Kenneth Jarrett
Vice Chair for US-China Bilateral Relations

President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai since September 2013. He previously worked as Greater China Chairman of APCO Worldwide, a Washington-based public affairs consultancy, from 2008-2013, and before that was a U.S. diplomat for 26 years. His diplomatic postings included Consul General in Shanghai, Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong, and Director of Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council. He also served in Beijing, Chengdu, Singapore, and Manila. Mr. Jarrett has degrees from Cornell, Yale and the National War College. He is a member of the National Committee for US-China relations.

Niels Marquardt
Regional Vice Chair for Australia and Pacific Islands

Niels Marquardt started as CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) on October 15, 2013. He is a former American diplomat with decades of experience promoting international trade and investment. His final diplomatic assignment was as U.S. Consul General in Sydney, 2010-2013. During a 34-year State Department career, Niels also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros (2007 - 2010), to the Republic of Cameroon (2004 – 2007), and to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (2004 – 2006). In three of those countries, Niels helped found and launch new AmCham chapters.

Previously, Niels served in key leadership positions in the State Department’s Human Resources Bureau, including leading the largest increase in recruiting, hiring, and training in the Department’s history. He is a former Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs in Germany, 1995-1998. His other overseas assignments as an economic officer took him to France, twice to Thailand, and to Brazzaville, Congo. He worked closely with the AmCham in each of those countries. Niels also has experience as a Country Risk Analyst at the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

Before he joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1980, Niels was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda. He graduated from Lewis and Clark College, the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and the National War College. His foreign languages are French, German, Thai, and Spanish. Niels and Judi Marquardt have three grown daughters living on three different continents: Kaia, Kelsey, and Torrin. Their youngest daughter, Yannika, attends the University of Portland.

Bretton Sciaroni
Vice Chair for ASEAN Policy

Bretton G. Sciaroni has been a lawyer and investment adviser in Phnom Penh since 1993, making him one of the first foreign lawyers in Cambodia in the modern era.

For over twenty years, Mr. Sciaroni has advised national and international clients with investments and/or operations in Cambodia and has been a leading contributor to the development of the Cambodian economy and private sector.

Focusing principally on commercial law, Mr. Sciaroni negotiated the first foreign investment in Cambodia under the 1994 foreign investment law. The firm has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Royal Government of Cambodia's ministries. Mr. Sciaroni has made significant contributions to legal development programs assisting Cambodian governmental institutions in drafting laws and regulations, training judicial, ministerial and government officials on legal procedures.

In 1995, he entered into a partnership with Tilleke & Gibbins International, the oldest law firm in Thailand, opening an office in Phnom Penh. In 2004, the firm became independent, and now operates as Sciaroni & Associates.

In 1996, Mr. Sciaroni was named a Legal Adviser to the Royal Government in a decree signed by King Norodom Sihanouk. He has been reappointed to this position by Royal Decree in successive governments from 1999. The position carries with it the rank of minister.

In addition to a number of other assignments, Mr. Sciaroni was on the Cambodian government delegation that traveled to Quebec City, Canada in 2008 to attend the 32nd Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which inscribed the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site. He served in a similar capacity in 2009 at the World Heritage Committee's annual meeting in Seville, Spain. Most recently, the firm provided invaluable research on Colonial Property and Cultural Protection laws and drafted expert witness documentation for the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in support of the successful return of a 10th century warrior statue of a stolen from the temple at Koh Ker.

Mr. Sciaroni continues to serve the private sector business community in key leadership positions. Since 1998 and 2002, he has served as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham Cambodia) and Chairman of the International Business Chamber Cambodia, respectively. Mr. Sciaroni was named vice chairman representing the ASEAN region for the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC) in 2012. Mr. Sciaroni serves on the Boards of Directors of a number of entities, including banks, commercial enterprises and non­ governmental institutions.

