eminent platform for Australian and Asian leaders and champions of engagement to connect, exchange ideas and develop relationships and to provide greater value and engagement for our members and supporters.
On behalf of the Board, Advisory Council and members of Asia Society, I would like to recognise and thank the outgoing Chairman The Hon Warwick Smith AM for over 15 years’ dedicated service and leadership of Asia Society in Australia. He remains a Global Trustee of Asia Society and a member of the Advisory Council. Under his leadership, Asia Society Australia has become a growing, sustainable and highly respected national institution dedicated to Asia”.
Doug Ferguson is a Partner in Charge, Asia and International Markets at KPMG. Doug is a Mandarin Chinese speaker and Chartered Accountant who commenced his career with KPMG in 1997 before relocating to China in 2001-2011 as a Deals Advisory professional and then Partner since 2008. He specialised in providing due diligence services to private equity investors and was also heavily involved with the liquidation of Lehman Brothers across Asia. Since returning to Australia in 2012, Doug has lead KPMG’s Asian client business in Australia which includes managing five country practice divisions including Japan, China, India, ASEAN and Korea.
Doug is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Business. He is Senior Vice President, Australia China Business Council; Advisory Council member, University of Sydney China Studies Centre and serves as a Business Champion of the New Colombo Plan – the Australian Government’s flagship foreign policy initiative. He has been a Board Member of Asia Society Australia since 2014, including most recently as a Deputy Chairman.
Media enquries: Philipp Ivanov, CEO Asia Society Australia
[email protected]; +61 (2) 8199 9402
About Asia Society
Asia Society is the leading educational organisation dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context. Across the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, the Society provides insight, generates ideas, and promotes collaboration to address present challenges and create a shared future. Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution with headquarters in New York, centers in Hong Kong and Houston, and offices in Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Washington, DC and Zurich.
About Asia Society Australia
Asia Society Australia is Australia’s leading national centre for engagement with the Indo-Pacific Asia, based in Sydney. Asia Society Australia promotes greater connectivity and deeper understanding between Australia and the Indo-Pacific in the areas of business, policy, culture and education. It also provides a high-level and innovative platform for Australian and Asian leaders and champions of engagement to connect, exchange ideas and develop meaningful relationships. Asia Society Australia was launched in 1997 by then Prime Minister John Howard to broaden understanding in Australia of Asia’s politics, business and culture.