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Key Points for David Thomas

  • David Thomas is a passionate advocate for Asia Pacific collaboration. David is a dynamic and engaging speaker, well-known for promoting business, trade, and investment partnerships across the Asia Pacific region. His dedication to building strong cross-cultural relationships opens doors for innovation and growth.
  • David plays a key role in helping Australian tech companies with capital-raising and commercialisation in Hong Kong and China’s Greater Bay Area, guiding them through one of the world’s most competitive markets.
  • With a career spanning the UK, Hong Kong, Australia, and the Philippines, David brings decades of experience in advising entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders on navigating the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Asia.
  • Having lived in Hong Kong during its pivotal political era, David combines his family’s historical ties with his professional insights to teach leaders how to build successful relationships and communicate effectively across cultures.

Topics for David Thomas

  • Geopolitics: USA, China and Asia. What’s happening and why it matters?
    We live in the Asian Century. In the coming years, China, India, Japan and Indonesia will become the largest economies in the world, driven by innovation, productivity and domestic consumption from their large and fast growing middle class and high net worth populations. Smaller Asian countries like South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are also emerging as economic powers in their own right, as the World tilts towards Asia and business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors seek access to the high growth markets of the region. Not surprisingly, this massive shift in the projection of global power, influence and leadership is causing disruption in the world, especially in the US and Europe who are threatened by the rise of powerful authoritarian countries disturbing the existing rules based world order, challenging old and well defined borders and creating conflicts in faraway places. How should we think and react to all of this? How do we feel about China, the rising economic, military and investment super-power on our doorstep? How do we navigate the complexities of the US - China rivalry and build new relationships and create opportunities in the Asian region?
  • Innovation and technology in the Asian century: The importance and relevance of Hong Kong and Singapore
    China’s major challenge is to deal with the massive deficit in its GDP caused by a traumatic, deep and far-reaching property crisis and the longer term impacts of the global pandemic. Consumer confidence is severely impacted and it would seem over-optimistic to believe that this gap can be filled by a rise in domestic consumption. As a result, China is rapidly investing in its advanced manufacturing sector to boost domestic growth, stimulate exports and create new jobs for their highly educated and youthful workforce. Much of this innovation will come from overseas, at least in the short term. The innovative and high-tech companies of the future now need to commercialise, capitalise and scale their technology and products into the Asian region, starting with the traditional investment and logistical hubs of Hong Kong and Singapore, and moving north into southern China and south into ASEAN. Australian entrepreneurs with access to innovative technology (especially in health, AI, fintech, food, agtech, clean energy and others) now have a unique opportunity to access early stage funding and investment in Asia.
  • Managing cross-cultural challenges in Asia: Crossing the nine bends bridge
    Despite some of Asia’s significant economic advances in recent times, their approach to doing business remains refreshingly similar to the way they’ve done business over the past one thousand years i.e. they only do business with people they know, like and trust.
    Business executives, entrepreneurs and professionals need to deal with people of other Asian backgrounds to deliver successful commercial outcomes, and it’s become critical for leaders to learn how to communicate, negotiate and connect with senior decision-makers and business leaders from both sides of the cross-cultural divide. Working with Asians can be rewarding and highly lucrative but it can also throw up cross-cultural differences and challenges which can cause frustration, stress and even conflict on both sides. Addressing, understanding and resolving areas of difference, especially when communicating and negotiating with Asian investors, entrepreneurs, partners and employees, is a skill that can be learnt and applied in high stakes situations, as well as in everyday interactions.

 

 

Testimonials for David Thomas

David is a highly informed Asia specialist. His presentation at RMA had a very sound conceptual base to which he built very pragmatic examples of where we need to focus in coming years. His candour and up to date comments really added value.
Executive Director
Risk Management Association Australia

 

The presentation was absolutely amazing. His ability to provide us with a very entertaining mix of history, economics, social development and future trends was exceptional...
CEO
Jellis Craig

David was the highlight of our recent real estate event for business owners. He provided loads of practical tips on how to embrace the opportunities in China...
Head of Growth and Client Engagement
Real Estate Results

I just wanted to pass on my sincere thanks for your excellent presentation to our senior bankers and customers on China and India. The feedback from the session has been overwhelming.
Former Head of International Products
Westpac Banking Corp

