Zhan is Transgender Europe’s Deputy Director, where he works to strengthen trans rights in 49 countries in Europe and Central Asia. From 2015-2020 he created and led ILGA World’s Gender Identity and Expression Program including authoring three editions of the global Trans Legal Mapping Report and initiating ILGA’s work on sport and human rights. 

Zhan has held legal, policy, and advocacy roles with NGOs, the UN and the Australian government, such as Asylum Access Thailand, Interights, and UNHCR Pakistan.  

He is active in participatory grantmaking and is a board member of the International Trans Fund and on the advisory committee of Canada’s ACTIF Fund. 

Born and raised in Singapore, he later studied and worked in Australia and then left to pursue a career in human rights. He has lived and worked in 8 countries and holds a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney.