Thomas Orr is a highly educated and experienced professional with a diverse background in finance, law, political science, and the Chinese language. He holds a postgraduate degree from Peking University, where he studied finance in a Chinese language program, and a degree in law, political science, and economics from Stellenbosch University. Orr also studied the Chinese language at Beijing Language and Culture University and has attended St. Andrew's College and Paul Roos.

Throughout his career, Orr has held various positions in different organizations, including African Parks Network, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Standard Bank, and Centre For Chinese Studies, among others. He has served as a commercial manager, subcontracted researcher, China representative, and explorer, among other roles. His experience includes managing teams in different fields, such as leveraged and acquisition finance, energy, utilities, and infrastructure, and commercial and industrial banking.

Orr's expertise in finance, law, and Chinese language, coupled with his extensive experience in managing teams and projects, makes him a talented and versatile professional. His interests include travelling, learning French, and exploring new cultures and languages.