Andreas Baumgartner EMBS is passionate about global economic and social development. He considers special economic zones (SEZs) a potent tool for achieving such development. As deputy CEO of Tipolis Pte, co-founder of The Metis Institute, founder of StIR StrategyImpactReputation, and through his affiliation with the Economic Zone Development Alliance, he has been involved in SEZ projects globally over the course of the past 25 years, and has recently focused increasingly on semi-autonomous cities as the next stage of SEZ evolution. He is an alumnus of  McKinsey & Company and of Tony Blair Associates, and a former executive director of DIFC’s Dispute Resolution Authority.

Julien Chaisse, a professor at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) School of Law, is a leading expert in international economic law, dispute resolution, and digital law. His research integrates legal scholarship with insights from economics, technology, and international relations. He is listed among Stanford University’s top 2% most highly cited scientists. His research is frequently referenced by international tribunals and courts in the US and Europe, reflecting its influence beyond academia. He is also a sought-after expert who advises on trade, investment, and tax treaty negotiations and has advised on the amendment and drafting of domestic legislation in more than 30 jurisdictions.

Mohamed Ibrahim Hafez, is a researcher at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, specialising in foreign direct investment, special economic zones, and trade integration, with a focus on the Middle East and Africa region. Beyond academia, he works as an independent consultant, assisting market research and consulting firms with research and strategy development. His experience includes roles as a policy advisor at Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, as well as a corporate finance analyst at Qatar National Bank. 

Preston Martin, co-founded Adrianople Group in 2018, as a business intelligence advisory firm with a focus on the special economic zones industry. From its inception, the vision of the company has been to bring actionable intelligence, operational capacity and growth capital to economic zones and city development projects. Over the years, Adrianople Group has grown to become one of the world’s leading business intelligence firms in the field of SEZs, forming a bridge between private equity and special jurisdictions.

Danielle Myles, is an editor at fDi Intelligence and curates the weekly op-ed newsletter fDi Unscripted. She has written extensively on the policies and reforms reshaping global investment, and has a particular interest in economic development, sustainability, urban regeneration and emerging markets. She is now based in Milan, Italy, after working for more than a decade as a financial journalist in New York and London, most recently as an editor at The Banker. 

Ámbar Ruíz Chaperón, is a seasoned consultant in foreign trade and a corporate lawyer with 19 years of experience. She led Panama’s programme between 2020 and 2023. Under her supervision, local free zones attracted $428m in investments and boosted exports by 43%. She has been involved in key international initiatives, including nearshoring projects, supporting the Panama Canal expansion, and serving in leadership roles in global organisations like AZFA and Messengers of Peace. Her consultancy firm advises companies and governments on strategic business development, particularly in special economic zones, focusing on incentives aligned with global tax policies.

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This article first appeared in the October/November 2024 print edition of fDi Intelligence