Lai has over 20 years of experience in public sector management, including with the Fijian Ministry of Finance, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (a regional organization), and the Asian Development Bank.

He recently joined the Strategy, Practice & Knowledge Group of ADB’s Public Sector Management and Governance Sector Group, where he led the Emerging Areas and Quality Assurance Team. Lai has extensive operational experience (including digitization projects) and has worked in Central and West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.