Craig holds extensive expertise as a business leader, with more than twenty years of experience in corporate strategy, client relationship management, and cross-cultural business development. In his capacity as the Executive Director of the ANZCCJ, he is tasked with steering the Chamber’s strategic direction, bolstering its visibility and membership base, nurturing robust collaborative relationships between pivotal industry and government stakeholders, and collaborating with key agencies such as Austrade, NZTE, the Australian Hydrogen Council, and the Smart Energy Council to facilitate the creation of commercial opportunities aimed at fortifying economic connections between Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Before relocating to Japan in early 2023, Craig`s proven track record of managing dynamic business environments and delivering business outcomes through exceptional client management was gained in roles at AMP Capital, ING Investment Management and Deloitte. Serving as the Head of Business Relationships at AMP Capital, Craig spearheaded distribution strategies, orchestrated a groundbreaking $500 million arrangement with MUFG: Trust Bank, and nurtured essential business relationships to propel the Japan office’s goals significantly. Proficient in manoeuvring complex cross-cultural dynamics, Craig holds a deep understanding of Japanese and Australian business practices, complemented by formidable interpersonal and communication skills that have led diverse teams throughout the region.

Moreover, Craig is dedicated to fostering the next wave of the Australia-Japan bilateral relationship’s stewards, as evidenced by his involvement as an Australia-Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC) Board Member and Chair of the AJBCC-JABCC Future Leaders in Australia. Craig took the reins of the AJBCC Future Leaders program, uniting a diverse cohort of young members and harnessing their fresh perspectives to explore opportunities across the bilateral. Additionally, his commitment to the ANZCCJ Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, including the Internship Program, underscores his dedication to supporting driven individuals through an internship program that provides valuable exposure and opportunities within Australia-New Zealand-Japan relations.

With over seven years of experience in Operations Management across diverse industries, including real estate and IT, I bring a comprehensive understanding of business operations, accounting, and HR. My international exposure, gained through five years of studying abroad and five years working in a property company targeting foreign nationals, has equipped me with a keen sensitivity to cultural nuances and the challenges of international business relations.

I have independently managed core business functions, including accounting, legal, and HR, and have played a pivotal role as a primary outward-facing company representative. Engaging with key customers, including large corporations, I have been instrumental in driving sales and maintaining the company’s public image and relations. My recent activities in IT-related project management have further honed my skills in organizing and executing complex projects.

Currently, I serve as the General Manager at Kadric Smart Solutions, Inc., a position I have held since 2022. Additionally, through this, I have had the privilege to take part as the Operations Manager at the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, where I have been contributing since 2024. These roles have given me a solid footing in both the Japanese industry and the international community in Japan.

As a Japanese national with extensive international exposure, I offer a unique perspective and am committed to helping companies establish a successful presence in Japan. Looking ahead, I am eager to expand my skill set and broaden my reach into other industries, becoming a more effective bridge between Japan and the international business world.

Sally first joined ANZCCJ as a Marketing and Communications Intern in 2023, where she created engaging digital content and supported the Chamber’s branding efforts. Now, as Communications Manager, she brings her background in international business and passion for cross-cultural engagement to enhance ANZCCJ’s outreach and member engagement. With experience in strategic communication, design, and storytelling, she aims to strengthen the Chamber’s presence and connect its community through meaningful content. Concurrently, she also works at the Australian National University as a Future Student Postgraduate Coordinator, specialising in student recruitment and event management.

Byron is a Partner at global law firm Baker McKenzie, where he brings a wealth of expertise to clients navigating complex cross-border M&A and commercial transactions. With a keen focus on industries such as technology, consumer goods and retail, and hospitality, Byron bridges diverse markets and delivers practical solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Byron is qualified as a solicitor in Australia (admitted to the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Queensland) and registered as a Foreign Registered Lawyer (gaikokuho jimu bengoshi) in Japan.

Having called Tokyo home for the past decade, Byron’s passion for fostering connections between Japan and Australia began early—sparked by his very first Japanese lesson in Grade 1. Since then, he has dedicated himself to building enduring relationships and advancing collaboration between the two countries.

