Kerry Brown is a Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute.

From 2012 to 2015, Kerry was Professor of Chinese Politics and Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, Australia. Prior to this, he worked at Chatham House (2006 to 2012) as Senior Fellow and then Head of the Asia Programme. Meanwhile, from 2011 to 2014, he directed the Europe China Research and Advice Network (ECRAN), giving policy advice to the European External Action Service. From 1998 to 2005, Kerry worked in Beijing as First Secretary at the British Embassy, and then as Head of the Indonesia, Philippine and East Timor Section. From 1994 to 1996, he lived in the Inner Mongolia region of China.

He has a MA from Cambridge University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mandarin Chinese (Distinction) from Thames Valley University, London, and a PhD in Chinese politics and language from Leeds University.

Kerry has written extensively about China, its culture, its political system, and its external relationships. His recent books include 

China's World: The Foreign Policy of the World's Newest Superpower; The Future of UK-China Relations; China (Polity Histories ); Contemporary China; China's Dream: The Culture of Chinese Communism and the Secret Sources of Its Power, and China's CEO: Xi Jinping.