Our Team in China

Mr. Chu Q. Wang (Canada) currently serves as the Head of Office (a.i.) at UN Women in China. He oversees the country office and the agency’s strategic partnerships with public and private sector partners.Prior, he served as a Programme Management Officer at the UN Secretariat, where he forged UN partnerships to catalyze innovation in global operational support. Within the UN, he has also worked at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General on strategic planning and analysis, as well as governance mechanisms. Prior to the UN, Mr. Wang was a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he advised executives worldwide – from ministers to CEOs – on inclusive socioeconomic development and organizational strategy. Moreover, he was an Advisor to the Harvard University Provost Office on advancing student and staff inclusion. Mr. Wang holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University. He enjoys going to the gym to balance his culinary explorations.

As Representative, Ms. Sande provides leadership and strategic direction of the Country Programme in delivering results for children.
She brings to the role 30 years of experience and expertise in international development, humanitarian coordination, policy analysis, advocacy, resource mobilization and partnership.
Prior to joining UNICEF, she was the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Eritrea, coordinating 21 agencies in support of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ms. Sande led UNAIDS as Country Director in Beijing, as well as in Uganda, Malawi and Lesotho. Prior to joining the UN she worked in renowned international organisations such as Oxfam and ActionAid International where she served as Deputy Country Representative in post genocide Rwanda; Country Representative in Zambia; Regional Programme Manager for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the former Caucasus (Geogia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) and in the same function covering the Southern Africa Region. Just prior to joining the United Nations Ms Sande was the Director for Actionaid International's Southern Africa Partnership Programme.

Ms. Sande has served on a number of boards and advisory committees, including the GlobalCampaign for Microbicides; the African Public Health Network; the Southern Africa AIDS Information Service (SAFAIDS); and the China AIDS Fund for Non Government Organisations (CAFNGO).
Ms. Sande received a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya.
She is a national of Kenya and the mother of two daughters. She recently became a grandmother for the first time.

Dr. Zhao Bing is the Representative and Country Director of World Food Programme (WFP) China Office and Centre of Excellence for Rural Transformation in Beijing.

At WFP’s HQs, he held consecutive Director positions for Agricultural Partnerships and Multilateral Engagement (2021-2023), Food Systems and Smallholder Support (2019-2021), and Director/Global Coordinator of the Purchase for Progress (P4P) initiative (2016-2019).

During 2012-2016, as Head of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM), a United Nations regional institution under ESCAP, he made great headway in promoting the role of agricultural engineering and mechanization in promoting food security and agricultural sustainability in the Asian-Pacific region.

Previous to that he worked for 5 years as Deputy Director-General of the Centre of International Cooperation and Service of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, and during 1999-2007, he served in the Chinese Permanent Representation to the UN Agencies in Rome as alternate representative. In 1990-1999, he was programme officer in the Department of International Cooperation in the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture.

Dr. Zhao holds a BA degree in international studies from Beijing Foreign Studies University and a Master’s degree in international business law from the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’. His PhD degree was obtained from the Third University of Rome (Roma Tre) in the area of economics and law.

Mr. Carlos Aldeco took up his assignment as the FAO Representative to the People’s Republic of China on 17 February 2025.
Mr Aldeco is a seasoned diplomat with more than 20 years of professional experience in agricultural development, government relations and international trade. He is a skilled expert in forming strategic partnerships with national governments, research institutions, and the private sector.

Prior to joining FAO, Mr Aldeco worked as the Chief Representative for China of the National Agricultural Council of Mexico since 2019. From 2014 to 2019, he served as the Minister Counsellor at the Mexican Embassy to China in Beijing, coordinating the development and implementation of all marketing, outreach and partnerships activities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food of Mexico with China. From 2009 to 2014, he was the Chief of the Department of Trade Negotiations and Trade Agreements for the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), in Montevideo, Uruguay. From 2006 to 2009, he worked as the International Trade and Investment Analyst at the Mexican Embassy to Japan in Tokyo. His career started in 2003 at the Ministry of Economy of Mexico.

Mr Aldeco, a national of Mexico, holds a Master of Business Administration from the Catholic University of Uruguay, a Master of Law (LLM) from Georgetown University in the United States of America, and a Bachelor’s Degree in international law from the University of the Americas Puebla in Mexico.

