We are writing to invite you to attend the SCEN & China Futures Society (CFS) Joint Lecture 2026 at the University of Edinburgh. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could share this event with your students.
This year’s SCEN lecture will be an informal talk highlighting the opportunities which studying Chinese and engaging with China has to offer … presented by two individuals whose curiosity has taken their career paths across the world and provided them with unforgettable experiences – from the everyday to the extraordinary – and a peek through the different lens of life in China.
The lecture aims not only to inform but to inspire. It is particularly designed for students who are currently learning Chinese, or considering doing so, and who are curious about where their language studies might lead in the future.
As in previous years, the evening will include time for discussion and informal networking over soft drinks and light refreshments.
📢 Event Details
📅 Date: Thursday, 19th March 2026
📍 Venue: Hall A, 40 George Square, The University of Edinburgh
🎤 Title: From Chinese Characters to China Careers
⏰ Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Registration: 17:00 - 17:30
Lecture: 17:30 - 18:30
Networking Event: 18:30 - 19:00
🎤 Speakers: Julia Herries and Francesca Leiper
☕ Drinks will be available before the lecture and during the networking session.
🎟️ Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scencfs-lecture-2026-tickets-1982780497844?aff=oddtdtcreator
Julia Herries has over 30 years of international business and investment experience across Asia, the UK, the US and South America. Most recently, she served as Commissioner for Trade and Investment Queensland in Hong Kong before returning to Scotland in 2023. She now works with Engage with China, continuing her long-standing involvement in UK–China engagement. She has also held senior leadership roles in the Hong Kong offices of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Australian Graduate School of Management, the Graduate Management Admission Council, and the University of Oxford. Earlier in her career, Julia worked in investment promotion and corporate finance across multiple regions. She is a Mandarin speaker and holds both a BA and an MA in East Asian Studies from Indiana University (Bloomington), USA.Make it stand out
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Francesca Leiper is an Edinburgh-based Chinese art and publishing specialist and fluent Mandarin speaker. She holds an MA in Chinese Art History from Nanjing University of the Arts and a BA in Chinese and Art History from SOAS. Formerly Business Development Manager at the Confucius Institute at Oxford Brookes University, she led publishing initiatives, student exchanges and major cultural events, including the exhibition Behind the Masks: Discovering Sanxingdui and Jinsha. Francesca previously lived in China for seven years, working as an assistant editor at Guangxi Normal University Press and collaborating with leading design studios and museums in Nanjing.it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.