Event

Wealth and good fortune, icons and brands, shifting tastes and tendencies — where is Chinese consumerism heading? Join us for a panel discussion among three informed voices in the field: Sarah Jane Ho, founder of China's first finishing school, Institute Sarita; Timothy Coghlan, director of luxury retail at Savills Property Services China; and Laurie Burkitt, who covers the consumer beat for The Wall Street Journal. Nathan VanderKlippe of The Globe and Mail will moderate.

A native of Hong Kong, Sara Jane Ho is the founder and principal of Institute Sarita. Ms. Ho attended Phillips Exeter Academy boarding school and holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She also holds a diploma in International Etiquette & Protocol from the Swiss finishing school, Institut Villa Pierrefeu. Ms. Ho speaks five languages and has lived in Asia, Europe and USA. Prior to founding Institute Sarita, she began her career as an investment banker in New York. She is a Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum and is a columnist for the Chinese editions of The Wall Street Journal and Vogue. Ms. Ho is on the 2013 Forbes list "Future Women in the Mix in Asia: 12 to Watch."

Timothy Coghlan is director, Savills Property Services China, and founder of Maosuit.com. Timothy advises the world's most iconic fashion and luxury brands on China entry, expansion and retail strategies. In 2014 he received the inaugural Australia-China Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship from Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop for his work setting up the Australia-China Fashion Alliance (ACFA) — a project which utilizes "catwalk diplomacy" in fashion and related services in China. Timothy is an influential voice in the China fashion industry and a frequent media commentator. He graduated from the Australian National University with degrees in Economics and Asian Studies. He speaks Mandarin and Japanese.

Laurie Burkitt is based in The Wall Street Journal's Beijing bureau, where she writes about the rise of China's consumers. Her coverage includes the topics of retail, health, luxury and entertainment, and companies such as Wal-Mart, Yum Brands, GlaxoSmithKline and Gucci.

Nathan VanderKlippe is the Beijing correspondent for The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper. He covers a broad range of issues in China and beyond. He previously worked as a print and television correspondent in Western Canada and the Canadian North.