What is it like to be our Communications Manager for China?

Jie Dong is Solvay China’s R&I External Affairs & Communication Manager and a member of the Global Forum. She is also active in many social and societal actions in China. Last but not least, she is this year’s WBCSD nominee in the category ‘Asia Leader’. Read more to find out about her roles as Solvay’s Union Leader and Solar Impulse China Delegate, and the societal projects she has supported…

Can you describe your career path and current role?

I joined Solvay in May 2000 starting my career as an analytical chemist supporting the development and application labs in analysis. After three years, I was promoted to Lab Manager and my role involved setting up the analytical team and supporting all research and business activities in Asia Pacific.

In 2008, I also worked on managing administrative research issues in Shanghai because at the time, the lab quickly grew from 10 to 80 people. In 2014, a part of my role changed from admin to external affairs until 2017.

Currently, I work in external affairs, excellence and communication for our research center in Shanghai, but I still wear the other cap — as Solvay’s union leader at the Shanghai site.

Can you tell us more about your position as union leader in Shanghai?

As union leader, first, I represent our employees. Second, I work with company management to setup dialogue between employees and management, and then I encourage employees to respect HSE (Health, Safety, Environment) policies. Finally, I help to establish this mindset of ‘self-protection’ at work and then gather ideas from employees which I then communicate to management in order improve the organization.

Name a project you enjoyed working on or which had an impact on you.

I enjoyed setting up the analytical laboratory in Shanghai. At the beginning, I was the only one at the research center, and after that I built a team of 17 people who cover different roles; for example, chemical quantification, structure identification, and materials study.

Every time I introduce the analytical lab to visitors, I always say, “Welcome to my kingdom!” It’s a long-term project that I worked on for more than 16 years, and I’m proud of it.

I’m also proud of my role as the Chairman of Solvay China Limited Company. In 2013, at the time when Solvay bought Rhodia, employees had concerns about the company’s migration. They worried about their job, their career, their future. I took the chairman role at this moment, and it was my duty to reach out to employees to understand what their concerns were and then deliver this information to the company’s management. We successfully signed a collective contract between employees and the company.

Finally, another one of my project favorites is Solar Impulse. The plane stopped in China in 2015, and I was Solvay’s delegate in China supporting the project- making the impossible possible. It was very exciting!

You’re also a member of the global forum. Can you tell us more about that?

Solvay’s global forum is a platform gathering the opinions, suggestions and ideas of employees. We organize a meeting in Brussels NOH every year which includes eight employee representatives from different countries such as Korea, US, Brazil, China, France, and Germany. We discuss strategy and the roadplan with the Comex, and we focus on topics such as sustainable development, HSE, business and the employee engagement survey, amongst other topics.

How do you feel about your WBCSD nomination?

It was a surprise, and I feel the company’s and my managers’ recognition. It’s a result of our global forum, and I’m the only female representative. China is developing culturally, and I’m proud to represent China and show the country’s competency, as well as represent Solvay.

You’ve worked on many social and societal actions. Can you name a few that you worked on and the impact that they’ve had?

I’ve worked with the communication department and currently with the HR department to organize societal actions such as fundraising for underprivileged schools. Every year since 2009, we organize company open days during which we collect funds and school material from employees to help schools in need.

In China, we organize department outings every year. If the outing destination is in an underprivileged area, we arrange a visit to a school — for example, we brought books, stationery and clothes to the schools in order to support students.

I also supported a project called “Color of China” organized by a French NGO working in China. The aim of this project is to support underprivileged female students in the poor areas. It helps them continue their studies and attend tech universities. Solvay China provides this funding.

On a different note, what are your favorite hobbies?

I like to travel, and I love to cook… I’m the chef of my family!