David delivered a great speech at the Business of Real Estate conference this year on developing positive business relationships with Chinese, by understanding culture - insightful & interesting.
CEO
The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand

David spoke at our Directors Conference in Hong Kong in June this year. The presentation was absolutely amazing. His ability to provide us with a very entertaining mix of history, economics, social development and future trends was exceptional. He also provided a great mix of content very relevant to our industry as well as general content that was both fascinating and educational for any business person.
CEO
Jellis Craig

David was the highlight of our recent real estate event for business owners. He provided loads of practical tips on how to embrace the opportunities in China. His talk was highly relevant , entertaining (lots of brilliant English humour) and everyone walked away with ideas they can use immediately in their business to make the most of the Chinese market.
Head of Growth & Client Engagement
Real Estate Results

Having recently travelled the breadth of the country to listen to leading edge speakers in regards to real estate, I found your presentation extremely refreshing and addressed in very straightforward and easy to understand and implement, format. Your presentation was very pertinent and inspiring with regards to many areas of our business and how we present ourselves to the Chinese market.
Owner
Mark Hay Realty

David recently presented at a client function on China's 12th Five Year Plan. His presentation was engaging and delivered in a relaxed manner and was well received by our clients. His insights into the China economy and future plans were enlightening even to our China delegates.
Regional Sector Head Consumer & Retail
DHL GLobal Forwarding

David Thomas recently spoke at one of our conferences and we had some great feedback from our participants. His presentation was described as cutting edge, insightful, highly researched and thought-provoking. So if you are looking for a speaker with ideas about the best way to take a business or any idea global, then David is someone that you definitely need to get to know and work with.
Founder & CEO
Business Blueprint

We had David presenting at our National Conference this year and he really knows his stuff. Feedback from his session was excellent and there’s little doubt that he’s the master of this topic. We look forward to hearing more from David.
Founder & Director
Flying Solo

I just wanted to pass on my sincere thanks for your excellent presentation to our senior bankers and customers on China and India. The feedback from the session has been overwhelmingly positive. The energy and clear insight that you brought to the Masterclass was a real strength. I look forward to continuing to work together on future events.
Former Head of International Products
Westpac Banking Corp

When building a bespoke forum and study tour experience out of Hong Kong for our Practice Principals, it was clear we needed to engage a China expert. Someone with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the region and who would be able to translate these into learnings relevant to the Australian advice professional and business owner. All roads led us to David and from the outset his knowledge and willingness to open doors for us proved invaluable. We also had David address our group as a keynote speaker which rated as one of the standout sessions of the program. We were thrilled with David's contribution to the success of the Magnitude Principals Forum and hope to work with him again in the future.
National Manager
Licensee and Offer Development at BT Group Licensees

Thank you again for your well researched and informative presentation at the ATEC Meeting Place conference last week. Your presentation on the BRIC economies and with a twist on the tourism opportunities was well received by our members, and I had much positive comment at the event and over email in the last few days on the quality of your presentation.
Deputy CEO
Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC)

“ am truly grateful for the professional way you conducted yourself, your direction and input into the China Australia Business Congress 2009 throughout the two days. Your depth of knowledge in the China / Australia theatre added enormous value to the delegation as you were able to quickly summarise each session with confidence, clarity and relevance. It is my sincere hope I may call on you again for your guidance and participation to enable us produce another quality event which we can build on from the success of our inaugural China Australia Business Congress in Sydney in May 2009. Your position as Chair for this event enabled the Congress to run smoothly, professionally and seamlessly and I look forward to working with you again very soon.
Conference Director
Association & Communication Events

The University of Technology Sydney recently had the privilege of David Thomas presenting to its students studying Business and Culture in Asia Pacific (BCAP). To hear from an industry specialist is a significant benefit for students. With conviction I highly recommend David as a speaker. His knowledge and practical understanding of the dynamics of these two significant markets is outstanding. David's presentation was topical, insightful, thought provoking and certainly created much discussion. His style is relaxed yet focussed delivered with great enthusiasm and humour. Thank you David for a great evening - it was a pleasure to listen to you.
Marketing Operations Lead
IBM Australia Ltd

David's unique insight into our changing world is a message worth tuning into. An engaging speaker, his well-informed presentation on emerging markets will enlighten and galvanise! I recommend David to those who are looking at global expansion, particularly business development in China as well as in other countries in the region.
MLC

I just wanted to pass on my sincere thanks for your excellent presentation to our senior bankers and customers on China and India. The feedback from the session has been overwhelmingly positive. The energy and clear insight that you brought to the Masterclass was a real strength. I look forward to continuing to work together on future events.
Head of International Products
Westpac Banking Corp.

