Digital Business: China - Speakers

Bruno Bensaid - Managing Director, Shanghaivest Ltd & Mobilemonday Shanghai

Bruno is the Founder and Managing Director of Shanghaivest Ltd, a boutique Financial Advisory firm providing fund raising consulting, strategic business development and M&A support to Chinese and European technology companies. In addition, Shanghaivest conducts angel investments in the china TMT space.

Bruno is also the founder of the Shanghai Chapter of MobileMonday, the premier mobile industry community and mobile-centric event organizer worldwide. MobileMonday Shanghai has attracted more than 3,000 members since its inception in 2006.

Since 2006, Bruno devotes his time coaching Chinese TMT startups as well as European VC funds (and their portfolio companies). Bruno worked on several M&A and operations in the social networking, online advertising and e-commerce fields in 2006-2008, which included a short stint at Ventech, a French VC firm which Bruno helped set up a China presence. Since launching Shanghaivest mid 2008, Bruno has facilitated fund raising at several local startups in e-commerce, internet and telecom value-added services.

Bruno is a regular speaker and moderator at local and international mobile and internet conferences, such as GSMA Mobile World Congress, Ad:tech, WCIT, Mobile 2.0 etc. Bruno sits on the Asia advisory board of Ad:tech, leader in digital marketing conferences.

Martin Bloom - Investor, UK-China Venture Capital & Founder, Bloom & Tse

Martin Bloom helps build the high growth companies of tomorrow through a combination of mentoring entrepreneurs and senior management, joining the Boards of companies to assist them in creating and driving forward their strategies, and by investing in private companies that have high growth potential.

Martin Bloom was a former corporate strategist at Unilever and has 25 years experience in strategic partnering, technology commercialisation and business strategy.

Martin is also a founder member of the innovative next-generation creative business agency Bloom & Tse that assists in building the businesses of the 21st Century.

John Davies - CEO, Mindsite Limited & ICT Sector Champion, UK Trade & Investment

John is a senior business professional with significant experience in strategic marketing, general management, international sales and business development in both mature and entrepreneurial businesses. As a Strategy and Technology Advisor to the international trade arm of Government, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), John provides technology and business advice to the International Sectors Group as well as operating as Global R&D Specialist for UKTI's R&D Programme.

Working closely with UK SME's and MNC's, John has developed many contacts within the UK's technology sector that include, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Optoelectronics, and the UK Science and Technology base. Significant experience has been gained in introducing UK technology companies to overseas markets working closely with the Government agencies, trade associations and research networks both in the Uk and overseas.

Philip Dodd - Chairman, Made In China

Philip Dodd is an internationally recognised expert in the field of culture and creative industries, chairman of the innovative company Made In China. He appears regularly in the international media from the Financial Times to the Beijing Economic Observer; he has been described as a "visionary Briton" by the Australian newspaper, Herald Sun and as “one of the top 50 UK design gurus” by Design Week magazine.

Over the last ten years, he has been an influential figure within UK government circles. He is currently Creative Consultant for the UK’s Pavilion at the World Expo, Shanghai 2010. He has helped the government develop its cultural and creative industries strategy and was part of a small group which developed cultural ideas for the government’s long-term strategy and for one election manifesto. Philip Dodd was one of the first cultural figures in Britain to recognise the emerging importance of China, taking the ICA to Beijing and Shanghai in 1998, to complement the first visit to China of Tony Blair, and hosting a major Beijing arts and culture season at the ICA in 1999.

Dr Xu Ke - Director, Institute of Policy and management, CATR

Mr. Xu Ke, Senior Consultant, PHD majoring in Stragegy Management graduated from Renmin University of Chia, Director of the Strategy Consulting Department of the Institute of Tel Management, CATR, MIIT.

An expert with in-depth knowledge of the communication strategic planning, well experienced in providing strategy consulting to China Mobile and China Telecom.

Adrian Hornsby - Author, "The Chinese Dream"

Adrian Hornsby is a writer of considerable diversity. His recent book 'The Chinese Dream' (010 Publishers, 2008) is an 800 page monster-investigation into Chinese urbanisation, and its literally ground-breaking physical, social and economic implications. He is Head of Research & Analysis at Investing for Good, the UK's first FSA-regulated social investments specialist, and writes regularly on enterprise-driven development schemes around the world. His book on impact investing is forthcoming 2009. He is a Director of Kilometer Zero, an international arts and politics collective, and for several years co-edited the Kilometer Zero Magazine.

