View source for Jason Li

{{family name hatnote|[[Li (surname)|Li]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    =
| name                = Jason Li
| honorific_suffix    = [[New South Wales Parliament|MP]]
| image               =
| caption             =
| office              = Member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] for [[Electoral district of Strathfield|Strathfield]]
| term_start          = 12 February 2022
| term_end            =
| predecessor         = [[Jodi McKay]]
| successor           =
| birth_name          = Jason Yat-Sen Li
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|9|28}}
| birth_place         = Sydney, Australia
| education           = [[Sydney Grammar School]]
| alma_mater          = {{plainlist|
* [[University of Sydney]]
* [[New York University]] {{small|([[Master of Laws|LLM]])}}
}}
| nationality         =
| party               = [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]]
| otherparty          = [[Unity Party (Australia)|Unity]]
| occupation          = {{hlist|Businessman|Politician}}
| website             =
}}
'''Jason Yat-Sen Li''' (Chinese: 李逸仙;<ref name="zhname">{{cite news |title=工党候选人李逸仙或将赢得新州Strathfield议席 |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/chinese/mandarin/zh-hans/labor-candidate-jason-yat-sen-li-looks-set-to-win-strathfield |access-date=26 February 2022 |work=SBS Your Language |date=14 February 2022 |language=zh-hans}}</ref> born 28 September 1971) is an Australian businessman and politician. He is a member of the [[Australian Labor Party]] (ALP) and was elected to the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] at the [[2022 Strathfield state by-election]].
Li was a [[Republicanism in Australia|republican]] delegate to the [[1998 Australian Constitutional Convention]]. He was one of the founders of the [[Unity Party (Australia)|Unity Party]] and stood unsuccessfully as the party's lead [[Australian Senate|Senate]] candidate at the [[1998 Australian federal election|1998 federal election]]. He later joined the ALP and was an endorsed candidate at the [[2013 Australian federal election|2013]] and [[2019 Australian federal election|2019 federal elections]], prior to his election to state parliament in 2022.
== Early life ==
Li was born on 28 September 1972.<ref name="portrait">{{Cite web|title=Jason Yat-sen Li, b. 1972|url=http://www.portrait.gov.au/people/jason-yat-sen-li-1972/|access-date=2021-10-12|website=National Portrait Gallery people}}</ref> He is the son of George and Pansy Li, Hong Kongers who first met while living in the same apartment block in [[Wan Chai]]. His mother migrated to New Zealand in 1958 and his father moved to Australia in 1960. They subsequently reunited and married in 1969, settling in the [[Sydney]] suburb of [[Bexley, New South Wales|Bexley]].<ref name=scmp>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1304187/labors-jason-li-bids-win-over-asian-voters-australian-election|title=Labor's Jason Li bids to win over Asian voters in Australian election|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=6 September 2013|first=Pam|last=Walker|accessdate=5 January 2022}}</ref>
While living at [[Maroubra Beach]], Li attended [[Sydney Grammar School]] because his father's business soon made the family independently wealthy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/austory/mild-colonial-boy-frog-freighters-march-23,-2000/10456800|title=Mild Colonial Boy / Frog Freighters|date=23 March 2000|accessdate=5 January 2022|work=Australian Story|publisher=ABC}}</ref> Li studied Arts-Law at the [[University of Sydney]] and, after graduating with his law degree, he moved to New York City. There, he completed a [[Master of Laws|Masters of Law]] from [[New York University]], highlighted by being recognised as Australia's Hauser Global Scholar.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mr Jason Yat Sen Li|date=3 February 2021|url=https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/about-us/the-asialink-council/mr-jason-yat-sen-li}}</ref>
== Business career ==
Li began his working career as a solicitor for [[Corrs Chambers Westgarth]], working for the law firm until 1999. During this time, Li also briefly worked at the United Nations, for the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] at the [[The Hague|Hague]], [[Netherlands]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Executive Briefing {{!}} Jason Yat-sen Li on the Five Personalities of China|url=https://asiasociety.org/australia/events/business-asia-jason-yat-sen-li-five-personalities-china|access-date=2021-10-12|website=Asia Society|language=en}}</ref> working as an associate to H.E. Judge Lal Vohrah. During his time in New York in 2000, he was an Associate in the Corporate Division of [[Davis Polk & Wardwell]].<ref name=portrait/>
