Angelina Kwan is the Senior Advisor to IMC Asia Pacific, a global proprietary trading firm, and the Managing Director of Stratford Finance Limited, a consultancy she founded. ^{[1] [2]}

Education

Kwan holds multiple advanced degrees from institutions in the United States and Hong Kong. She earned a Master of Laws (LLM) from Harvard Law School and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University. Her legal education also includes a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) jointly from the University of Hong Kong and Manchester Metropolitan University. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting. ^{[3] [4] [14]}

Career

Angelina Kwan's career began at the professional services firm KPMG before she moved into senior roles within major financial and regulatory bodies. She held senior management and directorate positions at the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong, the primary regulator of the city's securities and futures markets. Subsequently, she joined Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the holding company for the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, where she was responsible for establishing and managing the Regulatory Compliance Department. Her experience in traditional finance also includes a senior role at the global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which served as the basis for working with blockchain technology.

In 2017, Kwan transitioned into the digital asset industry, taking on executive leadership roles at several prominent cryptocurrency firms. She served as the Global Chief Operating Officer for the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange BitMEX, where she was responsible for overseeing the company's worldwide operations. Later, she joined HashKey Group, a digital asset financial services firm, where she held the dual roles of Group Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Risk Officer. During her tenure at HashKey, the company received the second Approval-in-Principle from the Hong Kong SFC to operate a virtual asset trading platform. Kwan was a key contributor to the foundational legislation and guidelines that evolved into Hong Kong's regulatory framework for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).

Currently, Kwan serves as a Senior Advisor to IMC Asia Pacific, a global market-making and proprietary trading firm. She is also the founder and Managing Director of Stratford Finance Limited, a consulting firm that advises brokerages, fund managers, and technology companies on regulatory and operational matters in the financial services and digital assets sectors. ^{[8] [2] [3] [5] [6] [7] [14]}

Board Memberships and Affiliations

Kwan is actively involved in numerous government-appointed, non-profit, corporate, and academic boards and committees.

Government and Public Service

Kwan has served on various bodies appointed by the Hong Kong Government. She is a member of the New Business Committee of the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), an advisory body established to promote the further development of Hong Kong's financial services industry. She also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust. Her past government appointments include serving on the Women’s Commission, the Council for Sustainable Development, and the Administrative Appeals Board. ^{[3] [5]}

Non-Profit and Educational Boards

In the non-profit sector, Kwan is the Chair of The Women’s Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Hong Kong. She is also a board member of the Ebenezer School for the Blind, the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute (HKSI), and the University of Wollongong Hong Kong. Additionally, she is a founding director of Web3 Harbour, an organization focused on the development of the Web3 ecosystem. ^{[4] [2]}

Corporate Boards

Kwan holds positions on the boards of several publicly listed and private companies. She is a board member for Chevalier International Holdings Limited (HKEX: 0025) and Zurich Life Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited. ^[8]

Academic and Professional Affiliations

Kwan serves as an Honorary Adjunct Professor in the School of Accounting and Finance at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She is a member of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Academy of Finance and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is also a founding member of Risky Women, a global network for women in risk, regulation, and compliance. ^{[9] [2]}

Professional Qualifications

Kwan is a multi-jurisdictional certified accountant. She holds Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certifications in the United States, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. She is also recognized as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in Australia and New Zealand. ^{[4] [3]}

Public Engagement

As an expert on financial regulation, particularly concerning digital assets, Kwan lectures internationally on topics related to the VASP framework and other regulatory issues. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, such as the Milken Institute's Global Investors' Symposium, Consensus Hong Kong, and the GFTN Forum in Japan. ^{[10] [7]}

On the subject of governance and regulation, Kwan has stated:

“Regulation helps protect investors and promote confidence in the stability of Asian financial markets. And for financial services companies, good governance is essential to successful operations. Clear protocols and procedures that ensure accountability and compliance also help manage risk and build corporate reputation. Navigating complex regulatory frameworks and building the foundations of good governance is crucial but by no means straightforward. That’s why Stratford Finance is here– to guide, direct and help implement proper regulatory governance.” ^[2]

Interviews

Women in Fintech: Angelina Kwan #01

On February 24, 2022, Angelina Kwan participated in an interview on the Invest Hong Kong YouTube channel, where she discussed gender representation in fintech and the development of Hong Kong’s financial technology sector.

In the interview, Kwan noted that structural and cultural barriers continue to affect women’s access to STEM education and leadership roles within finance and technology. She referred to studies indicating that companies with a higher proportion of women in senior positions often show stronger business outcomes and improved workplace dynamics. She also highlighted board composition as a factor shaping organizational direction, referencing the United Kingdom and Australia as examples of jurisdictions that have advanced policies to broaden participation.

Drawing from her professional trajectory in Hong Kong since the 1990s, Kwan explained that mentorship, professional networks, and the city’s international environment were influential in her career development. She also emphasized the need for regulatory clarity and modernization of legal frameworks in Hong Kong to support growth in digital assets and blockchain technologies. In addition, she pointed to the importance of sustained investment in STEM education to prepare future talent and maintain the city’s role as a financial and technological hub. ^[15]

The Future of Compliance #02

On January 20, 2022, Angelina Kwan participated in the Risky Women podcast in an episode titled The Future of Compliance. In this discussion, she outlined aspects of her professional background and provided observations on the regulatory environment. Kwan described how her work in both the United States and Asia, including senior positions at the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), informed her views on governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).

During the interview, Kwan noted that the function of compliance has shifted from acting solely as a control mechanism to becoming a collaborative component within financial institutions. She referred to the role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and regulatory technology, in reshaping compliance practices, while emphasizing the need for professionals to remain adaptable. She also discussed the structure of Hong Kong’s financial system, which involves coordination among multiple regulators including the SFC, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), and the Insurance Authority.

Kwan further addressed issues of diversity in governance, suggesting that mandatory measures might be required to strengthen board representation. She also offered guidance for professionals entering the field, advising them to adapt to uncertainty and to establish priorities when managing career challenges. In closing, she remarked on the potential for economic downturns but indicated that compliance, governance, and risk management would remain central areas of focus for financial markets. ^[16]