IWD: Sharing the room, not owning the room [Fully Booked]

Laura Mitchelson is a mentor and facilitator. She uses business psychology as the basis for her work on professional development, strategic HR and leadership development. Her advisory work drives the individuals and organizations she works with towards more innovative and fulfilling workplaces. Her mission is to be a thoughtful and effective bridge for teams whose diversity brings both potential and challenge. She feels like a local in Shanghai and also in Bath, England.

Acting as the senior representative of University of Edinburgh in East Asia, Grace is responsible for raising the profile and advancing engagement across the region, looking after the strategic and ambitious partnership the university has with governments, private sectors, and research institutes. Grace plays a leading role in the China Strategy for the university. She also leads her team to develop diverse activities including alumni engagement, research collaboration, developing connections and opportunities for the university across East Asia.

Prior to the role, Grace worked for the British Consulate General Shanghai for over 7 years as the Senior Political officer, leading the UK Government’s Civil Society and value-based initiatives, while managing the Official Development Assistance fund in East China. Grace has been nominated as a Global Scot by the Scottish Development International, for her continuous efforts in strengthening the links between Scotland and Asia.

Gayle Lacey has been with the HSBC Group for the last 19 years; working in the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Latin America, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Gayle is currently the Chief Risk Officer (Designate) for HSBC China and moved to Shanghai in June 2021.  HSBC China’s network, which has the largest number of outlets and the widest geographical reach of any foreign bank in China, continues to expand. Gayle leads the Risk function in proactively managing all of the risks across the bank, which has a +USD6bn PBT and +USD36bn loans and advances to customers, ensuring the business is sustainable, safe and positioned for growth.

Previously, Gayle was the UK Chief Operating Officer for Commercial Banking.  HSBC UK Commercial Banking supports businesses of all sizes; with a million customers and a PBT of c.GBP1.5bn.

Gayle graduated from the University of Bath in the UK with a B.Sc. in International Management.

In her spare time, Gayle loves to cook and to explore new places, especially trying new cuisines and learning about different cultures.

Mattie Bekink is responsible for the Economist Corporate Network’s China strategy, including programme development and client servicing across China. She also provides support to all Economist Corporate Network programmes worldwide with a China component.

Ms Bekink has extensive experience in the public, private and policy sectors. Prior to joining The Economist Group, she was the Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission in the Netherlands. She also ran an eponymous consulting business, advising senior executives from businesses, universities and non-profit organisations on China policy, strategy, public affairs, and corporate social responsibility. Ms Bekink practised law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, has worked with the US-Asia Law Initiative at NYU Law School and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative China Programme, and served in the legal department at General Motors China.

Ms Bekink has a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Rosa Lee graduated from East China University of Political Science and Law with law degree, and obtained MBA from Kellogg School of Management – Northwest University & Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Having gained a breadth of leadership experience in several large multinational companies and accumulated more than 20 years experience in HR and business areas, Rosa joined Bosch in 2010 as the Senior Vice President Human Resources of Bosch China. Since 2015, she is the Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources Management in Stuttgart Germany Bosch Global Headquarter. Starting from Feb 2019, she joins the Management Board of Bosch China as the Executive Vice President, responsible for Human Resources in Greater China and AP.