Currently a professor at Shanghai Normal University, championed bold education reforms that catapulted Shanghai to the top of global student performance rankings. As an educator, scholar, and policy maker, he has dedicated the past three decades to bringing quality education to 23 million Shanghai children of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Zhang's contribution to numerous UNESCO, UNICEF, and World Bank initiatives have benefited students and education systems in both developing and developed regions of Asia and the world. Zhang is also the key driver behind Shanghai’s participation in Asia Society’s Global Cities Education Network, involving 10 major urban education systems around the Asia Pacific.