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Opportunities in the Disruption
of Traditional Industries

Global Unicorn Series
  • 24 - 27 Feb, 2026
  • Sydney, Australia
Opportunities in the Disruption of Traditional Industries
February 24 - 27, 2026
English
Sydney, Australia
USD 8000 + 10% GST
Early-bird discount until November 15

Program Fee Details
Includes tuition, teaching materials, site visits, program meals and simultaneous interpretation, if applicable.

A joint program by Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business and The University of Sydney

Contact Us Apply now

Program Overview

Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) and The University of Sydney Business School are collaborating to offer the second run of our joint program, scheduled for February 2026. Building on the success of the inaugural session, this joint program will continue to focus on Australia’s unique strengths, with a focus on:

  • Global challenges in energy and sustainability; and the transformation of traditional sectors such as mining, agriculture, and financial services through AI and technological innovation;
  • Scaling ventures by building global networks, leveraging opportunities within the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) region and beyond to unlock growth beyond Australia’s domestic market.

The program also features exclusive research on RCEP regional integration, trade policies, supply chain shifts, and investment trends, along with strategic discussions on navigating the challenges of de-globalization.

Beyond the classroom, the program offers experiential learning, including corporate visits to leading Australian enterprises and closed-door dialogues with CEOs and policymakers, providing hands-on insights.
Participants will also have access to CKGSB’s global network of influential business leaders, including CEOs, chairpersons, investors, and industry pioneers, creating lasting value for both business and personal growth.

Program Highlights

Program Highlights

Australian Innovation Ecosystem:

Examines technology-driven disruptions in new energy, mining, healthcare, and agriculture, as well as Australia’s net-zero ambitions.

ASEAN-Australia Business Ties and Scaling Opportunities:

Learn with top ASEAN, Chinese and Australian business leaders to identify partnership opportunities and leverage the growing RCEP market for expansion beyond local regions.

Innovation and Success Stories:

Understand the rise of unicorns across China, ASEAN, and Oceania, and the factors driving their success.

Action Learning:

Engage in practical activities to pitch and refine your innovative business ideas.

Global Network Access:

Participants will have the opportunity to join a global network of influential business leaders, composed of CKGSB alumni (more than half of whom are at the CEO or chairman level), major investors, key stakeholders, innovators, unicorns and established companies – creating immediate and long-term value for business and personal growth.

Who Should Attend

This program is tailored for visionary leaders such as:
  • Founders and C-level executives of fast-growing high-tech companies and businesses on the cusp of becoming unicorns, especially those in the green economy.
  • Senior executives from leading organizations committed to utilizing Australia and ASEAN/China-specific insights to drive impactful, disruptive and sustainable advancements in their fields.
  • Investors spanning venture capital, private equity firms, and other investment entities, including corporate venture arms and family offices, who are keen to support the next wave of unicorns.
  • Key figures from NGOs, senior government officials, and representatives from the public sector dedicated to nurturing local ecosystems for unicorns in new energy, green economy and other sectors.

Past program participants

  • Typical profiles include: Chairperson, Founder, CEO, VP, Partner, CTO, COO, CFO
  • Typical industries include: Energy, Manufacturing, Tech, Finance & Insurance, IT, Consumer goods, Media

CKGSB Faculty

XIANG Bing

Dr. Xiang Bing is the Founding Dean and Dean’s Distinguished Chair Professor of China Business and Globalization at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB). Under his leadership, CKGSB has evolved from a fledgling school to one of the most influential business schools in China with a global reputation since 2002.

LI Wei

Dr. Li is an authority on Chinese economy and business. Before joining CKGSB, Dr. Li was Professor of Business Administration (with tenure) at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia, where he has served on the faculty since 2000.

SUN Tianshu

Tianshu Sun 孙天澍 is a Dean’s Distinguished Chair Professor of Information Systems and Director of the Center for Digital Transformation at CKGSB. He has been tenured at USC Marshall School of Business, held a joint appointment in Computer Science and been recognized with Robert R. Dockson Named Professorship.

