Yi Wang

Scholar, author, senior lecturer at Griffith University

Working across several different fields, Dr. Yi Wang is noted for his research on Australia-China relations, having published two books and various articles on the topic in both English and Chinese. Just as significant are his studies on contemporary Chinese leaders, such as Wang Huning and Yang Jiechi, that have appeared in high-impact publications, being cited or featured in the quality international press, including The Economist, the Washington Post, the BBC, and The Diplomat.

Dr. Wang has had extensive industry experience in areas relating to his current teaching and research, including foreign affairs, language and translation, and international media. He had been a producer with the BBC World Service in London before taking up a leadership position at SBS (Melbourne), Australia’s foremost multi-lingual broadcasting corporation, where he had supervisory responsibility for half of the corporation’s 70-plus language sections. He had also worked during his earlier years in the diplomatic service in Beijing, including frequent stints as a top-level interpreter for national and international leaders including former Presidents Jiang Zemin, Yang Shangkun and Li Xiannian as well as the Queen (QEII)’s delegation during her first and only visit to China (in 1986). 

His book ~Australia-China Relations post 1949: Sixty Years of Trade and Politics~ remains the only sole-authored, systematic account of Australia-China relations, covering the entire span of bilateral history from the immediate postwar years to the present era.