all pictures ©André Hengst 

From July to December 2024, James Crabtree joined Asia Society Switzerland and the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) in New York as the 2024 TOY Senior Fellow. The fellowship was made possible through the generous support of Max and Monique Burger, Hong Kong, and the TOY family.

Throughout his fellowship, James brought invaluable expertise, offering in-depth analysis on Asia and providing strategic advice to Asia Society.

Among his many contributions James shared his expertise at three Executive Roundtables, co-organized an Oxford Debate with Asia Society Switzerland and ASPI, and moderated a Big Picture event in Zurich featuring Indian author Deepti Kapoor, as well as an ASPI webcast on India's Foreign Policy in 2025. He also joined Nico Luchsinger for an episode of our STATE OF ASIA Podcast and was part of the STATE OF ASIA conference lineup in November. James is also frequently present in the media, and a selection of press mentions during his fellowship is available on our press page.

Alongside these public engagements at Asia Society, James participated in numerous briefings and events from our Corporate Memebrs and Partners. He also worked closely with our team, offering strategic recommendations that will have a lasting impact on our work.

As 2024 comes to an end, so does James’s fellowship. We are deeply grateful for his contributions, both on stage and behind the scenes, and we look forward to future collaborations with him.

James Crabtree is a geopolitical analyst and author, with extensive experience living and working in Asia. From July-December 2024, he served as TOY Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute and Asia Society Switzerland. His book The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age, was named an Amazon book of the year and short-listed as FT / McKinsey business book of the year. He is a distinguished visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, he was the Singapore-based Executive Director of the Institute of International Strategic Studies in Asia, where he led the organisation of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit, and an Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School, Asia’s leading school of public policy.

James spent ten years as a journalist and foreign correspondent, notably for the Financial Times, where he was both Mumbai Bureau Chief and Comment Editor. He is currently a columnist for Foreign Policy, and writes for publications ranging from the FT and Straits Times to the New York Times, the Guardian and Wired. He previously worked as a senior advisor in the UK Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, under Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. He has worked for various think tanks in London and Washington DC, and spent a number of years living in America, initially as a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

About Asia Society Switzerland

Asia Society Switzerland is an independent Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to Asia. Our mission is to foster Asia Competence and prepare Switzerland for a deeper and more sustainable engagement with Asia.  We do this by providing strategic intelligence, education, and training on Asia, and by building and maintaining Asia-related communities and networks.

We are part of the global Asia Society network with 16 offices around the world, including 7 in Asia. Asia Society was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III, and our global CEO is Kyung-wha Kang, the former Foreign Minister of South Korea. Our global network gives us unparalleled access to international speakers and experts on a broad range of Asia issues.  

Asia Society Switzerland was founded in 2016 and is financed entirely out of Switzerland. We have a dedicated team of 7 people in Zurich, ensuring that our programs are relevant and tailored to a Swiss audience.  

Asia Society Switzerland is committed to connect business, policy, and society, helping Switzerland to under­stand and engage with Asia and to navigate our shared futures.

About Asia Society Policy Institute

With a problem-solving mandate, the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) tackles major policy challenges now confronting the Asia-Pacific in security & Diplomacy; Trade, Investment, & Innovation; Climate & Energy; and Society, Technology, & Public Health. As Asia's emerging centers of influence alter the global balance of power, the need for innovative thinking on international issues from both Asian and American perspectives has never been more urgent. 

With top-level advisors, fellows, and the premier Asia-wide network of experts, ASPI provides a unique platform for policy development. It boasts a truly Asia-wide scope; participation from business and policy leaders on equal footing; and the application of Asia Society's world-leading convening and research capabilities to the pursuit of prosperity, security, and sustainability across Asia. We believe this formula is uniquely suited to advancing international cooperation and effective policymaking during a century that many believe will belong to Asia.

About 'Thinking of Yves (TOY)'

In memory of their son Yves (1988-2011) and to keep his memory alive, Max and Monique Burger created TOY "Thinking Of Yves". With the TOY cap projects, they encourage friends to dedicate one day each year to do things that matter in Yves’ name. As long-time residents of Hong Kong, they are excited to support the TOY Senior Fellowship at Asia Society and to contribute to fostering Asia Competence in Switzerland.