Steve Okun has served as GPCA’s Southeast Asia Senior Advisor since 2017. Steve is Founder and CEO of Singapore-based APAC Advisors and is a seasoned private equity professional. Steve supports member relations and expanding GPCA’s industry stakeholder network in the region. He is also responsible for establishing GPCA’s Singapore and regional presence as well as training the local team. As KKR’s former Director of Asia Public Affairs, Steve also advises GPCA on public affairs and industry advocacy in Southeast Asia.

Based in Singapore, Trista Chen is Co-Lead of Global Investment Stewardship at the Asset Management division of L&G, a leading global investor across public and private markets. She co-leads the globally distributed team, shaping the investment stewardship strategy, setting priorities across regions and driving execution in Asia through a targeted, locally informed approach. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Trista also engages with boards, senior executives, policymakers, and regulators to advance corporate governance, climate, nature, and social objectives that create long-term value.

With two decades of international experience, Trista is a senior professional with a strong track record advising institutional investors and financial institutions across 30+ markets. She brings deep expertise in integrating climate, nature, social and broader corporate governance considerations into investment strategies—identifying material risks, capturing opportunities, and driving sustainable financial outcomes. Her background spans public equities and private markets, including infrastructure, private equity, and private credit, with a focus on linking real-economy transition themes to responsible investment.

Prior to L&G, Trista was a Partner at ERM, leading financial services strategy and M&A services in APAC, advising global investors on responsible investment and sustainable finance. She has lived and worked in Greater China, Canada, and Singapore, and is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Matt Friedman is an international human trafficking expert with more than 35 years’ experience. He is CEO of The Mekong Club, an organization of Hong Kong’s leading businesses that have joined forces to help end all forms of modern slavery. Mr. Friedman previously worked for USAID and the United Nations in over 40 countries. Mr. Friedman offers technical advice to numerous governments, banks, and corporations working to eliminate all forms of modern slavery and is the author of fifteen books. In 2017, Mr. Friedman won Asia’s prestigious “Communicator of the Year” Gold Award.