Mr. Sciaroni served as the Co-Chairman of the Working Group on Law, Tax and Good Governance comprised of private sector and government delegates to seek resolution of issues of concern in the business community. Mr. Sciaroni was the head of the private sector delegation to the Consultative Group meetings, held by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the donor community.

Prior to coming to Cambodia, Mr. Sciaroni was in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he continues to be a member of both the Bar Association of the District of Columbia and the American Bar Association. He has served in the U.S. Government, including positions at the White House and in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. Sciaroni is a graduate of the U.C.L.A. School of Law and earned degrees from Georgetown University and Claremont McKenna College.

Tom Clark
Vice Chairman for Policy, Washington, and APEC

With twenty-five years of experience in legal and government practice, the last fifteen of which have been in senior roles with GE Capital in Asia, Tom Clark now serves as Executive Counsel and Director of Government Affairs and Policy for Asia-Pacific for GE Capital International, as well as for Japan for GE’s energy businesses. In this role, he coordinates advocacy and public policy initiatives across a range of financial services and energy issues, and has been active in a number of public-private sector dialogues including through APEC, ASEAN, various national and regional chambers of commerce and trade associations. Tom holds a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was Notes Editor of the Columbia Law Review. Before taking on his current Government Affairs role in 2005, Mr. Clark served as Chief Legal Counsel of GE Consumer Finance in Japan for six years. Prior to coming to Japan in 1999, Mr. Clark served as Legal Counsel for GE Capital Card Services in the US and worked in private law practice first at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City, and then at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering in Washington D.C. Between his graduation from Columbia Law School and entering private practice, Mr. Clark served as a law clerk for Circuit Judge James L. Buckley on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington D.C.

Mr. Clark currently serves as co-chair of the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets Committee and co-chair of the US-Japan Regional Leadership Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, where he is also a Board member, and is a Board member of the U.S. National Center for APEC and member of its Financial Services Working Group. He also serves as Vice Chair for Washington Relations, TPP and APEC of the Asia-Pacific Counsel of American Chambers of Commerce, is President of the Tokyo Chapter of Financial Executives International, and is a member of the Financial Services Working Group of the US-ASEAN Business Council. Mr. Clark is also a visiting professor at Keio Law School in Tokyo, teaching a course on Government Relations and Law.

Mr. Clark lives in Tokyo with his wife Hiroko and their four children.

GEORGE M.DRYSDALE
Immediate Past Chairman

George Marsman Drysdale is Chairman and CEO of the Marsman Drysdale Group, a diversified Philippine-based holding and management company with interests in the agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, communications, and investment management industries. The Group’s current operating interests primarily include tropical fruit plantations (bananas) for export throughout Asia and the Middle East, medical equipment distribution, and the Philippine’s largest corporate travel and tour services company.

Mr. Drysdale also makes direct private equity investments in high growth communications, media and consumer beverage companies in the Philippines and in the United States. Since 1994, Mr. Drysdale has been an investor in the San Francisco Giants baseball team.

Prior to joining the Marsman Drysdale Group in 1991, Mr. Drysdale was a venture capitalist, first as General Partner of Hambrecht & Quist Venture Partners of San Francisco (1983-1988), and then as a managing General Partner of Westar Capital, a management buyout firm. From 1981 to 1983, Mr. Drysdale practiced corporate, securities, and tax law for Davis, Polk & Wardwell, a Wall Street law firm.

Mr. Drysdale was born in Manila, Philippines and raised in California and the Philippines. He received a B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA) in 1976 and a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1980. Mr. Drysdale was awarded a White House Fellowship in 1987 and served as Special Assistant to Secretary of Agriculture Richard Lyng.

Mr. Drysdale served three terms as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and three terms as the Chairman of the twenty-six member chambers of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC).

