Chopsticks Champions
Our Club ambassadors
Rupert Hoogewerf
Founder & Chairman, Hurun Report
Rupert Hoogewerf, Founder and Chairman of Hurun Report and renowned in China as 'godfather' of the China Rich List, is an entrepreneur and long-term Shanghai resident. Rupert studied Mandarin and Business studies and founded China Tuesdays, the forerunner to the Chopsticks Club in 1993. Through his work Rupert is on the pulse of the changing trends of the elite class of Chinese billionaires and millionaires and tracks their trends, aspirations and tastes in luxury brands ranging from watches to cars to overseas travel and education.
Nicholas Morris
Chairman, IPA Economics
Nicholas Morris currently works for IPA Asia Energy + Water, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dar Al-Handasah, a leading Middle Eastern professional services group (see www.dargroup.com). Nick has over 30 years’ experience of policy analysis, research and consultancy in finance, public policy and infrastructure. He has worked on the economics, finance and regulation of energy, water, transport and telecoms in UK, Europe, Australia, USA, SE Asia, India, China, Korea and Japan. Following the privatization of UK infrastructure (water, telecoms, gas, electricity, transport) he served on numerous regulatory committees and advised bodies such as the Water Companies Association, Regional Electricity Companies and the various regulators.
Yintong Betser
CEO, Active-UK China
Born in Beijing, Yintong is a skilled bilingual professional with in-depth understanding of business cultures in both UK and China. Yintong founded ACTIVE Anglo Chinese Communications in 2001 to provide business facilitating and marketing/PR services. Her creative spirit enables Yintong and her team to design and deliver some memorable client events that are much talked about within the community. Yintong is a regular contributor to the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry publication, London Business Matters, on themes and issues relating to China. Her published books include ‘Active Business Travel – Great Britain’ and ‘Active Business Travel – China’. She is one of Chopsticks Club's earliest members and an ardent advocate of its work.
Barnaby Powell
Author
Barnaby is a Chinese son-in-law and has been involved with China for several decades. Co-author with Alex Mackinnon of three excellent books entitled China Calling, China Counting and ebook 2018 – China goes Critical, his narrative aids the China-focused professional in understanding the nature of Chinese society and doing business there in the new century. Barnaby is a veteran of development banking in East and Southeast Asia. He was a founding Secretariat Director of the Asia-Invest Programme for the European Commission and has over 35 years’ experience of Asian negotiations. He also served as Secretary-General of the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei. A staunch Chopsticks Club Member, author and speaker to schools, universities and business organisations on China.