Simon is the Global Chief Economist for the Economist Intelligence Unit, responsible for driving their world-leading macroeconomic, business and political reports and forecasts with a team of 100+ economists, data scientists and analysts based in every continent. An engaging and renowned economic communicator who can make economic ideas actionable and relevant to stakeholders across financial services, corporates and government, he regularly appears on international broadcast media, briefs boards and executive teams, and gives keynote presentations at large events. Under his leadership the EIU has been ranked the top global forecaster on multiple occasions.

Simon has a doctorate in Economics at the University of Oxford, where his research investigated productivity and technology in emerging market manufacturing firms. This postgraduate study followed degrees in Economics and Science from the University of Tasmania. He has published a number of academic articles, including in World Development, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, University of Oxford working paper series, and Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, as well as leading or contributing to a large number of EIU publications.

Mr. Chen joined Bain Capital in 2005. He is a Partner in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Vertical and a founding member of the Asian Pacific Private Equity team. Mr. Chen has worked in both the Boston and Hong Kong offices and focuses on growth capital and buyouts in the technology, media and business services sectors. He also spent time at the China Investment Corporation.

Prior to joining Bain Capital Private Equity, Mr. Chen was a consultant with Bain & Company in Boston.

Jini specialises in debt capital markets and has over ten years of experience working on international capital markets transactions. Jini has wide-ranging experience in advising investment banks, corporates, governments and government agencies in capital market transactions globally.

Jini regularly advises on transactions in the Greater China and Asia-Pacific region. She regularly advises top tier investment banks, commercial banks and issuers who are active in Greater China. Her range of expertise includes standalone bonds across all currencies (including offshore RMB bonds), medium term notes and commercial paper programmes, liability management exercises (buybacks, tender offers and consent solicitations), equity-linked transactions (convertible and exchangeable bonds) as well as regulatory capital. Jini also advises on structured notes and products as well as general loan and financing matters.

Mattie Bekink is responsible for the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network’s China strategy, including programme development and client engagement across China.

Ms Bekink has extensive experience in the public, private and policy sectors. Prior to joining The Economist Group, she was the Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission in the Netherlands. She also ran an eponymous consulting business, advising businesses, universities and non-profit organisations on China policy, strategy, public affairs, and CSR. Ms Bekink practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, has worked with the US-Asia Law Initiative at NYU Law School and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative China Program, and served in the legal department at General Motors China.

Ms Bekink has a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Christina is a Managing Principal, Global Head of Capital Markets and Co-Chair of Alternative Investments at Gaw Capital Partners. She works closely with limited partners relating to capital raising and new product developments. Gaw Capital is a real estate private equity firm and has raised seven commingled funds targeting the APACregion since 2005. The firm also manages value-add/opportunistic funds in the US, a Pan-Asia hospitality fund, a European hospitality fund, a growth equity fundandit also provides services for credit investments and separate account direct investments globally. The firm has over US$36billion in AUM as of Q1 2023.She also serves as Executive Director of Pioneer Global Group(0224.HK) and Independent Non-Executive Director and Member of the Finance and General Committee and the Sustainability Committee of CLP Holdings Limited (0002.HK). Shewas also appointed as the member of the Main Board and GEM Listing Committees of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited in 2022.

Ms. Gaw was named Global PERE’s Rainmaker 30 and one of the Top 10 PERE’s Women of Influence in 2021.

Prior to joining Gaw Capital, Christina had an investment banking career with Goldman Sachs and UBS as Managing Director for over 15 years, with responsibilities as Head of Asia Equities Distribution and as Head of APAC Capital Introduction team within Prime Brokerage. She has deep experience in covering the largest institutional investors globally.

Christina is also active in community and educational sector capacity work in Hong Kong. She is currentlyan honorary advisor of Hong Kong PropTech Association,a board member of InspiringHK Sports Foundation and an advisor of Teach for Hong Kong, Time Auction, finance committee member and board member of Hong Kong International School, board member of Stellart International School of Arts, executive committee vice chairwoman of St. Paul’s Co-educational College Alumni Association, corporate member of the Cheltenham Ladies College UK, school supervisor for TWGHs S. C. Gaw Memorial College and the council member of Lingnan University, Hong Kong. She has also served as the board member of The Women’s Foundation for over 10 years from 2009 to 2019 and the board treasurer of The Hong Kong Ballet Group from 2010 to 2017.

Christina received her B.S in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco, California.