In 2018, Laura Cha made history when she was appointed chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, becoming the first woman to lead the organisation in its 127-year history.

Born in Shanghai, and with a background as a lawyer, she was previously chairman of the Financial Services Development Council, where she pushed for the introduction of dual-class shares and led efforts to position the city as an offshore centre for trading in yuan. She has also played a senior role in Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission, and was vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The non-executive deputy chairman of HSBC Holdings and a non-executive director of Unilever, she is also a member of Sotheby’s International Advisory Board. An honorary fellow of the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute, she has been chairman of the University Grants Committee in Hong Kong, is a non-official member of the Executive Council, and was Hong Kong’s delegate to the 11th National People’s Congress.

Cha received a Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2017.