GEORGE M. DRYSDALE
Chairman and CEO
Marsman Drysdale Group
Penthouse, Philamlife Tower
8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, Philippines
Tel. (632) 893-0111 / Fax (632) 893-0999

Jackson Lafayette Cox III
Chairman

Jackson Cox is Founder and CEO of Woodmont International, a private firm that was established in 2005 to provide public affairs and government relations consulting services to companies and investors in Mongolia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Cox was elected Chairman of Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce in March 2015. APCAC was established in 1968 and is the association of 30 American Chambers of Commerce in the Asia Pacific region. APCAC’s collective membership represents over 15,000 companies, 50,000 overseas American workers, and annual trade and investment of over US$500 billion. Mr. Cox is also the Founder and Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia – the official affiliate office of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia.

Prior to founding Woodmont International, Mr. Cox worked in the international political sector where he managed projects in Mongolia and Cambodia for the International Republican Institute.

Mr. Cox is from Johnson City, Tennessee and a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville. He served as the East Tennessee campaign chairman for Bill Frist’s successful campaign for United States Senate in 1994 and as the Political Director of Frist’s re-election in 2000. Mr. Cox served as advisor to Senator Frist in the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. between the two campaigns.

Adam Sitkoff
Secretariat

Adam Sitkoff was appointed by the APCAC Chair as the Executive Director and Secretariat in March of 2011. He is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization and for facilitating communication among the APCAC membership and stakeholders.

Mr. Sitkoff concurrently serves as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Hanoi, a position he has held since 2001. As the chief executive of the AmCham, Mr. Sitkoff is responsible for coordinating activities and strategies that promote trade and investment between the United States and Vietnam.

Mr. Sitkoff has expanded the Chamber's profile on many critical issues impacting American business in Vietnam and he has grown the Chamber into a vibrant organization that plays a key role in the commercial life of Vietnam. Mr. Sitkoff is the liaison between the committees that serve as the core of Chamber activities and is also a member of the National Board of Governors. He is a frequent speaker on a broad range of issues relating to international business and trade policy. Mr. Sitkoff also publishes numerous online and print publications and regularly meets with international executives to identify and discuss business issues and strategy.

Before relocating to Hanoi, Mr. Sitkoff was co-founder of infohaze.com, a San Francisco startup designed to provide a complete privacy solution for individuals online. He spent most of the 1990’s in Washington, DC, holding several positions in the Clinton Administration and he has served as an adviser to a number of companies on international business strategies.

In Vietnam, Mr. Sitkoff founded a “Good-for-Business” program to raise awareness of the need for integrating people with disabilities into the workforce. He also founded and operates the AmCham Scholars program that rewards outstanding undergraduate students in Vietnam who demonstrate leadership through academic performance, community involvement, extracurricular activities, and good character.

Mr. Sitkoff earned a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; a Certificate in the Program on Economics and Politics of European Integration from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands; and a M.B.A. from the University of Hawaii.

James Zimmerman
Regional Vice Chair for Greater China

James Zimmerman is the Office Managing Partner for the Beijing office of the international law firm of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. He is 2015 Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce China, and was previously elected and served as the organization’s Chairman for two terms (2007, 2008) and Vice Chairman for two terms (2005, 2006).

Mr. Zimmerman has been involved with international dispute resolution matters in Asia for 27 years and represents US and foreign companies in a broad range of industries with respect to their matters in Asia and China.

Mr. Zimmerman is the author of several books, chapters, and articles concerning dispute resolution, technology, trade and China related issues, including the well-recognized China Law Deskbook (1999, 2005, 2010), a publication of the American Bar Association. Mr. Zimmerman is recognized as one of Asia’s leading business lawyers in the categories of Chinese Law, Dispute Resolution, and General Corporate Law in the AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers Survey 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (published by Euromoney Publications).

Mr. Zimmerman is listed in the 2006, 2007, and 2008 editions of The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers for Arbitration. In addition, he is listed as a Leading Individual in the category of Corporate/M&A; for foreign law firms in China in the 2004 through 2010 editions of the AsiaPacific Legal 500: The Guide to Asia's Commercial Law Firms. The AsiaPacific Legal 500 characterizes Mr. Zimmerman as an “exemplary counselor” and has a “longstanding track record of taking leading investors into China.” Mr. Zimmerman has also been cited in the 2009 PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook as a practitioner that “represents multinational clients across a broad range of industries and earning a reputation as litigator of choice for many foreign multinationals with operations in Beijing.”

