Dr Serey Chea, BCOM

Studying a Bachelor of Commerce set alumna Her Excellency Dr Serey Chea on a path to becoming the first female Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia.

Serey's academic journey began in France, where she did her schooling. She moved to New Zealand to learn English and attend university at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington after her sister moved to Wellington with her husband’s family. Commerce study was not her first choice—she wanted to study science and become an astronaut.

“I was actually very good at science, and I was fascinated with aliens and X-Files at that time!” she says. But her father encouraged Serey to choose a more practical degree, and she majored in accounting and finance.

“Victoria University in the late 1990s was well-known for its accounting course. I think it was known to be one of the best in the country, and in the world, so I ended up selecting that. I don’t regret it at all, I’m glad that I did it.”

Moving to Wellington was a culture shock after living in Paris and Singapore, and still learning English made it hard to make friends. Serey remembers that, despite the communication barriers, her peers helped one another with their studies.

Studying at Victoria University has become something of a family tradition, with her nieces, nephews, brother, and sister all studying here, creating a strong connection to Wellington for her family.

Her academic path didn’t stop with her undergraduate studies. Serey completed a PhD in 2021 in Economics at the University of Adelaide, balancing her education with the responsibilities of a full-time job and family life. “I think it was a challenge to prove to myself and to those around me that being a woman, you can do higher education. I wanted to prove that you can still have a family, a full-time job and still keep on learning,” she says.

Innovating the banking sector

Serey’s work in central banking, particularly developing payment systems at the National Bank of Cambodia, sparked her passion for social change, especially when she saw the positive impact of co-finance on low-income families.

She cites meeting a young girl in poverty, who was helped by a micro-finance loan to start her own business selling grilled bananas, as inspiration. “This story, and stories of families who were able to send their children to school because they get seed funding [through supportive policies from the central bank] to start businesses, really inspired me. That's when I decided that I wanted to stay in the central bank and supervise co-finance,” she says.

As the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, Serey has focused on innovation in financial systems. An example is introducing QR code payments, which have made financial transactions more accessible and efficient for Cambodian people.

“What keeps me going is when I meet people on the street who tell me they use the new means of payment, like a QR code payment, and tell me it's so easy and makes their life so much easier. These are the kind of moments that really make me proud and smile, and I always share them with the team.  We're in the business of serving people, and so when the people are happy with what we're doing, we're proud.”

Advice for new graduates

“To the students who want to pursue anything, find something that inspires you, something that you want to wake up every morning and go do, and do it.”

She says that everyone, not just those who want to pursue a career in economics, should do what they like and are passionate about. “[For me,] it's a passion, because I believe that I'm going to be able to change people’s lives, so it never felt like a job to me. And I love it. I love what I do.”

Her advice for commerce students is to take a course in psychology or human behaviour, as well as economics, to help understand the world better. “There's so many things at play, people are divided, there's war, there's all sort of things happening in the world. The economic principles that we use to learn may not necessarily be applicable in the future, and you’ll need to be a bit more creative.”

Her commitment to social causes is also evident in her art. Serey turned to painting during the COVID-19 pandemic. She used her work to raise funds for mental health awareness and other charitable causes.

Serey’s career is characterised by professional success and personal resilience. She has managed to balance her roles as a mother, professional, and academic. Her journey inspires those around her, showing that dedication, continuous learning, and passion can lead to meaningful contributions to society.