Carrie Kwan Waley

Thomas Vaughan

Tom started his long and diverse business career in 1966 when he and his brother Oliver co-founded and built up the company that became Juliana's Holdings Plc - the world's largest Discotheque Entertainment group of its time. Tom wrote ‘No Ordinary Experience’ - the Juliana’s story, a book which is a ‘warts and all’ chronicle of how he and his brother started out with an old van, a pile of records and built it up to become the largest, most successful international entertainment group of its type in the world at the time.

Following its sale to Wembley Leisure in 1989, Tom became an Executive Director of Wembley Leisure Ltd. During the Juliana’s years , Tom was based in the US, looking after the development in America, while Oliver worked in the Far East.

This was followed by the formation of Gander Holdings Plc, a London based property company specializing in the acquisition and development of prime Kensington and Chelsea residential real estate. Tom served as a Director and Chairman. In 1998 Gander joined the Official List of the London Stock Exchange.

In January 2000 Tom became a Director of LAMDA (The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) - serving also as a contributor to their US Advisory Board in New York. In April 2004 Tom became a Director of ART VPS Ltd, a Cambridge based technology company working in the field of visual image rendering. Tom was a Director of Corporate Synergy Group plc, (now Blue Oar Securities) the AIM quoted specialist investment bank and stockbroker, until his retirement from the Board on 30th March 2007.

In early 2006 Tom became a Director of Go Native Ltd, a UK-wide property services company specializing in short term executive housing and accommodation. In January 2007 Tom was appointed a Director of Katherine Hooker Ltd., an independent retailer of exclusive, bespoke Scottish Tweed jackets and coats to Ladies and Gentlemen.

In March 2007, Tom became a Director of Vestpa Plc. An AIM listed, closed end Investment Company, with stated interests in China. (PRC). Most recently, in September 2007, Tom became a director of Ninety Plc. An Aim listed, closed end Investment Company, with stated interests in Asia; the USA; and Europe.

David Peckham

Graduating with an engineering degree from Imperial College, David worked for many years for the top consultancy firms Price Waterhouse Cooper and PA Consulting Group before establishing himself as an independent consultant.

David has managed projects in a wide variety of public and private sector companies throughout the world focusing primarily on business strategy, corporate restructuring and bringing about radical performance improvements. The sectors in which he has worked include: energy, manufacturing, process and chemicals, mining, transportation, construction and financial services.

Amongst his many achievements as a top consultant, David led teams in two UK privatisations and worked with the World Bank managing structural change programmes in a number of developing countries each reporting at ministerial level. In the 1990s, he helped to develop a new approach to company performance improvement which brought together the disciplines of strategy, management process and organisation in a unified way and is continuing to be used successfully by a wide range of major organisations throughout the world. He has helped several government owned companies in Eastern European establish themselves on a commercial basis.

David’s more recent work as an consultant includes helping to align the products of a leading UK technology company to the strategic requirements of its customers. Working with a UK utility company to identify and implement improved ways of managing and maintaining their assets. Helping an Eastern European telecoms company change to new ways of working. Assisting a major UK manufacturing group to implement strategic change.

Oliver Vaughan

Oliver started his business career in 1966 when he co-founded Juliana’s Discotheques, later renamed Juliana’s Holdings Plc. The company was floated in June 1983 with a market value of £13m and sold to Wembley Plc in 1989 for £34m

In 1994, Oliver founded Gander Holdings Plc, a listed property investment company. In 1999 the company was sold by way of trade sale for £130M.

In 1999 Oliver founded the eVestment Company through a £44M placing on the London Stock Exchange (AIM). In 2000 the company acquired Christows Holdings Ltd a private client stockbroking and fund management firm. In 2001 the business went on to acquire Evolution Capital and the company’s name was changed to The Evolution Group Plc. The Evolution Group is now a leading integrated investment banking business operating through Evolution Securities (Investment Banking) and Christows (Private Client Stockbroking & Fund Management). The Evolution Group currently has a market capitalization in excess of £320M and retains a full listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Oliver is the Chairman of Blue Oar Group Plc. Originally named Mountcashel Plc, which was established as a private investment company in 1992. The company was an active investor in early-stage, fast growth companies. Mountcashel was instrumental in early stage financing to companies such as Pizza Express, Regent Inns, ITG Plc. and Redstone Telecom Plc which floated on the London Official List in 1999. Mountcashel Plc listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 (AIM). In 2002 the business acquired Corporate Synergy Group Plc a London based corporate stock broker and was subsequently renamed Blue Oar Group Plc in 2006. Rowan Dartington, a corporate finance company now part of Blue Oar Group, listed the first Chinese company on AIM. In the last few years, the Blue Oar Group has been among one of the most active corporate finance companies in London that brought Chinese companies to AIM.

Oliver is a Non Executive Director of Albany Capital Plc. Albany Capital is an AIM listed pre-IPO and activist investment company with Net Assets in excess of £15m.

Julian Malins Q.C.

Julian’s distinguished and diverse career spans over 30 years since graduating from Oxford University. He is a London based highly respected leading international commercial lawyer and has been a Queen’s Counsel since 1991.

Julian has vast and in-depth experience in worldwide litigation and business. Julian’s international legal and business expertise covers most parts of the world specifically in Europe, North and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Far East. In recent years, Julian has offered his legal and commercial expertise to Chinese businesses and local law firms. He visits China frequently and therefore has a good understanding of the Chinese culture and its people.

Julian has been a City of London Councillor for Fleet Street and the Temple since 1981 and has served on many of the Corporation’s committees, including the Finance Committee of the Markets Committee. He also served on the Policy Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1992 to 1997.

