About Linda Jakobson
Linda Jakobson works part-time as Senior Advisor of the China Office of Finnish Industries. She is responsible for the content of the China Office's work: regular newsletters and shareholder briefings by foreign specialists, which together provide internationally high-quality assessments about political-economic developments in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the geostrategic challenges it faces.
She retains her position as Deputy Chair of the not-for-profit China Matters, an independent Australian policy institute, of which she is a founding director. A Finn by nationality, she has lived and worked in the PRC for 22 years, 12 years in Sydney, and has recently moved back to Europe.
Biography
Linda Jakobson is part-time Senior Advisor at the China Office of Finnish Industries. In 2023 she returned to Europe after pursuing an international career as a China specialist for 35 years. She lived and worked in the People's Republic of China (PRC) for 22 years between 1987 and 2011. In 2011 she moved to Sydney where, among others, she founded and directed China Matters, an independent Australian policy institute.
A Mandarin speaker, Ms Jakobson has been invited to serve as a policy advisor on China to the foreign minister and senior government officials in seven countries. She is the author of five books and numerous reports and articles about the PRC and East Asia. She is internationally best known for her publications about the PRC's foreign policy, the Taiwan issue, and the PRC's Arctic ambitions.
Ms Jakobson previously held the following positions: Senior Researcher at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs 1998-2008; Beijing-based Programme Director for China and Global Security at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) 2009-2011, East Asia Programme Director at the Lowy Institute for International Policy 2011-2013; Visiting Professor at the US Studies Centre at Sydney University 2014-2015; and Founding Director and CEO of China Matters 2015-2021.
Two of Ms Jakobson's books and one report have received awards.
Curriculum Vitae
Current Positions
- Senior Advisor, China Office of Finnish Industries (part-time)
- Deputy Chair, China Matters Ltd
Previous Positions
- Founding Director and CEO, China Matters (2015-2021)
- Visiting Professor, US Studies Centre at Sydney University (2014-2015)
- East Asia Programme Director, Lowy Institute for International Policy (2011-2013)
- Beijing-based Programme Director for China and Global Security, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) (2009-2011)
- Senior Researcher, Finnish Institute for International Affairs (1998-2008)
Expertise
- 38 years studying China, specializing in domestic politics and foreign policy of the PRC
- Mandarin speaker
- Policy advisor to foreign ministers and senior government officials in seven countries
- Internationally recognized publications on PRC foreign policy, Taiwan issue, and Arctic ambitions
- Author of five books (two award-winning) and numerous reports and articles
International Experience
- 22 years living and working in the People's Republic of China (1987-2011)
- 12 years in Sydney, Australia
- Currently based in Europe
Contact Information
Deputy Chair – China Matters Ltd
Email: [email protected]
Senior Advisor – China Office of Finnish Industries
Email: [email protected]