Available for Global Engagements · Singapore

Looi Teck Kheong

ASEAN Policy Architect · International Development Consultant · Global AI Ambassador

Former Head of ASEAN's Competition, Consumer Protection & IPR Division at the ASEAN Secretariat (2019–2022). Admitted Advocate & Solicitor, Supreme Court of Singapore (1990). Over 35 years shaping Southeast Asia's regulatory landscape — author of landmark ASEAN instruments including the ASEAN Consumer Empowerment Index (2020) and ASEAN Guidelines on Consumer Impact Assessment (2022).

Principal Consultant at PublicPolicyAsia Advisors. Open to international development, program evaluation and public policy consultancy engagements worldwide, including consortium bids.

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Years Experience
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ASEAN Nations
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Speaking Engagements
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Landmark ASEAN Instruments
Singapore · ASEAN Specialist
Looi Teck Kheong
35+
Years in Public Policy
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Core Competencies

Areas of Deep Expertise

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ASEAN Policy & Regional Integration

Deep insider knowledge of ASEAN Secretariat operations, ASEAN Economic Community frameworks, ACCP processes, and regional coordination mechanisms across all 10 member states. Author of the ASEAN Consumer Empowerment Index (ACEI) and Consumer Impact Assessment (CIA) Guidelines.

ASEAN SecretariatAEC BlueprintACCPASAPCP 2025
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Competition Law & Consumer Protection

Led ASEAN's Competition, Consumer Protection & IPR Division. Directed the AANZFTA Competition Law Implementation Program (CLIP). Presented at the 8th UN Conference on Competition & Consumer Protection. Spoke at the 33rd ASEAN Roundtable at ISEAS.

Competition PolicyCLIP/AANZFTAACCCUNCTAD
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AI Governance & Digital Economy

Global AI Ambassador, Global Council for Responsible AI (GCRAI). Founded Singapore Chapter of GCRAI (2025). Speaker at ISEAS-CIIS China-ASEAN AI Cooperation Symposium. Specialist in digital economy regulation, data governance, responsible AI, and platform regulation.

GCRAIAI GovernanceDigital EconomyData Governance
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ESG & Sustainable Finance

Lead ESG Consultant (ASEAN) at PublicPolicyAsia Advisors. Expert on ASEAN ESG regulation, net-zero roadmaps, sustainable finance frameworks, green economy transitions, and investor mandates across Southeast Asia. Featured in The Star (January 2026).

ESG PolicyNet-ZeroSustainable FinanceGIZ/BMZ
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Program Evaluation & International Development

Mixed-methods evaluations aligned to DFAT standards. Engaged on APSP (ASEAN-Australia Political Security Partnership) evaluation with Dr Yuka Ando. OECD/DAC methodology, stakeholder consultations, thematic analysis, and policy-relevant reporting.

DFATThe Asia FoundationM&EOECD/DAC
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Intellectual Property Rights

Head of IPR Division, ASEAN Secretariat. Represented ASEAN at the 9th ASEAN-Japan Heads of IP Offices Meeting (Tokyo, 2019). Speaker at ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices Symposium 2019. Co-presenter at Singapore-WIPO Third Country Training Programme (HIPOC, 2019).