Dr. Changhee Lee joined ILO HQ in Geneva in 1996 where he participated in a number of major global research programme on industrial relations until moving to Bangkok, Thailand in 2000 where he worked as an industrial relations specialist of the ILO’s East Asian team.

Covering 10 East Asian member countries – Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, he provided policy advice for government and social partners on a wide range of industrial relations policy issues including tripartite social dialogue, collective bargaining, human resource management, wage policies and labour dispute settlement.

In August 2006, he moved to ILO Beijing Office. He offered policy advices to and worked extensively with the government, trade unions and employers’ organization in China to improve China’s labour law and labour relations institutions.

In 2012, he returned to ILO HQ in Geneva and worked as a senior policy analyst of the Policy Integration Department. He was also a member of the Task Force for reform of ILO’s field operation, appointed by the by the Director-General (May – December 2013), which produce a blue-print for a reform of ILO field operations.

He has published numerous articles on industrial relations in East Asia – including papers on collective bargaining and tripartism in China and Viet Nam, transformation of industrial relations in Korea and historical research on industrial relations evolution in Japan.

Chang-Hee Lee is a citizen of the Republic of Korea. He entered Seoul National University in 1982 where he obtained bachelor degree of sociology (1986), master degree of sociology (1989) and Ph.D of Sociology (1996). His Ph. D dissertation was about the modern history of industrial relation development in Japan’s steel industry (1945 – 1970). He was also a research fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences, Tokyo University, apan (1993 – 95) and visiting professor at the same Institute (2010).

Ms. Liu Hua was appointed to the position of the Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China in June 2020.

Prior to this, she had served as the Special Representative for Human Rights, the Deputy Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (MFA), the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Association of China, the Senior Counselor of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland and the Division Director of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the MFA.

Ms. LIU Hua received a B.A. degree in English Literature from Peking University and a Master’s Degree in Public International Law from Lund University of Sweden. Additionally, Ms. LIU Hua also attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Mr. James George currently serves as the UNDP Resident Representative ad interim for China, following his role as Deputy Resident Representative since January 2022. With more than 30 years of experience across the United Nations and the private sector, he has worked extensively on advancing sustainable development globally, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Prior to his current role, Mr. George served as UNDP Country Programme Advisor for Asia and the Pacific, based in Bangkok, supporting 28 countries between 2019 and 2022. From 2017 to 2019, he worked in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General in New York, managing portfolios on SDG implementation, strategic partnerships, sustainable development in Africa, and Special Initiatives of the Secretary-General.

Between 2002 and 2017, Mr. George worked at UNDP in Bangkok and Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, as well as with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Incheon. He has authored and edited numerous UNDP regional publications and published in international journals on public sector reform, science and technology policy, and digital transformation.

Before joining the United Nations, Mr. George worked with leading global management consulting firms on public sector reform and strategic national development initiatives.

He is a Chevening Scholar and holds a postgraduate degree in international development and politics, with a focus on regional economic integration and the development of trading blocs in the Asia Pacific region.

Mr. Zhao Jie serves as the Chief of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (ASP) region, part of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Additionally, he is the coordinator for UNIDO’s work on the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and takes on the role of Officer-in-Charge of the UNIDO Sub-Regional Office in China, Country Office in Laos, as well as the Country Office in Iran.

Within the ASP region, Mr. Zhao effectively leads 12 field offices, steering their collective efforts to implement UNIDO's mission and instigate positive change. His coordination function extends across 33 Member States, showcasing a steadfast dedication to fostering economic growth and innovation in the diverse nations of the ASP region.

Furthermore, Mr. Zhao spearheads key initiatives such as UNIDO’s flagship event “Bridge for Cities”, coordinates the organization’s involvement in the “China International Import Expo”, oversees the operations of the UNIDO Centre for South-South Industrial Cooperation, and manages projects aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable development through industrial parks. In this role, he plays a pivotal part in developing the UNIDO Industrial Park Platform and contributes to significant publications such as the "International Guidelines for Industrial Parks".

Prior to his current role, Mr. Zhao served as the Special Assistant to the former Director General (DG) of UNIDO, overseeing the Office of the DG from 2013 to 2014. Subsequently, he coordinated the organization’s efforts on South-South and Triangular Industrial Cooperation.

