RFI Appoints Four Executive Fellows and Elevates Professor Patrick H. M. Loh to Co-Founder
The Responsible Fintech Institute appoints four new Executive Fellows and elevates Professor Patrick H. M. Loh to Co-Founder to drive digital finance ethics.
The Responsible Fintech Institute (RFI) has announced a significant leadership expansion, appointing four new Executive Fellows and elevating Distinguished Professor Patrick H. M. Loh to the role of Co-Founder. These strategic moves come at a critical juncture as digital finance becomes mainstream, necessitating robust legal, ethical, and governance frameworks for innovations like AI, digital assets, and cross-border payments.
Strengthening the Foundations of Digital Finance
The new Executive Fellows—Professor Lawrence Loh, Associate Professor Eugene K.B. Tan, Professor Louis Chen, and Ms. Farah Jaafar—are tasked with engaging regulators, contributing to industry frameworks, and bolstering RFI's regional partnerships. The institute aims to ensure that as technology evolves, it remains grounded in sound governance.
Chia Hock Lai, Chairman of RFI, highlighted the expertise these individuals bring to the table. "Lawrence, Eugene, Louis and Farah bring deep experience in law, governance, digital policy and capital market development, the disciplines that responsible digital finance depends on," he stated. He also extended congratulations to Patrick Loh for his pivotal role in the institute's inception.
Meet the New Executive Fellows
- Professor Lawrence Loh: Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School, he is a renowned expert in transparency and governance. He noted that trust, built on transparency, is the bedrock of any financial system.
- Associate Professor Eugene K.B. Tan: An expert in constitutional law and AI ethics from Singapore Management University, Tan emphasized that the conversation around AI and digital assets must focus on accountability and public trust.
- Professor Louis Chen: A leader in digital governance and the Digital Governance Association (DGA), Chen aims to bridge the gap between policymakers, academics, and industry to foster a secure digital economy.
- Ms. Farah Jaafar: A veteran with nearly 30 years of experience in capital markets and fintech, Jaafar brings immense expertise in digital asset infrastructure and regional financial hubs.
Recognizing Leadership: Patrick H. M. Loh Named Co-Founder
In a major recognition of his strategic contributions, Distinguished Professor Patrick H. M. Loh has been elevated to Co-Founder. Having joined RFI as an Executive Fellow in April 2026, his leadership has been instrumental in shaping the direction of the institute as it seeks to navigate the complexities of the modern financial landscape.
As the industry moves toward a future defined by Fintech News and rapid technological shifts, the RFI's new leadership team is positioned to ensure that innovation does not outpace the essential principles of law and ethics.