Winnie Seow Mei

Area of expertise

• Foreign direct investment into Asia and the UK
• Market entry strategies - Asia and the UK
• Business development
• Strategic marketing and communications

Responsibilities

Winnie is the International Markets Lead at Hawksford, based in London. She supports global businesses and investors with their international business expansion.

With over a decade of experience in cross-border business growth, Winnie has held roles across both the public and private sectors. She has advised multinational corporations and SMEs on market entry, regulatory compliance, and growth strategies in new markets.

Having lived and worked in China and Southeast Asia, Winnie brings deep regional insight and cultural fluency. She is multilingual—fluent in English, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien—and is known for her strong cultural sensitivity and ability to build trusted relationships with clients across Asia.

Qualifications and memberships

• MSc in Public Policy, Merits, University College London
• BA (Hons) in Mass Communications, First Class, Liverpool John Moores University
• Certificate in Public Private Partnership Framework (PPP), Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA)

Notable achievements

• Facilitated a landmark deal worth £8 billion from Asian investors to invest in a regeneration project in London
• Awarded Diplomatic Excellence Award from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for championing the UK’s expertise in Islamic finance at global level
• Serves on the Executive and Trade & Investments Committees of the British Malaysian Society
• Recipient of the UK Chevening Scholarship 2012
• A keen hiker who has completed the 95-mile Jurassic Coast and many other hiking trails in the UK