Mr. Zhao holds a degree of Master of Science in the specialism of Development Management. With an extensive professional background spanning over 22 years, Mr. Zhao specializes in diverse areas, including Free Trade Agreement (FTA), South-South and Triangular Industrial Cooperation, Special Economic Zone and Industrial Park development, both within the public sector and the development community.

Dr. Jingbo Huang is the Director of the United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau). Under her leadership, UNU Macau has developed a strong portfolio in education, training and policy relevant research in digital technologies and SDGs, particularly in AI governance since 2018. Recently she led the institute to successfully organize the UNU Macau AI conference with 500+ participants from 40+ countries, as a contribution to the Summit of the Future. She has been working in the UN system for 20+ years, holding various managerial positions in the UN Secretariat, UNDP, UNESCO, UNSSC and UNU. Jingbo received her Doctor of Education degree from Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree from Peking University.

Marco Toscano-Rivalta is an Italian national with over 25 years of experience in international cooperation, focusing on sustainable development, disaster risk management, humanitarian relief, and human rights protection. He currently serves as the Chief of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), a position he has held since May 2012.

Dr. Toscano-Rivalta holds a law degree and a PhD in International Human Rights Law. He has lectured at several Italian universities, including Bologna, Siena, Roma, and Trento, as well as at Johns Hopkins University.

Throughout his career, he has held various positions within the UN and other international organizations. His roles have included Rule of Law Advisor for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Head of Field Office for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Turkey, and Human Rights Officer for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In his current role at UNDRR, Dr. Toscano-Rivalta leads efforts to support countries in the Asia-Pacific region in reducing disaster risks and building resilience. His work involves coordinating disaster risk reduction policies, monitoring progress, and engaging with various stakeholders to enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

Mr. Martin Taylor is WHO Representative to China. He took up his position as WHO Representative in China in July 2023.

Previously, Martin was Director of the Division of Health Systems and Services in the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila. In this role he led the Division’s work on health financing, workforce, primary health care, service delivery, rehabilitation, essential medicines and technologies, health legislation, traditional medicine, maternal and child health and quality of health care including infection prevention control.

Martin Taylor has worked as an adviser and leader on global health and development assistance for health for over 20 years – with a strong focus on supporting countries to strengthen health systems. Prior to working in the WHO Regional Office Martin worked as an advisor to the Australian High Commission on health cooperation in Papua New Guinea, and from 2013 to 2017 Martin was the Head of the Health Systems and Health Security team in WHO Office in Beijing, China.

Previously he worked as health adviser for the UK Department for International Development in various HQ, regional and country roles (including in Beijing from 2003-2007 as lead on UK cooperation with China on public health). He was part of the team that established the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in 2002.

He studied at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Ms. Meng Liu is the Head of China Office with the United Nations Global Compact. Prior to this role, Meng serves as Head of Asia Pacific Networks of UN Global Compact overseeing over 15 country networks and operations across the region.
Before joining the United Nations in 2007, Ms. Liu has worked for the non-profit and public sector across the US and in Asia. She was a fellow on Asian public policy with Harvard Kennedy School and book author of “Responsibility Changes the World-UN Global Compact Leading Business Revolution Worldwide”. Ms. Liu sits on Global Future Council on Frontier Risks as a member since 2020. She has been honored as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum in 2015 and nominated as the YGL Local Chair for China in 2021.

Ms. Nadia Rasheed was appointed as the UNFPA Representative to China and Country Director for Mongolia in December 2024. Prior to this appointment, she served as the UNFPA Representative to Sierra Leone from May 2022. Before joining UNFPA, she was the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in India from 2018 to 2022, and the UNDP Regional Team Leader for Health and Development in Asia and the Pacific from 2014 to 2018. She also served as the UNDP Deputy Country Director ad-interim for Sri Lanka in 2018.

Ms. Rasheed has a wealth of management and policy experience covering health, gender and development issues. From 2009 to 2014, she was the global Practice Manager for the HIV, Health and Development Practice at UNDP Headquarters in New York. She was also a Policy Specialist on HIV in the Bureau for Development Policy at UNDP Headquarters from 2005 to 2009. She previously worked with the UNDP Human Development Report Office, and with UNDP and other organizations on capacity development and gender equality issues.

She holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the London School of Economics, and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University.

