Darren Burns is spearheading Weber Shandwick China’s growth and transformation into one of the region’s most exciting and forward thinking integrated communications agencies. His passion for nurturing creativity, driving innovation and delivering results-oriented campaigns has helped Weber Shandwick win no less than 10 “Agency of the Year” awards over the past three years, including Mumbrella Asia’s Greater China PR Agency of the Year 2015 & 2016, The Holmes Report’s Greater China Consultancy of the Year 2015, Campaign Asia Pacific’s Greater China PR Agency of the Year for 2015 & 2014, and PRWeek Greater China Agency of the Year 2014.

In 2016, he was honoured by The Holmes Report’s in its inaugural Innovator 25 list in Asia. He was also named Digital Marketing Expert of the Year at the 2016 Digital China Annual Awards and became the first agency executive to be Australia China Alumni for Corporate Achievement in 2015. In 2014, he was named Most Influential PR Leader at the 2014 China Business & Media Leaders’ Forum of the Year.

A strategic communications veteran of 18 years, Darren’s breadth of experience extends from launching new companies and initiatives to guiding brands and industry leaders through a range of high profile, mission-critical situations, including food safety, product recalls and labor relations issues.

Darren has also solidified Weber Shandwick’s commitment to contributing to local communities and charitable causes. Through its “Access to Opportunity” platform launched in 2014, the agency is championing inclusivity and equal opportunities in China, working with the China AIDS Walk, Chunhui Children, WorkforLGBT and Save the Children on various initiatives.

Burns is a visiting lecturer at China’s prestigious Fudan University, where he co-delivers a course on strategic media communications. He is also a communications awards industry judge.

Prior to being appointed President in 2014, Burns had helmed Weber Shandwick China as Managing Director since 2012. He joined as Managing Director of the firm’s Shanghai and Guangzhou operations 2006. Before that, Burns was Managing Director of GolinHarris in Taiwan. He started his career in Asia as a journalist, marketing consultant and business communications instructor in 1996.

Burns holds two undergraduate degrees in international business management and Asian studies from Griffith University in Australia, and completed executive education at Harvard Business School. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Burns is a regular industry commentator in Chinese and regional press.

Vicki Dawkins was appointed president of Emerson Asia-Pacific in April 2016 and is based in Hong Kong. In this role, she is responsible for Emerson’s corporate operations and strategic development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Dawkins first joined Emerson in 1995 as a materials analyst at its motors business. She was later appointed manager of planning and marketing services for Emerson’s Air Moving Motors business. After a stint working for another company, she rejoined Emerson in 2007 to serve as the supply chain organization’s worldwide commodity leader for plastic and resin supply, and progressed to a similar role for electrical products. In 2009, Dawkins became the worldwide sourcing team leader for mechanical components. In 2010, she was promoted to vice president of Emerson’s European supply chain operations and was based in Budapest, Hungary. In 2013, she was named vice president of the company’s global supply chain operations and relocated back to the St. Louis headquarters.

Dawkins received an electrical engineering degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and her master’s degree of business administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Kenneth Jarrett, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai since September 2013. Prior to that he was the Greater China Chairman for APCO Worldwide, a Washington-based public affairs consultancy from 2008 to 2013, and before that a U.S. diplomat from 1982 to 2008. During his 26-year diplomatic career, his postings included Consul General in Shanghai, Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong, and Director of Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council. He also served in Beijing, Chengdu, Singapore, and had several assignments in Washington, DC. Mr. Jarrett has degrees from Cornell University, Yale University and the National War College.

During his eleven years in Sanpower, Yue Lei has been given plenty awards and appointments due to his hard work and outstanding contributions. In 2013, he was selected as a member of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Youth Federation. In 2014, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunication invited Lei to be a Tutor of Entrepreneurship. Last year, Yue Lei was first rewarded with the title of “Nanjing Labor Model” and then selected as a member of the 12th All-China Youth Federation. At the same year, he was appointed to be the Vice President of Jiangsu Overseas Exchanges Association and a member of Jiangsu Experts Database of Enterprises Internationalization. In 2016, he won the Jiangsu Province May 1st Labor Medal and was later awarded the Top 10 Outstanding Labor Union Worker of Jiangsu Province. He was also selected as the Deputy Secretary General of Nanjing Public Diplomacy Association and appointed to be the 6th Jiangsu Youth Friendship Envoy by the Office of Foreign Affairs of Jiangsu Provincial Government.

Yue Lei put special effort into the cultural and civil exchanges, strengthening and intensifying mutual communications and cooperation between China and other countries, while Sanpower Group is developing internationally. Furthermore, As he is devoted to philanthropy, Yue Lei was appointed as the first Chinese ambassador of the United for Wildlife by the Royal Foundation, after which, a series of wildlife protection campaigns were led by Yue Lei, drawing wide attentions to this great cause. On this 8th September, a kickoff ceremony of “Wildlife Protection Taxis” was held to raise the public awareness. In the same month of the Nanjing Week of the London Design Festival, a signing ceremony, “The Tale of Two Pagodas”, took place to launch the restoration project of the Great Pagoda in the Kew Garden sponsored by Sanpower Group. HRH Duke of Cambridge has highly appreciated these work done by Yue Lei. On the evening of 15th November, Yue Lei was honored with 2016 the Global Ten Outstanding Chinese Young Persons Award in London. Mr. Yue Lei was appointed to be the Honorable President of Jiangsu Charity Federation on 5th December, 2016.

