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Bringing unique perspectives from the public and private sectors, including bipartisan service in two US presidential administrations, with insights on Asia, public policy and the battle against poverty and inequality

Ambassador Curtis Chin is an internationally respected figure with broad exposure to Asian affairs. He was recently appointed to be a business executive and public policy thought leader, as the Milken Institute's first Asia Center, based in Singapore.

He has served as a trustee of World Education Services of New York and is a former U.S. ambassador to the Asian Development Bank. Curtis is a valued commentator on Asian emerging markets and U.S.-Asia economic and political relations. From White House intern (in the Regan Administration) through to his bipartisan service as one of the highest-ranking Asian-Americans in U.S. government, Curtis Chin's career has covered economic and development issues in the public and private sectors as well as non-for-profit entities.

Curtis was a member of the international affairs teams at the U.S. Treasury Department, under both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama (2007-2010) during one of the world's most challenging economic times. He was only the fourth ever U.S. ambassador of Chinese heritage.

It was his tenure at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) where Curtis helped lead a call for critical reforms toward more "responsible development", focused on "People, Planet and Partnership", that led Curtis to create the acronym "The Little BRIC," referring not to a grouping of nations, but to the Bureaucracy, Regulation, Interventionism and Corruption which he argues represents the biggest constraints to economic growth and poses a real threat to institutions and to commercial progress across all industry sectors.

Since leaving the ADB, Curtis has been a Senior Fellow and Executive-in-Residence based at the CSR Asia Center at the Asian Institute of Technology, and continues to advise a range of non-profit organizations and emerging ventures on Board development and start-up issues. He is a Managing Director with the River Peak Group LLC, and a Board member of CFSI and World Education Services.

He is a regular contributor to global publications including the Bangkok Post, Japan Times, The Nation, The New York Times, Project Syndicate, South China Morning Post and amongst many others and can also be viewed on BBC, Bloomberg TV, CNBC and other media outlets.

Ambassador Chin is a regular speaker on corporate social responsibility and is an advocate for good governance, public-private partnerships and development based on "people, planet and partnership". He presents to conferences, client forums and provides advisory briefings to corporate meetings and Board meetings. He speaks on;

  • Asia’s economic rise and the new competitive landscape.
  • Prospects for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
  • Sustainable economic development and good corporate responsibility policies.
  • Public-private partnerships and the business case for the fight against poverty

Curtis Chin graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a BSJ in Journalism with a department major in Economics, and gained his Master’s in Public and Private Management / MBA from the Yale School of Management, Yale University. He enjoyed a 20 year career with global Public Affairs firm, Burson-Marsteller, working in Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. He currently splits his time between Asia and the United States.


“[Curtis’s] keen understanding of world affairs and manner of explanation provided [our Asia leadership team] a more profound appreciation of the world as it cross blends into public and private partnerships in Asia particularly.  In summary, [Curtis was] an engaging, incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, thought provoking and witty speaker, of the highest caliber.”
Executive Team Support Member, Fortune 100 Company


“From his vast and senior experience in business, government and civil society, Ambassador Chin helped in [our] efforts to engage with the private sector [and served as a speaker] at two [corporate] events for our students.  Ambassador Chin is dynamic, has a global perspective, is thought provoking, very easy to work with and always approachable for counsel and advice. 
Institute Secretary, Office of the President, Regional (Asia) Academic Institution

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