Wesa Chau

Director of Public Policy, Multicultural Leadership Initiative


Wesa Chau is a thought leader in cultural diversity and the Australia-Asia relationship. She is currently Director of Public Policy at Multicultural Leadership Initiative and serving as an advisory board member of the National Foundation of Australia-China Relations and Victorian Government Anti-Racism Taskforce. Wesa has solid track record in policy advocacy that applies an intersectional lens in areas such as international relations, international education, equality, and climate change.

In research, she explored topics ranging from Asian diaspora in philanthropy, leadership, cultural diplomacy and politics. She was one of the key authors of a number of ground-breaking research, including the Asian-Australian Diaspora in Philanthropy research commissioned by the Lord Mayor Charitable Foundation and International Cultural Engagements among Australians of Pacific Islands and Asian Descent commissioned by Australia Council of Learned Academies. Wesa was awarded the inaugural Swinburne-Scanlon Intercultural Fellowship 2016 to Malaysia and India, supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Wesa's engagement in Asia covers greater China, India and Southeast Asia. She was invited to be a delegate on the Australia-China High-Level Dialogue 2017 led by the former Prime Minister Hon John Howard OM, AC, alongside senior Australian politicians, business leaders and diplomats. She was also a delegate on the Australia-China Youth Dialogue 2012; Victorian Super Trade Mission to China 2012; and Australia-India Youth Dialogue 2018. 

Wesa Chau has received several awards for her contribution to the community, including education category winner for the 40under40 Most Influential Asian Australian 2020; Victorian International Education Internationalisation Award 2016; inductee to the Victorian Women Honour Roll in 2012; and named Young Victorian of the Year in 2010.