IPRJapan Patent OfficeWIPOIPOS Singapore

Professional Journey

Career Milestones

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2024 — Present
Global AI Ambassador & Singapore Chapter Lead
Global Council for Responsible AI (GCRAI) · Singapore
Founded and leads Singapore's chapter of GCRAI, a US-based non-profit with 520+ members across 15 global chapters. Advocates responsible AI governance, ethical deployment frameworks, and AI policy across Asia-Pacific. Featured speaker at ISEAS-CIIS China-ASEAN AI Cooperation Symposium (2025). Profiled in The Straits Times (July 2025) and Yahoo News Singapore.
AI GovernanceGCRAISingaporeASEAN
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2022 — Present
Principal Consultant & Lead ESG Consultant (ASEAN)
PublicPolicyAsia Advisors · Singapore
Leading ASEAN policy advisory, program evaluation, and ESG consulting engagements for international development agencies and private sector clients. Contributing to competitive bids and consortium partnerships. Published op-ed "Why 2026 is ASEAN's Make-or-Break Year for ESG" (The Star, Jan 2026). Active commentator on CLMV digital economy policy and regional AI governance frameworks.
ESGDigital EconomyPolicy AdvisoryEvaluation
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2024
Independent Evaluator — APSP Evaluation
DFAT / The Asia Foundation · Consortium with Dr Yuka Ando
Led a competitive-bid evaluation of the ASEAN-Australia Political Security Partnership (APSP). Designed and executed a mixed-methods evaluation framework aligned to DFAT standards: desk review, quantitative surveys, stakeholder interviews, thematic analysis, and triangulation. Delivered phased reports from inception through final report and presentations to DFAT and TAF leadership.
DFATTAFProgram EvaluationASEANAustralia
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2019 — 2022
Head of Division — Competition, Consumer Protection & IPR
ASEAN Secretariat · Jakarta, Indonesia
Concurrent Assistant Director for Market Integration, ASEAN Economic Community. Key milestones: (1) Authored and launched the ASEAN Consumer Empowerment Index (ACEI) 2020 — first-ever regional consumer survey across 10 AMS, 7,185 respondents, implemented with GIZ/BMZ support. (2) Developed the ASEAN Guidelines on Consumer Impact Assessment (CIA) 2022. (3) Led the AANZFTA Competition Law Implementation Program with the ACCC (Brisbane Retreat, 2019). (4) Spoke at the 8th UN Conference on Competition & Consumer Protection (UNCTAD, Oct 2020). (5) Represented ASEAN at the 9th ASEAN-Japan IP Heads Meeting (Tokyo, 2019). (6) Participated in Consumer Protection in the Digital Age conference with Germany (BMJ/GIZ, Sept 2021). (7) Chaired the 20th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection. (8) Singapore-WIPO HIPOC Third Country Training Programme (2019).
ASEAN SecretariatACEICIA GuidelinesCompetition LawIPRGIZ
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1990 — 2019
Advocate & Solicitor | In-house Counsel | Technology Law Practitioner | Journalist
Private Practice & Industry · Singapore
Over 25 years in private legal practice and as in-house counsel spanning civil & commercial practice, information technology law, media law, and corporate advisory. Associate at Harry Elias Partnership (later Eversheds Harry Elias). Active industry role in IT law, cybersecurity compliance, fintech regulation, and ICO/securities. Published journalist and ASEAN political analyst. Admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1990. Registered Sole Proprietor (Legal Activities, Singapore, 2011).
Commercial LawIT LawHarry Elias PartnershipSingapore BarJournalism

International Presence

Speaking Engagements & Forums

Invited speaker, panellist, and keynote presenter at major international forums spanning the UN, ASEAN, WIPO, ISEAS, and bilateral government events across Asia and beyond.

