Dr. Alex Lai Iat Long, was born in Macao. After completing his basic education in Pui Ching Middle School in Macao, Dr. Lai furthered his tertiary education in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he obtained a BSc with honours in Computer Science in 1983. After returning to Macao, he completed two Master degrees - one MBA in the University of East Asia in 1987 and one MSc in Software Engineering in the University of Macau (UM) in 1997. Dr. Lai obtained his doctoral degree in Management Science and Engineering in Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2006.

Dr. Lai's service in UM started more than 20 years ago, although he left the University for several years, working as information system developer and system consultant for the Identification Bureau of the Macao Government and the International Institute for Software Technology in the United Nations University (UNU-IIST). He worked in UM as Head of the Computer Service Bureau, Head of the General Administration Bureau and Administrator before he was appointed Vice Rector (Administration) on 1^st September 2006.

Since 1985, Dr. Lai has been a member of the British Computer Society. In 1999, he was an appointed member of the Macao Government Y2K Consultative Committee. From July 1999 to March 2000, Dr. Lai was Chairman of the Board of Coordinators of the Y2K Centre. From 1999 to 2000 he was President of the Fiscal Committee of the Alumni Association of UM. Dr. Lai was Vice Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education in 1999, and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Macao IT Congress in 1998 and 1999. On 10th December 1999, in recognition of Dr. Lai’s contribution to the development of information technology in Macao, the then Macao Governor awarded him a Medal of Professional Merit. Dr. Lai is currently a member of the 3^rd Chief Executive Election Committee of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and a member of the Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.