Julian has also taken on many official legal appointments worldwide such as a Disciplinary Tribunal Chairman of The Financial Services Authority (the English SEC) from 1990 to 1997; He was for 20 years a member of the General Council of the Bar of England and Wales. He is an approved arbitrator with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Richard Moir

BA Hons . Msc.Econ MCIPR

Richard is an international relations, market access and world trade specialist.

He studied in Toronto, London and Paris. A China watcher for many years, Richard’s early career was in Private Banking and International Insurance broking.

Today, as a company director and board advisor he has developed a wide portfolio of clients , contacts and networks in many countries and sectors, including; financial services, real estate, risk management, shipping, media, publishing, health care, tourism leisure, major event management, Government affairs, international organisations, academia and diplomatic. He is a Mentor at The London School of Economics, Ambassador of The Caledonian Club, Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of World Traders, Council Member of The London Chamber of Commerce and Member of The 48 Group "The Icebreakers" to promote Relations with China.

Ann Holmes

Ann has strong analytic, presentation, training and motivational skills. Her career has spanned teaching, research and management. She uses psychometric instruments in assisting clients with staff recruitment and has developed her own personality type assessment system (Rainbow-Plus®), which forms the basis of many presentations.

Ann’s psychometrics experience includes extensive use of personality type assessment in development work. She has carried out occupational testing for a range of organisations, including recruitment agencies, in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Ann has also worked extensively with people from different cultures and have designed and run sessions on cultural awareness.

Ann’s list of qualifications include: BA (Hons) for Sociology/Political Studies at University of Hull, Certification in Meeting Management (endorsed IMHI, a joint venture between ESSEC and Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration), British Psychological Society's Certificates of Competence in Occupational Testing (Ability and Personality), MBTI® (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Practitioner, Certificated NLP (Art of Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Practitioner

Winnie Langley

Winnie attended one of the best secondary schools in Hong Kong before coming to the UK for her A-Levels at Badminton School, one of the top boarding schools in the UK. She went on to Nottingham Trent University for her Bachelor Honours Degree in Law.

Winnie has a wide variety of experiences in business and academic fields both in the UK and abroad. She worked at HSBC in Hong Kong as a Customer Service Manager and was later work at their Trust Department. Winnie also worked for Alexander Proudfoot B.V., a leading management consultancy to take on the role of a management consultant. Other Winnie’s work includes working as a financial adviser for companies such as Hill Samuel, Pearl Assurance and Clifton Associates.

A gifted linguist, Winnie is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. She is a fully qualified TEFL teacher and has taught at some well established lauguage institutions in the UK. She was also a visiting lecturer at the University of the West of England for three years.

Winnie also work as freelance interpreter and translator for numerous Chinese businessmen while they are visiting UK companies. She is a registered interpreter for the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Judy Lawson

Judy enjoys an accomplished experience in both language teaching and public relations. At EF Corporate she enjoys ten years experience in developing the language skills of students who have gone on to achieve success in a range of different professions. Furthermore Judy has worked as a director and managing director for some of the most prestigious UK public relations companies. This unique combination of experience means Judy can offer her students language teaching with a greater perspective on how best to use language to guarantee success when meeting employers, colleagues and clients in the professional world.

Rob Liu

Rob joined Mandarin Consultant in 2008 and brought with him a wide range of experience and talent in marketing and media related work. Rob gained his first degree in Law in China followed by a Masters Degree in Media Communications in the UK. He has worked in both China and the UK for high profile and interesting British and Chinese companies including Warner Music (China), Lexus China, China Radio International, CNN London, London Bureau of China Central Television (CCTV) and London Underground Ltd.

Rob’s varied experience has made him a valued member of our consultancy team offering career advice and promoting our career coaching programmes to UK based Chinese candidates. Rob is extremely popular and well respected by our candidates for his professionalism and dedication to his work.

Nadine Burnham-Marshalleck

Nadine read English Literature as her first degree and after graduating worked in media and fashion where she developed strong customer service skills as well as gaining operational experience. Nadine’s background and work experience has given her the confidence and ability to communicate with colleagues and clients at all levels. Through her previous experience in the recruitment sector, Nadine has gained a solid understanding of what UK recruiters are looking for in prospective employees.

Nadine is passionate about the service that Mandarin Consultant provides for its clients. She feels proud to be a part of the journey of each candidate as they develop new skills and gain the knowledge that will help them to find the perfect job.

Joanne Restrepo

Joanne graduated from The University of Leeds with a BA in Modern Chinese Studies and speaks fluent Mandarin. Joanne worked in Shanghai for The British Chamber of Commerce. Her role involved working closely with the International Business Community and Government bodies to help develop the UK’s presence in China. During her time working in Shanghai she learnt about the wealth of opportunities available to western companies and how to succeed in the China market.

Joanne is also a fluent Spanish speaker and has lived and worked in South America and Spain. Joanne brings with her business experience in China, cultural understanding of China and experience in bridging cultural gaps between China and the UK, all such skills are crucial for Joanne to carry out her work effectively at Mandarin Consultant.

Heidi Frances

Heidi graduated from the University of Leeds with BA Chinese and German. Her varied work history includes working as Investment Researcher for UKTI at the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei, researching at the BBC office in Beijing, teaching English to Chinese businessmen in Taipei and several years working in Madrid as an Immigration Consultant providing global relocation assistance to senior executives from large multinationals. Prior to joining Mandarin Consultant she worked as a Recruitment Consultant in the City specialising in Global Mobility and Expat Tax positions.

Heidi’s broad experience of studying and working abroad has equipped her with an excellent ability to recognise and overcome cultural differences. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between the UK and China and runs a social forum for Londoners who have lived in the Far East in her spare time.

Heidi joined the Mandarin Consultant team in 2010 to focus on Business Development and Bilingual Recruitment.