Entrepreneur Cleo Gilmour appointed to New Zealand China Council

Future food entrepreneur Cleo Gilmour has been appointed as a ‘NextGen’ member of the New Zealand China Council under its next generation leadership development programme. 

The Council reserves up to two seats for emerging leaders and young professionals with a proven interest in the New Zealand-China relationship.  NextGen members sit on the Council for a two-year term. 

Cleo has recently launched sustainable food start-up LILO Desserts.  She previously interned and worked for a Chinese marketing consultancy in China and New Zealand and is an influencer on Chinese social media in her own right, introducing aspects of NZ life and culture to her followers.  Cleo speaks Mandarin and holds Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Philosophy degrees from Victoria University of Wellington. 

Welcoming Cleo, Council Chair John McKinnon said “the NextGen programme is intended to deliver mutual benefit: to NextGen members as a leadership development opportunity working alongside senior leaders who help drive New Zealand’s engagement with China; and to the Council as an opportunity to hear fresh perspectives from a younger demographic.”  

“Cleo will bring a lot of value to the Council through her focus on Gen Z consumer trends in China, her knowledge of Chinese social media influencing and her interest in future food”, McKinnon said. 

Cleo joins current NextGen member Ben Abraham on the Council.  Both members will assist the Council to deepen its engagement with New Zealand young professionals, while contributing to other Council projects related to their areas of expertise.

Cleo’s bio can be viewed here.