FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2021
BlackRock and Hitachi Leaders to Explore Role of ESG, Sustainability Issues
Discussion is part of U.S.-Japan Council’s virtual ‘Bilateral Boardroom’
WASHINGTON, DC – On November 16, the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) will explore environmental, social and governance issues and sustainability as a focal point for U.S.-Japan relations in a virtual Bilateral Boardroom. “Purpose-Driven Leadership in U.S.-Japan Relations” will convene top business, government and civil sector executives from both countries to share their perspectives on challenges related to ESG issues.
Featured speakers will be Larry Fink, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock, and Toshiaki Higashihara, Representative Executive Officer, Executive Chairman & CEO and Director at Hitachi, Ltd. They will offer their views on the importance of companies having social purpose and how that can benefit their stakeholders across the globe, including in Japan and the United States. The conversations with Mr. Fink and Mr. Higashihara will be led by Susan Wagner, Former Vice Chairman of BlackRock, and Paul Yonamine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Chair of the USJC Board of Directors.
The Bilateral Boardroom will also include an update on global climate efforts after the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow provided by Melanie Nakagawa, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Climate and Energy on The White House’s National Security Council.
USJC leaders whose work focuses on ESG and sustainability issues will then participate in a panel discussion, moderated by Lori Teranishi, Founder and CEO, iQ 360; with guests Robin Lewis, Co-Founder, mymizu; Representative Director, Social Innovation Japan; Kathy Matsui, General Partner, MPower Partners; and Rika Nakazawa, Group Vice President, Industry X Co-Innovation, NTT, Ltd.
USJC is an educational nonprofit with a significant, decade-long track record of positive impact in the U.S.-Japan relationship. The organization hosted a previous Bilateral Boardroom during the summer, with special guests U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Shinjiro Koizumi, who was then Japan’s Minister of the Environment.
By providing platforms for dialogue and collaboration between governments, academia, the private sector and other key stakeholders in both countries, the Council seeks to help advance long-lasting solutions to critical issues, including climate change and environmental sustainability.
Bilateral Boardroom: Purpose-Driven Leadership in U.S.-Japan Relations
Date: November 16, 2021 (U.S.) / November 17, 2021 (Japan)
Time:7:00pm – 8:30pm ET / 9:00am – 10:30am JT
Registration: Click here
Language: English (Simultaneous Japanese interpretation will be available)
Media representatives are invited to attend the event. Registration is complementary. The broadcast will be in English with simultaneous interpretation in Japanese.
The Bilateral Boardroom is a part of the USJC Signature Series, which engages membership and stakeholders virtually by providing expertise and insights on a range of important topics. This series debuted last year in lieu of a traditional Annual Conference.
About the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC)
The U.S.-Japan Council develops and connects global leaders to create a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship. It is an organization whose members believe people-to-people relationships are a powerful way to bring together leaders in the U.S. and Japan to address and create solutions to mutual concerns. The Council is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit educational organization that was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Washington, DC with staff in California, Hawaii and Tokyo. In 2012, the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) was created and in 2013, it became a Public Interest Corporation (koeki zaidan hojin). The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) maintains an office in Tokyo, Japan.
Washington, DC Headquarters
Alison Aadland
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
202-223-6843
Japan Office
Junko Tsuda
Executive Director of U.S.-Japan Council (Japan)
[email protected]
+81-3-4510-3401