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Alice Yan

The newly-appointed vice-president of a top university in China has trended on social media after she was revealed to be the richest person in the country’s northwestern Shaanxi province.
Fan Daidi possibly also has the highest net worth of all university executives in the country.
In April, Fan, 59, was named the vice-president of Northwest University in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, she was placed in charge of international cooperation.
But she has attracted more attention because of her other roles.
Fan and her husband Yan Jianya are founders of the Hong Kong-listed biological medicine enterprise Giant Biogene.
They also hold a significant share in the Shenzhen-listed aviation material company Triangle Defense.

The couples’ net worth from these two companies had reached 45.7 billion yuan (US$6 billion) as of May 12, according to a report by Jimu News.
It is not clear how much she earns from the university.
However, the management of mainland universities generally receive an annual salary of less than one million yuan (US$140,000) a year.
Fan hails from a village in Pucheng county, Shaanxi, her father is a rural doctor.
She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Northwest University in the 1980s.
Fan graduated from the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai in 1994 with a PhD degree majoring in biochemical engineering.

She was said to be the first woman with a PhD degree majoring in the subject in modern Chinese history.
After graduating, she rejected the option of working in Shanghai or studying abroad, instead returning to her alma mater Northwest University to be a teacher and researcher.
Fan invented and patented recombine collagen in the year 2000 then set up Giant Biogene in the same year with her husband.
The company’s signature, and highly popular, product is a high-end facial mask containing recombine collagen.
Fan quit as executive director at Giant Biogene’s years ago, although she retains the title of its chief scientist. Her husband is the company’s chairman and general manager.
At the other company, Triangle Defense, they do not hold any executive positions.
For the past two decades, Fan has managed to juggle her duties in the biomedicine company and at Northwest University.
Before being appointed as the institute’s vice-president, Fan was the dean of its School of Chemical Engineering. She is also a doctoral supervisor.
Fu Jian, a lawyer from Henan Zejin Law Firm, told Jimu News that in theory, China’s public university leaders cannot serve in companies, but Fan could be an exception if she has obtained permission from the authorities.

“As long as she does not take advantage of her position at the university to benefit her company and her work at the university is not affected by her company’s matters, we do not see a problem there,” said Fu.
Fan said she treats educating students as her priority. Unless she is on a trip, she is in the laboratory every day giving advice to researchers, she said.
“I prefer staying in the laboratory, leading my students to do scientific research,” said Fan, adding: “I think cultivating the talent needed by society is my responsibility.”
Fan and Yan’s daughter, Yan Yubo, 29, has received her master’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles. She is an executive director of Giant Biogene.


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Who is Fan Daidi? New vice-president of top China university has net worth of US$6 billion

Scientist, inventor and business powerhouse, Fan Daidi has a net worth of US$6 billion but is still happy to be hands-on in the laboratory. Photo: SCMP composite/nwu.edu.cn/Sina

Fan Daidi has been revealed to be the richest person in China’s northwestern Shaanxi province. Photo: handout

Despite her undoubted business acumen, Fan still retains a thirst for scientific research. Photo: handout

Award-winning Fan is said to be the first woman to have attained a PhD degree majoring in biochemical engineering in modern Chinese history. Photo: handout

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News

People & Culture

China Personalities

Pioneering scientist who invented high-end collagen facial mask, helped set up Hong Kong-listed firm, prefers laboratory to the boardroom


Pioneering scientist who invented high-end collagen facial mask, helped set up Hong Kong-listed firm, prefers laboratory to the boardroom.


Women and gender

Millionaires and billionaires

Who is Fan Daidi? New vice-president of top China university has net worth of US$6 billion

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Pioneering scientist who invented high-end collagen facial mask, helped set up Hong Kong-listed firm, prefers laboratory to the boardroom

Pioneering scientist who invented high-end collagen facial mask, helped set up Hong Kong-listed firm, prefers laboratory to the boardroom