On returning to Sydney he founded Professional Search Pty Ltd, working as executive director of the legal and accounting digital services platform. He sold this business in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonyli/details/experience/|title=Jason Yat-sen Li Experience – "Sold to trade buyer May 2002."|accessdate=8 May 2023}}</ref>
Li then continued his professional career at [[Insurance Australia Group]] (IAG).<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Jason Yat-sen Li: a real reflection of a global Australian|url=https://old.advance.org/blog/2018/12/12/jason-yat-sen-li-a-real-reflection-of-a-global-australian|access-date=2021-10-12|website=Advance|language=en-US}}</ref> From 2002 to 2004 he worked as the head of sustainability, with the responsibility of leading IAG's sustainability program for which IAG was named Sustainable Company of the Year in 2003. He was then promoted to Head of China Strategy from 2004 to 2005, working on IAG's acquisition of the China Automobile Association as well as strategic investment in [[China Pacific Insurance Company|China Pacific Insurance Co]]. In 2005 Li was appointed general manager of sales and marketing for the newly acquired IAG subsidiary China Automobile Association in Beijing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonyli/details/experience/|title=Jason Yat-sen Li Experience|accessdate=8 May 2023}}</ref>
In 2007 Li founded Yatsen Associates, a boutique cross-border corporate finance advisory firm, specialising in complex cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital raising mandates.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://yatsen.com.au/about/|title=About Us|website=Yatsen Associates|date=23 January 2022|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref> Many of Yatsen Associates' clientele have interests in oil, natural gas, clean energy, coal, and agricultural businesses in China and Central Asia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://yatsen.com.au/corporate-advisory/|title=Corporate Advisory|website=Yatsen Associates|date=23 January 2022|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref>
From 2013 he has been the executive chair of Vantage Asia Holdings.<ref name="auto"/> Vantage Asia Holdings manages a broad portfolio of investments both in Asia and Australia, including resources and technology firms, retail hospitality, student accommodation and vitamins/supplements firms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vantage-group.com.au/#what|title=Vantage Asia Holdings What we do|website=Vantage Asia Holdings|date=23 January 2022|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref>
== Boards ==
Li has been heavily involved at his alma mater the University of Sydney as a Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Senate Fellows|url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/about-us/governance-and-structure/governance/senate/our-senate-fellows.html|access-date=2021-10-12|website=The University of Sydney|language=en-AU}}</ref> He has served on the strategy and risk committee, the people and culture committee, and is currently chair of the risk and audit committee. Since 2021, Li has been a [[pro-chancellor]] of the university.
Previously Li had served as a non-executive director for nine years at the [[George Institute for Global Health]], the region's leading medical research institute focused on non-communicable diseases. He has also served as a director of the [[The Sydney Institute|Sydney Institute]] and is a previous youth chair of the NSW Ethnic Communities Council.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jason Li – Platinum Speakers and Entertainers Bureau|url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/Jason-Li.aspx|access-date=2021-10-12|website=www.platinumspeakers.com.au}}</ref> Li has also been a non-executive director of the National Centre for Volunteering and a former governing member of the [[The Smith Family (charity)|Smith Family]] charity.<ref name="portrait"/>
From 2007 to 2013 he was on the board of the [[China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, Beijing|China-Australia Chamber of Commerce]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Making China part of Australia's Future|date=17 September 2010|url=https://australiaasiaforum.com.au/2010/09/austcham-beijing-chairmans-column-making-china-part-of-australias-future/}}</ref> Beijing including a stint as vice-chair from 2009 to 2011. He has also served on the board of the Asia Australia Institute. Li is an advisory board member of think-tank China Matters<ref>{{Cite web|title=Advisory Council|url=https://chinamatters.org.au/who-we-are/advisory-council/|access-date=2021-10-12|website=China Matters}}</ref> and is the current president of the Chinese Australian Forum<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the Committee|url=https://www.caf.org.au/meet-the-committee|access-date=2021-10-12|website=chinese-aus-forum|language=en}}</ref> since 2019. Li is also currently on the board of [[Asialink]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bond|first=Madeleine|date=2021-02-03|title=Mr Jason Yat Sen Li|url=https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/about-us/the-asialink-council/mr-jason-yat-sen-li|access-date=2021-10-12|website=Asialink|language=en}}</ref> and the advisory board of HaymarketHQ.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jason Yat-sen Li|url=https://www.haymarkethq.com/team/jason-yat-sen-li/|access-date=2021-10-12|website=Haymarket HQ|language=en-AU}}</ref>