Ms. Nan Zhang has worked as the UNV Country Coordinator in China since 2018 and became UNV Programme and Partnerships Specialist in 2021. Fully committed to volunteerism as a powerful means of implementing the Agenda 2030, she leads and advocates strongly for the UN Volunteers programme and partnerships in China.

Ms. Zhang brings more than 20 years of experience in international cooperation, partnership development and resource mobilization, policy design and consultation, and development assistance programme for sustainable development.

Before UNV, Ms. Zhang worked as a Senior Programme Manager in China’s National Health Commission and as a Programme Advisor in the UNAIDS Liaison Office to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Ms. Zhang is a Chevening scholar and holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford, UK.

Nii Quaye-Kumah holds the position as the IFAD Country Director and Representative of IFAD Multi Country Office, People’s Republic of China. Based in Beijing, Quaye-Kumah leads a team managing an evolving partnership with China and development partners in three countries including China, ROK and DPRK. He is responsible for the investment and advisory programs in China. In addition, he supports knowledge partnership in the sub-region.
Before being appointed as IFAD Representative in China, Quaye-Kumah joined the Office of the President and Vice-President in the function of Special Adviser to the President since 2018. He also worked in the function of Ghana’s Alternate Permanent Representative with the Embassy of Ghana in Rome during 2011-2018. Prior to that, he had served in various senior positions in the area of agricultural development and agricultural extension services, such as Director of Agriculture of the Dangme West District of Ghana and Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the National Agricultural Extension Project (NAEP), within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana.
Quaye-Kumah holds a Master of Science in Management and Agricultural Knowledge Systems from the Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science) from the University of Ghana.

Ms. Qian Wang serves as the Programme Manager for China at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), where she coordinates UNEP's work programme in the country and provides policy analysis and support through the UNEP China Office. With over 25 years of experience in environmental policy and the implementation of sustainable development programmes, Ms. Wang possesses deep knowledge of multilateral processes concerning biodiversity, climate change, circularity, and chemical and waste management. She has contributed to international environmental governance by serving on the Compliance Committees of both the Basel and Minamata Conventions and participating as a member of the advisory group for the International Environmental Governance Project.

Before joining UNEP, Ms. Wang worked with China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, focusing on global environmental issues and international cooperation. Her extensive career reflects a strong commitment to advancing environmental sustainability and international collaboration in environmental governance.

Ms. Wang holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Yale University. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Rakhi Sinha is a senior security professional currently serving as UNDSS Security Advisor for the Philippines and Micronesia, a position she assumed on 31 October 2024. Effective 1 December 2025, she additionally took on responsibilities as Security Advisor for the UNDSS Multi-Country Offices of China, Japan, Mongolia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Korea. In her role, she provides strategic leadership and oversight of security risk management in support of United Nations operations across multiple complex operating environments.

Ms. Sinha brings over 15 years of experience with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, complemented by extensive national-level service. Prior to her current assignment, she served with UNDSS in Cambodia and spent more than five years in Libya as Deputy Security Advisor and Chief Security Advisor (a.i.). Her UN career began in 2009 in Darfur, Sudan, and has since included leadership roles in Sudan, Zambia, Malaysia–Singapore and Brunei, Libya, and Cambodia, managing security operations in both high-risk and multi-country contexts.

Before joining the United Nations system, Ms. Sinha served 22 years as a commissioned officer in the Indian Federal Police, where she was among the first cohort of women officers. She led the first all-female Indian Formed Police Unit deployed to UNMIL, Liberia, a milestone widely recognized for advancing women’s participation in peacekeeping. She has also addressed the launch of UN Women at the United Nations General Assembly Hall.

Ms. Sinha has a strong interest in the arts, Indian classical music and dance, reading, and outdoor activities.

Raphael Guillet serves as the Chief of the Asia & Pacific Regional Sub-Office of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a position he has held since August 2016.

In this role, he oversees ICAO's initiatives aimed at enhancing air traffic management (ATM) across the Asia-Pacific region. His responsibilities include organizing ATM implementation projects to support member states in managing increasing air traffic volumes. These projects focus on improving air traffic service (ATS) route networks, implementing new performance-based navigation (PBN) flight procedures, coordinating air traffic flow management (ATFM) systems among states, and enhancing civil-military coordination in airspace management.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Guillet worked with the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC). He served as the Deputy Chief of the Airspace and Air Navigation Rulemaking Office, where he was involved in developing regulations and standards for air navigation services. Additionally, he held the position of Aeronautics and Civil Aviation Counselor at the French Embassy in China from 2010 to 2014, fostering bilateral aviation relations and cooperation between France and China.

