Hailing from Adelaide in South Australia, Sally Townsend studied economics at The University of Adelaide. She came to Japan in 2000 to teach English, then went on to polish her Japanese skills at a language school. She subsequently decided to pursue a full-time degree in sociology at Nihon University, graduating in 2008. She continued living in Japan after graduation, working first for a wine importer in Tokyo, and then for a Singapore-based luxury lifestyle company, opening their Japan office. In March 2019, she took on her current position as South Australia Commissioner to Japan and Korea. An active participant in the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan since the beginning of her career, she became Chair in January 2019.

With over 20 years of experience in programming, system architecture, business development, operations, and management, I have cultivated a diverse skill set across various industries. My academic background in Distributed Systems and Mathematics, combined with extensive practical experience, allows me to dissect complex problems and deliver innovative solutions. As both a seasoned engineer and entrepreneur, I excel in assessing requirements for both the present and future, ensuring comprehensive project management from conceptualization to execution and operations.

For the past 12 years, I have lived and worked in Japan, where I founded Kadric Smart Solutions, Inc. in 2021. My vision is to create products that bring tangible positive changes to society and mankind. Throughout my career, I have collaborated with numerous Japanese companies across industries such as IoT, DX, Smart Cities, Smart Factories, Fin-tech, and Banking. Notable projects include self-driving taxis for the 2020 Olympics and smart city technologies for Toyota’s Woven City.

Fluent in Japanese and well-connected within both Japanese and international communities, I am uniquely positioned to bridge industry and cultural gaps. My goal is to foster meaningful advancements and help businesses achieve the innovation and success they seek.

Nitin Mehra is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in sales and partnership development, specializing in supporting companies’ expansion in Japan. As the Country Manager for Plexure, Nitin has successfully led business development, digital marketing, branding, and project management initiatives for prestigious brands such as Philip Morris, Tata Consulting, and Misumi.

Nitin’s expertise extends beyond corporate expansion, encompassing cross-cultural leadership and launching brands from scratch. His impressive track record in driving sales, acquiring and retaining customers, and enhancing corporate brands underscores his ability to innovate and deliver measurable results in dynamic environments.

An MBA holder from Hitotsubashi University and a graduate of Stanford’s LEAD program, Nitin brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to his roles. Additionally, he is a co-founder of “Bridging Borders,” a Japanese think tank dedicated to exploring transformative leadership changes. Their podcast, inspired by Stanford University’s motto, “change lives, change organizations, change the world,” aims to inspire listeners to become catalysts for positive change in their lives and beyond.

I am a seasoned professional with more than 30 years’ experience in government, diplomacy, business and academia. A professor at top-ranking Japanese business school Hitotsubashi ICS, I specialise in business ethics and have created and led ethics courses and seminars for MBA students (domestic and international) and corporates. My research interests centre on ethical business practice, a field in which I have international peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation experience. Resident in Japan for more than 20 years, I am passionate about fostering responsible corporate practices to support long-term business. success as well as strengthening Australia-Japan relations. My expertise and networks position me as an effective cross-sectoral and cross-cultural connector as well as an advocate for sustainable societal vitality.