Vaughn Barber
“ASA is built on decades of real-world experience navigating the space between commercial opportunity and strategic reality—especially when governments, capital, and cross-border complexity intersect.”
Vaughn brings over 29 years of China and Asia-Pacific experience, including 26 years with KPMG China. During his career, he served as Global Chair of KPMG’s Global China Practice, Co-Head of Infrastructure for KPMG China, and Head of M&A Tax for Asia Pacific.
He has advised on landmark transactions and complex cross-border investments, particularly those involving Chinese state-owned and private enterprises expanding globally, including under the Belt and Road Initiative. His work has spanned sectors including infrastructure, energy, and financial services.
Since retiring from KPMG in 2022, Vaughn has continued to make significant contributions to the business community. As the Chair of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, he remains deeply engaged in bridging China with the international business community, offering strategic advice and insights across multiple industries. Vaughn’s expertise and leadership continue to influence the direction of projects and investments in the region.
He speaks fluent Mandarin, is a Fellow of the HK Institute of CPAs, and a Chartered Accountant (Australia/NZ). He studied Chinese in China as part of the Australia-China Council’s Young Scholars Program in 1988.
Dr. Yaochen Hou
Dr. Yaochen Hou is an agribusiness and cross-border trade specialist with hands-on experience across research, consulting, and senior industry roles.
He holds a PhD in Agribusiness from the University of Queensland. His doctoral research—supported by Meat & Livestock Australia, the Australian Research Council, and the China Scholarship Council—examined omnichannel supply chains for Australian beef exports to China, offering detailed insight into consumer behaviour and cross-border logistics.
Before co-founding ASA, Yaochen worked as a Senior Consultant at EY-Parthenon, where he advised Chinese corporates on global investments, with a focus on post-acquisition integration and due diligence.
As Chief Operating Officer of AustCham China, he manages strategy implementation, member engagement, and Chinese government relations. He connects business strategy with stakeholder and policy engagement, bringing analytical rigour and grounded market insight to every project.