Born in 1956 in Antwerp (Belgium), Dirk Collier’s passion for Asian culture and history was aroused as a result of his travels throughout the continent, predominantly in China and India. In 2011, he published The Emperor’s Writings, a historical novel on the life and times of Akbar the Great (1542–1605) and in 2013 came his book Paths to Peace: Religion, Ethics and Tolerance in a Globalizing World. He has also written articles for various journals and occasionally lectures at universities and cultural institutions. Professionally, he is a lawyer and a businessman and serves on the board of several organizations.