Tom is Regional Director, Asia at The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). He is an expert on politics and economics in Asia, with specific interests in regional geopolitics, public policy and China’s political economy. Tom is a frequent commentator in the international media, talks regularly at conferences and events, and has published on a range of subjects in relation to Asia and China. His experience and deep knowledge help organisations and businesses make sense of the rapid changes in the region. As Regional Director, Tom leads a team of analysts based across the Asia. He is responsible for ensuring the EIU’s analysis and forecasts for countries in the region are as accurate and insightful as they can be for clients, and delivered in a timely and accessible way. Tom is based in Beijing, where he has lived and worked for the best part of a decade. He joined the EIU in 2011 and prior to his current role was Principal Economist, China. Tom holds an MPhil in International Relations and a BA in Modern History, both from the University of Oxford. His work experience outside the EIU includes a spell as a researcher in the UK Parliament, where he worked on the UK-China relationship, and roles with the China-Britain Business Council, Oxford Analytica and the Foreign Policy Centre. Tom also studied Chinese at Peking University and held a research fellowship at its Institute of International and Strategic Studies, funded by the MacArthur Foundation.

Rico Chan is Head of Baker McKenzie's China Real Estate, Co-head of Asia Real Estate Group and Co-lead of Asia Pacific Data Centre Task Force. He is also Head of the Firm's China Greater Bay Area Developments.

Rico is passionate about providing legal solutions to clients in real estate structuring and closing and resolving tricky legal issues in China and Hong Kong. Major legal directories including Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific have consistently ranked him as a Tier-1 lawyer in his areas of practice. Over the last 30 years, Rico has represented major foreign investors, financiers and corporate users in a wide range of transactions (such as greenfield development, acquisition, financing, disposal, REITs, anchor lease, built-to-suit lease) and also a wider range of real estate products (such as office, residential, retail, hotel, timeshare, theme park, industrial, logistics, data centre, hospital, to infrastructure projects).

Rico takes the practice of law as his art form. He immensely enjoys connecting with his clients and colleagues, the younger generations and the society through his legal work and thinking. He enjoys reading and knowing about different cultures, societies, educational psychology, interior designs and tech developments.

Janet Pau is the Director of The Economist Corporate Network in Hong Kong. She brings her experience working with top executives throughout Asia, coupled with economic knowledge and industry insight to help organisational leaders and their teams gain a holistic, practical appreciation of the opportunities and challenges in Greater China and across Asia.

Before joining The Economist Corporate Network, Janet was Program Director for the Asia Business Council, developing and delivering content for private forums for an all-CEO membership in Asia for more than a decade. Prior to that, she was Manager at the Global Business Policy Council at consulting firm A.T. Kearney in Washington D.C., where she led consulting projects and intellectual capital publications for senior executive clients in both business and government.

Janet’s publications include Through the Eyes of Tiger Cubs: Views of Asia’s Next Generation (Wiley, 2012) and Building Energy Efficiency (Encyclopaedia of China Publishing House, Chinese edition, 2008). She was an op-ed contributor and columnist for the South China Morning Post from 2011 to 2019. She has also contributed opinion pieces and book chapters, and spoken at various local and regional business conferences.

She serves on the leadership team of Hong Kong-based charity Beyond Foundation, which advocates for children with special needs and their families. She was a member on the Hong Kong Government’s Antiquities Advisory Board, Museum Advisory Board, and Central Policy Unit.

Janet received a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies and psychology with honours from Yale University and a Master in Public Policy specializing in economic policy and competitiveness from Harvard University.