Our governance

Co-Director

Professor Oleg Benesch

Oleg is Professor of East Asian History, specialising in the history of early modern and modern Japan and China. Oleg’s research interests include Japanese intellectual, religious, and social history, Chinese intellectual history, as well as the transnational history of modern East Asia. He presents his research findings at academic conferences and invited lectures throughout East Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.

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Co-Director

Dr Jon Howlett

Jon is Senior Lecturer in Chinese and Colonial History. He is an historian of modern China and its global relationships. His current research explores the consequences of a sudden political change, the communist revolution of 1949, for ordinary people in Shanghai, China’s most foreign-influenced city. He has published on decolonisation in China, Sino-British relations, the development of communist ideology and the fate of British companies in Shanghai after 1949. Also the East Asia regional coordinator for YARN, Jon is keen to support colleagues across the University in organising and promoting interdisciplinary initiatives.

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Co-ordinator for Social Sciences

Dr Claire Smith

Claire's main research interest is in conflict and peace studies, especially in Southeast Asia. Other research interests include: democratisation, war-to-peace transitions, humanitarian interventions, ethno-religious violence, mass atrocities, civil war, the politics of development in contested states, Indonesia, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.

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Steering Committee

Regional Leaders

If you have a query that is specific to a YARN region, you can contact our Regional Leaders directly.