Xiaoli holds a PhD in Intercultural Theology, a GradCert in Spirituality (University of Divinity), an MDiv (Australian University of Theology) and a BBus (RMIT University). Following her professional accounting career, she has been involved in pastoral leadership, theological education and spiritual direction locally and abroad over the last 25 years. She has travelled, taught and given lectures in both academic and church settings around the world. She writes and publishes extensively to profile less-heard voices from the Global South, encouraging dialogue and mutual enrichment across the globe. She holds research, supervisory and adjunct roles at a few Australian universities and had visiting appointments at Fuller Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary and Boston University, USA.

Her research interests include Intercultural Theology, World Christianity, Poetic Theology, Comparative Theology, Migration, Ethno-hermeneutics, and Spirituality/Spiritual Direction. Her scholarship advocates ‘lived poetics’ that bridge aesthetics, spirituality, diaspora, mission, and theology in World Christianity.

She currently serves on the boards of a few national and international organisations, including the International Association for Mission Studies (Regional Representative for Oceania) and the Australian Association for Mission Studies (President 2022-23; Vice President 2021-22). She is also an ordained minister, a trained spiritual director and a bilingual poet. Her poetry has been widely published and used in spiritual direction and retreats (YouTube: @xyangbridgingthegap).

Her PhD monograph A dialogue between Haizi’s Poetry and the Gospel of Luke—Chinese Homecoming and its Relationship with Jesus Christ’ (Brill: 2018 in English and CYCU: 2022 in Chinese) was reviewed as a ‘singular’, ‘trailblazing’, ‘masterpiece’ with original contribution to the field of mission studies, world Christianity and intercultural theology. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, including the first prize-awarded chapter in Spiritual Direction in Australia (SDI: 2022). Her most recent release Chinese Christian Witness: Identity, Creativity, Transmission and Poetics (Brill: 2026) presents a multi-paradigmatic view of gospel expression and expansion displayed in the life of Chinese believers over five centuries. Her forthcoming publication includes Singing Theology from the Ground: Indigenous Hymnody and Global Christianity (Baylor). Currently, she is working on ‘lived poetics’ and its engagement with theology, mission, and spirituality in World Christianity.

Xiaoli is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and several other dialects.

University Appointments

Honorary Research Fellow (Whitley College)
Adjunct Lecturer (Whitley College)

External Affiliations

• Charles Sturt University (Senior Research Fellow)
• Angelina Noble Centre (HDR Supervisor / Mentor)
• Australian University of Theology (HDR Supervisor / Examiner)
• Australian Association of Mission Studies Executive Committee (Member)
• Australian Journal of Mission Studies (Editorial Member)
• Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies Board of Directors (Member)
• Australian Network for Spiritual Direction (Member)
• International Association of Mission Studies (Regional Representative Oceania)