Laura Cha

In 2018, Laura Cha made history when she was appointed chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), 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.

She stepped down from her role as chairman of HKEX in April 2024 but remains as senior advisor, as well as chairman of HKEX’s International Advisory Council and Mainland China Advisory Group. This year, HKEX also announced the establishment of the Laura M Cha Capital Markets Scholarship, which will be awarded to an individual or individuals looking to advance their postgraduate studies in finance at The Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School. HKEX will contribute HK$200,000 to the annual scholarship fund for a period of six years.

Cha received a Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2017.