Prior to beginning a graduate degree at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Kate Murray was a Manager of Entrepreneur Selection & Growth at Endeavor, Detroit, a global nonprofit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets worldwide. Kate enjoys working in the world of economic development, but her one true love will always be the fascinating relationship between the United States and China.
Kate learned her first Chinese words at age ten from a “Big Bird in China” song. Since then, she spent ten years studying Mandarin in the classroom and one semester living in Beijing during her junior year of college. She dug further into U.S.-China relations during her senior year, researching and writing a thesis titled Bashful or Brash: An Examination of the Chinese Response to the Pivot.
Today, Kate tries to keep up with her Mandarin as much as possible, and to use her understanding of Chinese language, culture, and politics to help the entrepreneurs that she works with.
Kate is a proud Boston College Eagle with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Chinese.
Prior to beginning a graduate degree at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Kate Murray was a Manager of Entrepreneur Selection & Growth at Endeavor, Detroit, a global nonprofit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets worldwide. Kate enjoys working in the world of economic development, but her one true love will always be the fascinating relationship between the United States and China.
Kate learned her first Chinese words at age ten from a “Big Bird in China” song. Since then, she spent ten years studying Mandarin in the classroom and one semester living in Beijing during her junior year of college. She dug further into U.S.-China relations during her senior year, researching and writing a thesis titled Bashful or Brash: An Examination of the Chinese Response to the Pivot.
Today, Kate tries to keep up with her Mandarin as much as possible, and to use her understanding of Chinese language, culture, and politics to help the entrepreneurs that she works with.
Kate is a proud Boston College Eagle with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Chinese.
“I can't recommend it highly enough, it was fabulous!”
Fr Frank Brennan, SJ AO
"I highly recommend the professionalism, humour and warm care that Sino-Immersions brings to their work."
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Principal Kate Fogarty, Assumption College, Kilmore
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"Jeremy combines learning and pleasure,
putting the anxious and curious equally at ease."
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Fr Frank Brennan, SJ
Hear what our clients have to say
"Dr Clarke's knowledge of China, its culture, history and business acumen is extensive and is critically important for our business' success."
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Tim Gunning, formerly CEO, Ord Minnett
"Our 2017 company retreat to China
was an outstanding success..."
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Steve Bonett, Executive Director,
Precision Group of Companies
For the full-length reviews click here.
Private tours
"Our experience with Sino Immersions was one that will remain with us for a long time. From when we joined Jeremy in Hong Kong to when we said farewell in Shanghai, every aspect of our travel was well organised. The transport, transfers and accommodation were excellent and the activities at each city or town provided individualised experiences that we would not have been able to have without Jeremy’s expertise. Food was one of many highlights of this trip. Jeremy’s knowledge of Chinese history and culture is beyond any other international experience we have ever had. His fluent grasp of the language, its nuances and regional variations provided us with unique interactions with locals along the way, often in the most unexpected situations, on the street, in the subway or in a crowd viewing the pandas! Jeremy’s ability to create a happy and harmonious group of travellers certainly enhanced our journey through China."
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Charlie and Elizabeth Rowe, September 2025
"Our family’s China tour with Dr Jeremy Clarke as leader was an amazing experience and the best we have experienced in group travel.
Dr Clarke’s sense of humour, warmth, considerable intellect, and vast knowledge of Chinese
social and cultural history made our family’s China tour a highly enjoyable experience.
We travelled with our two young boys (aged 5 and 8). Dr Clarke’s local knowledge and fluency of the language resulted in our boys having a thoroughly memorable experience. Our boys especially enjoyed meeting the pandas in Chengdu and food street tours in Chengdu and Xi’an.
Highlights of our family’s China tour included open air Chinese opera, travelling by boat down the Yangtze river, the Harbin ice festival where we experienced beautiful blue and snowy days, visiting the Terracotta Warriors and climbing the Great Wall of China on a beautiful blue sky Beijing day.
Dr Clarke’s superior knowledge of all things China resulted in a highly intimate and immersive experience.
The quality and variety of the food was exceptional. The accommodation was superior and well located in respect of all local sites. Our transport throughout China was very comfortable and
effortless due to Dr Clarke’s local contacts and his intimate knowledge of China.
China was incredibly fun and it was an unforgettable experience. We recommend it to young and
old alike.
We are very thankful for the experience and we look forward to future trips with Dr Clarke.
We highly recommend travelling with Dr Clarke."
Christopher Harrison and Adelaide Ryan
​"Our tour of China was a true pleasure. Jeremy was able to show us China today while placing what we experienced in the context of China of yesteryear and China in the World. ... I can highly recommend Sino-Immersions for those wanting a unique trip to China."
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Dr Anica Vasic, Rheumatologist, St George Hospital
"My husband Gary and I travelled to China with Sino-Immersions in August 2024. We were a group of six with Jeremy as our fabulous guide. Jeremy’s knowledge of Chinese history and culture, his fluency in Mandarin and his affable manner ensured that every day of our nine day trip was memorable.
Our first stop, Shanghai, was an introduction to grand scale of the Chinese economy from the The Bund with it’s colonial history to the towering modern buildings of the financial district. We then flew to the ancient city Xi’an with it’s bustling Muslim quarter, bell tower and great city wall. A visit to the Terracotta Warriors and an evening food tour in Xi’an were for me the highlights of our trip. A journey by bullet train then took us to Beijing, our base for visiting the Great Wall and taking in Tiananmen Square and the vast Forbidden Palace complex. Here we all appreciated Jeremy’s expertise in making sure we didn’t get caught up in the crowds (of mainly Chinese tourists) but were able to take in the historical and political significance of these monuments.
