Peter Helis: Independent Advisor | GBA Investment & Policy Expert | Sino-European Bridge Builder
About Peter Helis
Peter Helis has spent more than 20 years mastering the “Art of the China Deal” — turning complex opportunities into tangible results across sales, policy, and investment in Greater China.
A SOAS Chinese Studies graduate, he was the only foreign expert ever appointed at Director level inside the Chinese government. From 2019 to June 2026 he served as International Executive Representative for Invest Guangzhou and Chief Advisor to Guangzhou Huangpu District, a core engine of the Greater Bay Area. In that role he built lasting relationships with senior officials and helped shape global investment attraction, innovation policy, and high-value FDI in biomedicine, new energy, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech.
In June 2026 he left government and opened an independent advisory practice. He now works with European companies expanding in China — advising CEOs on government engagement, entity and headquarters decisions, incentive packages, JV alignment, and access to industrial partners and customers.
Fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and German, Peter previously led the German and European Chambers in South China as General Manager and Vice Chair. He is a regular keynote speaker and master of ceremonies at forums including the Hamburg Summit, the Guangzhou Investment Summit (first foreign host in Mandarin), Horasis Asia, and the International Forum on China Reform. His commentary appears in People’s Daily, China Daily, CCTV, SCMP, and Xinhua.
His connection to the region also shows in award-winning GBA wildlife photography (People’s Daily, CCTV) and the documentary The Strategy for Grain, seen by more than 10 million viewers.
Advisory, Speaking, and Coaching
Advisory
China Business Consulting: From Interest to Execution
I advise European companies on China strategy, government relations, and market access, with a sharp focus on the Greater Bay Area. My work is independent and designed for the C-suite.
I act as a sparring partner for CEOs, providing structured engagement with provincial, municipal, and district authorities. Whether you are navigating incentive and location decisions, aligning joint ventures, or expanding industrial networks, I ensure your strategy holds up on the ground.
This practice is built on a rare foundation: over 20 years in Greater China, leadership of the German and European Chambers in South China, and seven years as the only foreign Director-level advisor inside the Guangzhou Huangpu government. Since returning to independent practice in June 2026, I have been guiding firms in automotive, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials through the realities of execution.
The outcome: A clear narrative the government can actually act on, high-stakes meetings that are genuinely worth the CEO’s time, and decisions on entities, headquarters, and policy support that are built to last.
Speaking & Moderation
Speaking & Moderation: Context You Can Use
I speak and moderate at conferences across China and Europe, covering the Greater Bay Area, China’s innovation system, and cross-border strategy. My track record includes hosting Guangzhou’s annual investment conference in Mandarin—the first foreign host to do so—and contributing to the Hamburg Summit, Horasis Asia, SCMP Conferences, and the International Forum on China Reform.
My tone is direct. I don't recycle talking points. Instead, I translate how policy, investment promotion, and industrial upgrading actually work from the inside out. Audiences walk away knowing exactly what local governments want, where the GBA is heading, and how international companies must position themselves to win.
Facilitated Coaching
Facilitated Coaching: Reading the Room
I coach executives and management teams who need to operate effectively in or with China. Whether you are preparing for a critical government meeting, a pivotal board decision, or your first serious step into the GBA, I ensure you are ready.
Drawing on my time inside a district government, Chamber leadership, and programmes like Huawei’s Seeds for the Future, we cover cross-cultural communication, political and commercial judgment, and how to read the room when officials, JV partners, and headquarters are all in play. This is not theory. It is practical preparation so you can decide, brief, and build trust across systems with absolute confidence.
