Yazhu has extensive experience in diverse size of projects and has recently focused on the practice’s expansion into the Chinese market and Asia-Pacific Region, playing a key role in business negotiations and client engagement. Her experience spans project stages from early acquisition to construction. She works closely with internal and external teams, facilitating client presentations and stakeholder negotiations and developing new leads and opportunities. She currently focus on managing and delivery of large-scale developments under constructionn, including the Zhejiang Shaoxing Shangyu District Cao’e River Culture and Art Centre and the Shenzhen Institute for Financial Technology.

Prior to joining ZHA, Yazhu worked with developers and companies in China, including Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning & Design Institute. She previously taught and established a teaching studio and co-founded Yunmu Architectural Design Co., specialising in business development, client coordination, and residential and commercial design.

Yazhu completed a joint Bachelor of Architecture degree at Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland and Shanghai Institute of Technology in China. She earned her Master of Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL) and an MBA from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Yazhu’s approach to architecture has been deeply influenced by her background in ballet, traditional Chinese dance, and modern rhythmic gymnastics, which she practised at a professional level.