LIVE WEBCAST: Asia Regional Strategic Forecast

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.

Sarah Grimmer is Secretary-General of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”), responsible for its international dispute resolution services and operations out of its offices in Hong Kong, Seoul and Shanghai. She was formerly Senior Legal Counsel at the PCA where she served as registrar in inter-State arbitrations and was appointed tribunal secretary in multiple investor-State arbitrations. Prior to joining the PCA, Sarah served for three years as Assistant Counsel at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris. She was also a member of the international arbitration group at Shearman & Sterling LLP in Paris, prior to which she worked in private practice in Auckland.

In 2020 and 2019, Sarah was recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader in arbitration. She is currently a member of the ICCA-ASIL Task Force on Damages (2016) and the ICCA
Diversity Task Force (2019). She previously served on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Disciplinary Board (2015-2017) and was a member of the IBA Investment Arbitration Subcommittee (2014-2016).

Sarah has an LLM from Cambridge University and an LLB/BA (Criminology) from Victoria University of Wellington. She is admitted to practice law in NewZealand.

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.

Jon Penrice leads Dow’s business in Asia Pacific with responsibility for the company’s businesses, spanning consumer, packaging and infrastructure markets.

Prior to this role, Jon was the vice president for Dow Polyurethane business for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India for 5 years, leading a transformation towards a higher growth and higher value business.

Jon joined Dow in Switzerland in 2007 and became the global general manager for Dow Electrical & Telecommunications. In 2012, Jon became the global business director for Dow’s Formulated Systems business which provides differentiated solutions to a wide range of industrial markets including construction and infrastructure, as well as consumer applications such as footwear, appliances and home interiors.

Prior to joining Dow, Jon was the global executive vice president for the fibers and apparel business of DuPont, which became Koch Industries’ Invista. He has also held a variety of other leadership roles for DuPont in consumer focused businesses such as Lycra® and Teflon® and was based in Europe, USA and twice in Asia.

Jon graduated from the University of Cambridge, UK, with a degree in Natural Sciences, and is based in Hong Kong with his family.

Peter Reynolds is a Managing Partner, board member and head of Greater China based in Oliver Wyman’s Hong Kong Office, where he moved in 2016 after 13 years with Oliver Wyman in New York and London. Peter has worked in depth with major financial institutions across Asia, the US, Europe and Middle East. Peter is a member of our Finance & Risk practice, and currently sits on the Asia Pacific Management Team and Global Financial Services Management Committee and Leadership Council. He previously was New York Office head; leader of our US Capital Markets Risk team; and co-Head of the Oliver Wyman Intellectual Capital committee.

Peter holds a Bachelor’s degree from Oxford University in History and Economics, and an MBA with distinction from INSEAD. He joined the firm in February 2004 from a generalist strategy consulting firm.