Byron has served on the Chamber’s Executive Council since 2023 and is a longstanding, active member of the Chamber’s Sports for Business Committee, where he continues to champion opportunities for engagement and growth within the business community.

Syn Yi was appointed Country Head, Representative Director and Director of Investment and Asset Management for the Lendlease business in Japan in October 2024. She has over 10 years of experience in Japan. She previously served as Commercial Director of Japan & Data Infrastructure responsible for closing real estate transactions in Japan and establishment of the data centre business for Lendlease. Prior to this role, she was General Manager Finance where she oversaw the Japan business’ financial performance, finance operations and supported the facilitation of Japanese capital seeking offshore investments. In her current role, she is responsible for establishing Lendlease’s investment management platform in Japan and will also oversee the day-to-day operations of the broader Japan businesses across project management, construction and development.

Lily Takegasa, originally from Toride, Ibaraki, the birthplace of the iconic Nissin Cup Ramen, headed to New Zealand to pursue her academic dreams and ultimately spent a decade studying and working across both the North and South islands. Having immersed herself in the local cuisine and wine scene, upon returning to Japan, Lily’s passion for food and global connection led her to a key sales role at McCain, the world’s largest producer of French fries, where she partners with major fast food chains to bring iconic “chips” to customers in Japan. Lily is also a key member and helps propel the ANZCCJ’s FHAC Committee.

Sally Townsend is the South Australian Government’s Regional Director for Japan and Korea, within the Department for State Development, based at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo. Hailing from Adelaide, South Australia, Sally is a long-term resident of Japan and has been in her current role for 6 years, representing South Australian companies in market or assisting Japanese and Korean companies to invest or do business in South Australia, covering key industries ranging from Space, to Energy, and Life Sciences. Sally is a graduate of Nihon University and worked in the wine and luxury lifestyle sectors before establishing South Australia’s NEA presence in 2019. She has long been active in the Australian community in Japan; as President of the Australia Society Tokyo for a number of years, running social events and fundraising for various charities in Japan, and as a member of the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan for over 12 years, where she was Chair of the Chamber from 2019 to 2025.

Dean has been heading operations for AAPC Japan (Accor) for the past 3 years as Vice President and Representative Director. Prior to his appointment in this role he served as the Area General Manager for Hokkaido & Okinawa from 2016. Accor is one of the largest Hotel Operators in the world with over 5,300 Hotels in operation and 1,220 pipeline Hotels globally. Japan is a key market for growth for Accor and Dean leads Operations while supporting the development of brands and Hotels. Dean has worked closely with the Chamber and regularly supports events and trade shows at the Pullman Tokyo Tamachi. A passionate hotelier from New Zealand who focuses on expanding professional relationships with global and local business partners.

Andrew Dolan is a Director within the Capital Markets team at JLL Japan, where he leads transactions involving commercial properties such as industrial warehouses, factories, data centres, and development land on behalf of international investors and corporate occupiers in the Japanese market.

Based in Japan for the past two years and previously in Korea for over eight years, Andrew brings more than a decade of experience in the real estate and construction industry. His expertise spans capital markets transactions, valuation, strategic consulting, investment, property and project management, and development surveying.

During his time in Korea, Andrew led JLL’s Valuation team. He also gained valuable experience in the property sector through his work with residential developers in Sydney, Australia, and London, UK.

Andrew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Western Sydney University and a Graduate Diploma in Property Development from the University of Technology Sydney. He is also a qualified Valuation Surveyor with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Jeff is an Associate Director for Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), where he is responsible for investment origination and execution.
Jeff was a member of MAM’s infrastructure team in Japan from 2016 and 2018 before working in MAM’s London office for five years between 2018 and 2023, where he played a key role in the acquisition of Farnborough Airport (UK business aviation airport), ASPI (Italian toll roads), and Virtus (European data centre platform). From Japan, Jeff has been heavily involved in a number of MAM’s local investments, including the acquisition of CTT (a liquid bulk storage business) and more recently the sale and leaseback of Rakuten Mobile’s mobile network assets.
Before joining Macquarie, Jeff worked for IFM Investors, where he focused on renewables and public-private partnership assets in Australia, as well as helping set up its Tokyo branch office upon relocation to Japan.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne and is a Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ).

