Meet our team

The North Asia CAPE team is dedicated to supporting the success of New Zealanders engaged with North Asia.

 

Professor Jenny Dixon
Professor Jenny Dixon
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Strategic Engagement, University of Auckland
Charlie Gao

Charlie Gao

Director
Charlie Gao
Charlie Gao
Director
[email protected]

Charlie Gao is the Director of the North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence. His focus in the role is to improve Aotearoa's well-being, prosperity, and sustainability through enhancing New Zealanders' knowledge of and ability to succeed in Asia.

Charlie brings more than ten years of experience in the private sector, where he led multicultural teams and advised businesses and organisations at a senior level on strategic and commercial matters.

Prior to joining North Asia CAPE, Charlie was the managing partner of a New Zealand-owned, China-focused investment & advisory firm. He led advisory mandates for companies such as Zespri, Weta Workshop, Les Mills International, and Fonterra, and managed assets on behalf of the development finance banks of Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

Charlie has BSc, BA(Hons), and MA(Hons) degrees from the University of Auckland, and speaks English and Mandarin as first languages.

Laura Bunting

Laura Bunting

Programme Manager
Laura Bunting
Laura Bunting
Programme Manager
[email protected]
Ewan Cao

Ewan Cao

Programme Manager – Business
Ewan Cao
Ewan Cao
Programme Manager – Business

Ewan Cao is the Programme Manager – Business of the North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence. His focus in the role is to develop and implement a range of events and programmes aimed at the export business sector and higher education sector.

The work supports businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to improve their knowledge, language and cultural competency, and commercial capabilities to succeed in North Asian markets, including Greater China, Japan and South Korea.

Ewan brings to North Asia CAPE a wealth of experience across FMCG export, tourism and media sectors, most recently with Silver Fern Farms and prior to that, NZME and Tourism New Zealand.

Ewan holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in media from the Victoria University of Wellington.

Dean Withers

Dean Withers

Programme Coordinator
Dean Withers
Dean Withers
Programme Coordinator
[email protected]

Dean has seven years’ experience with Executive Education at the University of Auckland Graduate School of Management where he managed accounts and key relationships. His background includes planning, organising, and delivering programmes at the tertiary level both in New Zealand and overseas.

Joining NA CAPE enables him to continue his passion for education by supporting educators and students to improve their knowledge, language and cultural understanding of North Asia.

Dean graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese, Chinese, Labour Relations and Management. He has lived and worked in Japan for several years and is a fluent speaker of the Japanese language.

Catherine Solloway
Catherine Solloway
Administration and Finance Coordinator
[email protected]

Catherine comes to North Asia CAPE having gained her technical and professional experience through on-the-job learning in a variety of administrative and financial roles.

Catherine has worked for SME businesses, a not-for-profit organisation, a secondary school international student department, and at both the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington. These experiences serve Catherine well to cover a range of duties at North Asia CAPE.

She enjoys working in people-oriented environments and takes pride contributing to positive outcomes for all North Asia CAPE stakeholders.

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