Mr. Manuel Menendez III, better known as “Manny,” is a veteran international businessman and entrepreneur who has been successfully doing business in China and the Asia Pacific region for nearly 4 decades. He is the founder of MCM Group Holdings, Ltd. - 8M8 LLC, organizations specializing in international business development, investment and trade, and whose activities are focused on the Asian Pacific region with special emphasis on the People’s Republic of China.

Manny was an early pioneer and very active in China’s return to the world markets in the late 1970’s. In early 1980’s, Manny was President and CEO of Great Eastern Development Ltd. (GED), which was credited in 1980 by the Asian Wall Street Journal with successfully completing the first US - China Equity Joint Venture for a major Fortune 100 company.

He was also very involved in China's 'Opening Period' with establishing business activities with newly created China International Trust Investment Corporation (CITIC). Manny advises numerous U.S., Asian, and other Multinational corporations, as well as, SME's, Start-up's and Entrepreneurs, in their business development activities especially their China/Asia Pacific Rim initiatives.

Manny has also advised governments on strategies and policies related to sustainable economic development and tourism. Manny is involved in many humanitarian endeavors and has assisted in delivering medical supplies to those in need all over the world and in recent years to Haiti, China, Japan, Vietnam and US. He is a former United Nations special advisor to UN WHO and UNEP.

Manny’s China involvement is best summed up by a quote from former United States Senior Senator Daniel Inouye: "I was most impressed with your involvement with US - China Economic relations. You should consider writing a book about your experiences. You were part of History in the making!

Eddie Ng is the Managing Director for Shanghai and East China at JLL, managing the regions’ overall business strategies and structures. Mr. Ng has over 20 years of experience within the real estate industry, and works closely with government organizations, state-owned enterprises, developers both domestic and overseas, as well as financial investment institutions.
Mr. Ng joined JLL Hong Kong in 1996, where he was responsible for commercial project consulting, project leasing, sales and tenant representative business.
In 2005, Mr. Ng moved to Chengdu to establish JLL’s first branch in a tier-2 Chinese city. In 2011 and 2013, Mr. Ng went on to open subsequent JLL branches in Chongqing and Xi’an, respectively, forming a strategic layout with business covering Guiyang, Kunming and other major cities in West China. With the help of his ample experience and leadership mindset, Mr. Ng has led his team in completing numerous major projects, including: International Finance Square; Tencent Mansion; The Cosmos; The Western International Finance Center; One Aerospace Center; Yintai Center; Yanlord Landmark; Central Plaza; Ping An Fortune Center; The Atrium; CapitaLand Mall; LOTTE Castle; and many others.
Mr. Ng has also led an experienced investment team that has completed many large-scale real estate transactions in China’s capital market. Under his leadership, the team successfully assisted LaSalle Investment Management’s investment in One Aerospace Center and Oriental Home, with a total investment of 1.58 billion RMB; Ping’an’s purchase of an office building project from Yintai, with a transaction price over 1 billion RMB; COFCO’s purchase of a development site from Gaw Capital; and MGPA’s acquisition of the GTC Galleria Chengdu involving a stock right worth 550 million RMB. Additionally, the asset transactions of Zenith Logistics Park and Vailog Logistics Park were both successfully completed by Eddie and his team in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

Jeffrey Pan, currently is Vice President of AIG Insurance Company China Ltd and the General Manager of its Jiangsu Branch. Jeffrey joined American International Group (AIG) in June 2005 and assumed various underwriting and management positions in its Greater China and Southeast Asia regions. He was assigned to Nanjing in July 2011 to start up AIG’s new branch for Jiangsu, and then officially appointed as the General Manager. Before joining AIG, Jeffrey worked at Gen Re, a reinsurance unit of Berkshire Hathaway Corp. from November 1997 to May 2005, where he assumed several management positions. Prior to his career in Shanghai, Jeffrey worked in Jiangsu for over 7 years, including his service in local government and at the People’s Insurance Company. Jeffrey graduated from The Chinese Academy of Social Science and holds a MBA degree from Maastricht School of Management.

Glen Walter was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Bottling Investments Group China, The Coca-Cola Company from April 1st, 2014. Before this Glen was the President and Chief Operating Officer for Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR), the operating unit responsible for The Coca-Cola Company’s business in North America, accountable for 70,000 employees, and annual revenue of approximately $22 billion.

Over the past six years Glen has held a variety of roles within the Coca-Cola System to include: US Chief Region Sales Officer, and Vice President and General Manager for Coca-Cola Enterprises Central US, accountable for 13,000 employees, and annual revenue of approximately $3 billion. Before entering the Coca-Cola system, Glen served as President of InBev USA, where he was responsible for US operations. Additionally Glen held a variety of roles within InBev and Interbrew to include General Management and M&A, leading the integration of Bass Ale and Beck’s. Glen started his career in the FMCG industry as a member of the E&J Gallo Management Development Program.

Glen is a graduate of Boston University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and Economics. In addition Glen attended the Executive Leadership Program at Insead and Wharton.

Glen is actively taking the responsibility in community he is currently on the Board of Governors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America as well as the Board of Governors for the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai.

Glen resides with his wife and three children in Shanghai, China.