Allen Hicken is Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan where he is also an affiliate at the Center for Political Studies, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, and the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies. He is currently a Visiting Professor at Singapore Management University in the School of Social Sciences. He works on political institutions, political economy, and policy making with a special focus on Southeast Asia. His primary research is on Thailand and the Philippines, but he has also worked in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Timor Leste.

His latest book (co-authored with Edward Aspinall, Meredith Weiss, and Paul Hutchcroft) examines clientelism and money politics in Southeast Asia and is entitled Mobilizing for Elections: Patronage and Political Machines in Southeast Asia (Cambridge). He is also the author or (co-)editor of the following books: Building Party Systems in Developing Democracies, (Cambridge 2009), Party and Party System Institutionalization in Asia (Cambridge 2014), Politics of Modern Southeast Asia: Critical Issues in Modern Politics (Routledge 2010), Electoral Dynamics in the Philippines: Money Politics, Patronage and Clientelism at the Grassroots (NUS 2019).

Nattabhorn Juengsanguansit leads Asia Group Advisors’ operations in Thailand, Laos & Cambodia. Ink plays a crucial role in providing strategic advice to clients and has experience in assisting multinational clients with market entry, issue management, and thought leadership campaigns. She has an extensive background in public affairs, crisis communications, market-entry, and government relations consultancy.

Ink previously led the Thai operation of a global communications advisory and advocacy firm, where she provided clients with an in-depth understanding of Thailand’s social, economic, and political landscape, as well as stakeholder mapping and outreach. She is experienced in developing and implementing communication and engagement strategies for companies and industry associations in the consumer goods, automotive, and healthcare sectors, along with international NGOs.

Ariel Tan is Deputy Head of Policy Studies and Coordinator of the Malaysia Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. She was previously a Singapore Foreign Service Officer, who served in the policy, planning and analysis directorates for Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Americas, respectively, at the Ministry of Foreign affairs. She was First Secretary (Political) at the Embassy of Singapore in Washington DC (2001-2005) and Deputy High Commissioner of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur (2011-2015). She has also worked at the Institute of Policy Studies, under the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (National University of Singapore), where she directed the institute’s strategic planning and communications.

Ariel was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) or Pingat Pentadbiran Awam (Gangsa), a Singapore National Day award, in 2013.

Ariel graduated from the National University of Singapore with a B.A. (Honours) in English Literature. She holds a Master in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, where she was also a Mason Fellow.

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.