Jason Yeap, OAM

Chairman, Mering Corporation

Malaysian-born lawyer, property developer, with a passion for art and culture and a drive for philanthropy, Jason Yeap began his career in 1985 as a lawyer. In time, his shrewd business acumen saw him stake his trademark in the property industry and earn his reputation as a property investor. He launched Mering Corporation in 2004,  which is a property investment and development company.

“…they thought I could contribute, I did, and the rest is history…”

Jason was invited to the Board of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in 2004. Since then he has served the maximum of a nine year term with the Board. His tenure with the NGV Board of Trustees broadened his perspective of what the Australian community as a whole was all about. It was an opportune moment for Jason as he was in a position to draw on his resources and contacts available via his active involvement with the Chinese communities and Associations, to activate significant contributions to the community.

Jason comments that “of course there was a significant change in my perspective of art ever since I joined the NGV. Before, in my case it was about art as an investment. However now I look at the administration of art and what art can do to and for the community.”

In 2010 Jason was recognized “for service to the arts, particularly through the National Gallery of Victoria and to community” with the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia.

2012 saw Jason take the Chair of the NGV Foundation and in 2014 he was appointed as a council member to the National Gallery of Australia and looks forward to an extension of his current term with the Council. Recently he was announced as a Patron of Multicultural Arts Victoria. (MAV)

“…there are enough opportunities, perhaps not enough given…..”

Jason believes that politicians and others can play a key role in alleviating this imbalance of opportunities available and opportunities given. Jason states part of this change process is to have the ability to speak and act on what one believes in and what is right without fear in society.

In his advocacy for philanthropy, Jason and his wife established the Wong Swee Soon International Science Internships Award under the auspices of the Global Challenges International Science Internships Fund. Through the fund, students in the new program will be supported through an international internship.

His other involvements include being a member of the Board of Directors of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the largest Research Institute for Children in Australia. In 2012, he was made Board member for The University of Melbourne – I Believe Campaign – that aims to raise $500 million by 2017, one of the largest fundraising campaigns in Australia to date. Since 2014 to date, Jason holds the Chair of the Asian Advisory Board, University of Melbourne.

In 2013 Jason was named an Ambassador of The Australia Day Ambassador Program, an initiative that sees high achieving and proud Australians attend local Australia Day celebrations in towns and cities across the nation

Through his years of experience Jason shares that integrity is that one “ingredient that will make the difference between a good businessman and THE businessman.” “Integrity is what will get you on the right side of people in order to earn their respect.” Jason himself sets the benchmark of what it means to be THE businessman as his various roles will testify. As of 2014 till present, Jason is actively involved as a Board Member with the Asian Advisory Board, Bank of Melbourne and a member of the Trade & Investment Policy Advisory Council (TIPAC) Department of Foreign Affairs.

He feels most people recognise that in about 10 years’ time; Australia will inevitably be a vital and major player of the region. The focus for now should be, according to Jason, on how to capitalize on the integration of Asians in Australia.

For Australians, Jason says, an appreciation of the fact that they definition of an Australian has changed. An Australian now incorporates into its definition people like Jason himself, he says.   This is largely due to the migration factor prevalent in Australia and the incorporation of Asians in Australia.

His role and his work through the MAV is perhaps one of the many platforms available for Jason to achieve a means to this particular end. Jason says that “It is a great privilege and honour to advocate for MAV because of its mission to reach out to the new arrivals to this country through innovative cultural engagements. It has brought better understanding and respect for all in Australia.”

Jason acknowledges there is a lot more that can be done and any advocacy for MAV and the likes, that advances its mission “is very essential and personally satisfying.”

从 Jason Yeap 身上可以看到传统华人的3大特点：勤奋、精明和经商。这名出生在马来西亚的澳大利亚籍华裔，与很多漂洋过海的华人命运雷同，自1978年来到澳大利亚，完成高校教育后，顺其自然的就在这片土地上扎根。

问他为何会从专业律师转为房产商，然后又从房产商成为艺术推广者。对于这个戏剧化的转变，他展开憨厚的笑脸说：一切都是自然的变化，当你带着专注和虔诚的心做一件事，其实就是一种创新。

律师时期，他在墨尔本华人社区是大家耳熟能详的人物，活跃于社区活动交流，为人群解惑。

由于在律师时期频繁接触房产投资，这也触动他在2003-2004年间决定自立门户进行房产事业，当然，和作为律师涉及的领域又不一样，经商也使他的交际圈子有层次上的变化。

在成为艺术的推广者之前，他作为艺术品收藏者，一切的关注点还是从浓浓的铜臭味开始：投资艺术品赚钱。

“那时收藏艺术品纯粹只是觉得适合作为家里的摆设，或者交易赚钱。”无可厚非，这是身为商人绝对的商业触觉。

可是，在他2005年正式作为董事加入维多利亚国家美术馆 (NGV)，紧接着就是成为基金会会长。这一次，艺术彻底颠覆了他的人生观和生活。

“我可以这么形容：政治是沉重的，商业是激进的，只有艺术是温柔的。”其实对于Jason Yeap来说，艺术何尝不是温柔的武器，悄无声息的攻入了人们柔软的心房。

对艺术改变观点之后，他从一个现实而冷静的旁观者成为了探索艺术未来的追寻者，他开始寻思：艺术可以做什么？或者艺术可以让周边的社区，甚至把亚洲社区连接在一起？这也是他行进中的主要研讨课题。

“我希望提供机会给任何有需要的人。”随着艺术建设思维散发的，也包括他的慈善精神，他多年来财务资助提供社区服务、协助和咨询，其中包括投入经费给墨尔本大学，作为各领域探讨的研究基金。

2014年至今，他除了担任墨尔本大学亚洲顾问委员会董事会主席、墨尔本银行亚洲顾问委员会董事会成员，也是澳大利亚外交部贸易与投资政策咨询理事会(TIPAC) 的成员。

当问到一路走来，有没有特别遗憾的事，他思索了下，最后还是否定的。这个回答其实符合了他在任何领域的探索精神，不断往前走，不留下遗憾。

此时此刻可说是 Jason Yeap 人生的黄金时光：回馈社会、享受生活、拥有事业资源、感受艺术、爱好摄影，与家人共度旅行的美好时光……

可是，睿智人生如他，却始终保持一个澳大利亚人信奉的淳朴人生哲理：相信你所相信的，依循你的思路和信念去做任何事。