ASEAN IP Symposium Tokyo 2019
Keynote Address
ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices Symposium 2019
Japan Patent Office (JPO) & ASEAN · Tokyo, Japan
Delivered keynote address at the ASEAN IP Offices Symposium (第9回日ASEAN特許庁長官会合), marking 50 years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship & Cooperation. Represented ASEAN Secretariat and the 10 ASEAN IP Offices Heads before the Japanese Patent Office Commissioner and senior Japanese IP officials.
October 2019 · Tokyo, Japan
UN Conference Geneva 2020
UN Conference · Virtual
8th UN Conference on Competition & Consumer Protection
United Nations / UNCTAD · Geneva (Virtual)
Represented ASEAN as Head of Competition, Consumer Protection & IPR Division. Addressed the conference hall — broadcast live on giant screen to delegates worldwide — presenting ASEAN's digital economy frameworks and regional consumer protection architecture. Profiled by NUS Lee Kuan Yew SPP as Distinguished Alumni Speaker.
October 2020 · Geneva (Virtual)
Consumer Protection Digital Age 2021
International Conference
Consumer Protection in the Digital Age: Digital Self-Determination
German Federal Ministry of Justice / GIZ / ASEAN · Online
Panellist and ASEAN representative at this high-level online conference co-organised by Germany's Federal Ministry of Justice & Consumer Protection and GIZ. Presented ASEAN's digital consumer protection frameworks and the newly launched ACEI findings to an international audience of government, civil society, and consumer protection officials.
September 2021 · International
33rd ASEAN Roundtable ISEAS
High-Level Policy Forum
33rd ASEAN Roundtable: Resilience in a Disruptive World
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute / ASEAN Studies Centre · Singapore
Panellist at the prestigious 33rd ASEAN Roundtable held at Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore. Addressed a distinguished audience of ASEAN heads of delegation, ambassadors, academics, and senior policymakers on digital disruption, economic resilience, and ASEAN's regulatory future.
November 2018 · Raffles City, Singapore
WIPO HIPOC Singapore 2019
Training Programme
Singapore-WIPO Heads of IP Offices Conference (HIPOC)
Singapore Cooperation Programme / IPOS / WIPO · Singapore
Resource speaker at the Singapore-WIPO Third Country Training Programme for Heads of Intellectual Property Offices across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Iran and Mongolia. Participated alongside senior WIPO officials and IP commissioners from 30+ nations at the landmark two-day conference.
August 2019 · Singapore
Recent Conference 2025
Conference & Symposium
ISEAS-CIIS China-ASEAN AI Governance Symposium
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute / China Institute for International Studies · 2025
Featured speaker at the joint ISEAS-CIIS research symposium on China-ASEAN AI Cooperation. Presented perspectives on responsible AI governance frameworks, ASEAN's digital market regulation pathway, and the global AI governance architecture — as Global AI Ambassador, GCRAI.
2025 · Singapore

Additional Speaking & Event Appearances

2019
9th ASEAN-Japan Heads of IP Offices Meeting
Japan Patent Office, Tokyo — ASEAN Secretariat delegation lead
2019
AANZFTA Competition Commissioners Retreat
Brisbane, Australia — with ACCC, ASEAN Member States
2020
ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) — 20th Meeting
Chair — Represented ASEAN Secretariat across all 10 AMS
2021
2nd Consultation with ASEAN Consumer Associations
ASEAN Secretariat — led multi-stakeholder consultation on ACEI
2022
ASEAN Consumer Impact Assessment Guidelines Launch
ASEAN Secretariat — Principal Author, launch to AMS
2023
17th ASEAN-Asia Forum
Park Royal Hotel — Policy panel on ASEAN economic integration
2024
LKYSPP 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy — Distinguished MPP Alumnus
2024
Global Council for Responsible AI — Singapore Chapter Launch
Singapore — Founding President, media coverage Straits Times
2025
CyberSecurity Compliance Industry Panel
Singapore — Expert on law, technology, and AI regulation
2025
ASEAN ESG Policy Forum
PublicPolicyAsia Advisors — Regional ESG regulatory outlook