University of Sydney Faculty

Wei LI

Wei Li is a Senior Lecturer in International Business at the University of Sydney Business School and the Program Director for the Master of International Business. Bringing a wealth of expertise in international business and cross-border economic relationships. Wei Li provides strategic leadership and guidance to future leaders in global commerce.

Suresh CUGANESAN

Suresh Cuganesan is Deputy Dean (Students and Strategic Innovation) and Professor in the Discipline of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Sydney Business School.

Suresh specialises in the areas of strategy, organisational design and strategic financial management. His research examines how organisations and individuals: deal with competing strategic demands; enact more open and collaborative practices; and, harness technology and data innovations as they change how they work.

Other Guests

ZHU Limin

Research Director, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

Dr Liming Zhu is a Research Director at CSIRO’s Data61, the AI/digital arm of Australia’s national science agency, and a conjoint professor at UNSW. He contributes to the OECD.AI’s AI Risks and Accountability, the Responsible AI at Scale think tank at Australia’s National AI Centre, ISO AI standards committees, and Australia’s AI safety standard. 

Hanjing XU

Non-executive Director, Tietto Minerals

Mr Xu has enjoyed a successful career in the natural resources industry over the last 25 years. Mr Xu led China and CNNC in its launch into the international resource industry with a number of first breakthroughs in Chinese mining industry, including first trade investment in alumina of Alcoa, first international project finance for mining in China and first international company mining in China. He was a keynote speaker at the opening session of PDAC 2010 in Canada. He is now actively involved in research on Chinese mining reform and regarded as a leading authority in this area.

Ning CHEN

CEO, Goldwind Australia

Ning Chen, based in Sydney, NSW, AU, is currently a Chief Executive Officer at Goldwind Australia. Focuses on building a clean energy-centered business layout, Goldwind features coverage of energy development, devices, services, and utilization, to continuously advance towards the goal of "driving a renewable future". In energy development, Goldwind seeks in-depth development and management of local clean energy resources to empower and optimize regional energy structures and provide efficient and safe energy asset management services. 

About the Organizers

About CKGSB

Established in Beijing in November 2002, CKGSB is China’s first privately-funded, research-intensive and non-for-profit business school. The school aims to cultivate transformative business leaders with a global vision, sense of social responsibility, innovative mindset, and ability to lead with empathy and compassion. Today, CKGSB stands apart for its full-time, world-class faculty, research excellence, China insights and unparalleled alumni network. More than half of its 40 strong faculty members previously held tenure or senior professorships at top business schools, such as MIT, Wharton, and Yale. CKGSB is also the preferred choice for management education among established business leaders and a new generation of disruptors in China and the wider region. More than half of CKGSB’s 20,000 alumni are at the CEO or Chairman level and, collectively, they lead one fifth of China’s 100 most valuable brands.

CKGSB is the first business school in China, since 2015, and now globally to offer programs specifically designed for unicorn and soon-to-be-unicorn founders. It aims to build a global ecosystem for the next generation of unicorn and soon-to-be-unicorn companies, with a renewed and enhanced emphasis on global responsibility, social purpose and long-term perspective. Thus far, this ecosystem has developed more than 1,000 founders and co-founders of companies with Series A to more mature start-up companies, including 38 unicorn companies listed on CB Insights (2017-2022).

About USYD

The University of Sydney Business School is a globally renowned institution, acclaimed for its rigorous academic programs, cutting-edge research, and its significant contributions to the world of business education. As part of Australia's oldest university, the Business School is recognized for producing graduates who are not only academically accomplished but also industry-ready, equipped with the skills and knowledge to lead and innovate in a rapidly changing global business environment. Its commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement with industry and community partners makes it an exemplary model for business education worldwide. Investing in a partnership with the University of Sydney Business School presents an opportunity to support a leading institution that shapes future business leaders and advances the frontiers of business knowledge and practice.

The University of Sydney Business School has collaborated with Commonwealth Bank of Australia and launched the first thought leadership report on “Asian Business in Australia report” in March 2022. The report finds that Asian-Australian entrepreneurs are culturally integrated and highly educated and highlights the opportunity to collaborate with Australia’s Asian businesses as they are deeply integrated into the Asia-Pacific value chains.

Any Questions? Contact our program manager

Mara YUAN

Program Manager

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