Li is a member of the [[World Economic Forum]] and is a young global leader as well as on the Forum's Global Agenda Council on China.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jason Li Yat-Sen|url=https://www.weforum.org/people/jason-li-yat-sen/|access-date=2021-10-12|website=World Economic Forum|language=en}}</ref>
In 2017 Li became chair of Refugee Talent, a software company that uses technology to assist refugees and migrants in Australia to secure meaningful employment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Refugee Talent – KEY PEOPLE – KEY PLACEMENTS|url=https://refugeetalent.com/|access-date=2021-10-12|language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Politics ==
===Early activities===
Li was elected to the [[1998 Australian Constitutional Convention]] as a [[Republicanism in Australia|republican]] delegate from New South Wales, running as a candidate for "A Multi-Cultural Voice".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/republic98/delegates.html |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/19991210000000/http:/www.theage.com.au/republic98/delegates.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1999-12-10 |title=National Library of Australia Australian Web Archive |publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au |date=2006-08-23 |access-date=2011-06-02}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He came to notice as "a young, eloquent advocate for an Australian republic",<ref name=scmp/> describing the [[Monarchy of Australia|monarchy]] as an "elitist, sectarian, sexist institution, completely out of touch with modern Australia".<ref name=smh2013>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/yat-sen-li-answers-labors-11th-hour-call-up-20130718-2q7b1.html|title=Yat-sen Li answers Labor's 11th hour call-up|first=Heath|last=Aston|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 July 2013|accessdate=5 January 2022}}</ref> He appeared in the national media to advocate a "Yes" vote at the [[1999 Australian republic referendum]], despite the opposition of some republicans to the final model chosen.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AM Archive – Jason Li's final argument for the "yes" case|url=https://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s63543.htm|access-date=2021-10-12|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref>
Following the rise of anti-immigration politician [[Pauline Hanson]] and her [[One Nation (Australia)|One Nation]] party, in 1998 Li help to establish the multiculturalist [[Unity Party (Australia)|Unity Party]], along with [[Peter Wong (Australian politician)|Peter Wong]], [[Mary Kalantzis]], and [[Bill Cope (academic)|Bill Cope]].<ref>{{cite thesis|url=http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:10833/SOURCE01?view=true|first=Stephen|last=Smith|type=PhD thesis|title=A dynamic electorate? Analysing the geography of minor parties at Australian state and federal elections, 1997–2006|publisher=University of New South Wales|year=2011|page=93}}</ref> He was the party's lead Senate candidate in New South Wales at the [[1998 Australian federal election|1998 federal election]], but failed to win election.<ref name=smh2013/>
===ALP candidacies===
Li was asked by prime minister [[Kevin Rudd]] to run as the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] candidate for the seat of [[Division of Bennelong|Bennelong]] at the [[2013 Australian federal election|2013 federal election]] even though he did not live in the electorate.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-08-21|title=McKew loses Bennelong to Liberals|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mckew-loses-bennelong-to-liberals-20100821-139r4.html|access-date=2021-10-12|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref> His selection came late in the campaign, following the withdrawal of original ALP candidate Jeff Silvestro-Martin due to an [[Independent Commission Against Corruption (New South Wales)|ICAC]] anti-corruption investigation.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-07-19|title=Dumped Labor candidate quizzed at ICAC over political ads|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/jeff-salvestro-martin-quizzed-at-icac/4830878|access-date=2021-10-12}}</ref> Li was defeated by the incumbent [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] MP [[John Alexander (Australian politician)|John Alexander]]. Li's wife Lucy is a close friend of Rudd's daughter Jessica.