Inside Asian Gaming has announced the official judging panel for the 2021 Asian Gaming Power 50, including seven returning judges and one taking part for the first time.
Making his maiden appearance is former MGM China CEO and Executive Director Grant Bowie, a man who is no stranger to Inside Asian Gaming’s Power 50 having featured on the list four times himself – most recently in 2019 at number 12. Bowie’s distinguished career has included almost two decades in Macau where he oversaw the opening of Wynn Macau, MGM Macau and MGM Cotai.
Returning as judges are IAG Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott (Panel Chairman), IAG Managing Editor Ben Blaschke, Chairman of Newpage Consulting David Green, Professor Desmond Lam from the University of Macau, Managing Director of Yeewood Consultancy Ltd Melina Leong, Managing Partner at MdME Lawyers Rui Pinto Proença and The Innovation Group’s Michael Zhu.
Andrew W Scott is a gaming industry expert and media publisher, commentator and journalist who moved to Hong Kong in 2005 and then Macau in 2009, when he founded O MEDIA, one of Macau’s largest media companies. O MEDIA’s flagship asset is Inside Asian Gaming (IAG). He is very active in the Macau community, holds a number of gaming-related professional affiliations and regularly appears on media throughout the world. He completed a Master of Science in International Integrated Resort Management at the University of Macau in 2019.
Ben Blaschke is a former sports journalist from Sydney who moved into gaming as Editor of PokerNews Australasia in 2008. He joined O MEDIA as Managing Editor of World Gaming Magazine in February 2013 and became Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming in 2016. He is instrumental in the production of IAG Breakfast Briefing each day and oversees the creation of all editorial content for IAG.
David Green is founder and Chairman of Newpage Consulting, a company he established in Macau early in 2010. He lived in Macau for more than 14 years and worked with the SAR Government in relation to the liberalization and regulation of the casino industry. He is a former head of the gaming regulator in South Australia and advises governments around Asia and the world on the regulation of their gaming industries.
Desmond Lam is a Professor in Integrated Resort and Tourism Management at the University of Macau. He has written and presented extensively on gaming-related issues and his articles are featured in premier trade publications. Desmond has conducted numerous university courses and executive workshops in gaming, marketing, tourism and hospitality.
Melina Leong, Managing Director of Yeewood Consultancy Limited, has over 30 years’ experience in public relations, corporate affairs, community affairs and event management. She has held senior positions in various companies including Chief Operating Officer at Cotai Water Jet, and SVP of Public Relations and Community Affairs at Sands China Limited. She currently serves as a member of the 12th Shaanxi Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, as Macao delegate of the 13th executive committee of The Guangdong Women’s Federation, Director of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, and a Macao member of the China Overseas Friendship Association.
Rui Pinto Proença is the Managing Partner of MdME, a leading Macau law firm with offices in Hong Kong and Lisbon. He focuses his practice on the gaming sector, where he regularly acts for casino operators, investors and gaming technology companies in Macau and across the Asia-Pacific region. He also assists governments in emerging markets in developing their gaming policies and regulatory frameworks.
Michael Zhu is Partner/SVP of International Operations Planning & Analysis at The Innovation Group, where he applies a comprehensive analytical skill set while exploiting his unique cultural context and leveraging his in-depth development and operational experience in the related sectors. He was previously with Las Vegas Sands, where he oversaw a broad array of projects to establish and enhance financial planning and analysis for Sands China properties in Macau and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore among others.
First published by IAG in 2008, the Asian Gaming Power 50 has become renowned as the definitive guide to the most influential people in the Asian gaming industry over the preceding 12 months.
The Asian Gaming Power 50 Black Tie Gala Dinner will see IAG count down this year’s “Big 50” while guests enjoy a fine dining meal, lively entertainment and the company of many industry peers and influencers. The list will be announced in a variety of interesting ways including by renowned VIPs.
