Professor Francesco Gardin (Executive Director and CEO)
Professor Gardin is Chairman of Brainspark Plc. He graduated in Theoretical Physics at Padova University in 1979, before undertaking a UK Government research project at Exeter University (UK) from 1980 to 1982. In 1983, he founded AISoftw@re to develop and distribute artificial intelligence systems within Italy. Professor Gardin has been a member of various scientific committees and working groups and throughout his career he has been responsible for introducing various leading edge technologies to the commercial world, and co-designed in 1995 the 3D Desk, one of the first 3D visualization devices worldwide. Professor Gardin has been CEO and Chairman AISoftw@re which he took public on NASDAQ Europe in 1999 and the Milan Stock Exchange in 2000. He sold the company in 2005, through a merger. Professor Gardin is currently Chairman of Brainspark PLC, an AIM listed VC (www.brainspark.com). He is based in Milan and London and travels regularly to China.

Edward John Burman (Non-Executive Director)
Edward Burman is a non-executive director of Brainspark Plc. For many years Mr Burman worked as an independent consultant in the Telecom and Internet sectors, and was from 1999 to 2003 a Senior Partner of Ambrosetti Ltd (Milan). He was also a Director of Ambrosetti Stern Stewart, a joint-venture offering Stern Stewart services in Italy. Since the beginning of 2003 Mr Burman has lived and worked in China, as a strategy consultant and as CEO of Fizi Ltd in Shanghai. Mr Burman has published fifteen books, including Shift: Hope, Hype and History in Internet (John Wiley, 2003), and China: Stealth Empire (The History Press, 2008). Since early 2006 Mr Burman has been engaged in developing the China IPO concept.

Professor Liu Man Hong (Non-Executive Director)
Professor Liu, who holds a PHD in Economic from Cornell University, is Professor of Economics and Director of the Venture Capital R&D Centre at the College of Finance at People’s University, Beijing. She was for four years on the research faculty at Harvard University. Professor Liu is also Chairman and Chief Economist of VC China Ltd, Financial Advisor to the Beijing Municipal Government, Director of the Boston China Finance Research.