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theconversation.com/day-eight-howards-former-seat-once-more-in-play-16976|title=Day Eight: Howard's former seat once more in play|newspaper=The Conversation|date=12 August 2013|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref> Li was given the seat of Bennelong by NSW Labor Head Office in absence of an ALP rank-and-file vote which allows local Labor branch members to democratically vote for their candidate. Li subsequently failed in his attempt to win the ALP pre-selection rank and file vote for the federal seat of [[Division of Banks|Banks]] in 2018 toward the lead up to the 2019 Federal election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/paul-howes-exwife-lucy-mannering-eyes-federal-seat/news-story/45239f06647d1a0927f4aa19dd267f70|title=Paul Howes' ex-wife Lucy Mannering eyes federal seat|newspaper=The Australian|date=11 January 2018|accessdate=23 January 2022}}</ref>
Li was placed third on the ALP's Senate ticket in NSW for the [[2019 Australian federal election|2019 federal election]], behind [[Tony Sheldon (trade unionist)|Tony Sheldon]] and [[Tim Ayres]]. During the campaign he called for diversity targets to be introduced for federal parliament and criticised media narratives around [[dual loyalty]] of Chinese–Australians. Li has also commented in 2019 that Australia should consider investing in China's [[Belt and Road Initiative]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/key-labor-candidate-says-parliament-needs-ethnic-diversity-targets-20190423-p51geh.html|title=Key Labor candidate says Parliament needs ethnic diversity targets|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 April 2019|accessdate=5 January 2022}}</ref>
===State MP===
In 2021 Li was again endorsed as the third candidate on the ALP's Senate ticket for [[2022 Australian federal election|the next federal election]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Middleton|first=Karen|date=2021-09-18|title=Inside Kristina Keneally's preselection battle|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/09/18/inside-kristina-keneallys-preselection-battle/163188720012494|access-date=2021-10-12|website=The Saturday Paper|language=en}}</ref> But in 2022 he was instead endorsed by NSW Labor as the party's candidate for the [[2022 Strathfield state by-election]], following the resignation of former party leader [[Jodi McKay]]. There was no rank-and-file vote by the local ALP members in the branches for the electorate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lawyer-jason-yatsen-li-to-take-on-bridget-sakr-for-strathfield/news-story/711d422b6bcba3bfad22687edbeee8d8|title=Labor's Strathfield by-election candidate revealed|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=4 January 2022|accessdate=5 January 2022}}</ref>
Li retained Strathfield for the ALP at the by-election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 February 2022|title=Labor retains NSW seat of Strathfield|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-12/labor-retains-nsw-seat-of-strathfield/13752384|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=2263 |name=Mr Jason LI, MP |access-date=28 April 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Li was born in Sydney, grew up in Bexley North, and went to Kingsgrove and Hurstville Public Schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/member/files/2263/Mr%20Jason%20Li%20-%20Inaugural%20Speech.pdf|title=Mr Jason Li. Inaugural Speech|website=parliament.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>
Li and his family moved to China in 2005 and lived there for 8 years until 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/jason-yat-sen-li-being-australian-is-not-about-the-colour-of-your-skin-20130830-2sv06.html|title=Jason Yat-Sen Li: Being Australian is not about the colour of your skin|first=Jason Yat-Sen|last=Li|date=30 August 2013|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref>
Li has three children with his wife Lucy. He speaks English, [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]], and [[Cantonese language|Cantonese]].<ref name=scmp/>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
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{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jodi McKay]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Electoral district of Strathfield|Strathfield]]|years=2022–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{NSWCurrentMLAs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Jason}}
[[Category:Australian people of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian lawyers]]
[[Category:Australian republicans]]
[[Category:People educated at Sydney Grammar School]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Sydney]]
[[Category:University of Sydney alumni]]
[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Davis Polk & Wardwell lawyers]]
[[Category:Unity Party (Australia) politicians]]