IMF Conference

Robin Harding is Asia Editor for the Financial Times, responsible for steering coverage across the region, and managing the FT's award-winning network of correspondents. He was previously Tokyo Bureau Chief, covering the Japanese economy, politics and foreign relations, and the US Economics Editor based in Washington DC, where he covered the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund. Robin was born in Durham, in the north of England, and has degrees in economics from the University of Cambridge and Hitotsubashi University. Before becoming a journalist he worked in banking, asset management and public policy research.

Akio Fujii is the executive chair of editorial board of Nikkei Inc. Since he joined in 1985, he has held various positions with Nikkei, including being the Bank of Japan and Ministry of Finance correspondent, New York Bureau Correspondent, Chief Correspondent for economic affairs at Washington Bureau from 1998 to 2002, London based Senior Writer from 2009 to 2011 and Washington Bureau Chief from 2012 to 2014. He has also served as Senior Editor for International News Department, Editor-in-Chief for Nikkei Asian Review from 2015 to 2016, Senior Managing Editor, Head of Global News Operations from 2016 to 2017, Senior Editorial Writer from 2017 to 2020, Chair of Editorial Board from 2020 to 2024. He covered issues related to global governance, economic policy and international finance. Fujii obtained his BA in Economics from Waseda University in Tokyo. He has authored, among others, G20-The Great Game in 21st Century (2011 Nikkei), Yellen’s Federal Reserve (2013 Nikkei), Introduction for Japan’s Economy (2018 Nikkei), Ambition of Libra(2019 Nikkei), New Introduction for Japan’s Economy (2021 Nikkei), The Bubble of Justice and Japan’s Economy (2023 Nikkei), and The Distorted Yen in Galapagos Japan (2024 Nikkei).

Yanqing Yang is the Director, Center for Education, Innovation and Sustainable Development, ShanghiTech University, Executive Director of China International Finance Society, Executive committee member of Computational Economics under China Computer Federation, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Statistical Society. Formerly, Chief Strategy Officer of Shanghai Academy of AI for Science, Head of digital Economy and strategic research at Shanghai AI Lab, Adjunct Professor in Fudan University, Managing Director of Yicai Research Institute and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Yicai Newspaper. Led various research projects and published extensively on macro finance, digital economy, AI interdisciplinary research and global governance. Ph.D, M.A. and B.A. in economics at Fudan University, visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins University.

Lisa Kim is a reporter for CNBC International based in Singapore, primarily covering Japan and South Korea. Prior to joining CNBC, Lisa was most recently at Nikkei Asia as Chief Markets Correspondent & Team Leader, covering Asian markets and deals from Tokyo. She has also reported for networks, such as Financial Times, Forbes, the Korea Herald, and Arirang TV. Lisa graduated from Yonsei University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and obtained a Master’s degree in Science in Data Journalism from Columbia University.

Thomas Helbling is a Swiss national and Deputy Director in the Asia Pacific Department of the IMF. Previously, he was mission chief for Mexico and earlier for Indonesia and the Philippines. He has a doctorate in international economics from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.

Tobias Adrian is the Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In this capacity, he leads the IMF’s work on financial sector surveillance, monetary and macroprudential policies, digital money, financial regulation, bank resolution, and capital markets. Prior to joining the IMF, Mr. Adrian was a Senior Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Abebe Aemro Selassie is the Director of the African Department, a position he has held since 2016. He did his graduate studies at the London School of Economics.

Veenarat Laohapakakul has been a journalist for over 20 years and hosts two weekly international affairs programs on The Standard. She earned an M.A. in International Relations from The Fletcher School.

Ms. Julie Kozack is the head of the Communications Department (COM) at the International Monetary Fund. As Director of the Communications Department, Ms. Kozack is responsible for IMF strategy on external engagements with media and the Fund's key stakeholders, including legislatures and parliaments, labor representatives, civil society groups, and academics, as well as the Fund's internal communications. The Director works closely with the Managing Director and senior IMF management on the communication of the institution's operations, including policy and lending decisions. Ms. Kozack was previously a Deputy Director in the European Department (EUR), where she oversaw the IMF’s work on Ukraine. Prior to that, she was a Deputy Director in the Western Hemisphere Department (WHD) and lead negotiator for Argentina on its program. Ms. Kozack has also worked in the Fund’s Research and Strategy and Policy Review Departments. She has been mission chief for Germany, Iceland (during the crisis program period), Lithuania, Poland, and deputy mission chief for Russia. Ms. Kozack was heavily involved in multilateral surveillance work, particularly on G20 and G7 engagement at the time of the global financial crisis. Ms. Kozack further leveraged her leadership and communications expertise in her three-year role as the Director of the Singapore Regional Training Institute, demonstrating her seasoned managerial and leadership skills, running an independent institute away from headquarters with a mix of headquarter, local, and expert staff. She oversaw the delivery of training and capacity development to the Asia-Pacific region and broadened the understanding of the Fund by engaging with parliamentarians in the region through workshops and other training forums, as well as public and press engagements. Ms. Kozack, a United States national, holds a PhD as well as two master’s degrees in economics from Columbia University, New York. She earned a BA from Rutgers University.

Haslinda Amin is an anchor and editor-at-large for Bloomberg Television in Singapore and the host of Insight with Haslinda Amin and Latitude with Haslinda Amin. She is fluent in English, Malay, and Bahasa Indonesia.