The Global SWF Team -

The Team

Global SWF comprises seasoned professionals dedicated to Consulting & Banking, Data & Analytics, Academics & Editorial Content & Web Development. Some of our team members have worked for other data providers in the past and are highly experienced in tailoring key big data for different client segments. The Data Platform is complemented with Consulting and M&A and Fundraising capabilities, making Global SWF a one-stop shop for all SWF-related services.

Diego Lopez

Managing Director of Global SWF, based in New York. During the past three years, he has worked as an external consultant of the World Bank and of the United Nations, and supported the establishment or reformulation of a number of SWFs around the world.

He is a seasoned banker and consultant with over 15 years of experience. Prior to founding Global SWF, he spent five years building up PwC’s footprint in the SWF industry as the Director and COO of the global practice. Before PwC, he spent five years in KPMG and two in Accuracy.

Diego has lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East, China, Brazil and the US. He earned his Masters in Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE) after graduating in the Universities of Madrid and Milan. He is a FINRA-registered representative with Series 62, 63 and 79.

He is a prolific open water and ice swimmer, having raced in all seven continents including Antarctica, and acts as an ambassador for the Ocean’s recovery.

Daniel Brett

Head of Research & Data of Global SWF, based in London. He started his career in journalism before becoming managing editor of a business intelligence provider. He has since worked for 17 years as a consultant to Fitch with a focus on O&G, chemicals & finance.

Prior to joining Global SWF's team, he was head of data and research at Institutional Investor's Sovereign Wealth Center. He has also worked for OPEC and other organizations providing intelligence on oil, gas, electricity and renewables in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Daniel is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society and a member of the Royal Africa Society, having graduated in political science at Queen Mary University of London and obtaining a Master of Science in international development at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

He has a black belt in Taekwondo and is a senpai student of Shotokan Karate. He has also fought competitively in fencing in the foil category.

Zongyuan Zoe Liu

Senior Consultant of Academics & Research, based in New York. She is is an Instructional Assistant Professor at Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington DC, and has also been a scholar at the Columbia-Harvard “China and the World Program”.

She has over 14 years of experience on macroeconomic data and political risk. She has conducted extensive field research in eight different countries on SWF-related issues, having worked for the Delma Institute (Abu Dhabi), for MUFG (Tokyo) and for China’s MOFCOM (Beijing).

Zongyuan completed her PhD at John Hopkins University with a dissertation on SWFs and the landscape of foreign reserves in China vs Japan. She also holds a Masters in International Relations from the George Washington University and is a CFA charterholder.

She is fluent in Chinese and English and can read Japanese and French. She was a coordinator of volunteers at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Advisory Board

A Board of highly seasoned and trusted Advisors provides us with an important point of view and oversight, and it ensures that our growth is superior and sustainable.