Simon Baptist is the Global Chief Economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit and is currently based in Singapore. Simon’s focus is on the global economy, national and international political developments, and public policy. He engages with business, government and international organisations, helping them to understand the operational and strategic implications of the EIU’s forecasts.

Simon is also the Managing Director for the EIU in Asia, with oversight for the EIU’s research, consultancy and C-suite advisory services in the region.

He has a doctorate in economics from and was a lecturer at Oxford University, along with degrees in economics and science from the University of Tasmania. His academic research investigated technology and the determinants of productivity in manufacturing firms.

Ben leads the firm's non-contentious regulatory practice in Hong Kong, where he is currently based, and advises clients in a broad range of transactional and non-transactional regulatory areas.

Ben has particular expertise in cross-jurisdictional regulatory advice; reconciling Asian regulatory regimes with European and UK regulatory requirements.

Ben is qualified in England & Wales and Hong Kong.

David Liu is the APAC Regional Managing Director for the Chief Growth Office and Head of ESG Advisory for APAC, based in Hong Kong. In addition, he serves as City Leader for Hong Kong, is an operating member of Kroll’s Asia-Pacific (APAC) Management Committee, and a member of the APAC Regional Board for Kroll’s Charitable Foundation. He leverages more than 20 years of experience advising and working with financial institutions, private equity sponsors, family offices, venture capital and financial technology firms across engagements involving capital markets, environmental, social and governance (ESG) and digital assets.

With 20+ years of experience in the financial services industry, Françoise serves as Chief Strategic Development Officer, Asia based in Hong Kong and is a member of AXA Asia & Africa Executive Board. As such, Francoise is responsible for setting the regional strategy in line with AXA Ambition by establishing and implementing strategic and business development objectives across the Asian markets.

Additionally, she enables the execution of the AXA Asia strategy through financial performance management by providing financial insights to inform decision making.

Françoise also has rich experience in ALM, valuation, Risk in both banking and insurance industry. Before joining AXA in 2013, she worked 8 years with ING and 7 years with Fortis as an actuary. Her first role with AXA was Head of European ALM and Capital Management for AXA Bank Europe, prior to assuming the role of Chief Risk Officer with AXA Bank Belgium, and finally Head of P&C Retail Performance with AXA Belgium. In 2019 she joined AXA Asia as Chief Risk Officer and Head of Insurance Office.

Jon Penrice is President of Dow in Asia Pacific with responsibility for the company’s $10bn chemicals and materials business, spanning consumer, packaging, infrastructure and mobility markets. He has extensive international leadership experience having lived and held executive positions in Europe, USA and three times in Asia. During his career he has built a reputation for innovative strategic thinking, growth delivery, cultural acumen and a commitment to sustainability.

He began his career in 1986 at Unilever before joining DuPont in 1989 where he became a global executive vice president in their fibers and apparel business with P&L responsibilities in consumer-facing brands such as LYCRA.

In 2007, he joined Dow in Switzerland and became global general manager of Dow’s specialty polyurethanes business where he led a transformation to a higher growth and higher value business until his appointment to his current position in 2019.

Jon is a British citizen who graduated from the University of Cambridge, UK, with a degree in Natural Sciences, and completed the High Performance Leadership program at the IMD business school. He currently resides in Hong Kong.

Edward Chui is the Hong Kong Director at the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network (EICN), and is responsible for program development and engaging with top executives in the region on key economic and political issues as well as industry-specific analysis to support their businesses in Hong Kong.

Mr Chui has worked in the Greater China region for over 20 years. Before coming to The Economist Group, he was a consultant with Chesapeake Pacific Capital Management overseeing a range of thought leadership projects on the ultra-high net worth, family office, philanthropy, and next generation wealth succession. He was also Vice President at The Private Bank at JPMorgan in Hong Kong working with senior management in the expansion of the Asia Pacific business through special programs and wealth management publications for clients. Mr Chui also possesses extensive experience in the media and technology sectors having worked at StarTV, a subsidiary of NewsCorp, AlterEgo Networks in Silicon Valley and EF Education focusing on the China mobile business.

Mr Chui has a BA in Government from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business.