Professional Expertise:

Lawyer | Banker | Investment ESG | Derivatives | Communications | Problem Solver | Navigating Complexity | Curious Learner | Connecting People

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Law

Biography:
A lawyer by background, my 15 years+ experience covers a wide spectrum in the derivatives and structured products space. Having trained and qualified at Allen & Overy in London, specialising in repackagings and structured finance, I broadened my skill-set into fund of fund financings, structured equity derivatives and prime brokerage. I have also held business-side roles at an investment bank in HK, firstly as an equity-linked originator executing equity-credit secured margin transactions, and later as part of a Global Markets equity-derivative Sales and Structuring group.

My prior role at AIA was part of the 1LOD within Group Investment, undertaking governance advisory work, and overseeing a dedicated legal team covering derivatives, repos, central clearing, investment management and private equity. I am part of a larger team playing an integral part in AIA modernising its investment governance architecture, operating under its philosophy "empowering within a framework", likening my role to that of a trusted business partner, adviser, advocate and change management agent.

Since Q1 2019, I’ve taken on ESG responsibilities within Group Investment. In that role, I am working with our Group Chief Investment Officer and his management team, driving forward AIA Group Investment’s ESG journey focusing on sustainable outcomes including climate change, articulating our methodology and overseeing a structured engagement programme with our investee companies, influencing and formulating sustainable outcomes. My ESG work also includes close collaboration with colleagues in the Group ESG and Investor Relations teams, representing the Investment function during our engagement with AIA’s institutional investors, articulating the AIA Investment ESG journey to date. I’ve helped implement ESG exclusions within AIA’s Investment Governance Framework including pre-trade controls, and also participating in various industry working groups on climate change and green finance. Over 2020-21, I drove our efforts to manage the stranded asset risk and reduce our exposures to coal, leading to our external commitments to divest, which have already been completed and lead our Investment net-zero efforts for our near-term SBTi targets. I also coordinate Investment’s responses to regulatory ESG consultations.

Having transitioned to become a T-shaped lawyer, my overall experience equips me well for stakeholder management, collaborative, consensus-building and influencing roles, being commercially-driven and navigating complexity in multi-stakeholder large financial organisations.