Gem Lao-Araya has more than 27 years of experience working in the Asia–Pacific development sector. Her 21 years in ADB have focused on specialized fields, such as public financial management, public administration reforms, and private sector development. Prior to her current post, she served as country director for the Kyrgyz and Bhutan resident missions. She holds doctorate and master's degrees in Economics from Indiana University (Bloomington) and a bachelor's degree in Economics (Honors) from Chulalongkorn University.