Professional Experience

1. Executive Senior Research Fellow (2024 - Present)

2. Deputy Minister (2017 Aug - 2021 Jan) 

Ministry of Planning and Finance, Myanmar 

3. Deputy Governor (2013 Aug - 2017 Jul)

Central Bank of Myanmar 

4. Deputy Minister (2012 - 2013)

Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development 

5. Economic Advisor to the President, President Office, Myanmar (2011 - 2016)

6. Other major roles held while in ministerial positions in Myanmar

   1. Chairman, Thilawa Special Economic Zone (2012 - 2021)

   2. Chairman, Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (2019 - 2021)

   3. Chairman, Myanmar National Airlines (2019 - 2021)

   4. Secretary, Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Steering Committee, headed by Vice President of Myanmar (2019 - 2021)

   5. Secretary, Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU), chaired by the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar

   6. Member, National Economic Coordination Committee (NECC), chaired by the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar

   7. Member, Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC)

   8. Co-Founder and Director, Myanmar Development Resource Institute (MDRI) and Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) (2011 - 2016)

   9. Secretary, National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC) (2011 - 2016)

7. Research Fellow (and later Non-resident Research Fellow) (2009 - 2011)

Institute for Security and Development Policy, Stockholm, Sweden 

8. Researcher and Consultant (2005 - 2009)

Various types of academic and policy research were conducted in collaboration with numerious academic institutions and think tanks, such as the University of Toky (Japan), Chulalongkorn University, Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen University, Mae Fah Luang University (Thailand), ISDP (Sweden), the France-based Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, and Guizhou University (China). (The specific research projects are outlined in a different section).

9. Researcher and Consultant (2001 - 2005)

Various types of regional policy research were conducted in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. This research focussed on the formulation of policies to promote foreign direct investment, trade, small and medium-sized enterprises, and labor-intensive industries. (The specific research projects are outlined in a different section).

10. Visiting Lecturer (1999 - 2008)

This was a part-time teaching role at Yangon University of Economics, where I delivered lectures on Capital Markets, Finance, and Investment for the Master of Business Administration and Executive MBA programs in the Department of Management Studies.

11. Corporate Officer

Germany-based Deutsche Bank, Myanmar branch (1999 - 2000)

12. Representative for Myanmar

Malaysia-based Peter Beaumont & Friends Sdn Bhd, a multimedia agency.

13. Corporate Officer

France-based Lazard Investment Bank, Myanmar branch (1996 - 1997)

14. Administrative Assistance

Netherlands-based Shell Petroleum Company, Myanmar branch