Laura Cha is the chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. and a member of the Hong Kong-U.S. Business Council. Mrs. Cha is also an independent nonexecutive director of Ant Group Co., Ltd.; a senior international adviser of Foundation Assets Management Sweden AB; and a member of Sotheby’s international advisory board. In addition, she is vice chairman of the International Advisory Council of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and a director of the World Federation of Exchanges. Mrs. Cha became the first, and to date, the only 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 2001. She served in that position until 2004. Mrs. Cha worked for the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2000, becoming its deputy chairman in 1998. Mrs. Cha was a member of executive council of the Government of Hong Kong from 2004 to 2022. She was also chairman of the Financial Services Development Council of Hong Kong from 2013 to 2018, and chairman of the University Grants Committee from 2007 to 2011. She 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.