The Team

Global SWF comprises seasoned professionals with background in consulting and banking, in data and analytics, in journalism and academics, and in web development. Some of our team members have worked for other data providers in the past and are highly experienced in tailoring key big data for different client segments. Our data and research offering is complemented with consulting, executive education and events, making Global SWF a one-stop shop for all SWF-related services.

Diego López

Founder and Managing Director of Global SWF, based in New York / Singapore. He is a world-renowned expert on Sovereign Wealth Funds, having acted as practitioner and advisor for many years and published several articles in leading academic journals. He has worked as a consultant of the World Bank and of the United Nations and supported the establishment or reformulation of a number of SWFs around the world.

Diego is a seasoned banker and consultant with over 18 years of experience. Prior to founding Global SWF, he spent five years building up PwC’s footprint in the SWF industry as the Director and COO of the global practice. He started his career in Santander, and spent several years in Accuracy and KPMG.

He has lived and worked in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Far East Asia. He earned his Masters in Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE) after graduating in the Universities of Madrid and Milan. He is a FINRA-registered representative with Series 62, 63 and 79.

Diego is a prolific open water and ice swimmer and has raced in all seven continents including Antarctica. He is the author of "Continents Seven: Values for sports, business and life, learned around the world".

Daniel Brett

Head of Research & Data of Global SWF, based in London. He started his career in journalism before becoming managing editor of a business intelligence provider. He has since worked for 17 years as a consultant to Fitch with a focus on O&G, chemicals & finance.

Prior to joining Global SWF's team, he was head of data and research at Institutional Investor's Sovereign Wealth Center. He has also worked for OPEC and other organizations providing intelligence on oil, gas, electricity and renewables in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Daniel is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society and a member of the Royal Africa Society, having graduated in political science at Queen Mary University of London and obtaining a Master of Science in international development at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

He has a black belt in Taekwondo and is a senpai student of Shotokan Karate. He has also fought competitively in fencing in the foil category.

Edward Tang

Head of Asia at Global SWF, based in Singapore. Prior to this role, he has had a diverse career spanning multiple industries, including the Singapore Foreign Service, journalism, media advertising, and business development.

He has strong interest in institutional investments in the Asia Pacific, including sovereign wealth funds and public pension funds. He spent several years in journalism with the Straits Times and, more recently, with the AsianInvestor, where he covered these topics. 

Edward holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Upper Honors) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in Marketing, Finance and Business Strategy. He is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese as well as conversational Japanese and Thai.

He enjoys reading, golf, jogging, brisk walking, current affairs, music, movies, and social media.

Drew Waddington

Senior Associate at Global SWF, based in New York. He started his career as a staff assistant at the US House of Representatives, before working for 4.5 years at the IMF as a project analyst.

Drew completed a BA in Global Studies and Minor in Spanish cum laude from Loyola University Maryland, and a Master of International Business at Tufts University in Boston.

He was a four-year member of NCAA Division 1 soccer team while at school and is an avid traveler. He is advanced in Spanish and Arabic.

Eman Javaid

Consultant at Global SWF, based in London. She worked as a capital market analyst at the Sustainable Institutional Investment Section of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Eman completed a BSc in Sociology and Anthropology from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and an MSc in International Social and Public Policy at the London School of Economics (LSE). 

She has volunteered at the Special Olympics Pakistan and received the Award for Academic Excellence issued by the President of Pakistan.

Kaye Mao

Research Intern of Global SWF, based in Singapore. She is an MBA candidate at INSEAD and a graduate from Davidson College, where she completed a BA in Economics & Political Science, Magna Cum Laude. 

Kaye completed various internships, including Tencent, PwC, and China Life, before starting her career at Morningstar in the Chicago Office. At Morningstar, she was promoted twice in a short span of two years.

She is trilingual in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, and intermediate in Korean and French.

Yeseul Jung

Research Intern of Global SWF, based in Singapore. She is pursuing a BBA in Finance at National University of Singapore (NUS), where she serves as a Director of the Asset & Wealth Management Club.

Yeseul has completed internships at JSIM Education, at JTG Wealth Management (part of the AIA Group), and at Coinhako, where she worked on institutional sales for options, OTC, and digital assets.

She is passionate about food blogging, golf, and hiking. She is trilingual in Korean, Tagalog, and English, and intermediate in Mandarin and Spanish.

Faculty Board

A group of highly seasoned advisors and former SWF executives, who act as faculty for the SWF Academy.

An image of Paul O'Brien -
Paul O'Brien

(USA)

Trustee Wyoming RS
ex-Deputy CIO, ADIA
ex-PM, Morgan Stanley
PhD Minnesota, SB MIT

An image of Eugene O'Callaghan -
Eugene O'Callaghan

(Dublin)

Co-Founder, EHA
ex-CEO, Ireland’s ISIF
ex-COO, Irish Life IM
BComm, UCD Dublin

An image of Kristian Flyvholm - An Advisory Board member of Global SWF
Kristian Flyvholm

(Abu Dhabi)

CIO at UAE CB
Inaugural CEO IFSWF
ex-IMF, ECB, BoB
MBA Aarhus

An image of Guan Seng Khoo - An Advisory Board member of Global SWF
Guan Seng Khoo

(Singapore)

Adjunct Lecturer SMU
ex-VP/Head ERM, AIMCo
ex-Snr Director, Temasek
PhD NUS