Patrick English has been involved with China since 1989, and is currently the Executive Director for the New Zealand China Council. The New Zealand China Council was established in 2012 to support a key goal of the NZ Inc China Strategy; to retain and build a strong and resilient relationship with China.​

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Patrick worked for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise for more than 17 years and over this time spent more than 12 years living and working in China. Patrick is an experienced Trade Commissioner and diplomat having served in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, as well as Malaysia. For 3 years prior to his posting to Guangzhou as Consul General and Trade Commissioner, he was part of the New Zealand China FTA negotiations team and led the market implementation programme for the New Zealand China FTA agreement.