New China Team Members

Felix Ye, formerly Director of International Students at Auckland Grammar School, has just begun work as our Education Manager based at the New Zealand Consulate-General in Guangzhou.  “Felix is perfect for this role”, says Alex.  “Having spent the past 11 years in a variety of international education positions in both public and private institutions, Felix comes to us with strong and proven credentials and networks.”  Additionally, “Felix originally came to New Zealand as an international student, and has a valuable innate understanding of the kinds of drivers and factors that go into the decision to go overseas to study,” says Alex.  “Felix understands ‘Why New Zealand?’ – and can clearly articulate this to prospective students”. 

“I am very excited, both personally and professionally, to have this opportunity to work for ENZ in China and to grow our links with the South”, says Felix.  “Guangzhou is my hometown, and there is a lot of potential for New Zealand here.  Guangdong is already the number 1 source province for Chinese students in New Zealand, and with an ENZ presence now here – we are well-placed to develop the education relationship even further”.

Felix is a fluent English, Mandarin, and Cantonese speaker, and will have responsibility for growing education business in Southern China, (Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainan, Hunan), Hong Kong and Macau.  To connect with Felix, drop him a line at felix.ye@enz.govt.nz.

Sam Mackay, another familiar face to many, will soon be joining the China Team, based with Alex, Li Zhi, and Rosemary An at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing.

“Sam will be joining us as Senior Education Manager from the end of November, with responsibility for the government-to-government/policy side of the bilateral education relationship; as well as on growing education business”, says Alex. 

Sam has a long history in international education, both at the government and institution level.  Sam has previously worked on the China relationship at our Ministry of Education; and has studied Mandarin in Beijing, where he also worked at the New Zealand Centre at Peking University.  “Sam comes to us with a robust international education and policy skillset and a solid understanding of both New Zealand and China”.

Sam will be kick-starting his China work at the ENZ Conference in November, where he will represent the China Team in giving overview of China opportunities.  Sam can be reached at sam.mackay@enz.govt.nz.