Hong Kong
Connect Forum

Charles is Founder and Chairman of the Micro Connect Group and Chairman of the Micro Connect Macao Financial Assets Exchange (MCEX). He was most recently Chief Executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEX”) from January 2010 to December 2020. During this time, he orchestrated some of the most significant strategic initiatives in HKEX's history, including the acquisition of the London Metal Exchange in 2012, the launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect cross-border trading scheme in 2014, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect in 2016, Bond Connect in 2017, and the Listing Reforms in 2018. Prior to joining HKEX in 2009, Charles served as Chairman of JP Morgan China from 2003 to 2009 and worked at Merrill Lynch from 1994 to 2003, where he served as President of Merrill Lynch China from 1999 to 2003. Earlier in his career, Charles practiced law at Brown & Wood and Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York. Charles also serves on the Board of Trustees of Asia Business Council. Charles received a BA in English Literature from Xiamen University, an MA in Journalism from the University of Alabama and a JD from Columbia Law School.

Dr Au is Executive Director of Financial Services Development Council (FSDC). Prior to joining the FSDC, he was President of Value Partners Group Limited. Dr Au also served as CEO of Eastspring Investments (Hong Kong) Limited and CEO of BOCHK Asset Management Limited. He also held various senior management positions at other financial institutions including Baring, GMO and HSBC Global Asset Management. Dr Au was named CEO of the Year in Hong Kong by Asia Asset Management in 2012 and 2014. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by the HKSAR Government in 2008 for his valuable contributions to the securities and asset management industry. He was also the Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute (HKSI) from 2006 to 2008 and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association in 2004/2005. Dr Au is currently serving as a Council member of the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Public Accountants, an Index Advisory Committee member of China Securities Index Co., Limited and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hong Kong among other public services. Dr Au is a CFA Charterholder and a Honorary Fellow of HKSI. He received his BA in Physics from the University of Oxford and PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics from the University of Durham.

Neil has over 20 years of experience in Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Business Development and Partnerships -- across Banking (HSBC, Deutsche Bank), Management Consulting (Boston Consulting Group BCG) and Industry (Philips Electronics, Siemens). Neil is Managing Partner at Tsunami Advisors, an advisory and consulting firm dedicated to helping FinTech, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Asset, and Web3 firms expand, grow and scale in the Asia Pacific Region. Prior to this, he served as the CEO of Neptune Digital, an award-winning blockchain start-up under the Cyberport Incubation Program (CIP). Neil was previously the Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific in the Digital Partnerships & Innovation Team at HSBC, where we focused on Banking-As-A-Service (BaaS) and Embedded Finance, including Digital Payments, Lending, Wealth and Insurance products, propositions and partnerships. Neil is the Chairman of the FinTech Association Hong Kong (FTAHK) and a Member of the Hong Kong Government Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development (Web3 Task Force). He is also a Steering Committee Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and a Conference Ambassador of the Hong Kong Tourism Bureau (HKTB).

Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist.