Wang Gungwu was born on the 9th October, 1930. He was born in Indonesia and grew up in Malaysia, eventually going on to study at the University of Malaya (Malaysia). Wang has held a number of prominent academic positions throughout his career including Vice Chancellor of University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995. He has been a prolific contributor to scholarly journals and conferences, recognised around the world as a leading commentator on contemporary Chinese and Asian affairs. Apart from his honorary doctorate title, Wang's links to Griffith University are strong. He was influential in the formation of our Australian First foundation School of Modern Asian Studies and remains a contributor to the University's contemporary work on Asian studies/relations.