asia connect

Connecting early-career professionals and researchers with mentors across Asian Studies

Asia Connect is the RSAA’s programme to connect early-career professionals and graduate students with established figures in their fields through informal, one-to-one mentoring relationships. Whether you are seeking guidance at the beginning of your career, considering a new direction, or looking to share your experience with others, the programme offers an opportunity to learn from others, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful professional relationships.

Drawing on one of the RSAA’s greatest strengths – the breadth of knowledge and experience within its community – Asia Connect links participants across generations, professions and interests. Through these relationships, mentors and mentees exchange ideas, perspectives and practical experience, supporting professional growth and fostering lasting professional networks.

Mentoring relationships are voluntary, participant-led and tailored to the needs and availability of each mentor and mentee. The RSAA’s facilitates introductions and provide a framework for respectful and constructive engagement, allowing each mentoring partnership to develop in the way that best suits those involved.

You do not need to be an RSAA member to participate in Asia Connect. Acceptance into the programme does not guarantee that you will be matched with a mentor or mentee, as this depends on the availability of a suitable match and current mentor capacity. We work hard to match participants wherever possible and will consider participants’ interests, experience and requirements when making introductions.

Before registering your interest, please read our Mentoring Code of Conduct. If you have any questions about the Asia Connect programme, please email mentoring@rsaa.org.uk.

REGISTER INTEREST

  • Nick Fielding

    Research Area:

    The history of exploration of Central Asia, Ancient history of Central Asia, Central Asian nomadic textiles.

    Biography:

    Nick is a former Fleet Street reporter who has travelled extensively in Central Asia over the past 40 years.

    Preference:

    Available to meet in person or online.

  • Dr Paul Chambers

    Research Area:

    Southeast Asian politics and foreign relations

    Biography:

    Paul is an author, Lecturer at University of Oklahoma, and Executive. Editor of Asian Affairs: An American Review.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online

  • Nick Miller

    Research Area:

    CIA, Modern Chinese and North Korean Politics, Cold War, Intelligence Studies, Intelligence History, American foreign policy, United States Air Force.

    Biography:

    Former United States Air Force East Asian Security Analyst for the Department of Defense; adjunct instructor of Chinese-North Korean intelligence issues for the Citadel Military College University of South Carolina.

    Preference:

    In-person or online

  • Dr Gemma Chenger Deng

    Research Area:

    Global governance, Chinese foreign policy and stratcom

    Biography:

    Gemma is the co-founder and CEO of policy platform BRICS+ Thinking. She is a scholar of foreign policy with a particular focus on China and its relationship with the West.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online

  • David Chaffetz

    Research Area:

    Middle East and Asian history.

    Biography:

    David is an author and independent scholar with a lifelong passion for Asian culture and history.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online.

  • Professor Raj Bhala

    Research Area:

    International Trade Law, International Human Rights Law, Law and Literature, Shakespeare and Law

    Biography:

    Raj is the University Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas, School of Law, an international lawyer, and an author

    Preference:

    Available to meet online

  • Sophie Ibbotson

    Research Area:

    Water security, climate change, tourism and cultural heritage in Central Asia.

    Biography:

    Sophie is a consultant, researcher, and writer. She is Uzbekistan’s “Ambassador for Ecology” and a former Chairman of the RSAA.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online

  • Bolor Lkhaajav

    Research Area:

    Mongolia, East Asia and Northeast Asia’s international relations, security, economics and society.

    Biography:

    Bolor Lkhaajav is an East Asia Specialist with a decade-long research and academic writing experience. Bolor is the Founder and Managing Director of Monus.Ed Mentorship Program, where she mentors students find their academic footing, career planning, and graduate school preparation. Bolor translated No Use of Force – The End of the Marxist Era in Mongolia: The Memoirs of Jambyn Batmonkh.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online.

  • Sumit Sharma Sameer

    Research Area:

    South Asian politics, Democracy, International Relations with a particular focus on Nepal.

    Biography:

    Sumit is a political analyst, published author, and podcast host with a research background and organisational experience in NGO management and global development. Sumit’s debut work of fiction, Wake Up Ali…Wake Up Now, won the 2022 KLF Book Award in the debut fiction category at the Kalinga Literary Festival in India.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online.

  • Christopher Wilton-Steer

    Research Area:

    Communications, Photography, Travel

    Biography:

    Christopher is the Global Lead for Communications at the Aga Khan Foundation and an independent travel photographer. His work focuses on lesser-documented and often misunderstood regions of the world, fostering greater understanding between cultures while drawing attention to communities and traditions at risk of disappearing.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online

  • Sally Macdonald

    Research Area:

    Non-Executive Director at JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust, Fidelity Asian Values plc, Allianz Global Investors UK and Companies within the Thesis Holdings Group.

    Biography:

    Sally had spent forty years in financial markets, of which over thirty were as an Asian fund manager, covering countries stretching from India to Australasia.

    Preference:

    Available to meet in person or online

  • Glyn Ford

    Research Area:

    Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

    Biography:

    Glyn was a Member of the European Parliament for 25 years and has visited North Korea almost 50 times. Glyn has authored two books, Talking to North Korea and Picturing the DPRK, and is director of Track2Asia – a not-for-profit that specialises in international dialogue with East Asia.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online

  • Dr Bill Hayton

    Research Area:

    Chinese and Vietnamese history and foreign policy.

    Biography:

    Bill is an author and former BBC journalist. He is the Editor of the RSAA’s journal, Asian Affairs.

    Preference:

    Available to meet in person and online.

  • Simon Hayes

    Research Area:

    International business and finance

    Biography:

    Simon has spent over 15 years working with Chief Financial Officers across Australia and Southeast Asia. As Managing Director of the Global CFO Network, he works with some of the world’s largest multinationals, offering intelligence, analysis and training.

    Preference:

    Available to meet online

  • Samantha Knights KC

    Research Area:

    Human rights, refugee and trafficking law, religion, rights in nature

    Biography:

    Barrister, Matrix Chair of Advisory Board of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre Author of Law, Rights and Religion (OUP 2021) Adjunct Professor University of Miami School of Law (2018-2020)

    Preference:

    Online or in person where possible