Clout Asia

Peter Osborne

For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege to tell the stories of Australians and their journey to Asia capability. These are unique stories but also lived experiences shared by many Australians. I hope that these stories gave you a glimpse of the diverse fabric of what it means to be Australian, the dynamic region of Asia, and the many different opportunities that building Asia capability can bring. For our last episode, I am here with Peter Osborne, board director, advisor, surfer and Buddhist. I met Peter in Shanghai when he was the Managing Director Asia for Blackmores. By the time Peter left Blackmores, the Asian market accounted for 50% of the company’s profits. We talked about Blackmores' successes and failures in Asia, Peter’s plateaued Chinese language skills, and how it’s never too late to build an Asia career. Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability. To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about. I’m Lucy Du, and here is Peter. — Noosa • China • Taiwan • Fiji • Bhutan • Nepal • Singapore • Asia — FOOD: I'm a huge fan of Xiao Bing for breakfast, I guess it's the taste, the texture and the process to make them and they are such a classic Taipei breakfast and I've eaten them ever since my first trip to China in 1984 ! MOVIE: Once Upon a Time in China [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_China] 《黄飞鸿》 I've done a lot of martial arts in my life and Jet Li is without doubt one of the greatest practitioners of Shaolin Wushi ever. The martial arts and Wong Fei-Hung's story in the movie(s) are so classic and I must have watch the movies 100 times I think   PERSON: Audette Exel, AO [https://www.adaragroup.org/partners/panel/audette-exel-ao/]. Audette is the founder and Chair of Adara Development and is a truly inspiration person and I have been a big supporter of Adara for many years, including doing a big project with Michelle Garnaut (of M on the Bund) sources PPE from China during 2020 to ship to Adara hospital in Uganda as Covid ravaged the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com [https://cloutasia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Louise Tran

Hi everyone, Today’s a bittersweet moment, as Clout Asia comes to an end. For our penultimate episode, I am here with Louise Tran, a strong advocate for Asian-Australian leadership and a leading profile in the food and sustainability sector. Louise is the child of refugee parents, who fled Vietnam in the 70s. Although growing up with privilege and opportunity, it was her parents story that shaped how Louise viewed her purpose, and ultimately how she saw she could make an impact not only in Australia, but in Vietnam. Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability. To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about. I’m Lucy Du, and here is Louise. — Sydney • Vietnam — FOOD: Pho MOVIE: Food Fighter [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8142370/]. A documentary about OzHarvest CEO Ronni’s crusade as she partners with the United Nations, rubs shoulders with royalty and Jamie Oliver's juggernaut, rifles through dumpster bins, and holds government to account. PERSON: Louise’s maternal Grandma This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com [https://cloutasia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Weh Yeoh

In this episode, I am joined by Weh Yeoh, a formidable force contributing to redefining the for-purpose space. Weh is the author of Redundant Charities and co-founder of Australian social enterprise Umbo. The youngest in a family of doctors, surgeons, and pharmacists, Weh’s initial goal was to build an empire of physiotherapy clinics in Australia. When he realised that wasn’t his dream, he moved to Asia. It was Asia that helped Weh understand more of his Asian heritage, and Asia that took Weh out of his Sydney-bubble and showed him a perspective and opportunity of how he could make an impact. Weh’s Clout is his decades of work in the social impact space, bringing his education and expertise into some of the world’s most needed places. He also has the humility to focus on building sustainable models for the for-purpose sector. We talked about cliche moments, the importance of language and other qualities that are crucial for success in the for-purpose sector, and how reducing dependency on charities is key to making a long-term impact. Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability. To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about. I’m Lucy Du, and here is Weh Yeoh. — Sydney • China • Vietnam • Cambodia — FOOD: Shanghai soup dumplings 小笼包 Xiǎo lóng bāo MOVIE: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169102/]. It’s a Bollywood movie about a new land tax in India and how the villagers revolt, and then they get the British lords to agree to play them in a game of cricket - with the winner deciding whether or not the tax goes ahead. PERSON: Weh’s 95-year-old Grandma This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com [https://cloutasia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Penny Burtt

Welcome back to Season 3 of Clout Asia. For our first episode, I am joined by Penny Burtt, the former CEO of Asialink, Australia’s leading institution for driving Asia engagement and building Asia capability. Born and raised in her early years in Penang, Malaysia, Penny’s calling to Southeast Asia started long before her extensive career across government, not-for-profit and corporate. Penny’s Clout speaks for itself. A former senior diplomat, Penny represented Australia in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. She has held leadership positions with global multinationals in the region and is currently based in Singapore at a US fintech unicorn. In my conversation with Penny, she helped break down to first principles, the importance of learning language, understanding culture, and why Australians should not just be thinking of Asia as it related to trade in goods, but also as a destination to invest and to engage in the services and digital economy. Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask guests to take us on their journey to Asia capability. To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about. I’m Lucy Du, and here is Penny Burtt. — Penang • Sydney • Kuala Lumpur • Jakarta • Singapore — FOOD: Thai food (despite never lived in Thailand) BOOK: Anything by award-winning Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng [https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/authors/tan-twan-eng]. Currently reading Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop [https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/welcome-to-the-hyunamdong-bookshop-9781526662279/] by Hwang-Bo-Reum PERSON: Peter Varghese [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Varghese] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com [https://cloutasia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Edwin Chu

For our final episode in Season 2 of Clout Asia, I am joined by Edwin Chu, a Sydneysider who has had a compelling career in the commercial real estate sector across Asia. Edwin started his career in financial services in the middle of the GFC, so in 2009, he decided he would put his career in asset management on hold, and relocate to Shanghai to study Mandarin. Despite not fully mastering the language of his forefathers, Edwin’s Clout is his ability to stay relevant in a fast-moving market - He oversaw the development of Shanghai's iconic Xintiandi precinct and later managed a staggering $1.2 billion dollar commercial real estate fund for Capital Land, one of Asia's largest real estate groups. Our conversation delves into Edwin's unique experience navigating his Australian-Chinese heritage in the context of Chinese culture, both in the workplace and inside vibrant KTV rooms. We talk about the evolving landscape for foreigners in China and the need to up their game to stay competitive in the workforce. We discuss the potential for impact and growth as an Asian-Australian in the Australian landscape. And we unravel the captivating story of Howqua, a figure often overlooked, and his significant role in connecting China to the world. Welcome to Clout Asia, where we ask Australians to take us on their journey to Asia capability by choosing a food, song, show, and person that captures the essence of their experience. To help us understand, what being an Aussie with Clout, is all about. I’m Lucy Du, and here is Edwin Chu. — Sydney • Shanghai — FOOD: BBQ “烧烤 shāo kǎo” and skewers “串串 chuàn chuàn” MUSIC: California Love by Tupac [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omfz62qu_Bc] MOVIE: Comrades: Almost a Love Story [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117905/] PERSON: Howqua [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howqua#:~:text=He%20became%20rich%20on%20the,silk%20and%20porcelain%20with%20foreigners.] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cloutasia.substack.com [https://cloutasia.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]