As a Director of the Conservation Program, Li Zhu supports the overall management and communications of the program. In addition, Li leads the Paulson Institute’s work to develop and implement initiatives that support China’s efforts to better manage its environmental performance in its overseas investment and international trade of key commodities. 

Prior to joining the Paulson Institute, Li Zhu was a Senior Program Officer at the World Wildlife Fund. In this capacity, he developed research on China’s Going Global strategy and the associated environmental impact, managed a variety of projects that ranged from sustainable supply chain of whitefish to Gold Standard based clean cookstoves in the heart of the panda habitat, and contributed to the organization’s signature corporate partnerships with Coca-Cola, Apple, and Disney.

He also worked for the Nature Conservancy’s China Program as its Communications Director, where he led its overall communications strategy and oversaw the implementation of its diverse communications and marketing efforts, including the high profile event series ‘Natural China’ in partnership with the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, State Forestry Administration, and the State Information Office.

Li Zhu graduated from the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and also received an MPhil degree from the University of Cambridge.