Mr. Guillet's extensive experience in civil aviation spans various roles, including his tenure as the Chief of the ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Sub-Office. He has actively participated in regional aviation events, such as the Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS) in Beijing, where he highlighted ICAO's commitment to aviation safety and discussed strategic plans for the future.

Ms. Samina Kadwani serves as the Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Multi-Country Office, overseeing operations in Thailand, Indonesia, and Pacific countries. With over 25 years of experience in the development sector, she has dedicated more than two decades to UNOPS, implementing and managing complex programs across various global locations, including New York, Copenhagen, Geneva, and Bangkok.

In her current role, Ms. Kadwani is responsible for UNOPS activities across 24 countries in the East Asia and Pacific region. She has a deep understanding of the region's challenges and opportunities, having overseen projects in sectors such as health, climate change, energy, sustainable economic diversification, and emergency recovery.

A certified project management specialist, Ms. Kadwani holds a degree in Sociology. She has also actively contributed to initiatives aimed at enhancing food security and agricultural productivity in Pacific Island communities, such as the provision of solar-powered chest freezers and agricultural equipment to support local livelihoods.

Professor Shahbaz Khan was appointed as the Director of the UNESCO Office in Beijing and UNESCO Representative to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea on 9 March 2021.

Prof Khan joined UNESCO in 2008 at its Headquarters as Chief of the Water and Sustainable Development Section. Then he served as the Director of the Regional Bureau for Sciences in Asia and the Pacific in Jakarta, Indonesia, and UNESCO Representative to Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste (2015-2021).

He has worked in Australia, France, Indonesia and Pakistan in various research, consultancy and policy positions around hydrology and sustainable development. His work has been widely recognized e.g. 2019 China Friendship Award, Great Wall Friendship Award China 2017 and Land and Water Australia’s Eureka Prize 2007.

Prof Khan holds a Hon Doctorate Environment and Development from the National University of Malaysia and Hon DSc from the University of Birmingham.

Sheng Ying currently serves as the Country Manager of the UN-Habitat China Office. In this capacity, he represents UN-Habitat in its engagement with the United Nations system in China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and key development partners. He oversees the development and implementation of UN-Habitat’s programmes in China, fosters collaboration with national and international partners, and advances policy solutions to promote sustainable urbanization, including innovative approaches and response measures. Prior to his current position, Sheng Ying participated in projects with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Cities Development Initiative for Asia as a senior urban planning expert. He has extensive experience in sustainable development, urban planning, low-carbon cities, smart cities, urban branding, and international development cooperation.

Sophie Muller is the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Representative in China. She assumed this position in early March 2025, following her tenure as the UNHCR Representative in Spain from 2019 to 2024.
Throughout her career, Muller has accumulated extensive experience in refugee protection and asylum systems. She has been involved in UNHCR operations in countries such as Benin, East Timor, and Burundi. In Spain, she addressed challenges related to unaccompanied migrant and refugee children arriving in the Canary Islands, advocating for strengthened protection measures and responsibility-sharing among nations.
In her current role in China, Muller continues to collaborate with various stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and civil society, to uphold UNHCR's mandate of protecting and finding solutions for forcibly displaced individuals. She has expressed her commitment to advancing these efforts during her initial weeks in the country.

Ms. Li Wen served at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2014, including postings in Geneva and Vienna. She was Senior Advisor to the UN
General Assembly President (2014–2016), then Senior Regional Advisor for Asia-Pacific at IOM (2017–2019). From 2020 to 2023, she directed IOM’s
Department of External Relations. She holds master’s degrees in international law (Sydney University) and foreign affairs, and a bachelor’s from Beijing Technology and Business University.

Dr. Li Yutong is currently the Head of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). CSAM is a regional agency of the United Nations ESCAP. Dr. Li Yutong has 25 years of working experience in the fields of agricultural economy, trade and investment, and food security, and has worked in government, United Nations agencies and other departments. Dr. Li received her PhD in Management from the Department of Agricultural Economics, China Agricultural University, and her research interests include agricultural development, agricultural policy making, policy research and analysis, and international cooperation.