FEW November Meeting In the Chamber: Business & Commercial Insights for International Business

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Time:

7 PM

Venue:

City Club Aoyama (please note, business casual dress code) Place Canada B1F, 7-3-38 Akasaka

Price:

3000 yen for members 6000 yen for guests

Our November FEW meeting will feature four speakers from some of the most active Chambers of Commerce in Tokyo as well as the European Business Council in Japan. This will be a panel discussion where you will have the opportunity to find out how the various Chambers of Commerce and the European Business Council can help you grow and expand your business. If you’ve ever wondered what role organizations like these can play in supporting the growth of a company, this is your chance to ask your questions directly to those involved.

In addition, we will be taking a look at some of the current issues that the international business world is facing during these challenging economic times and looking for trends and tips that will help to guide you successfully through the next few years.

Our Speakers will be;

Laura Younger: Associate Director for Membership Services at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), Laura oversees the membership and the programs departments. Laura is also President of the Association for Women in Finance. Laura is Canadian and has worked in Japan for over 10 years. She has a BA from the University of Toronto and an MBA from McGill

Ian de Stains: Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Ian has been a Japan-watcher and commentator for over 30 years. Arriving initially in 1976 as a BBC producer and presenter, he worked with NHK on radio and TV programs about Japanese culture and society for international audiences. Since 1987 Ian has focused on the Anglo-Japanese commercial relationship and the wider issues of public diplomacy. A Member of the Society of Authors, he has published works of short fiction and writes the regular column ‘The View from Here’ in the Tokyo Weekender.

Alison Murray: Since 1998 Alison has been Executive- Director of the European Business Council in Japan/European Chamber of Commerce in Japan, which is the trade policy arm of 17 national European Chambers of Commerce and other Business Associations based in Japan. Alison has spent the last 25 years in Japan, working initially for a Japanese language services firm, then with an international news service. In June 2005, she was decorated with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite by President Chirac for her contribution to furthering relations between the EU and Japan.

Alana Bonzi: Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Alana arrived in Japan in 1996 on the JET program. A former General Manager of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan, she runs Remy Bonzi Group, a writing and consulting practice, and takes care of marketing and community relations for Soleil Provence, a French language and culture school co-founded with her husband. She also lectures on Corporate Social Responsibility at Keio University and Waseda University. Alana has an MBA from McGill University.

Remember ladies, we are back in the City Club, and our dress code is business casual. This is going to be a great and informative meeting so please save some time in your busy calendars to attend.