Yuhua Zong, MBA is the Finance and Operations Manager at Thrive Philanthropy, where he oversees the budgets, grant payments, and day-to-day details that keep the team running smoothly. He brings a background in both finance and food systems advocacy.

For five years at the Good Food Fund, Yuhua led youth programs and fundraising across China. He built a youth program from the ground up, managed incoming grants from start to finish, and worked with universities, UN agencies, and nonprofits around the world to promote healthy, sustainable, and just plant-based food systems rooted in local culture and tradition. As a youth leader for the global Act4Food movement, he organized and mobilized young advocates in China to call for healthier, fairer, and more sustainable food. Yuhua got his start in entrepreneurship. As Director of Business Development at a plant-based food startup, he wore many hats, from building partnerships with local farms and food banks to running sales, marketing, and the company’s finances. He also kept the books and supported policy research for the Green Party office in New Brunswick.

Yuhua has spoken about traditional food wisdom and the role of young people in food systems at COP27, APEC, and the World Food Forum. He also hosts a Chinese-language podcast about food and culture. He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship and a BBA in Finance from the University of New Brunswick, and lives in Oakville, Ontario.