Cynthia Yuan 袁迪雅

Experience

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  Chance Bridge Partners

  Aug 2016 - Oct 2016

  Legal Intern

  As an intern on the Cross-Border Investments team, whilst also assisting in the practice areas of Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Corporate Compliance, I was able to gain experience in:• Conducting legal research on recent developments in China’s FDI law.• Providing English training on topics relating to the Australia-China legal landscape (incl. ChAFTA, Chinese FDI in the Australian Property Market, Barriers to entry for foreign firms entering the Chinese market, Guanxi vs. the rule of law)• Liaising with foreign clients in contract negotiations. Show less

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  King & Wood Mallesons

  Nov 2016 - Jan 2017

  Law Clerk

  As a Law Clerk on the Cross-border M&A team, my duties included:• Drafting and reviewing sales purchase agreements, employment contracts etc.• Directly assisting partner in negotiations of joint venture with counterparty, inputting drafts of changes into JV agreements through to final execution.• Researching recent updates to China’s FDI laws and drafting business development documents such as KWM’s “Doing Business in China”.

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  KPMG Australia

  Sept 2017 - Sept 2018

  • Analyst, Utilities Policy & Regulations (Infrastructure Projects Group)

    Jun 2018 - Sept 2018

  • Graduate Analyst, Deal Advisory - Tax M&A

    Sept 2017 - Jun 2018
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  Environmental Justice Australia

  Jul 2018 - Dec 2018

  Legal Volunteer

  As a legal volunteer in the Climate and Finance division of EJA, I provided the following assistance to Principal Lawyer David Barnden:• Legal research and drafting legal documents in relation to McVeigh v REST Superannuation; and• Conducted research on UN IPCC and other global developments in climate change.

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  Hetherington Exploration & Mining Title Services

  Dec 2018 - Jan 2020

  Legal Consultant

  - Providing legal advice to mining companies on the ongoing compliance of their operations with mining, environmental, planning and native title legislation;- Conducting due diligence on mining, exploration, and quarry assets to facilitate proposed M&A transactions;- Assisting clients to obtain planning approvals for project development; and- Liaising directly with state government authorities and public stakeholders, including landholders and native title parties.

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  Infrastructure Partnerships Australia

  Jan 2020 - Nov 2020

  Policy Advisor

  • conduct detailed and well-evidenced research and analysis on a broad range of policy issues across the infrastructure sector;• write policy documents, including major reports, briefing notes, submissions, news articles, and assist in the maintenance of infrastructure pipeline database; and• engage with senior executives from the public and private sectors on policy and regulatory matters.

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  Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

  Dec 2020 - Nov 2021

  Senior Policy Officer

  As a Senior Policy Officer in the Department's Environment Protection Reform Division, Bilateral Agreements Branch, I am currently assisting in policy development and facilitating negotiations between the Commonwealth Government and State/Territory Governments with respect to proposed Single Touch Approval reforms under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act (Cth).In this role, I contributed to the development of the Department’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, as a representative of the Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) and Mental Health Advocacy Networks. Show less

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  Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources

  Nov 2021 - Aug 2022

  Senior Policy Officer (Trade Facilitation)

  As a Senior Policy Officer in DISER’s Strategic Policy Division, Trade and International Branch - Trade Facilitation Section, I will be facilitating the negotiation and development of standards and conformity assessment processes for Australia’s exports in the hydrogen and clean energy technology sectors, under bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with Australia’s key trade partners.

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  Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

  Oct 2022 - Sept 2023

  As Assistant Director in DFAT’s International Economics and Green Economy Division, Green Economy Branch, I am responsible for developing policy for issues that lie at the nexus of trade and climate, including trade-related climate measures, and Australia’s green trade and investment. Assisted in negotiation of the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement, which won a Secretary’s award for Excellence in Policy Development.

  • Assistant Director (Green Economy Policy)

    Aug 2022 - Sept 2023

  • Acting Director (Climate and Trade Policy)

    Mar 2023 - Mar 2023

  • Acting Director

    Oct 2022 - Nov 2022
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  Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

  Dec 2023 - now

  Leading Australia’s COP31 investment agenda. Short-term secondment. Progressing Australia-United States climate and clean energy cooperation, including driving negotiation and implementation of the Australia-US Climate, Critical Minerals, and Clean Energy Transformation Compact signed by Prime Minister Albanese and President Biden in May 2023.I lead on trade and economic aspects of Australia’s climate and clean energy cooperation with the United States, including industry engagement.

  • Assistant Director (Trade and Investment)

    Feb 2025 - now

  • Assistant Director (Energy Security)

    Jan 2025 - Feb 2025

  • Acting Director (US and Quad)

    Oct 2024 - Dec 2024

  • Assistant Director (US, Quad)

    Sept 2023 - Oct 2024

  • Acting Director (Major Powers)

    Dec 2023 - Jan 2024