Irina Fan joined the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) as Director of Research in January 2022, subsequently leading the Council's Research Department as it conducted a wide range of surveys, research studies, and analyses of the key trends that affect the global trade and economic environment, while also identifying the business opportunities on offer to Hong Kong companies both within China and an on more international basis. She brings to her position more than 25 years of research-related experience and extensive exposure to the Chinese Mainland, the Asia Pacific region and many international markets. Prior to taking up her role, she held a number of senior positions in the financial services and banking sector, including serving as Head of Insurance Market Analysis for Zurich-based Swiss Re and as Senior Economist for the Hang Seng Bank. She started her career as an HKTDC economist, initially overseeing a range of services-related research projects.

Sean Randolph is Senior Director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, where he served as President and Chief Executive from 1998-2015. The Economic Institute is a business-supported public policy research and strategy organisation that focuses on the economy of the San Francisco/Silicon Valley Bay Area and California. He previously served as Director of International Trade for the State of California, and, before that, as International Director General of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), a 1000-member Asia-Pacific business organisation. His professional career includes service in the US Government on Congressional staffs, the White House staff, and in senior positions at the Departments of State and Energy, including as Deputy/Ambassador-at-Large for Pacific Basin Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs. He holds a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center, a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts and Harvard Universities), a BSFS. from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and studied at the London School of Economics. Based in San Francisco, he writes for regional, US and global media and frequently speaks to Bay Area and international audiences on technology, innovation, and global economic issues.

The Managing Director of Li & Fung Development (China), Fung Group, Chang Ka Mun also serves as Executive Director of the HKUST Li & Fung Supply Chain Institute. The Fung Group (formerly known as the Li & Fung Group) is a Hong Kong-based multinational, with major subsidiaries in the trading, logistics, distribution and retailing sectors. His main areas of research include the global supply chain, supply chain management, the commercial economies of the Chinese Mainland and Asia, and a wide range of regional development strategies.
He is currently a Member of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit (CEPU) Expert Group, a Member of the HKTDC Belt and Road & Greater Bay Area Committee, a Council Member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, and a Co-Founder of the Hong Kong Coalition.