Our Team
Meet our New Zealand immigration consultants
Dr Steven Yaoming Gong
PhD, Plant Science, Massey University
Principal of Destination Immigration Consultancy Limited
Immigration Adviser since 1996
Licensed Immigration Adviser since 2009 (Licence No: 200800533)
Master in Science at University of Inner Mongolia, Peoples Republic of China in 1984
PhD in Plant Science at Massey University, New Zealand in 1994
Post-doctoral Fellowship in Japan sponsored by JSPS Fellowship (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Post-doctoral Fellowship) in 1995
Dr Steven Gong arrived in New Zealand in 1988 from China as a visiting scientist to the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research (the DISR, now a Crown Research Institute). His research at the DISR and study at Massey University culminated in a PhD from Massey University in 1994. A one-year post-doctoral research fellowship at the Ministry of Science and Technology of Japan followed, and he returned to New Zealand in 1995.
A successful and satisfied migrant himself, and still with strong ties and networks in Asia, Dr Gong saw an opportunity to help Asian people realise their goal to migrate to New Zealand and achieve success. His personal success as a migrant, his understanding of New Zealand, and his extensive networks in the Asian market being apparent, he took the opportunity to set up a sole practice immigration consultancy business, Deson Co Ltd in 1996, the predecessor of Destination Immigration Consultancy Ltd (Deson) formed in 2001.
Dr Gong immediately gained a reputation for timeliness, thoroughness, and a unique understanding of the complex rules and procedures involved in migrating to New Zealand, and his business thrived. The special business migration policy was introduced in 1998, and Dr Gong’s success in business himself enabled him to achieve prominence quickly, as one of a very few agents assisting business migrants.
Despite the complicated procedures involved, he achieved a high success rate and his business expanded. The introduction, in November 2002, of a capricious English language requirement for business migrants had a profound effect on this category of migrant, but by this time Deson was well established with expertise in all areas of migration.
Full range of immigration Advisory services
Deson expanded further and continues to offer the full range of immigration Advisory services to migrants. With the assistance of an associate, Dr Tony Lewis, business analyst and marketing expert, and a staff of 5 full time New Zealand immigration consultants, Dr Gong has also been actively involved in identifying and facilitating the development of business and investment opportunities for Chinese migrant investors in New Zealand.
Through the Long-Term Business Visa, now replaced by the Entrepreneur Work Visa, and the Entrepreneur Residence Visa, Dr Gong has successfully assisted many business migrants invest in or establish businesses and settle in New Zealand.
For many migrants, the initial stage is to gain an offshore or onshore work visa, and there are many work and residence visa holders in New Zealand who have reason to be grateful for Dr Gong’s depth of knowledge, integrity, business contacts, and immigration application expertise to start them, and see them through the whole process from work visa application to residence.
As word-of-mouth appreciation of Deson’s services and expert team of New Zealand immigration consultants gathered pace, so has Deson’s client network expanded.
Dr Gong also has a thriving business providing advice, and assisting international graduates reach their education and career goals. International students with the right qualifications, who wish to apply for residence visas on completion of their tertiary studies, find that under the Skilled Migration Category, they can make a number of choices in line with their ambitions. Dr Gong can provide advice and assistance at every point on a student’s path from acceptance as a student, to assessing employment suitability, and eventually to gaining residence. As in the work visa area, the student visa process often begins with offshore applications, and here Dr Gong has great depth of experience and expertise.
Dr Gong has always believed that the best and most effective way to be successful in business, is to rely on successful and satisfied clients generating word-of-mouth referrals. The results of this strategy speak for themselves.
Dr Gong does not advise on refugee applications, but he can refer refugees to practitioners who can help.
Lu Chen
Licensed Immigration Adviser (Licence No: 201700182)
Bachelor of Business English, Graduate Diploma in New Zealand Immigration Advice
Lu Chen graduated from Shandong University of Finance and Economics, China, with a Bachelor of Business English. She came to New Zealand on a student visa in June 2008, and achieved a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education with distinction one year after. With this highly regarded and uniquely challenging qualification, she became a registered teacher in New Zealand in 2011 and worked professionally in different early education centers for over three years.
She then decided that her real interest lay in helping people immigrate to New Zealand. Following having completed a Graduate Diploma in New Zealand Immigration Advice in 2016, Lu Chen became a Licensed Immigration Adviser in 2017.
Lu’s approach is professional, thorough and effective, and she has successfully guided many international students to obtaining student visas. She follows up to enable applicants to obtain work and residence visas, under categories appropriate to their qualifications and preferences.
She knows through her own experience, and from her studies, how difficult it is, and how important it is for prospective immigrants to get the right advice, as they begin their journey through the NZ immigration legislation and requirements.
She dedicates her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to assist each and every client to obtain visas that allowed them to study and work in New Zealand, and eventually to apply for residence visas successfully. More importantly, she also understands that each application is unique and comes with its own complications.
Almost anything possible she thinks, given the right advice. Her professionalism, patience and high success rate, and good reputation in the field, should give clients the confidence they need, to ensure success.
