JAPAN UPDATE 2017 SPEAKERS
Dr. Mireya SOLIS
Mireya Solís is a senior fellow and the Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies in the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies. An expert in Japan’s foreign economic policies, Solís earned a doctorate in government and a master's in East Asian studies from Harvard University, and a bachelor's in international relations from El Colegio de México. Her main research interests include Japanese politics, political economy, and foreign policy; international and comparative political economy; international relations; and government-business relations. She also has interests in broader issues in U.S.-Japan relations and East Asian multilateralism.
Prof. Yorizumi WATANABE
Yorizumi Watanabe is a Professor of International Political Economy at Keio University, Japan. Prior to filling this senior academic post, Watanabe held several appointments in Japan's foreign service, including postings to Japan's diplomatic missions in Brussels and Geneva. As policy advisor to relevant Ministries, he has been engaged in all major bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations in which Japan has been involved in the past two decades. He was Deputy Director-General of Japan's Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2002-2004 and served as Chief Negotiator for the Japan-Mexico Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Working Party on Russia's Accession to the WTO.
The Honorable Atsuyuki OIKE
Atsuyuki Oike is the Deputy Chief of Mission, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotenitary of the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America. Oike joined the Japan Ministry of Foreign of Affairs (MOFA) after graduating from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law. He has served as the Economic Minister of the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea, Embassy of Japan in China, and to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. He also is a former MOFA Ambassador/Assistant Vice Minister and Director-General of Global Issues.
The Honorable J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
J. Thomas Schieffer is the founder and CEO of Envoy International LLC, a consulting firm that provides a wide range of advice to companies with international interests. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2005-2009 and U.S. Ambassador to Australia from 2001-2005. Prior to his diplomatic service Ambassador Schieffer was a partner in the Texas Rangers baseball team. In 1989 he joined the partnership headed by George W. Bush and Rusty Rose that purchased the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. Originally just an investor, Schieffer was named partner-in-charge of Ballpark Development in 1990, President of the Club in 1990 and Co-Managing Partner with Rose in 1994 when George W. Bush assumed office as Governor of Texas. He was inducted into the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame on August 23, 2014 for his contributions to the franchise.
Mr. Bob HARVEY
Bob Harvey is the fourth President and CEO the Greater Houston Partnership since it was formed in 1989 in a merger of the Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce, the Houston Economic Development Council and the Houston World Trade Center. Harvey is committed to enhancing the Partnership's effectiveness as "the voice of business" in the 11-county greater Houston region. In addition to its role as the principal regional economic development organization and primary advocate for sound public policy, the Partnership, under Harvey's leadership, is convening community leaders in order to gain consensus on the key issues facing the region and the appropriate response.
Mr. John A. MOSELEY
John Moseley joined the Port of Houston Authority as General Manager of the Trade Development Department in February 2010, earning the title of Senior Director in 2014.
From 1987 to 2010, Moseley served in multiple capacities in the U.S. and abroad for companies such as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, International Development and Energy Associates, Kolbe GmbH, Eurostar (L.A. Gear), COSCO and CMA CGM. His most recent position prior to joining the port authority was with CMA CGM as Director of Sales, U.S. Gulf Coast Region.
In his position at the Port Authority, he is globally responsible for guiding the Trade Development team to increase revenue, vessel calls, cargo volume and overall commerce through Houston via Port of Houston Authority facilities, with team members deployed worldwide.