In a career divided between business and diplomacy, Philip has spent over 12 years working in Japan, and another decade in Korea and China. From 2018 to 2023 he served as New Zealand Ambassador to South and North Korea, based in Seoul. Before that he spent 18 years with New Zealand’s largest company, Fonterra Cooperative, in Japan, China, Europe and New Zealand. In 2009-2013 he was based in Shanghai as President of Fonterra China. Now based in Tokyo, he balances a portfolio of consulting, writing, teaching and study. He is a Beachheads Advisor for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, teaches business and politics at Lakeland University in Tokyo, and is completing a PhD thesis in International Relations at Waseda University. He is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University Wellington. He has experience in governance as well, having chaired the VinLink wine company in New Zealand. He was elected to the Executive Committee of the ANZCCJ in July 2025.