Mr. Zimmerman is admitted to the bar of the State of California (1-8-1988) and is a registered foreign lawyer with the Chinese Ministry of Justice (since 1998). He is also admitted to the US Court of International Trade (CIT) in New York, Federal District Court, and has trial experience before the CIT concerning China-related matters. Mr. Zimmerman has significant bench and jury trial experience before various federal courts (Southern and Central Districts), and has argued before the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Zimmerman has significant international arbitration experience before a broad range of international arbitral institutions including the International Court of Arbitration (ICC), Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Singapore International Arbitration Centre, AAA, Beijing Arbitration Commission, and the China International Economic & Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).  

Mr. Zimmerman has been on the panel of arbitrators for the China International Economic & Trade Arbitration Commission for over 10 years, and has acted as an arbitrator in cases before CIETAC and the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Zimmerman also served on the Board of Directors for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution from 2008-2012.

Shiumei Lin
Vice Chair for ASEAN Integration

Shiumei Lin is Vice President for Public Affairs responsible for representing UPS with governments and other stakeholders on policy, regulation, and sustainability in the Asia Pacific region. She is currently Vice Chair of the US–ASEAN Business Council’s ASEAN Committee leading the US ASEAN Business Alliance for Competitive SMEs – a partnership effort between the United States, ASEAN, and American firms to help SMEs join global supply chains.

Prior to joining UPS in 2010, Ms. Lin worked at the Ministry of Trade & Industry as Trade Counsellor and a member of the APEC policy team during Singapore’s Chairmanship in 2009. At the ministry, she spearheaded efforts on supply chain connectivity and worked on customs, investment, services, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Ms. Lin is a public policy practitioner with close to 15 years experience representing industry interests in the Asia Pacific region. As Director and Vice President at public affairs firm APCO Worldwide, she managed project teams to implement strategic communications, coalition building, and government relations strategies for clients. From 2005 to 2007, Ms. Lin was Senior Director for International Trade Policy at the US ASEAN Business Council, representing companies in food & agriculture, life sciences, logistics, financial services, and ICT on ASEAN integration issues.

Ms Lin spent more than ten years working on US-Vietnam relations. While at the US-Vietnam Trade Council she coordinated efforts to gain support for economic normalization in Washington, assisted US companies with on-the ground trade policy issues, designed technical assistance programs for Vietnamese ministries, and advised on issues relating to the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement and Vietnam’s WTO accession.

In 2010, Ms Lin was awarded the US ASEAN Business Council’s Rising Star Award for outstanding public affairs.

Ms. Lin is a graduate of the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University (Master of Arts) and the University of Colorado, Boulder (Bachelor of Arts).

Radika Obeysekere
Regional Vice Chair for South and Central Asia

Radika joined the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Sri Lanka in January 2014 as General Manager of the Chamber and was subsequently appointed as Executive Director in January 2015.

An attorney-at-law and marketing professional, she worked as a Private Sector Development Analyst with the Asian Development Bank, prior to joining the Chamber. She also served as Research Officer – Legal & Governance within the same organization. Radika has worked with a number of leading private sector companies in Sri Lanka, in the areas of marketing and legal operations.

Having been called to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Radika is also an Associate of Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and was awarded “Best Performance in Sri Lanka” by CIM UK.

Dr. Richard R. Vuylsteke
Treasurer

Richard R. Vuylsteke has been president of AmCham Hong Kong since February 2008. He has overall responsibility for chamber leadership and operations, including programmatic, briefing, advocacy, publications, and other membership and community services.

