Chinese Alumni Club 10th Anniversary Celebration

On October 21st, the University of Auckland Chinese Alumni Club will be celebrating its 10th anniversary!

The Chinese Alumni Club is a non-profit organisation that aims to connect and support the many Chinese alumni currently residing in Auckland. The Club organises regular events to help Chinese alumni stay connected to the University, as well as network and socialise.

Led by Volunteer Alumni Coordinator Rachel Yang and a strong, passionate committee, the Club’s vision is to celebrate the successes of Chinese alumni. The Club also provides professional and personal support to members.

Please note: Registration is free, but your alumni ID is required to register. If you don't know your ID number, please click here to login to your University record or reset your password. A printed or ditigal ticket is required for admittance.

On the Night

Celebration

We are honoured to have University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon to welcome us on the night and hear an update from Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Engagement), Professor Jenny Dixon on the recent achievements of the University. We would be delighted to host you at this celebratory and informative networking event. Venue for celebration: OGGB Level 1 Foyer

Panel

Following the celebration, we will have a panel discussion on How Can Chinese Business Achieve Sustainability in New Zealand. Rachel Yang, the Club Founder, will be the moderator for the panel, and University Alumnus Jonathan Li will be the MC. Venue for panel: OGGB4 and Level 0 Foyer

Panellists:

Arthur Loo, Partner & Co-Founder, Loo & Koo

Arthur Loo co-founded Loo & Koo in 1995 and since then has overseen its growth into Australasia's largest South-East Asian focused law firm. He entered the legal profession because he felt a calling to make both law and legal advice accessible to people who are constrained by language barriers, such as the Chinese community. Noted for his common sense approach to legal matters, Arthur combines more than 40 years of legal experience with business and financial savvy to assist businesses and create wealth for his clients. In his practice Arthur enjoys the challenge of buying and selling properties and businesses and structuring deals. He also enjoys giving investment and asset planning advice. He is currently an Executive Board Member of the New Zealand China Council. Arthur is a graduate of the University of Auckland Law School.

Marisa Fong, Director, Masimaya Limited

Marisa co-founded The Madison Group in 1998, successfully growing it to become New Zealand’s largest, privately owned Recruitment Company. Having won numerous awards, it was acquired in 2013 by listed public company AWF, in a textbook deal that set a precedent for the industry. Her current professional endeavours include: Non-executive Independent Director, Enprise; Advisory Board Member, NZ Work Research Institute; Advisory Board Member, Weirdly; Trustee, Simplicity; and, Category Judge, New Zealander of the Year.

Marisa’s memberships include: FKA (Flying Kiwi Angels), NZ Asian Leaders, Institute of Directors, Entrepreneurs Organisation and Global Women. She is Founder of Masimaya Limited, a consultancy that supports Founder/Owners of private enterprises on their entrepreneurial journey and is creating a new skincare startup with an international focus. Marisa is passionate about NZ Inc. and channels all her commercial and advisory involvement accordingly. Marisa studied at the University of Auckland early in her career and is married with a teenage daughter and a dog, all mostly house trained.

Sam Yin, Founder & Managing Director, HouGarden.com

Sam’s expertise in IT and finance, combined with his interest in property, made him the ideal person to launch a Chinese-language web portal showcasing New Zealand real estate. Hougarden.com went live in 2011 and is now New Zealand’s number one online property portal for Chinese-speaking buyers, with over 150,000 unique visitors every month. As Managing Director, Sam provides strategic direction and oversees the ongoing innovation that is the lifeblood of a rapidly growing web-based business. From small beginnings in the family garage, Hougarden.com now encompasses a team of 45 based in Auckland and Chengdu, China.

As a tech entrepreneur, Sam believes in constantly enhancing the experience Hougarden.com offers vendors, buyers and real estate professionals. As someone who has successfully developed properties himself, he understands the pressures and requirements of the industry. It’s this unique combination of qualities that makes Sam a leader in both New Zealand’s real estate and tech industries. Sam graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Business and Information Management.

Rachel Yang, Founder, Ysquared Chartered Accountants

Rachel Yang is the Founder of the Chinese Alumni Club a Chartered Accountant. She is also an entrepreneur, having founded Ysquared Chartered Accountants, Ysquared Education and Trusted AML Services Limited. Rachel started Ysquared to provide quality tax and advisory services to new immigrants unfamiliar with the New Zealand tax system and accountancy services to help businesses grow. The firm is well-recognized, being a 2018 Finalist in the ‘Excellence in Community Contribution’ category at the annual Westpac Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, and a 2019 Finalist in the “Excellence in Strategy and Planning” and “Excellence in Marketing” categories.

Before devoting her time to Ysquared and her other business ventures, Rachel worked at IRD, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Sovereign and AIA as a tax and risk specialist. Rachel also actively volunteers to bolster the Chinese community, including leading the Chinese alumni Volunteer Impact Week project, running several free career workshops for students, and organising many free workshops and seminars to educate business owners on the New Zealand tax system. Rachel holds a Bcom in Accounting and Finance and a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Auckland.

In addition to the below organisations without whom this event wouldn't be possible, our deepest thanks to University of Auckland Alumna & Chinese Alumni Club Founder Rachel Yang and the Club's strong, passionate committee for their longstanding contributions to the Chinese alumni community and the University.