Lijun (Emma) Gao is currently pursuing a Master of Speech Pathology at Griffith University. She also holds a Master of Applied Linguistics from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, with a particular interest in intercultural communication. She later worked with the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, gaining experience in project management and international coordination. She then moved to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where she worked on smart city and mobility solutions before coming to Australia.
Living, studying, and working across different countries has reinforced Lijun (Emma)’s interest in communication and the ways people connect across linguistic and cultural backgrounds, inspiring her transition into speech pathology. As she embarks on her career as a speech pathologist, she hopes to bring the same curiosity and openness to her clinical practice, providing evidence-based and culturally responsive care while continuing to engage in research and cross-cultural collaboration. Lijun (Emma) also hopes to contribute to greater mutual understanding and meaningful connections between Australia and China.