2020 ACCJ Leaders and Volunteers of the Year
Each year, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) honors members who have shown extraordinary dedication. The coronavirus pandemic made the usual celebratory gathering at Tokyo American Club impossible, so ACCJ President Peter Fitzgerald presented certificates at the virtual Leadership Forum on December 11. He thanked each honoree their commitment to supporting the goals of the chamber, especially amid the challenges brought forth by Covid-19.
LEADERS OF THE YEAR (TOKYO)
Catherine O’Connell
O’Connell was recognized for her work heading the merger of the Legal Services and Intellectual Property Committees. With grace and collegiality, she helped ensure a smooth and positive transition and unity in purpose, and now serves as co-chair of the Legal Services & IP Committee, which has become one of the chamber’s most active groups.
Her vision and dedication also enabled the ACCJ to provide critical information to members that has helped them navigate the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and she has led programs which attracted widespread participation across the chamber. O’Connell has been instrumental in the ACCJ’s advocacy efforts aimed at easing the restrictions the Japanese government has placed on non-Japanese residents and business owners attempting to reenter the country.
Scott Warren
Warren championed the merger of the Legal Services and Intellectual Property Committees, synergizing efforts to pro-vide essential networking and information opportunities to the membership and international legal community.
As co-chair, his enthusiasm and initiative facilitated the committee’s timely and impactful events that addressed legal challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also helped lead the ACCJ’s important advocacy efforts on the easing of reentry restrictions, and his proactive engagement with members has encouraged many to take on leadership roles.
David Richards
As co-chair of the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets Committee, Richards has revitalized efforts to bring members real-time insights into financial services regulations and market developments.
He also chaired the Nominations Committee and curated the candidate slate for the 2020 ACCJ election with meticulous care, presenting excellent individuals to lead the chamber.
Richards also made crucial contributions to the Financial Services Forum, which serves to ensure that the ACCJ’s position on financial services advocacy issues is approved by the board and addressed in a consistent manner. His hard work gave greater voice to the international investment community and helped efforts to position Japan as a global financial center.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (TOKYO)
Nuala Connolly
As a member of the Women in Business Committee, Connolly brought enthusiastic engagement and contributions to furthering opportunities for women in the workplace. She dedicated significant resources to revamp the Women in Business Reading List, equip—ping leaders with additional tools to promote effective work-place reform and gender equality.
Her energy and collaborative spirit greatly added to the Women in Business Committee’s efforts to realize its goals and inspire inclusive business practices.
LEADER OF THE YEAR (KANSAI)
Steve Iwamura
As chair of the ACCJ-Kansai External Affairs Committee, Iwamura successfully planned and executed one of the chapter’s flagship events: the annual discussion with the Union of Kansai Governments. He overcame multiple administrative, logistical, and stakeholder challenges—compounded by the pandemic—to deliver a virtual event complete with simultaneous interpretation services.
Iwamura also helped coordinate and design the agenda for the event, highlighting the bilateral opportunities engendered by digital transformation and the role the ACCJ plays to accelerate holistic change. This successful panel discussion would not have been possible without his dedicated efforts and strong leadership.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (KANSAI)
Asana Otani
The forced shift to virtual sessions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic made organizing flagship events challenging in 2020. Such was the case for the ACCJ-Kansai Diversity & Inclusion Summit. Otani helped transform what would normally have been a daylong in-person event into a series of virtual sessions that opened the content from expert speakers and leaders to a broader audience.
She brilliantly organized the breakout session and coordinated numerous administrative, logistical, and technical elements, allowing the session to dovetail with the overall series. Her diligent preparation paved the way for a smooth and enjoyable virtual experience, contributing to the summit’s outstanding success.
LEADER OF THE YEAR (CHUBU)
Mark Hosang
When the Chubu chapter merged three committees—Business Programs, Independent Business, and Women in Business—into one, Hosang provided exceptional leadership. As co-chair of the resulting ACCJ-Chubu Programs Committee, he has enabled deeper member engagement, improved retention, and increased collaboration across the chamber as a whole.
Hosang also spearheads the Young Professionals Forum Mentorship Series, which creates critical development opportunities for the next generation of leaders.
He was integral to the successful execution of the 2020 Chubu Walkathon, using his IT expertise to ensure that the annual event continued in a virtual format, allowing the ACCJ to maintain its tradition of supporting the local community in these extraordinary times.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (CHUBU)
Bruce McCaughan
A longtime leader of the ACCJ’s Chubu chapter, McCaughan was instrumental in the execution of the Champagne Ball and Chubu Walkathon, two of the ACCJ-Chubu’s premier annual events. His digital marketing skills and positive demeanor ensured that the 2020 Walkathon remained a fun and enjoyable experience in a virtual format.
McCaughan’s efforts helped secure funds for local charities, upholding the ACCJ’s strong tradition of community service under difficult circumstances. The 2020 Walkathon raised ¥6 million, which was distributed to 20 charitable organizations working in the Chubu region.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (KANSAI)
Takehiro Aoki
Aoki was recognized for his leadership of the ACCJ-Kansai Business Programs Committee’s AI Technology Series, which brought industry leaders to virtual sessions presented in Japanese. He conceived and implemented the series to promote digital literacy and encourage young professionals to expand their skills in pivotal areas, furthering the chamber’s goal to unlock Japan’s digital potential. The series expanded the ACCJ’s network and drew more than 600 attendees—a testament to Aoki’s organizational prowess and ability to engage members.
He also contributed to The ACCJ Journal on multiple occasions, writing Japanese-language recaps of the AI Technology Series sessions to expand the visibility of the initiative and engage the Japanese community.
THE JOURNAL
JANUARY 2021
Vol. 58 Issue 1
A flagship publication of The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), The ACCJ Journal is a business magazine with a 58-year history.
Christopher Bryan Jones, Publisher & Editor
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