Cindy Yu

Cindy Yu is a columnist and contributing editor at The Times and Sunday Times. She was formerly Assistant Editor (Broadcast) at The Spectator, a British current affairs and arts magazine, where she also hosted the magazine’s Chinese Whispers podcast. The podcast was a deep dive into all the intriguing themes of Chinese politics, society and history that often go under the radar of mainstream China reporting. Cindy is an experienced and eloquent moderator and speaker, having presented high profile events such as Sibos Conference and UBS Greater China Conference. She has delivered keynote speeches to industry groups in the UK, Denmark and Italy, as well as after dinner speeches for a range of financial and academic groups. Cindy was born in Nanjing, China. She read politics, philosophy, and economics at the University of Oxford, where she also read for a master of science in contemporary Chinese studies. She has written extensively about China for The Spectator, the Telegraph, Foreign Policy, among others. She is a frequent commentator on China issues for the BBC, TalkTV, RTE News, Channel 4 and GB News. Why Book Cindy Yu as a speaker? As a columnist and contributing editor at The Times and The Sunday Times, she offers unique insights into China today , equipping leaders to navigate political and social shifts with clarity and confidence. She distils complex China narratives — spanning governance, propaganda and evolving public sentiment — into sharp, actionable intelligence for boards and senior executives. Her five years at The Spectator as Assistant Editor (Broadcast) and host of Chinese Whispers brings depth and context to her analysis, moving well beyond surface-level headlines. A seasoned keynote speaker and moderator, she has led high-profile events such as Sibos and the UBS Greater China Conference, keeping sophisticated conversations focused, balanced and accessible. As a regular China commentator for the BBC, TalkTV, RTÉ News, Channel 4 and GB News, she brings on-air credibility that helps organisations communicate with assurance in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.