Thought Leadership & Landmark Instruments

Key Publications & ASEAN Documents

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ASEAN Instrument · 2020
ASEAN Consumer Empowerment Index (ACEI) 2020
First-ever regional consumer empowerment survey across all 10 ASEAN member states. Led and authored under Looi's stewardship as Head of CCPID. Survey of 7,185 consumers across Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Implemented with GIZ/BMZ (Germany) support. Established baseline for ASEAN consumer protection policy 2021–2025.
ASEAN Secretariat · Jakarta, 2020 · GIZ/BMZ-supported
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ASEAN Guideline · 2022
ASEAN Guidelines on Consumer Impact Assessment (CIA)
Authored and developed the ASEAN CIA Guidelines — a pioneering regulatory tool for all 10 ASEAN Member States to systematically assess consumer impacts of policies, laws, and regulations. Aligned with OECD, EU, and Canadian best practices. Covers five domains: price/supply impacts, consumer behaviour, product safety, vulnerable consumers, and data privacy. First regional consumer impact assessment framework in Asia.
ASEAN Secretariat · Jakarta, 2022 · GIZ/BMZ-supported
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Opinion · January 2026
Why 2026 is ASEAN's Make-or-Break Year for ESG
High-profile op-ed in The Star (Malaysia) analysing the shift from ESG aspiration to implementation across ASEAN. Examines national net-zero roadmaps, investor mandates, and the regulatory frameworks needed for ASEAN's green economy transition. Establishes Looi as a leading voice on ASEAN sustainable finance policy in 2026.
The Star (Malaysia) · January 30, 2026
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Symposium Paper · 2025
China-ASEAN AI Governance: Regulatory Perspectives
Presented at the ISEAS-CIIS joint symposium on China-ASEAN AI Cooperation. Contributed perspectives on responsible AI governance, ASEAN's digital market regulation pathway, competition policy in AI markets, and the ethical dimensions of AI deployment in Southeast Asia.
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute · Singapore, 2025
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UN Conference Address · 2020
ASEAN Perspectives at the 8th UN Conference on Competition
Addressed the full plenary of the 8th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection (UNCTAD), Geneva. Presented ASEAN's regional competition law architecture, digital economy consumer protection challenges, and the role of data analytics and big data in reshaping competition policy across Southeast Asia.
UNCTAD · Geneva (Virtual), October 2020
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Industry Commentary · Ongoing
CLMV Digital Economy & AI Policy Commentaries
Ongoing series of commentary and analysis on digital economy policy across CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) and ASEAN broadly. Topics include data governance, cross-border e-commerce regulation, fintech frameworks, cybersecurity compliance, and AI readiness across the region. Published via LinkedIn and PublicPolicyAsia Advisors.
LinkedIn / PublicPolicyAsia Advisors · 2022–Present

Consulting Engagements

Selected Projects & Competitive Bids

International development evaluations, policy advisory, and competitive bids — often in consortium with global development consultancies. Strong track record with DFAT, TAF, GIZ, ACCC, WIPO, UNCTAD, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

DFAT / The Asia Foundation
ASEAN-Australia Political Security Partnership (APSP) Evaluation
Consortium: Dr Yuka Ando Ph.D. (Co-Lead) · PublicPolicyAsia Advisors
Program Evaluation2024

Independent mixed-methods evaluation of ASEAN-Australia political-security cooperation. Competitive bid win. Designed evaluation framework aligned to DFAT evaluation standards: desk review, quantitative stakeholder surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, thematic analysis, and triangulation. Phased delivery: Evaluation Plan (June–July 2024) → Data Collection & Analysis (July) → Draft Report (August) → Final Report (August 31) → Presentation to DFAT and TAF.

ASEANAustraliaCompetitive BidDFAT StandardsMixed Methods
ASEAN Secretariat / ACCC / DFAT
AANZFTA Competition Law Implementation Programme (CLIP)
ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Economic Support Programme · Brisbane Retreat
Policy Development2019–2022

Multi-phase competition law capacity building across ASEAN member states under the AANZFTA framework. Led by Looi in collaboration with ACCC Chair Rod Sims at the Brisbane Retreat. Reviewed competition fundamentals in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, big data, AI, and digital market regulation. Built legal capacity across 10 competition authorities.

AANZFTAACCC10 CountriesCapacity Building
ASEAN Secretariat / GIZ / BMZ Germany
ASEAN Consumer Empowerment Index (ACEI) 2020
Consumer Protection in ASEAN (PROTECT) Programme · GIZ/BMZ
Research & Index Development2019–2020

Designed and implemented the first-ever ASEAN-wide consumer empowerment measurement index. Led multi-country survey methodology across 10 AMS (7,185 respondents, July 2019–April 2020). Composite index measuring consumer awareness, skills, and behaviours. Results fed into Myanmar's National Consumer Protection Programme and ASEAN's ASAPCP 2016–2025 implementation.

GIZ/BMZ10 AMS7,185 RespondentsIndex Design
ASEAN Secretariat / GIZ / BMZ Germany
ASEAN Guidelines on Consumer Impact Assessment (CIA)
Consumer Protection in ASEAN (PROTECT) Programme · 2021–2022
Policy Instrument Development2021–2022

Developed first-of-its-kind regulatory impact assessment tool for consumer protection across ASEAN. Engaged expert stakeholder consultations across AMS, aligned frameworks with OECD, EU, and Canadian best practices. CIA Guidelines adopted by all 10 ASEAN Member States under ASAPCP 2025. Landmark regional policy instrument.

