Simon Baptist is Editorial Director and Chief Economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit. Prior to his current role, he has held a number of other senior management and editorial positions in the business, including Managing Director for Asia, Regional Director of our Asia editorial team, Director of Global Forecasting, and Consulting Director in both Europe and Asia

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.

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.

As the Regional Medical Director for Asia, Dr Teo David oversees the Assistance and Medical Services in this region. For the assistance services, it covers the services provided by international SOS Assistance Centres in Asia. He also heads expert teams of Coordinating Doctors and Nurses in these Assistance Centres, ensuring a high level of service across the region. Additionally, Dr Teo provides medical oversight for Medical Services to remote sites in the above countries.

Dr Teo possesses invaluable experience in disaster relief planning and response, and medical incident management. In addition, he conducts medical training, medical audits, evaluation of on-site medical capabilities and development of medical emergency response plans for clients’ onshore and offshore sites in the region. Dr Teo joined International SOS’ Singapore Assistance Centre as Senior Coordinating Doctor in 2007. Prior to that, he was the Chief Army Medical Officer of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), holding the military rank of a Colonel.

During his 22-year career with SAF, he undertook several peacekeeping missions and was seconded to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of United Nations in New York. In addition, he was also a member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment & Coordination Team, he travelled extensively to different countries providing expert assistance during disasters.

Dr Teo was also responsible for training various national agencies in disaster preparation and relief for earthquakes, tsunamis and terrorist attacks, and for delivering consultancy projects to private sector companies, including oil and gas, on mass casualty preparation and response.

Dr Teo obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the National University of Singapore, followed by a Master in Medicine (Occupational Medicine) in 1993. He is an Occupational Health Specialist board certified with the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Teo is also a Designated Workplace Doctor certified by the Ministry of Manpower. He has lectured postgraduates at the National University of Singapore on occupational medicine and served previously as a Senior Medical Advisor in the Department of Industrial Health, Ministry of Manpower. He has done several health audits for Clients for Occupation Health, Site Emergency Preparedness and Site Health Survey.

Kin Hoe is a qualified actuary who graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He has a combined 15 years of experience working in direct insurance and takaful companies in Malaysia and Singapore as well as consultancy in Malaysia.

He is currently the Vice President of Financial and Insurance Risk Management in MNRB Holdings. His experience includes Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and actuarial valuation. In his previous role in AXA Affin Life, he has engaged with various functions of the company to improve the ERM processes in the organisation He has also worked on developing Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP), identifying emerging risks and improving the risk assessment process.

Kin Hoe is a member of the Climate Risk Working Group and a past committee member (Treasurer) of the Actuarial Society of Malaysia. He has also worked in Bank Negara Malaysia immediately after graduating from UKM.

William Thomas is the Director of the Economist Corporate Network in South-east Asia. An experienced advisor to senior business and government leaders, he helps organisations understand the strategic, operational, and talent implications of geopolitical changes.

William holds a PhD in public policy from George Mason University in the US, as well as a degree in economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA. His academic research has centered on managing change in large, multinational organisations, with an emphasis on organisational culture.

William is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel, having spent much of his 21-year career as a strategic planner for complex operations such as humanitarian assistance and counterterrorism. He was Associate Professor of Political Science at the US Air Force Academy, and later taught at Georgetown University in Washington DC and as a Fulbright Scholar at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Having worked in Asia since 2012, William has focused on leadership development and organisational change as a consultant, leadership coach, and training facilitator.