Joseph Yam Keynote Speaker

  • Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (1993-2009)
  • Director of the Office of the Exchange Fund (1991-93)
  • Expert on banking and financial crises

Joseph Yam's Biography

Joseph Yam is a prominent economist and civil servant who served as the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) from 1993 to 2009.

Since his retirement he has served as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Global Economics and Finance, Executive Vice President at China Society for Finance and Banking and Chairman at Macroprudential Consultancy.

Joseph became Chief Executive of HKMA in April 1993, when the Hong Kong Office of the Exchange Fund merged with the Office of the Commissioner of Banking. He became famous during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when he defended the Hong Kong dollar by pushing up interest rates. In an audacious move, HKMA bought US$15 billion in stocks amidst the market panic in 1998. The measure restored calm and succeeded in defending the Hong Kong fixed exchange rate parity against the US dollar.

A graduate of the University of Hong Kong, he was appointed Principal Assistant Secretary for Monetary Affairs in 1982. One year later, he helped formulate the peg between the Hong Kong dollar and US dollar. He was appointed Deputy Secretary for Monetary Affairs in 1985 and Director of the Office of the Exchange Fund in 1991.

Book Joseph Yam as a keynote speaker, send us an email.

Read More

Videos of Joseph Yam

‘Financial systems should not have a life of their own’ (2009)
‘Financial systems should not have a life of their own’ (2009)

Check Joseph Yam's speaking fees and availability

    Sending your message…

    Please wait, this can take a moment

    Message sent…

    Close

    Please provide your details and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

    We can only respond to requests for professional speaking engagements. We are unable to respond to requests for autographs, shoutouts and personalized messages.

    View our related Speakers

    Matthew C. Klein Speaker
    Exclusive
    Matthew C. Klein
    2021 Lionel Gelber Prize Winner and Co-Author, 'Trade Wars are Class Wars'
    Willem Buiter Speaker
    Exclusive
    Willem Buiter
    Former Banker and Insightful Commentator, Professor of Economics at the Yale, LSE, Princeton and Columbia University.
    Sona Muzikarova Speaker
    Exclusive
    Sona Muzikarova
    Macroeconomist and public policy advisor
    Desiree Fixler speaking on stage
    Desiree Fixler Speaker
    Exclusive
    Desiree Fixler
    Advocate for change in ESG investing and sustainability and Former Chief Sustainability Officer at DWS
    Andrew Sheng
    Andrew Sheng Speaker
    Exclusive
    Andrew Sheng
    Expert on Banking & Finance in Asia
    Scott Hartley Speaking
    Scott Hartley Speaker
    Exclusive
    Scott Hartley
    Venture Capitalist and Best-Selling Author
    Robin Harding Speaker
    Exclusive
    Robin Harding
    Economist and Asia Editor, Financial Times
    Jeremy Warner Speaker
    Exclusive
    Jeremy Warner
    One of Britain's foremost financial, economic and business journalists
    Chris Giles Speaker
    Exclusive
    Chris Giles
    Economics Editor, Financial Times
    Kwasi Kwarteng speaking
    Kwasi Kwarteng Speaker
    Exclusive
    Kwasi Kwarteng
    Former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer