I am a political scientist specialising in state-society relations, civil society, and local governance. I am completing my PhD at the University of Edinburgh, examining how NGOs operate within authoritarian systems using survey and interviews.
EDUCATION
June 2026
Ph.D. Politics, The University of Edinburgh [Viva passed on April 6] [Expected]
Thesis: Negotiating with the Authoritarian State: Evidence from Rural Education NGOs in China
Supervisors: Shan-Jan Sarah Liu, Jingyi Li
2018
M.A. China Studies, City University of Hong Kong
Dissertation: CSR in China’s Rural Education: A Case Study of Two Counties in Anhui
Supervisor: Natalie Wai-Man Wong
2017
B.A. East Asian Studies and Political Science, University of Alberta
2013
English Language and Literature, Shanghai International Studies University
RESEARCH POSITIONS
2024–Present
Consultant, Asian Development Bank, Manila
- Writer for Civil Society Brief on PRC
2020–2021
Columnist (Freelance), Guancha News, Shanghai
2018–2019
Research Assistant, Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Research Institute, Lingnan University, Hong Kong
- Conducting research projects on economic development of Hong Kong SAR and mainland China
- Assisting the management of the Master of Science in International and Development Program
- Coordinating academic conferences, seminars and events
July 2016
Research Intern, China Radio International, Beijing
- Conducting literature review on comparative cases to the project on the development of Japanese media industry
- Writing for official social media platforms
July 2015
Research Intern, Industrial Bank Co., Ltd, Fuzhou
- Conducting literature review to the project on CSR and Green Finance in cooperation with the University of Waterloo in Canada and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Finance
TEACHING
Tutor, School of Social and Political Science, The University of Edinburgh
Jan–May 2025
Politics and International Relations 1B: The Global Dimension
Sept–Dec 2024
Politics in a Changing World: An Introduction for non-specialists
Sept–Dec 2022
Politics in a Changing World: An Introduction for non-specialists
Teaching Assistant, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Alberta
Jan–May 2015
Chinese Language for Beginners/The Chinese Language Help Center
Sept–Dec 2015
Chinese Language for Beginners/The Chinese Language Help Center
ACADEMIC SERVICE
2026–Present
Peer Reviewer, VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
AWARDS
2022
The Runners-Up Winner, The 2022 YCW-Lau China Institute Essay Competition, King’s College London
2018
Academic Excellence Awards, Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong
CONFERENCES
Sept 2026
Is the Big Brother Watching? How China Shapes NGO Autonomy from Within (Abstract accepted)
American Political Science Association 122nd APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Boston
July 2026
Professionalization as Control: The Social Work Department and the Future of Grassroots NGOs in China (Abstract accepted)
The 26th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Chinese Studies, Venice
Nov 2025
Professionalization as Control: The Social Work Department and the Future of Grassroots NGOs in China (Abstract accepted)
Chinese Studies Association of Australia Biennial Conference, Melbourne
Sept 2023
NGOs and Local Governance: A Case Study of China’s Rural Education
British Association of Chinese Studies Annual Conference, London (Paper presented)
SKILLS
Language
English (Fluent in speaking, reading and academic writing)
Mandarin Chinese (Native)
Cantonese (Intermediate)
Japanese (Beginner)
Computer
STATA, NVivo, Microsoft Office
Selected publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
2020
Hua, Jingbo, and Natalie WM Wong. “Corporate Social Responsibility in the Development of China’s Rural Education: A Case Study of Two Counties in Anhui Province.” China: An International Journal, vol. 18, no. 4, 2020, pp. 141-165.
2019
Cheng, Leonard K., Gregory W. Whitten and Jingbo Hua. “The National Security Argument for Protection of Domestic Industries.” Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, vol. 17, no. 4, 2019, pp. 365-388.
2019
Chow, Man-Kong, Jingbo Hua and Wing-Lok Hung. “Tertiary Education and Innovation in the Greater Bay Area.” Asian Education and Development Studies, vol. 9, no. 3, 2019, pp. 325-336.
Under Review
“Negotiating Legitimacy: NGO registration and conditional inclusion in China.” VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations.
Reports
2026
Civil Society Brief on China, Asian Development Bank (Awaiting publication)
Op-Eds
2021
“Why Taiwan Needs to Keep the Cross-strait Trade Deal Alive.” South China Morning Post, 1 Jan.
2020
“How did Oracle Become the Eventual Winner of Tik Tok Incident.” Guancha News, 16 Sept. 2020
2020
“Tik Tok, Sin in the Possibility of Becoming China's Soft Power.” Hong Kong Economic Journal, 7 Aug.
2020
“Does UK Really Want to Give Millions of Hong Kong People Citizenships?” Guancha News, 30 Jul.
2020
“It is not Possible to Kick Hong Kong Out of SWIFT.” Hong Kong Economic Journal, 20 July.
2020
“Keep an Open Mind and Tackle the US Sanctions.” Hong Kong Economic Journal, 17 Jun.
2020
“Why the US Social Movement Did Not Appear in Hong Kong’s Most Popular BBS Among Youths?” Guancha News, 8 Jun.
2020
“Crazy mask industry: A capitalist game that trapped Chinese peasants.” Guancha News, 2 Jun.
2020
“Revolutionize China or Transform the US.” Hong Kong Economic Journal, 27 May.
2019
“The Need for Bringing Back Hong Kong’s Manufacturing Industry in the Current Social and Economic Crisis.” Hong Kong Economic Journal, 8 Nov.
2019
“Understand the US-China Trade War Through Conflict Between South Korea and Japan.” Hong Kong Etnet, 21 Aug.
2019
“Suggestions on Promoting Participation of Hong Kong Youths in Building the Greater Bay Area.” Hong Kong Economic Journal, 20 Jul.
Working Papers
Is the Big Brother Watching? How China Shapes NGO Autonomy From Within (with Shan-Jan Sarah Liu)
Professionalization as Control: The Social Work Department and the Future of Grassroots NGOs in China
Governing by Allocation: How the State Funds Civil Society in China
Foreign Help, National Risk? Security, Sovereignty, and the Survival of NGOs in China
Research data and tools
Welfare Lottery Proceeds Data 2026
Placeholder for datasets, analyses, and reports related to welfare lottery proceeds.
NGO Survey Report 2024
Placeholder for the 2024 NGO survey dataset, documentation, and summary findings.
NGO Laws and Regulations
Placeholder for legal texts, translations, and annotated notes on NGO regulations.
Collaborated organisations and contact
A
Collaborated organisation A profile and summary.
B
Collaborated organisation B profile and summary.
C
Collaborated organisation C profile and summary.