Crystal Wong

Growing up in Malaysia, I was surrounded by different languages, cultures and perspectives. I spoke English, Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese depending on who I was speaking to, which taught me early to listen, adapt and appreciate that the same idea can be understood differently by different people.

I trained as a lawyer before serving in Malaysia’s capital markets regulator, where I worked on market development in both investment management and sustainable finance. Since then, I have worked with governments across Southeast Asia, West Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, alongside institutions such as the World Bank and UN agencies, on the mobilization of private and development capital for sustainable development. Much of my work involves bringing together policymakers, regulators, financial institutions and investors to turn development priorities into financing strategies and investable opportunities.

I am currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Oxford, where I am interested in how policy and finance can work together to build more resilient, sustainable and inclusive economies. Outside work, I enjoy exploring new places, finding good matcha, and spending time with my two cats.