Alumni Profile: Tom Parker
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Degree: Bachelor of Arts 1994 Current Position: Senior Coordinator, Melbourne International for the City of Melbourne Tom Parker’s life-long passion for China is incorporated into his work as a coordinator of business, educational, civic and cultural exchanges between Melbourne and its 'sister city' Tianjin. Here, Tom tells us more about a career path that has involved everything from organising mass wedding ceremonies to translating for a Chinese chef on Good Morning Australia. |
I started teaching high school Chinese after completing a postgraduate degree and have worked in China-focused program management roles in numerous organisations, including the Asialink Centre at the University of Melbourne, Austrade Beijing and the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing. I have also been a writer and reporter for the ABC’s Asia Pacific program both in China and in Australia.
In my current role, I oversee the City of Melbourne’s Chinese partnerships including our sister city relationship with Tianjin. It’s a diverse role that covers business facilitation, managing our off-shore office and staff in Tianjin and coordinating in-bound and out-bound delegations.
That diversity is what I enjoy most about my job. The current level of exchange between Melbourne and Tianjin and other Chinese cities is truly amazing and covers everything from organising the Lord Mayor’s China mission to bringing out China’s most revered dumpling chef for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. One week I might be organising a mass-wedding ceremony for 72 couples from Tianjin at Federation Square; the next week, running professional development training programs for businesses keen to explore the China market. I also enjoy acting as a facilitator and de facto guide in helping Melbourne-based organisations understand and interact effectively with their Chinese counterparts.
The highlights of my career to date have been establishing the China In-Country Professional Development Program, assisting the AFL develop football in Tianjin, acting as a translator for Chef Zhao on Bert Newton’s Good Morning Australia and raising the profile of Melbourne’s sister city relationships.
As a student at the University of Melbourne, I benefited from the scope of China-related subjects offered. Language acquisition was only part of the sinology package. I am indebted to the Chinese department for delivering a broad range of subjects that allowed me to develop my own China skills. The abilities to synthesise, analyse and think critically have also been crucial in my professional development.
Outside work, I like to spend time looking after my six-month-old daughter Sylvie. I also enjoy cooking and watching bad 1980s Hong Kong kung fu films.
Photo Credit: Lori Crupi
