Kai-Chuan Chao currently serves as the East Asia Lead for Commercial and Cultural Partnerships at the British Library. In this role, she oversees the Library’s strategic commercial operations across the East Asia region and other international markets.

Previously, Kai-Chuan managed The British Library in China project, where she led a dedicated team and achieved several significant milestones. These included the delivery of the first three co-curated exhibitions in China, the establishment of the Library’s first Chinese social media accounts, and the creation of a bilingual digital learning website. Additionally, she initiated the first-ever UK-China Library Forum, connecting library networks from both countries. This three-year project significantly raised the British Library’s profile within the Chinese cultural scene and laid the foundation for commercial opportunities in the Chinese market. Before joining the British Library, Kai-Chuan worked at the EU office in Taipei and at Amnesty International in London.

Kai-Chuan is deeply committed to inclusion and diversity. She has served as the Co-Chair of the Cultural, Racial, and Ethnic Diversity (CRED) Network since 2023 at the British Library and is currently a Trustee at the New Earth Theatre.