Mitch Hayes.
Globally minded, culturally curious, political thinker
MH
Mitch Hayes is a director at Veracity Worldwide, a political risk consultancy, and a renowned expert on China’s growing influence in Latin America. He is the founder of the newsletter The China Signal, which is read by diplomats and investors throughout the Americas. Previously he was the advisor to former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd AC at the Asia Society, where he focused on China’s political economy and foreign relations. He has also been a political and economic advisor to the US Consul General in Sydney. Earlier in his career, Mitch worked for JP Morgan and the hedge fund Brevet Capital. He sits on the board of the Australia Colombia Business Council.
Mitch has testified to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, been quoted The New York Times, Foreign Policy, and Voice of America, and has been published by The Lowy Institute, the Economist Intelligence Unit, and Oxford Analytica. He regularly gives presentations, appears on panel discussions, and is invited on podcasts focused on China and Latin America. He earned a master’s degree in international political economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and speaks Spanish.
PUBLICATIONS & Analysis
Experience
2022 - Present
VERACITY WORLDWIDE
Director
Project execution for Veracity's clients with a focus on geopolitical risk, political risk, ESG investigations, and due diligence.
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Media coordinator for Veracity's press engagements
2020 - Present
THE CHINA SIGNAL
Founder and Writer
Founder of "The China Signal", a newsletter focusing on the most important political and economic developments between China and Latin America.
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The China Signal is read by diplomats, finance professionals, journalists, and political risk analysts globally.
2020 - 2022
OXFORD ANALYTICA
Contributor
Contributor to the “Daily Brief” for paid subscribers, covering North American and Australian politics and economics.
2017-2018
THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
MSc International Political Economy
Specialised in Political Economy, US, Chinese, and Australian Foreign and Economic Policy.
Completed dissertation on the impact of the global financial crisis on Australian grand strategy.
2018-2019
ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE
Advisor to Kevin Rudd, 26th Prime Minister of Australia
Drafted speeches and articles for one of the world’s leading China experts, and an internationally recognised leader on climate change and multilateral reform. Delivered at major settings such as The Pentagon, West Point, international conferences and published in international media.
Provided daily analysis on major international political and economic issues, with a special focus on China's economy and US-China relations.
Pitched and liaised with major international media such as CNN, CNBC, Fox, Bloomberg, ABC Australia, New York Times, Financial Times, Nikkei Asian Review. Co-managed Mr. Rudd's social media.
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​Chief liaison for Mr. Rudd’s roles as chair/board member to foreign policy think tanks, global health, and peace & security organisations, preparing speeches, briefings, and providing trusted counsel.
2016-2017
U.S. CONSULATE - SYDNEY
Political and Economic Advisor
Provided daily analysis to the U.S. Consul General on Australian and regional political and economic issues.
Accompanied the Consul General and Chargé d’Affaires to meetings with federal and state politicians and business leaders, providing briefings and talking points.
Wrote over ten cables on state and federal politics, economics, science and technology, which were widely distributed within the State Department.
Served as site officer for a number of high-level visits and meetings, including the 2017 Australia-United States Ministerial consultations (AUSMIN), the highest bilateral meeting between Australia’s Ministers for Foreign Affairs & Defence and the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defence.​
2016
ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT
Consultant
Interviewed and reported on European Migration specialists and data collection for a client project
2016
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Graduate Diploma - International Relations
2014-2015
J.P. MORGAN
International Commercial Banking Analyst
Led research for the team’s bankers, including financial statement analysis, credit profile, company background, industry analysis, macroeconomic analysis and relationship overview
2011-2013
BREVET CAPITAL
Credit Analyst
Performed deal structuring, due diligence, and asset-based credit analysis on over 30 transactions
Performed in-depth industry research and financial modelling for the investment committee
2014
ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT
Contributor
Published EIU pieces “Australia’s Murray inquiry could transform industry”, and “Thai banks may spurn SME loan pleas”
2009-11
INTERNSHIPS
Australian Consulate (New York), the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, Nomura’s investment bank, the Global Business Coalition on Health, Access Now
CONTACT
Please get in touch with your ideas, consulting and media opportunities, or simply to carry the conversation further.