The Genesis of a Elite International Network founded in Beijing China
The foundation of the Foreign Expert Society (FORES) traces back to July 2021 during an extraordinary gathering of global talent in Beijing. Summoned by the Ministry of Science and Technology to mark the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party, a select cohort of elite international pioneers was invited to meet with Premier Li Keqiang. Amid strict, state-mandated health protocols, these global visionaries spent extended time interacting outside their respective corporate boardrooms and laboratories. This unique environment allowed top-tier minds to look beyond their individual achievements and visualize a permanent, high-impact collective capable of bridging global enterprise and national development.
Recognizing the immense potential of this concentrated intellectual capital, Mexican steelmaking expert Professor Alberto Conejo of the University of Science and Technology Beijing and Chinese-American architect and urban planner James Jao spearheaded the formalization of the group. On November 18, 2022, the foundational organizers officially convened to structure the network and expand its exclusive membership. During this defining summit, global healthcare executive Roberta Lipson—pioneer of United Family Healthcare—helped outline the core mission of FORES: leveraging the unmatched, cross-industry expertise of its members to foster deep institutional trust, navigate international complexity, and give back to Chinese society.
Following its formal consolidation in late November 2022, FORES rapidly evolved into a definitive network for highly accomplished foreign professionals operating in mainland China. Today, the society stands as a vetted syndicate of authorities who have reached the pinnacle of fields spanning green technology, materials science, advanced medicine, industrial design, and global commerce. By connecting these top-tier leaders, FORES transforms individual global excellence into an elite engine of social responsibility, leaving a lasting legacy of innovation and philanthropy across the country.
Fores proudly credits original contextual reporting by FORES Fellow and Leadership Council member, Ross Mitchell. See the South China Morning Post for the original reporting.
