As Australia continues to strengthen its engagement with Asia, Daniel (Ming) Yin Ho brings a blend of lived experience, technical expertise and values-driven leadership. Through the Westpac Australia–Asia Fellowship, he joins a cohort of emerging leaders preparing to help shape fairer markets and stronger partnerships across the region.
The economics and statistics student has a passion for competition policy – shaped by a life lived between Australia and Hong Kong.
“Spending my early years in Hong Kong gave me a desire to navigate the intersection of east and west within society and within myself,” Daniel says. That early experience, followed by his move to Brisbane at the age of 9, laid the foundation for his academic focus and regional outlook.
For Daniel, the Westpac Australia–Asia Fellowship offers a unique lens on regional leadership.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to build international capability and understand how leadership and diplomacy work across the region,” Daniel says.
Closely aligned with his academic interests, the fellowship also allows him to reflect on how his passions translate beyond Australia.
“This is a great opportunity to see how my passions fit not just in Australia, but in the broader sense of Asia and the region as a whole."
While on exchange at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Daniel studied economics and statistics and gained practical experience at the local competition authority – an experience that proved pivotal. “Returning to Hong Kong on exchange, I discovered my passion for competition policy,” he explains. “It showed me how economic theory can be applied to make markets fairer and more efficient.”
During that experience, Daniel worked on real‑world issues, including collusion in the construction sector and competition in the payments space, such as card surcharging – issues mirrored in the Australian context. “Working there really made me realise I’m passionate about competition and fair and free markets,” he says. “Before that experience, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with economics – but that work made it clear.”
Now completing a dual degree at UQ, Daniel is particularly interested in how competition policy can foster innovation while addressing shared economic challenges across the Asia Pacific. “I really enjoy thinking deeply and rigorously about economic policy problems,” he says. His long-term goal is to contribute to stronger regional cooperation.
“I aspire to contribute to the design and enforcement of competitive markets by harmonising policy work across the region.”
Daniel plans to pursue an honours year at UQ, with ambitions to work in competition policy across government, consultancy or academia. “I’d like to stay in that competition policy space – wherever that may be,” he says.
Leadership, for Daniel, is grounded not only in academic achievement but also in service. “My faith has shaped me most – it inspires me to serve and make a positive impact on the world,” he says. An active member of his church community, Daniel contributes as a pianist and helps run Bible studies. “For me, leadership and faith aren’t separate things – they’re about giving back to what I believe in.”
Outside of study and work, Daniel values balance and community. “When I’m not thinking about competition policy, you’ll probably find me cooking, out running, or at Bible study,” he says.
Daniel is one of 4 UQ recipients of the 2026 Westpac Australia–Asia Fellowship. Read the full story.
Photo credits: supplied by Daniel (Ming) Yin Ho
