Zhang is Country Director at the China program of The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Before joining NRDC in 2021, Zhang served as deputy director-general of the International Cooperation Department under the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and as deputy director of the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center.

Zhang has over 20 years of professional experience in environmental policy and governance at the national, regional, and global level. She has a long history of involvement in international governance processes including acting as chief negotiator on various international environmental conventions. She holds a B.A. from Beijing International Studies University and a M.A. from Renmin University of China.