Shay Wester
Director of Asian Economic Affairs and Outreach Director
Shay is the Director of Asian Economic Affairs and Outreach Director at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), where his research focuses on trade and economics in Asia. He also leads ASPI’s external engagement with the U.S. and Asian policy communities in Washington D.C. Prior to joining ASPI, Shay spent 9 years in Singapore at the US-ASEAN Business Council, where he led policy strategy and programming across all industry verticals. He engaged extensively with U.S. and ASEAN governments and regional stakeholders to solve problems and address policy concerns.
Earlier in his career, Shay served as a legislative assistant for Senator John Cornyn, providing policy analysis and advising on issues including foreign policy, homeland security, transportation, economic development, and space policy. He also worked for the U.S. Trade Representative in the Office of Policy Coordination on the annual U.S. trade policy report to Congress, and for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Originally from Texas, Shay received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science from Southern Methodist University. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington D.C.
