Ernest Wong｜Former President of the Australian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce（2019–2026）
Term Note: Mr Ernest Wong served as President of the Australian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce from 2019 to 2026. In accordance with the Chamber’s constitution and leadership transition arrangements, Mr Wong has completed his term and no longer serves as the current President of the Chamber. AGCC expresses its appreciation for his contributions during his term, particularly in supporting Guangdong–Australia business exchange, community engagement and the development of the Chamber’s platform.
This page is maintained as a historical profile and reflects Mr Wong’s public service, professional background and work during his term. Current external liaison, member services, cooperation projects, official correspondence and representative matters of AGCC are coordinated by the new President, Mr Leo Yang, and the Secretariat in accordance with the Chamber’s governance procedures.
Mr Ernest Wong is a Chinese-Australian public affairs figure, legal professional and community leader with extensive experience across local government, state parliament, multicultural affairs and business association development. He previously served as Mayor of Burwood, Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, and Deputy President and Chair of Committees of the Legislative Council.
As a first-generation Chinese-Australian migrant, Mr Wong has been active in public affairs and community service for many years. He has long engaged with issues relating to multicultural participation, migrant communities, Chinese-Australian community development and social inclusion in Australia.
In 2000, Mr Wong was elected as a Councillor of Burwood Council, becoming the first Chinese-Australian councillor in the history of Burwood since its establishment in 1874. In 2003, he became the first Chinese-Australian Mayor of Burwood. During his years of service as Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Mr Wong was involved in supporting Burwood’s development as a multicultural, economically active and historically conscious local community. He also supported the formal recognition and use of the Chinese name “宝活市” for Burwood.
In local government and community development, Mr Wong participated in initiatives relating to multicultural engagement, community festivals and cultural exchange. He supported the development of Chinese New Year community activities and was involved in promoting the visibility of Chinese culture within the broader Australian community.
In 2013, Mr Wong entered the New South Wales Legislative Council and became one of the Chinese-Australian representatives in New South Wales state politics. In 2016, he was elected Deputy President and Chair of Committees of the Legislative Council, reflecting his role and participation within the Australian parliamentary system.
During his public service career, Mr Wong maintained a focus on multicultural affairs, community rights and international engagement. He participated in and led business and community delegations to China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries and regions, promoting exchange between Australia and the Asia-Pacific region in trade, culture and community cooperation.
As a first-generation migrant public figure, Mr Wong has paid close attention to the interests of migrant communities, particularly Chinese-Australian communities, new migrants and international students. In his farewell speech to Parliament, he reflected on the historical discrimination faced by Chinese migrants in Australia and emphasised the importance of opposing discrimination, protecting fairness and promoting social inclusion.
After leaving politics in 2019, Mr Wong returned to legal practice and continued to participate in community and business association activities. Drawing on his experience in parliament, local government and public affairs, he has remained engaged in legal, community and business-related work.
In recent years, Mr Wong further extended his public affairs experience into the development of Australia–China business exchange platforms and Chinese business association cooperation. He participated in promoting communication among Chinese-Australian business associations and supported the building of links with Korean, Middle Eastern, Indian and other multicultural business communities, contributing to cross-cultural and cross-industry business exchange.
On 30 August 2025, during Mr Wong’s term as President, the Australian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce supported the official launch of the Australia China Business Hub and the establishment of the Australian Chamber Alliance. The Hub was designed to serve as a coordinated service platform for Chinese enterprises entering the Australian market, with a focus on investment attraction, brand expansion, market entry, legal and tax coordination, business matching and professional service support.
Mr Wong served as the inaugural Chairman of the Australia China Business Hub and participated in encouraging local mainstream and multicultural business associations to join the alliance, with the aim of building a resource-sharing and project-coordination ecosystem for business cooperation.
The platform was also positioned as a cooperative promotion channel in Australia for major national-level trade events such as the Canton Fair, the China International Import Expo and the China International Consumer Products Expo, helping Chinese enterprises connect with the Australian and South Pacific markets.
Throughout his career, Mr Wong has been involved in public affairs, legal services, multicultural engagement and business association development. His experience reflects the active participation of first-generation Chinese-Australians in Australian public life, community building and cross-cultural exchange, and provided support for AGCC’s platform development and external cooperation during his term.