Jeremy expertly organised every aspect of our travel from flights, hotels, transfers, restaurant bookings and local guides as were required. We had a busy itinerary but enough flexibility to cater for individual interests and free time to explore each city on our own. Travel within China, meals and museum entry charges were also all included in the cost of the trip.
As new itineraries are developed by Sino-Immersions I would certainly consider another trip to China with Jeremy as my guide.
Anne and Gary Johson, August 2024
Dr Jeremy Clarke is a uniquely experienced guide for crossing worlds and helping introduce guests to the rich and complex history and culture of China. I worked closely with him to design and run a week-long experiential leadership development tour of China for staff from The Scots College, Sydney.
As a seasoned scholar, he has a deep and nuanced grasp of contemporary and historical issues which he communicates in a highly engaging and relevant way, and as someone with years of local experience in Chinese and Western settings he is able to craft a boutique approach that fits the experience to each individual and group.
I highly recommend him to anyone wanting to truly immerse themselves in China.
Dr Hugh Chilton, PhD, Director of Research and Professional Learning,
The Scots College, Sydney
"Some of my best memories are the dining experiences with the locals both in the small back streets to the fine dining restaurants sampling the full range of Chinese Cuisine, the great wine bars and mostly, the walking, talking and laughter along the way. I could not have asked for a better immersion."
Fiona Devlin, Deputy Principal and Head of Plenty Campus, Ivanhoe Grammar
"Our tour through China, with Dr Jeremy Clarke as leader, was the best that we have experienced in group travel. The itinerary was appropriately flexible, Jeremy was able to read the energy and mood of the travellers and catered for the participants accordingly. ...
We highly recommend any tour that you would be privileged to enjoy under the guidance of Dr Jeremy Clarke."
Mark & Sue McGinnity, formerly Monivae College, Hamilton, Victoria
CONSULTING SERVICES
Our corporate clients have included a private property investment and management company, school leadership teams and a group of imagineers.
Perhaps your company will be next. Contact us now for your own learning experience.
"Our 2017 company retreat to China was an outstanding success thanks to the extraordinary efforts made by such an experienced tour company, led by Jeremy Clarke. Managing our team of 30 people through a week of busy events and cultural learnings was flawlessly and expertly handled by Jeremy and his team.
An in depth knowledge of the country and history, deep relationships with the locals and unique places to visit, were just a few of the highlights. What made the week particularly special was the wonderful and friendly manner that all our guests were treated with, answering all our questions and helping us with our countless requests, always with a smile and good humour. Our sincerest gratitude to you and your team Jeremy ! "
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Steve Bonett, Executive Director of Precision Group of Companies
"Dr Clarke led my wife and I on a tour of China that involved business, tourism and engagement with influential individuals involved in the area of Education. ....
We were able to see and experience much more than any of our friends who have traveled on their own or in a large tour group."
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Mr Shane Hogan, formerly Principal, Kambala, Sydney
formerly Headmaster of St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 2002-2013
"Our trip was most successful and it is fair to say much of the success was due to Jeremy's ability to understand and manage the cultural differences and translate fluently in a technical area (LED screen technology)."
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Justin Herlihy, CEO, Big Kahuna Imagineering
PILGRIMAGES
"Jeremy shares his deep knowledge of China, church history and relations with the West generously and effortlessly. ... He combines learning and pleasure, putting the anxious and curious equally at ease."
Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO, Australia
"Dr Clarke's knowledge of the history, his fluency in the language, his ability to pick out the most appropriate places for a visit, and his knowledge of places away from the tourist track which provide very enjoyable opportunities to dine and relax and which give a glimpse of how the mainstream Chinese people live and work all helped produce an experience that was intriguing, educative, relaxing and which opened up new vistas of appreciation of another culture."
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Bishop Emiritus Greg O'Kelly, SJ, Port Pirie Diocese
"Thank you to Jeremy Clarke and his team for our spectacular Pilgrimage to China to celebrate 100 years of Columban Mission.
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With 23 travellers of diverse ages, we were led through China to many historical sites where Columbans began their mission in 1920. Having lived and studied in China, and with his knowledge not only of Chinese history and culture but of Columban history as well, Jeremy made every place that we visited ‘come alive’.
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Sino Immersions went above and beyond the brief to ensure that the 12 day experience in China was to be an unforgettable experience.
Jeremy’s organisational skills, his attention to detail and his care and concern for all travellers ensured that the trip through China surpassed all our expectations and was better than wonderful!"
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Thanks Jeremy!
Janette Mentha
Former Director of Communications and Publications
Editor of The Far East magazine
Missionary Society of St Columban
"I was so impressed by the continuous organising which Jeremy did, as well as informing us and inspiring us with our visit to China. It is obviously not a third world country anymore! However, he obviously feels part of it, and can communicate with all the people.
He also managed to stay positive and inspire us to do so… telling us we are pilgrims, and therefore will be sometimes challenged!
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It was also wonderful to seek out all the Columban areas, which were not just historical, but active Catholic parishes, who were happy to celebrate with us the 100 year Celebration of Columbans. Even though some of the churches were hidden away, they were still an active parish. Many young parishioners too. We had so many Masses that we felt very spiritually inspired! So it really was a Spiritual Pilgrimage!"
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Thank you so much Jeremy, and many Blessings to you!
Jo and Kevin Bell, Broome
Participants in the Columban China tour, 2018