Richard has studied, taught, and participated in Asia-Pacific affairs for five decades. He has experience as an Army officer, university professor, magazine editor, freelance journalist, book editor and author, think tank researcher and administrator, and leadership at two AmChams.

In Hong Kong he serves on the Board of the Hong Kong America Center, the IIE (Fulbright) Board, the Eagle Scout Board of Review; lectures at universities in Hong Kong and the region; and works in various capacities with several other business and civic organizations, including the Hong Kong ICAC, the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, Junior Achievement, and the AmCham Charitable Foundation. He has M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Western and Chinese social & political philosophy. He is a member of the National Committee on United States-China Relations.

Judy Benn
Regional Vice Chair for Southeast Asia

Judy A. Benn has served as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Thailand since 2001. AMCHAM Thailand has over 800 member companies within the region (including Myanmar and Laos) and the Chamber works with both the U.S. Government and Royal Thai Government to increase the competitiveness of Thailand and ensure that U.S. businesses have equal and fair market access to the Thai market. She has worked for fifteen years on issues that include customs and trade, intellectual property rights and investment barriers.

The daughter of a U.S. State Department professional, she spent most of her early years living overseas, including Liberia and Taiwan. Prior to joining the Chamber she was a director with KPMG Consulting. She spent more than a decade in China and Taiwan where she was helped set up consulting practices. She also worked as a trade assistant for the U.S. Commercial Service in Canada and for Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

She holds a Masters of Business Administration from Minnesota State University and a Bachelors of Science from Brigham Young University. She holds a certificate in Corporate Community Living (CSR) from Boston University and completed an executive education program in Trade Policy & Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Judy is also the Vice President and founder of the AMCHAM Thailand Charitable Foundation which provides student scholarships and funding for Thai schools. She also sits on the Thai-U.S. Education Foundation which administers the Fulbright program for Thailand.

Judy has one daughter, Maggie Mei-Ling who is 15 years old.

Steven R. Okun
Vice Chair for TPP

Steven R. Okun joined KKR in 2011 as its first Director of Asia Pacific Public Affairs. Mr. Okun’s responsibilities encompass government affairs, public relations and environmental and social responsibility issues for KKR, as well as in supporting those efforts for its portfolio companies across the region.

His responsibilities include working with governments and stakeholders across the region on trade and investment matters, as well as working directly with KKR’s portfolio partners on their public affairs and strategic communications initiatives, including their strategic sustainability projects.

Mr. Okun leads KKR Asia’s efforts in “impact investing” whereby KKR’s investment teams support the growth of Social Enterprises in the region. In 2014, KKR was awarded the Gold Standard Award for Corporate Citizenship by PublicAffairsAsia for their work in this regard.

From 2011-2014, he served as the Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce, or APCAC, which comprises 25 member Chambers from across the region. Mr. Okun was elected three times as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore from 2008-2011.

Until October 2010, he was Vice President for Public Affairs for UPS in Asia Pacific. Posted to Singapore in 2003, where he has resided since, Mr. Okun led UPS’ public affairs matters on aviation, competition and trade.

Mr. Okun served in the Administration of President Bill Clinton as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Transportation, being at the Department from 1994 to 1999. For his public service, he was awarded the Secretary's Award for Special Service Commendation.

In 2002, the National Committee on US-China Relations selected him as one of the 24 inaugural Fellows for its Young Leaders' Forum. In 2006, the Boao Forum for Asia chose him as the inaugural Co-Chair of the 21st Century Leaders.

Mr. Okun speaks widely on the role of public affairs in Asia, including at forums and as a guest lecturer at universities, and has made frequent appearances on the BBC, CNBC and Channel NewsAsia representing the interests of US business.

Mr. Okun received his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Penny Burtt
Visa

Penny Burtt is Vice-President Government Affairs, Asia Pacific with global payments company, Visa. She oversees the company’s engagement and partnerships with governments and regulators across the region, leading a group of government relations professionals. She serves on the company’s Asia Pacific executive management committee and a member of the Visa Global Government Affairs leadership team.

