Zhou Jianwei, male, Han nationality, is a native of Tongling, Anhui Province. He studied in the gas turbine program of the Mechanical Department of Qinghua University from 1965 to 1970 and joined the CPC in 1973.
Zhou went immediately to work for the Qian Jiang Wuqi Oil Field after his studies ended at university in 1970. He spent fourteen years at the oil field, serving in a number of capacities during his time there. He was a deputy political instructor and secretary of the oil field's well drilling team. Zhou was later the deputy secretary of the general Party branch at the oil field.
In 1991, Zhou left the Machine-Building Department at Hubei Province to take the secretary-general position with the province. In addition, he took over the director and secretary's posts with the Leading Party Group of the provincial Economic Committee. Zhou concurrently was the director and secretary of the Leading Party Group of the provincial Economic and Commercial Committee.
Zhou became deputy governor of Hubei Province in 1997.