Lu Chen joined Destination Immigration Consultancy Ltd in early 2020.
Yutian Liu
Licensed Immigration Adviser (Licence No:201900137)
Master of Management, Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in New Zealand Immigration Advice
Yutian Liu arrived in Auckland, New Zealand in 2009, as an international student. He graduated Bachelor of Arts from Unitec Institute of Technology in June 2010, and in April 2016 graduated from Massey University with a Master of Management.
Yutian began his career in management in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. He managed and became the owner/operator of two highly successful Chinese restaurants for more than 10 years.
He successfully completed a Graduate Diploma in New Zealand Immigration Advice in 2018 and became a licensed adviser in February 2019. Yutian moved from Wellington to Auckland and joined the Auckland office of Destination Immigration Consultancy Ltd (Deson) in early 2020. Although now an employee of Deson, he has retained his position of Director of the restaurant companies of Wellington.
Yutian’s qualifications and subsequent immigration Advisory study and experience, coupled with his more than 10 years in business establishment and operation management, has allowed him to gain in-depth knowledge of both business management, and of immigration policy. He is well versed in New Zealand business systems and regulations, relating to both business practice, and to immigration. He is on the unique position of being able to provide advice in both business management and in immigration matters.
Yutian has himself experienced the challenges confronting a migrant wishing to obtain a visa to come to New Zealand under various immigration categories, to study in a New Zealand university, to pursue employment and to obtain work visas, and to apply what he has learned. He knows what it takes to become a permanent resident, to get a rewarding job in the immigrants’ that is satisfying and rewarding.
Yutian has experienced profoundly, the difficulty of being a migrant, and understands the importance of receiving valuable, honest, and highly professional immigration advice. He has had, and is grateful for, the assistance from highly regarded professional licensed immigration advisers during this long and sometimes frustrating period. Working at Destination Immigration Consultancy Ltd, Yutian can help people with goals to eliminate barriers, and achieve success.
Jenelle Huang
Licensed Immigration Adviser (Licence No: 202000957)
Master of Business Management
Business consultant
Jenelle Huang joined Destination Immigration Consultancy Limited (Deson) in February 2018 and quickly became a valued member of our team.
Jenelle has a Master of Business Management from Waikato University, and experience in business administration; she is well qualified as a business management consultant, with good knowledge of the requirements for prospective immigrants.
Prior to joining Deson, Jenelle worked in the food industry, and her business background, together with her qualification, sound knowledge of the food business operation, evident customer focus, dedication to our clients, has enabled her to get the best outcome for our clients.
Jenelle provides an important link between clients and the director, immigration Advisers and other consultants at Deson.
The initiation of marketing strategies for the company and for clients is also important component of her duties. With exceptional skills in communication, and being fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, Jenelle has an outstanding ability to develop collaborative relationships with clients on behalf of Deson.
Deson would encourage clients to make good use of her skills in food business, and in communication.
Xuhui Lu (Andy)
Licensed Immigration Adviser (Licence No. 202300106) Programme Administrator
Bachelor of Economics, Graduate Diploma of Applied Business Management in Event
Xuhui Lu rigorous to himself and efficient on work, he has extensive economic and information technology knowledge, and possesses deep understanding of the integration application of modern information technology and marketing promotion strategies.
Xuhui used to work in China’s largest trade promotion agency and possesses extensive experience in marketing and event planning, execution and management. During his tenure as a marketing and event organising specialist for China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT-Beijing Branch), being acute to market insights, he always focused on the latest economy and trade hotspots, and effectively planned and implemented plenty of marketing promotion projects and business exchange activities, which effectively facilitate companies to strengthen the abilities in macro-economic policies understanding, network establishing, and market expanding. All of these have achieved satisfactory results and brought various benefits to the continuing development of the companies.
Xuhui joined Destination Immigration Consultancy in April 2019. Having been working as marketing officer for more than one year, in order to enhance business operation effects and reflect the market variation, Xuhui’s post tasks have been mainly shifted to the program administration, to be responsible for Deson’s service and especially the study cooperation programs’ marketing, coordinating and delivering.
His innovative and resourceful input have been definitely making outstanding contributions to the company in the ranges of enhancing market awareness, expanding programs recognition and winning more customers’ praise.
Jingjing Lan
Office Admin
Master of Applied Management
jingjing.lan@deson.co.nz
Jingjing Lan arrived in Auckland, New Zealand in 2019. She graduated from the Eastern Institute of Technology with a Master of Applied Management.
Prior to joining Deson, she worked as a sales representative at a medical equipment company of China, being responsible for implementing marketing plans, customer support, business reviews, sales database administration and attending regular customer calls.
Jingjing joined Destination Immigration Consultancy (Deson) in June 2021. Her primary tasks have been involving administrating and maintaining the company’s daily accounting, bookkeeping, customer database, and providing administration supports to the director and licensed advisors of the company.
Meanwhile, her prioritizing time and task management, and organizational skills have enabled her to coordinate office activities and operations in an efficient and effective manner.
Her outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, and diligent attitude have allowed her to provide strong support to the team in our providing high standard customer service.