highperformr logo

Benjamin Read

CEO, mercha.com.au
Greater Sydney Area,Australia
Find Benjamin Read's Email
Find Benjamin Read’s Phone

Benjamin Read's Overview

Total Experience21 years
Companymercha.com.au
CountryAustralia

Benjamin L. Read is a distinguished Professor of Politics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His research and teaching focus on comparative politics, with a particular emphasis on contemporary Chinese politics, grassroots governance, political participation, and state-society relations. He is known for his extensive ethnographic fieldwork in urban China, providing nuanced insights into how ordinary citizens interact with local state institutions and engage in community affairs. His work often explores the complexities of political life in authoritarian contexts and the evolving nature of citizenship and social organization in China.

Professional Summary

Benjamin Read's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

mercha.com.au - CEO (2024 to Present)
MERCHA.com.au - Co-Founder, Director, COO (2022 to 2024)
Benny's Boardroom Pty Ltd - Founder & CEO (exited) (2015 to 2021)
Waves Somewhere - Founder (exited) (2013 to 2013)
World - COO of my Honeymoonn (2012 to 2013)
Visa - Business Leader, Consumer Credit and Affluent Products AU&NZ (2009 to 2012)
Citigroup - Head of Core Cards (2007 to 2009)
BearingPoint Consulting - Management Consultant (2001 to 2005)

Notable Achievements

Author of 'Roots of the State'

Authored the influential book 'Roots of the State: Neighborhood Organization and Strata-Based Voluntarism in Beijing' (Stanford University Press, 2012), which examines the dynamics of state-society relations and civic engagement at the neighborhood level in urban China.

Recipient of Prestigious Fellowships and Grants

Has received support for his research from prominent institutions such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Fulbright Program, and the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), underscoring the significance and quality of his scholarly work.

Extensive Fieldwork and Ethnographic Research

Conducted long-term, in-depth ethnographic fieldwork in various Chinese cities, contributing unique and valuable data to the understanding of Chinese local politics and social life.

Contributions to Academic Journals

Published numerous articles in leading academic journals, including Comparative Political Studies, The China Quarterly, and World Politics, advancing scholarly debates on Chinese politics and comparative authoritarianism.

Faculty Leadership and Mentorship

Serves as a key faculty member in the Politics Department at UCSC, contributing to curriculum development, graduate student supervision, and fostering a vibrant intellectual community.

Educational Background

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Management of Information Systems

University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business - Year 1997

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Finance

University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business - Year 1997

Bachelor of Science - BS (Minor), Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

University of Colorado Boulder

Buying Intent Signals for Benjamin Read

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right people at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance

Company Overview

mercha.com.au
Total employees30
HeadquartersMelbourne
Founded2019

Mercha is a platform designed to simplify the creation, management, and distribution of branded merchandise (swag) for businesses. They aim to remove the traditional complexities of sourcing, storing, and shipping promotional products, allowing companies to easily order high-quality, custom merchandise for their employees, customers, and marketing campaigns through an intuitive online portal with global fulfilment capabilities.

mercha.com.au Funding Information
$5.2M AUD - Total Funding Raised
$4M AUD - Most recent funding amount
2 - Number of funding rounds
28 Feb, 2023 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Blackbird Ventures
Skip Capital
Archangel Ventures
Side Stage Ventures

Highperformr's free tools for company research

Find contact info

Get verified emails, phone numbers, and LinkedIn profile details

Find similar contacts

Discover contacts with similar roles, seniority, or companies

Perform deep contact research

Uncover insights like skills, work history, social links, and more

Discover, research and enrich contacts with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore contacts in-depth — from verified emails and phone numbers to LinkedIn activity, job changes, and more — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right people and enrich your CRM with live, accurate contact insights so your teams can connect faster and close smarter.

  • Track signals like job change, promotion, and LinkedIn activity
  • Enrich contacts with verified email, phone, and social data instantly
  • Automate enrichment and updates with powerful workflows
  • Sync enriched contact info directly into your CRM and tools

Thousands of contacts — including decision-makers, influencers, and ICP matches — are just a search away.

Thousands of companies, including, are just a search away.