Chao, 41, is a senior reporter for the Beijing-based China Daily, the country's only national English-language daily newspaper. He has been a reporter at the Daily for 14 years, specialising in a wide range of topics from water and land resources to anti-smuggling and public security. Although he is a reporter at the Beijing general headquarters, he often gathers news outside Beijing.

Chao has won several national journalism awards for news reporting of meteorological research and development, flood-control, erosion control, forestry management, China's massive afforestation, protection of endangered animals and reform to the administration of personnel system like the recruitment and selection of government officials and staff. He also won second prize at the national journalism awards for reporting of China’s forestry.

Chao hopes his fellowship can provide him with a better understanding of Australia's political, economic, social, cultural and religious issues in relation to China. He would like to use his time in Australia to learn new skills and procedures that he can share with colleagues in China, as well as to expand his networks in the media and the wider community in the Asia-Pacific.