Shirley Yu

Shirley Yu is a renown political economist and Director of the China-Africa Initiative at the London School of Economics. A seasoned expert in geo-politics and the Chinese economy, Shirley is a passionate communicator who has dedicated her career to sharing her expertise with the word. 

With a strong educational foundation in political sciences including a MA in Government and Political Science from Harvard University and a PhD in Political Economy from Peking University, Shirley became a Senior Practitioner Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. Passionate about sharing her insights with the world, Shirley became the director of Shirley Yu & Co in 2019 where she provides member-only briefings on Chinese economy.  

Shirley is now the Director of the China-Africa Initiative at The London School of Economics and Political Science, a Senior Practitioner Fellow with Harvard Kennedy School and an Honorary Distinguished Foreign Faculty Professor at the National Defence University in Islamabad. Along with educating and empowering the next generation, Shirley also produces daily intelligence and insights newsletters on China for Fortune 500 Stakeholders, further evidence of her passion to share her expertise. 

Shirley is an experienced and sought-after speaker who is frequently invited to speak at leading global think tanks and research institutes including Harvard University, Cambridge University and Chatham House. She is also a frequent contributor to global news outlets like the BBC, Bloomberg, CNN and Al Jazeera. Experienced at demystifying complex geo-political and global economic issues, Shirley is a must-hire for any organisation looking to learn about the global impacts of China.