In a career divided between business and diplomacy, Philip has spent over 12 years working in Japan, and another decade in Korea and China. From 2018 to 2023 he served as New Zealand Ambassador to South and North Korea, based in Seoul. Before that he spent 18 years with New Zealand’s largest company, Fonterra Cooperative, in Japan, China, Europe and New Zealand. In 2009-2013 he was based in Shanghai as President of Fonterra China.

Now based in Tokyo, he balances a portfolio of consulting, writing, teaching and study. He is a Beachheads Advisor for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, teaches business and politics at Lakeland University in Tokyo, and is completing a PhD thesis in International Relations at Waseda University. He is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University Wellington. He has experience in governance as well, having chaired the VinLink wine company in New Zealand. He was elected to the Executive Committee of the ANZCCJ in July 2025.

Whilst calling Yokohama, Japan home, Yuzo Okuno, the the Director and General Manager in External Affairs, Communications and Corporate Functions for North East Asia at Rio Tinto, has spent many years of his life living abroad including in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. During a five-year tenure in Sydney, Yuzo-san explored both Australia and New Zealand, admiring the open communication style of the local people, and thoroughly appreciating sporting culture, especially rugby. Yuzo-san presently oversees corporate functions for Rio Tinto, including external affairs and communication with government officials in Japan and partly in Korea. His membership with ANZCCJ connects him to various industries, promoting diversity in business.

From Adelaide, South Australia, Tom has lived and worked in Japan since 2001. Initially coming to Tokyo for a role with Lehman Brothers, he then moved to Deutsche Bank in 2004 and MetLife Insurance in 2013, holding various senior roles in controlling, financial planning & analysis, and project management. In 2022, Tom joined Astris Advisory Japan, a leading investment firm focusing on Corporate Advisory (investor relations support, sponsored research, and strategic planning for Japanese corporates) Financial Advisory (offshore fund placement, liquidity solutions, M&A), and Investment Advisory (Japanese equity & global commodities research). In his role as Chief Financial Officer, Tom manages all day-to-day aspects of running the business, including financial reporting, client onboarding, operations, procurement, and IT.

As a platinum sponsor of the ANZCCJ, Astris Advisory is an active member of the Chamber, and Tomis looking forward to contributing further as a member of the Executive Council / Treasurer for the 2025-2027 term.

Toshi Horihata is the 4th generation CEO of Japan’s oldest industrial packaging company, Horitomi Co., Ltd. Horitomi’s connections include all of Japan’s major steel, chemical and car manufacturers with some relationships tracing back to the Meji era. In recent years the company has expanded to include equipment and automation machinery suppliers that address the growing staff shortages in Japanese factories.

After experiencing the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake that greatly affected his staff in Tohoku, he developed HoLift Water, a collapsible 1000L water tank for drinking and sanitation water supply during disasters. The HoLift Water was part of the government’s assistance package to Ukraine. It also received government recognition in 2025 as a private-sector initiative to build national resilience.

Toshi is on the board of Osaka Shinkin Bank. He has organized a food event at Osaka Shinkin premises bringing ANZCCJ members in touch with vendors in Kansai.

He is also the EC of The Sakai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He is managing director of the packaging and lamination company WINTEX Co.,Ltd as well.

Helen Stylianou is Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Japan and took up the appointment in July 2025.
Ms Stylianou is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary of the Trade Resilience, Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Latin America Division, Australia’s Ambassador to APEC and Chief Negotiator in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework negotiations.
Ms Stylianou has previously served in Brussels as Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to the European Union, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg (2016-2020).
Ms Stylianou was Assistant Secretary, WTO Trade Policy and Services Negotiations in the Office of Trade Negotiations (2011-2016).
Ms Stylianou was Counsellor, Australian Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization, Geneva (2008-2011), Second Secretary, Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Vienna (1999-2003) and Vice-Consul, Australian Embassy, Manila (1997-8).
Ms Stylianou has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. She has a Masters degree in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.

Margaret commenced as Minister (Commercial) at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo in November 2025. Immediately prior to this, she was Consul-General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner based in Osaka.