Joining the Think Global China tour was the best business decision I’ve made this year. I went on the tour with an objective of quickly immersing myself into Chinese business culture so I could understand the growing focus on this marketplace amongst my Australian clients. The insights from the trip have profoundly changed the way I look at China, and other BRIC economies. The bonus for me from this experience was emerging with a range of immediate business and partnership opportunities in a market I had only intended to explore this year. David Thomas and his Think Global operation are unique in their expertise and the quality of their offering. They provide a service that I strongly recommend to any executive needing to quickly wrap their mind around and / or penetrate the BRIC marketplace.
Director
The Launch Group

I met David Thomas when he was the Guest Speaker at a MBA class on Business & Culture in Asia Pacific. I was inspired by his talk and signed up immediately for his eNewsletter. Now that I myself are living and working in India, I more than ever look forward to receiving David’s newsletters. His commentary on this exciting, emerging market is always spot on and his insights into the possibilities of doing business with and in India are extremely relevant & valuable.
Vice President
Franchise India

David encourages fellow professionals to seek further education and experiences in environments that are not readily available or accessible. The speakers and material that have been presented by Think Global are first class & I encourage other professionals to take the journey.
Head of Retail
Schroders

David is a deep thinking, well organised person who has a depth and breadth of knowledge in the business services and particularly the financial services sector that would be a wonderful asset for any organisation seeking to expand their business.
Owner
Barnes Dowell James

We contacted David Thomas at Think Global Consulting to help us resolve contractual difficulties we were facing with our Chinese technology partners. We secured David's services in order to provide some expertise and direct coaching to our teams and personally to our CFO and myself. These sessions revolved around some cultural learnings and an adaptation of what we saw as legal issues into 'relationship challenges' with our Chinese partners. We took on board David's advice and, accordingly, adapted our direction and strategy in all of our dealings with China. Within what was an astoundingly short period of time, the strength was restored to the relationship and, today, that relationship has developed into a partnership which represents one of the key cornerstones of Blueprint's business. Without a doubt, David's expertise was the key element in this success. We would not hesitate to recommend David to organisations with objectives which include expansion into Asia.
Group CEO
Blueprint Management Group

Our organisation, a major financial services firm, recently engaged David Thomas to present at our national professional development days across the country. The brief was simple, though the task was complex. We wanted our advisers to gain an international perspective, particularly on the BRIC countries and their potential impact on the Australian economy. This was to have a particular focus on China and it’s impact on our long term recovery. David produced an extremely interesting presentation, which thoroughly engaged his audience. His technical understanding coupled with on the ground experience provided insights that soon had our advisers asking questions and taking note of what he had to say. The feedback across the country has been very positive and we are looking at how we can use David again in the future.
Professional Development Manager

David Thomas has been a constant support to CIPS over the last two years. His expertise on China & BRIC countries is much appreciated. His recent speech at our Strategic Procurement Forum in Perth [May 09] was relevant, informative, engaging and well received by a demanding audience of senior procurement professionals – many from the resources sector.
Managing Director
CIPS Australia

The Australian Institute of Export ran a very successful event for the NSW Export community in Sydney on March 25th, 2009. Our MC for the event, where the theme was a focus on the BRIC countries and their trade potential, was David Thomas. David has a particularly strong interest in this group of countries, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the opportunities came through loud and clear. David’s presentation was sharp, focused, and built on key facts and figures; and gave all who attended a wonderful insight into those four countries. As MC, David also had the role of “interviewing” two established and well known exporters about their experiences with the BRIC countries. Again David’s knowledge and insightful questioning allowed all present to really benefit from the experiences of these export panelists. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with David for that event, and plan to collaborate on a number of future opportunities. Accordingly we acknowledge David’s skills as a first class facilitator, and commentator, in his areas of expertise, and would recommend him to others seeking that expertise.
General Manager
Australian Institute of Export