Prior to joining Visa, Penny was Director of Public Affairs, External Relations and Head of Client Service Risk, Asia, with global management consultancy, McKinsey & Company. She led McKinsey’s government relations, public affairs, reputation building, communications and risk efforts across Asia. She worked with the firm’s Public Sector Practice, establishing the McKinsey Centre for Government in Asia and the McKinsey Innovation Campus in Singapore, and serving public sector clients on transformation and innovation-related projects. She was a member of the McKinsey global Risk and Communications leadership teams. A frequent contributor to the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), Penny most recently co-authored the Institute’s 2014 report “Southeast Asia at the Crossroads”.

Penny joined McKinsey from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In the course of her diplomatic career, Penny represented Australia at a senior level in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and at the United Nations in Geneva and New York. She also served as Assistant Secretary Southeast Asia and as an adviser to the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Alexander Downer MP. She has deep foreign and trade policy expertise, with a career focus on Asia.

With a strong personal commitment to the community sector, Penny sits on the boards of a number of not-for-profit organizations, including the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham); the Singapore Institute for International Affairs; and the Singapore Committee of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a senior fellow of the Singapore Social Innovation Park (SIP). Penny also sits on the Board of the U.S. National Center for APEC and the Advisory Council of AsiaLink Business in Australia.

Penny has a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a postgraduate in International Relations from the Australian National University. She speaks fluent Indonesian and Malay.

Marie Kissel
Abbott, Global Government Affairs, VP -- Asia

Marie leads government affairs activities in Asia for Abbott, a global healthcare leader in diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition and branded generic pharmaceuticals. Prior to Abbott she was VP, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Asia Pacific, for Baxter International, based in Shanghai (2006 to 2013).  She is Vice President, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) and is active with the National Center for APEC (NCAPEC). She served on the Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai) from 2011 to 2013. Marie has also held various government affairs and trade policy roles in the automotive industry, primarily with DaimlerChrysler, in Washington, DC, and Singapore. She started her career at the US Department of Commerce. 

Marie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government/International Affairs and Japanese Language from University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, and Master of Business Administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona, USA. She is a native of Princeton, Indiana, USA.

Catherine Simmons
Managing Director Head, Asia Pacific Government Affairs

Catherine joined Citi in September 2013 as head of Government Affairs for Asia Pacific. Catherine works closely with senior management, business heads, and Citi Country Officers to protect and enhance Citi’s interests by engaging with policymakers and industry groups on a wide range of issues. Catherine also coordinates and manages the Citi Government Affairs representatives in the region and chairs the Citi Asia Pacific Global Regulatory Reform Committee.

Prior to joining Citi, Catherine worked at State Street Bank and Trust as Head of Regulatory, Industry and Government Affairs, Asia Pacific. Before that Catherine was a diplomat at the Australian Embassy Beijing, a research fellow in the Faculty of Law and Politics at Keio University Japan and a policy advisor in the Australian Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Foreign Affairs and Trade on political, strategic and trade issues.

Catherine has played an active role in various industry associations, including the U.S. National Centre for APEC (Board Member), US-ASEAN Business Council (Financial Services and ASEAN Committee Member), Asian Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (Alternate Board Member and Public Policy Committee Member) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (Financial Services Committee Head and Board Member). Catherine has also been active in the APEC Business Advisory Council, Advisory Group on APEC Financial System Capacity Building and the APEC Asia Pacific Financial Forum.

Catherine speaks English, Mandarin and Japanese.

Laura Younger
ACCJ

With 15+ years of doing business in Japan and 10 years working in one of the most influential business organizations in the country, I have access to virtually any company, business leader and influencer in Japan through an exceptionally well-developed and carefully nurtured professional network in Japan and in the Asia Pacific region.

I am passionate about creating meaningful connections between people and inspiring like-minded people to come together to make positive change.

