Christine Loh - Chief Executive Officer

"Thinking gets better when we think often. Thinking is fun because it creates new possibilities in the way we live our lives. Research helps to drive thinking. Thinking in groups helps leverage our collective intelligence and can lead to breakthroughs. I want Civic Exchange to produce pragmatic solutions to public policy problems. I also want to be able to synthesise and publicise other people's good ideas."

Education

University of Hull, England
LLB, Bachelor of Law

City University of Hong Kong
LLM, Masters of Law in Chinese & Comparative Law

University of Hull, England
Doctor of Law, honoris causa

Awards and Acknowledgements

Outstanding Young Person's Award 1988
Communicator of the Year 1994
Stars of Asia, Businessweek 1998
Stars of Asia, Businessweek 2000
Entrepreneur of the Year (Women of Influence Award, American Chamber of Commerce) 2003
Peter Bryce Award (for civic action) 2004
Women of the Year, Hong Kong Business 2006
OBE 2007
Heroes of the Environment, TIME Magazine 2007
JP, 2009, HKSAR Government
Woman Who Makes A Difference (Women in Asia Award) RBS/Coutts 2009

Affiliations

(1991-1992 / 1993-1994)
Chairperson, Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong)
(1992-1997 and 1998-2000)
Member of the Legislative Council (Hong Kong)
(1997-2000)
Chairperson, Citizens Party (Hong Kong)
(1999-2006)
Council Member, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
(2001-2006)
Member, Advisory Committee, Securities and Futures Commission
(2006-2009)
Director, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd.
(present)
Director, Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange (Hong Kong)
Senior Policy Adviser, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
International Adviser, GLOBE G8+5 Legislators Climate Change Dialogue
Board Member, East West Institute (New York)
Board Member, Tallberg Foundation (Sweden)
Chairperson, Society for Protection of the Harbour (Hong Kong)
Chairperson, Clean Air Network (Hong Kong)
Board Member, Community Business (Hong Kong)
Trustee, Fu Tak Iam Foundation (Hong Kong)
Adjunct Professor, Division of Environment, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

Experience

Christine Loh is well known for her wide-ranging intellect and ability to find practical solutions to problems. Her background in law, business, politics, media and the non-profit sector has given her considerable knowledge and insight about how they work and has helped her to become a leading voice in public policy in Hong Kong.

Trained as a lawyer, Loh did not practise law but enjoyed a highly successful 12-year career with a multinational as a commodities trader from 1980-1991, rising to the position of managing director, before spending another 2 years as a director of business development with a Hong Kong company, responsible for putting together the LoFt retail stores, and an international consortium to bid for Container Terminal No. 9.

Appointed to the Legislative Council in 1992, running in two elections subsequently, Loh had a popular career as a politician until 2000 when she chose not to seek re-election. Her legislative successes were many, the most high profile being amending the law to enable the indigenous women of the New Territories to inherit rural land, restructuring the controversial section 30 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and sponsoring the historic Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.

From 1991, Loh has anchored public affairs radio programs at various times. She has also presented a variety of TV programs apart from being the subject of many more. She is a much sought after public speaker. She is a published author of several well-known works on Hong Kong politics, as well as the environment.

With Lisa Hopkinson she founded Civic Exchange in September 2000. Loh is responsible for charting the Civic Exchange's long-term course.