Margaret has extensive experience in senior roles across the Australian Government. Her work years has focused on Australia’s economic and trade relations with Asia – in Austrade, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. During the Covid pandemic, Margaret led the government’s tourism recovery taskforce. She was a senior advisor to the Minister for Trade and Tourism.

Margaret has long-standing connections to Japan. She first visited Japan as a high school student and over the years she has lived in Tokyo, Niigata and Osaka. Margaretholds a Master of Arts from Monash University and a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Hons) from the Australian National University. She also studied at Tsuda Juku University. Margaret is undertaking part-time PHD studies in post-war Japanese history.

Gareth is the Deputy Head of Mission and Consul-General at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo. Before coming to Tokyo in 2023, Gareth worked as Lead Adviser Japan and Korea in the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in Wellington. Gareth joined MFAT in 2007. He has focused on New Zealand’s relationships with Asia for most of his career. In addition to Tokyo he has previously served in Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi. After learning Japanese at school in New Zealand, Gareth spent five years studying in Japan and graduated from the University of Tsukuba. This experience left him with a life-long connection to Japan.

Kylie is New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to Japan, based in Tokyo with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. NZTE engages with Japanese business partners & government entities to help New Zealand companies grow bigger, better and faster. Areas of focus for the Tokyo team include food & beverage, renewable energy, tech, manufacturing, health & wellbeing, and ecommerce. Kylie has a long-standing connection to Japan, having attended Miyazaki University on a one-year Monbusho Scholarship. Kylie specialises in leading high-performance teams, including as Chief Operating Officer for New Zealand at Expo Dubai, the New Zealand Investment Attraction Taskforce and New Zealand Major Events. Her private sector experience includes leadership roles at SkyCity Entertainment Group, American ticketing company ETM, the NZ Tourism Industry Association and Millbrook Resort Queenstown.

Melanie Brock is one of Japan’s most respected APAC specialists. She uniquely combines practical commercial business leadership and language skills to consistently deliver on business, regulatory and partnership outcomes for Japanese and foreign corporations both on global and domestic levels. Melanie has an excellent network in Japan’s corporate, political and government sectors – her network of senior Japanese politicians and executives is unique. Melanie has a media prolife regularly featuring in the Nikkei, Australian Financial Review and the ABC giving her an unparalleled media network. Her guest speaking engagements include for business and NGO groups in Japanese and English. Melanie is Chair Emeritus of the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan having completed over six years as Chair. She is a member of the ‘Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee’ (AJBCC) and spent five years on the Australia Japan Foundation Board. Other highlights of Melanie Brock’s 20 year plus experience include leading nationwide marketing campaigns, successful bilateral free trade agreement and architect of regional Japan CSR activities. Melanie is currently engaged by several companies as a senior advisor including Tanarra, AIG and Rugby Australia. She has also been a member of the Australia-Japan Research Centre Advisory Board since July 2019 and an Advance Global Ambassador since October 2019. Melanie remains passionate about assisting with reconstruction activities in areas of Japan effected by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. She was awarded an honorary ambassadorship in several towns in the Tohoku area for her work in Tohoku post 3.11. She is committed to ensuring more young people, Japanese and Australians, become more involved in the Australian Japan relationship. Melanie was born in Albany, Western Australia, is a graduate of University of Western Australia and has a Masters Degree (Conference Interpreting and Translation) from University of Queensland. Melanie is a mum and a grandmother and has lived and worked in Japan for 27 years.

Andrew assumed his present position as Head of the Lendlease business in Japan in December 2007. The business has seen tremendous growth and diversification in his tenure, now employing over 500 professionals in the fields of Project Management, Construction, Development and Investment. A leader in innovation, Andrew has also facilitated the development of market leading product to the Japanese telecoms industry. Andrew was heavily involved in setting up the Lendlease telecoms Infrastructure business in the US from 2015 to 2019 and whilst still leading the Japan business was appointed as Head of Telecoms and Data Infrastructure Asia in 2019. In this role Andrew is responsible for overseeing new investment opportunities in data centres and data infrastructure targeting Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Andrew served as the Chair of Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan from 2016 to 2019 and currently holds the role Senior Councilor with the Chamber. Andrew also currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Australia Japan Business Corporation Committee (AJBCC).