Curtis S. Chin

Curtis S. Chin is a former US Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) who has served in four US presidential administrations. His career spans roles from White House intern to US Treasury official and ambassador. While at ADB, Chin championed stronger risk management practices and development efforts that focused on people, planet, and partnership, particularly in Asia’s least-developed nations.

Currently, Chin is an advisor at RiverPeak Group LLC, where he works with startups and impact investors in Asia. His clients include Equator Pure Nature, a leader in natural consumer products and cleantech in ASEAN, and Dolma Impact Fund, the first international equity fund focused on Nepal.

At the Milken Institute, Chin has led diverse programming centered on Asia’s creative economy, covering industries like K-pop, film and TV, as well as Asian and Asian American entrepreneurship and storytelling. He served as Chair of the Milken Institute Asia Center and is the Institute’s inaugural Asia Fellow.

Chin previously was a senior executive with Burson-Marsteller in the US, Switzerland, and Asia, where he oversaw Beijing and Hong Kong operations. He has provided counsel to governments and businesses on ESG, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, corporate responsibility, crisis management, and market entry.

Chin is also the author of the leading book in Japan, Writing Your Way Into Business and Law Schools, and a frequent contributor to major publications including the Asia Times, Bangkok Post, Jakarta Globe, Japan Times, Korea Herald, The Nation, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, and others.