He is currently collaborating with the Architects' Journal on a series of special features following urbanisation in emerging markets. He speaks frequently on China, emerging economies, and other global issues. He has published numerous short stories, and written four internationally produced plays.Adrian Hornsby is a writer of considerable diversity. His recent book 'The Chinese Dream' (010 Publishers, 2008) is an 800 page monster-investigation into Chinese urbanisation, and its literally ground-breaking physical, social and economic implications. He is Head of Research & Analysis at Investing for Good, the UK's first FSA-regulated social investments specialist, and writes regularly on enterprise-driven development schemes around the world. His book on impact investing is forthcoming 2009.

Simon Luk - Chairman, Winston & Strawn (Hong Kong)

Simon Luk, a partner in the firm's Hong Kong office, is chairman of Winston & Strawn's Asia practice. His practice focuses on international corporate securities.

Mr. Luk represents multinational corporations in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, U.S. capital market fund raising, compliance with regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission policies, and the acquisition of assets and brand names.

Mr. Luk serves as a legal adviser to the Chamber of Listed Hong Kong Companies, the Hong Kong Electronics Association, the Toy Manufacturers Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Electrical Appliances Manufacturers Association, the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council, the Monte Jade Science and Technology Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Brands Protection Alliance, and the Hong Kong Shandong Business Association.

Tareq Naqib - Finance Director, Playfish Limited

Tareq Naqib is Finance Director at Playfish Limited, the world's largest and fastest growing social games company with offices in the UK, US, China and Norway.

Prior to Playfish, Tareq was Finance Director at Glu Mobile Europe (Macrospace Ltd), a leading global publisher of mobile games, where he negotiated the merger of the UK business with Glu Mobile's US parent company and subsequently managed the overall financial operations of the EMEA operations.

At Glu he worked to build the global operational and financial systems across the business and integrate subsequent acquisitions by the company.

Tareq has broad financial experience having worked in mergers and acquisitions at top tier US investment banks and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen (London).

Ralph Rogers - China Business Advisor, China British Business Council

Ralph has spent the last 9 years promoting bilateral trade between China and the UK. As well as helping British companies to import and export, Ralph has set up operations in China for both British companies and government organisations. He has also assisted a number of Chinese companies to set up in the UK. Ralph is a Mandarin Chinese speaker. Located in London, Ralph advises businesses in London, the South East and the South West.

Murly Tiwari - Managing Director & co-Founder, Indoor Media

Murly Tiwari is Managing Director and co-founder of Indoor Media, a UK based specialist online media sales house representing over 300 international websites that allow advertisers and agencies to targeting ethnic minority groups globally. Reaching over 1.5 million unique users in the UK, 12 million unique users in India and 6 million unique users in China.  

Prior to starting Indoor Media, Murly held senior roles at 24/7 Real Media, Adtech, Redeye and Universal McCann. He is a 25 year media veteran and started his career sending out blue and green books while at AGB.

Lisa Tse - Creative Director & Founder, Bloom & Tse

Lisa Tse is a British-born Chinese creative entrepreneur, and award winning designer, working across a diverse range of sectors and activities. A Central Saint Martin's graduate, Lisa's primary activity is running a signature design agency in central London, Lisa Tse Ltd. Lisa's studio was appointed an official Creative Partner for CHINA NOW, the UK's largest festival celebrating the very best of Modern China in the UK in 2008. CHINA NOW has received wide support from sponsors and public figures, including Stephen Green Chairman of HSBC, and Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister.

In August 2008 Lisa was one of six British delegates on an official Trade Mission to China with UK Trade & Investment. The mission promoted British Design to China and coincided with the Beijing Olympics. As part of the formal British programme, Lisa was a speaker at Creative Day, hosted in London House by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Currently the Lisa Tse Ltd agency works with international clients and offers a multi-disciplinary creative service including branding, web design, product design, interiors, packaging and graphics.

Yang Zemin - President, China Academy of Telecommunication Research of MIIT

1982-1997: Engineer of MPT of China, telecom infrastructure planning and specification formulation;
1997-2001: Director General, Research Institute of Telecommunication Transmission of the Ministry of Information Industry.
2002 - current: President, China Academy of Telecommunication Research of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, P. R. China