Affiliation: Former Chairman, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX); Member, Hong Kong-United States Business Council

Bio

Laura Cha is the former Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX) and a member of the Hong Kong-United States Business Council. She is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of Ant Group Co Ltd, a Senior International Advisor of Foundation Assets Management Sweden AB, and a member of Sotheby’s International Advisory Board. In addition, she is also Vice Chairman of the International Advisory Council of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and a Director of the World Federation of Exchanges.

Cha has previously served as Independent Non-Executive Director of several companies, including Unilever plc, HSBC Holdings plc, and others.

Cha became the first person outside Mainland China to join the Central Government of the People’s Republic of China at the vice ministerial rank when she was appointed as Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission in January 2001. She served in that position until 2004. She also worked for the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2000, becoming its Deputy Chairman in 1998.

Cha was a member of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong from 2004 to 2022. She also served as Chairman of the University Grants Committee in Hong Kong (2007 to 2011), Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Hong Kong (2007 to 2012), and Chairman of The Financial Services Development Council of Hong Kong from (2013 to 2018). She was a member of the Global Agenda Council on the Global Financial System at the World Economic Forum from 2010 to 2013.

Cha earned her BA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a JD degree from the Santa Clara University in California. She practiced law in San Francisco and Hong Kong from 1983 to 1991. She was also a former member of the Committee of 100 in the US.

Cha was awarded a Silver Bauhinia Star in 2001, a Gold Bauhinia Star in 2009, and the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2017 by the Hong Kong Government for her public service.