GIZ/BMZOECD Framework10 AMSRegulatory Tool
DFAT / The Asia Foundation (TAF)
Malaysia & Thailand Reform Partnerships (MTRP) — Evaluation Support
AUD 2.7m DFAT-TAF Strategic Partnership · AMICs Programme
Development Advisory2019–2023

Policy reform advisory and evaluation expertise for Australia's Advanced Middle-Income Countries (AMICs) programme covering Malaysia and Thailand. Provided ASEAN specialist insights into reform progress, bilateral engagement frameworks, and policy sustainability. Programme evaluated 2021 and 2022 by DFAT-commissioned team.

MalaysiaThailandAMICsAUD 2.7m
PublicPolicyAsia Advisors
ASEAN Digital Economy & CLMV Policy Advisory
Multiple Government & Private Sector Clients · 2022–Present
Policy Advisory2022 — Ongoing

Ongoing advisory on digital economy frameworks, AI governance, and ESG policy across ASEAN and CLMV nations. Services include regulatory gap analysis, cross-border e-commerce policy, data governance, fintech regulation, and investment climate advisory. Clients include government bodies, development institutions, and multinational corporations.

CLMVDigital EconomyESGAI Governance

Global Network

Agencies, Consortia & Partners

Extensive working relationships with international development agencies, multilateral bodies, bilateral governments, and global consultancies. Open to new consortium partnerships for competitive bids worldwide — as team lead, senior ASEAN specialist, or sub-contractor.

Multilateral & Intergovernmental Organisations
🌏ASEAN Secretariat
🇺🇳United Nations / UNCTAD
🏦World Bank Group
📜WIPO
🌐AANZFTA
🇯🇵Japan Patent Office (JPO)
Government Development Agencies
🇦🇺DFAT Australia
🇦🇺ACCC (Australia)
🇩🇪GIZ / BMZ Germany
🇸🇬Singapore Cooperation Programme
🇸🇬IPOS Singapore
Development Consultancies, Think Tanks & Academic
🌐The Asia Foundation (TAF)
🏫ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
🎓NUS Lee Kuan Yew SPP
🤝PublicPolicyAsia Advisors
🔬Global Council for Responsible AI
⚖️Harry Elias Partnership LLP
🌐China Institute for Intl Studies (CIIS)

"I bring an unparalleled combination of legal expertise, insider ASEAN Secretariat knowledge, and international development consulting experience. I am open to consortium partnerships with global consultancies seeking a credible, experienced ASEAN specialist — as team lead, senior consultant, or strategic partner on competitive bids."

— Looi Teck Kheong, Principal Consultant, PublicPolicyAsia Advisors

Academic Excellence

Education & Qualifications

⚖️
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Admitted as Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore Supreme Court · 1990
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Master of Public Policy (MPP)
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS
Class of 1994 · Distinguished Alumni
📜
Master of Laws (LLM)
National University of Singapore
Advanced Legal Studies
📈
Master of Economic Policy & Development
Economics Faculty, NUS
Temasek Scholar · Applied Development Economics
🎓
Three Masters Degrees from NUS + LLB
Law · Public Policy (Temasek Scholar) · Economic Policy & Development — One of very few individuals in Singapore with this trifecta of qualifications

Global Engagements

Let's Shape Policy Together

With over 35 years of unparalleled ASEAN expertise — from inside the ASEAN Secretariat to leading competitive bids for DFAT and TAF — I bring genuine insider knowledge, multilateral relationships, and a demonstrated record of delivering landmark policy instruments and rigorous evaluations.

I am particularly interested in consortium partnerships with international development consultancies for competitive bids in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and beyond. Specialisms include program evaluation (DFAT/DAC standards), digital economy regulation, ESG policy, AI governance, consumer protection, competition law, and IPR.

Available for International Engagements 2026
📍Singapore (Base) · Available Worldwide
🌐ASEAN · Asia-Pacific · Global
💼Program Evaluation · Policy Advisory · Consortium Bids
Looi Teck Kheong 2026

Send an Enquiry