John N. Viverito
DLA Piper Partner

John Viverito has broad experience in general corporate and commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, structured finance and real estate, with particular industry knowledge in the energy sector.

He has been involved in the development of numerous infrastructure projects, including the development of mines, power plants, pipelines, refineries, mass transit projects and telecommunications projects.

John is currently Co-Chairman of the Energy Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.

John is fluent in Thai and has more than 20 years of experience in Asia, having led transactions across numerous countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

EXPERIENCE

Advised Chevron on various projects in Asia and Africa.

Advised Honeywell in relation to various projects in Asia.

Advised various mining companies on projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Advised Lehman Brothers in Asia on various real estate development and financing projects, as well as the liquidation in relation to the bankruptcy.

PUBLICATIONS

Publications

Mongolia Legislation Guide - International Financial Law Review, 2014 and 2015.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining DLA Piper, John was at two other leading international law firms, where he was responsible for assisting in the expansion of their project development and finance practices in Southeast Asia.

RECOGNITIONS

John is recognised as a leading lawyer in Asia, including most recently by Chambers Asia 2014 and 2015 for Mongolia: General Business Law (Experts Based Abroad); Singapore: Corporate/M&A; and Singapore: Capital Markets (Foreign Expert in Mongolia). Furthermore, he is recognised by IFLR1000 2015 as a leading lawyer for Mongolia: M&A, Project Development and Project Finance.

Chambers Asia Pacific 2015 market feedback states that John  "has so much experience across various emerging markets, and his ability to understand the complexities surrounding the legal issues as well as negotiating in culturally sensitive environments and obtaining the best commercial outcome is astounding."

Amy Jackson
Regional Vice Chair for North Asia

Ms. Amy Jackson joined the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea) as its President on August 31, 2009. In this position, she is responsible for managing the day-to-day operation and activities of the Chamber.

In recognition of her efforts in promoting mutually cooperative economic relations between the Republic of Korea and the United States, Ms. Jackson was awarded an Industrial Service Medal by President Lee Myung-bak on November 1, 2012. She was appointed as an honorary citizen of Seoul on October 28, 2013.

Ms. Jackson was formerly a Director at C&M; International (CMI), an international trade and investment consulting firm based in Washington D.C. During her tenure at CMI Ms. Jackson assisted U.S. corporate clients in addressing priority market access issues in Asia, with a particular focus on Korea and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

From 2002-2005, Ms. Jackson served as the Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Korea. In this position, she was responsible for the development and implementation of U.S. trade policy toward Korea, including preliminary work in support of the launch of a U.S.-Korea FTA. From 1998-2002, Ms. Jackson was the Director of Japanese Affairs for the Office of the U. S. Trade Representative, during which time she negotiated and oversaw implementation of agreements related to insurance, autos, and telecommunications.

Prior to moving to USTR, Ms. Jackson worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for eight years where she was the lead negotiator on behalf of the United States for numerous U.S.-Japan space agreements.

Ms. Jackson is fluent in Japanese, and in 1995, was selected for the Mansfield Fellowship program through which she lived in Japan and worked for a member of the Japanese Diet and in the Japanese space agency.

Ms. Jackson has a Masters degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelors degree in Government from Pomona College. Ms. Jackson is married with two children.

Ms. Jackson is engaged in numerous civic activities in Seoul, including:

• Vice Chairwoman of the Seoul’s Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC)
• Advisor for the Foreign Investment Advisory Council (formerly known as ‘Invest Korea Advisory Council’)
• Fulbright Commission Board
• Advisory Council Member for United Service Organizations (USO)
• Board Member of Korean – American Association (KAA)
• Member of the Advisory Board of Seoul National University Business School
• The International Advisory Group of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding (PCNB) (Nov. 2009 ~ Feb. 2013)
• Member of the PyeongChang 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games Organizing Committee (Nov. 2010 ~ Jun. 2013)
• Member of the Expo 2010 Yeosu Korea Organizing Committee (Dec. 2010 ~ Mar. 2013)