Randal Phillips is Managing Partner for Asia of the Mintz Group, and correspondingly manages the Group’s activities across Asia. Randy is based in Singapore together with his wife, who serves as Trade Attache for USTR responsible for Indo-Pacific trade affairs.

Randy spent 28 years with the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations, most recently serving as the Chief CIA representative in China. He has an extensive background in foreign field operations, policy and program management, and leadership development. He is fluent in Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesian.

Randy has lived and traveled extensively throughout China and Asia. He has managed worldwide and regional programs from Washington, has extensive relationships with officials and business leaders throughout the continent, and previously served as Vice Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

Randy has deep expertise on issues relative to Asia, with particular emphasis on China. This includes an intimate knowledge of the full range of political, economic, trade, investment and security issues. Randy has extensive experience unraveling a variety of complex matters involving finance, trade and fraud.

Randy has a B.A. in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs from Miami University, and a Masters of International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Sarah Y. Tong graduated from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, with a Bachelor in Systems Engineering and a Master in Management, and worked at the Development Research Center of China’s State Council for several years. She obtained her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California at San Diego. She was Assistant Professor of the Department of Economics and Research Fellow of East Asian Institute, both at the National University of Singapore. Currently, she is Senior Research Fellow of NUS’ East Asian Institute and its cluster head for economics. Her research interests concentrate on the development and transformation of Chinese Economy, including development in trade and foreign investment, development of regions, financial sector reforms, the reforms of state-owned enterprises, industrial policies and restructuring, and social economic impact of population aging.

Her work appeared in journals such as Journal of International Economics, Global Economic Review, China: An International Journal, Review of Development Economics, China and the World Economy, Comparative Economic Studies, and China Economic Review. In addition to contributing chapters to numerous books on contemporary China, she also edited and co-edited books including China and Global Economic Crisis (2010), Trade, Investment and Economic Integration (2014), China’s Evolving Industrial Policies and Economic Restructure (2014), China’s Great Urbanization (2017), China’s Economic Transformation under the New Normal (2017), China’s Economic Modernization and Structural Changes (2019), and China and Asia Economic Integration (2020).

Sue-Lin Wong is The Economist’s China correspondent, focusing on society and politics in mainland China and Hong Kong. Prior to joining The Economist, she was South China correspondent at the Financial Times where she covered Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests in 2019 and the rise of China’s technology companies. Before that, she was a correspondent at Reuters covering topics including the Chinese economy and North Korea. She opened the Shenzhen bureaus of the Financial Times and Reuters.

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.

Sumana is a senior policy professional with 17 years of experience. Having worked at several dynamic and vibrant tech firms, Sumana designs and implements policies through advocacy, strategic communication and evidence-based analysis. With a flair for writing and communication, Sumana is able to negotiate complex engagements & cultivate senior-level internal/external relationships.

Sumana holds a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, as well as a B.A. in Political Science and Geography from UCLA.