Richard Brubaker

Rich is the Founder and Managing Partner of China Strategic Development Partners. Based in Shanghai, he assists his clients (both Fortune 500 companies and SMEs) in understanding the China market, determining their own China platform and implementing effective strategies.

In addition to his consulting, Rich has also been a active member of China’s CSR community. He established the charitable organizations Hands On Shanghai and Hands on Chengdu to promote, develop, and manage volunteerism in China. He was a founding member of “China at the Crossroads”, and has recently launched Cleaner Greener China to highlight the environmental challenges that China faces and the people, products, and companies who are developing solutions.

Rich has a Masters in International Management from Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Finance and Economics, from the University of Missouri.

Leigh Billings

I graduated from St. Olaf College in 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree. Shortly thereafter, I moved to China to carry out a one-year research project on China’s environmental NGOs.

While volunteering and interviewing numerous organizations, I developed a keen interest for how international organizations and different enterprises could better play a part in helping China’s civil society. In Fall 2008, I finished my project and joined Crossroads to keep on interviewing, writing and conducting research.

I am fascinated by the rapid pace of development that takes place in China every day; but coupled with my fascination is a growing sense of urgency as the country faces surmounting developmental challenges. Coming into contact with inspiring people and organizations working to push China down the right developmental path is my source of motivation and empowerment.

Zheng Wei

Zheng Wei is primarily responsible for implementing Plan China’s corporate-community partnership strategy with multinational companies and foundations, advising companies on effective community programs.

Educated in China’s most prestigious journalism school at Renmin University, Zheng Wei has spent time in rural China on learning and understanding the real needs of the rural poor

Previously he worked in Canada’s leading energy company EnCana’s CSR project in Calgary and worked in an international group which was created to help build the capacity of local NGOs in Calgary. Further to that, he was also involved with a business in Xinjiang learning how business develops and evolves in a way that benefits both business and community with the specific context in Western China.

Sophia Mendelsohn

After three years of Shanghai and working in export and manufacturing my surroundings motivated me to explore a growing personal curiosity with sustainable business practices. That curiosity became a passion, and then transformed again into a quest to keep the line rolling without the ominous smog growing collecting overhead. Crossroads became a critical learning tool for me, and one I draw on more the farther I explore the field of sustainability in China.

I am currently the Sustainability Leader for Haworth Furniture, and working closely with organizations like Crossroads to enhance our platform. Previously I worked at The Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots on a CSR program, Eco Office, and manged the supply-chain for a US based company. I have consulted for The Climate Group on Chinese media’s perception of Climate Change, written extensively for China CSR, and blogged for ResponsibleChina.com.

Tatiana Ramirez Oetker
Born and raised in El Salvador, I am the Eco Office Program manager at Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Shanghai where I help offices and companies reduce resource use and carbon footprint through environmental policies and employee behavior.

Arriving in China in 2005, I have became more aware than ever about the extent of the environmental problems the world is facing now, and realized how important create awareness among people in China - especially the young. I believe that education is the best way to inspire people to realize that each person’s action count and that living responsibly towards the environment and the fellow beings is the way to achieve sustainable economic and social development.