Trends in Technology and Innovation: Comparing the U.S. and Asia
VIEW EVENT DETAILSPlease join us for an illuminating and insightful conversation with leading business and policy experts on comparing trends and approaches to technology and innovation between the U.S. and Asia.
Moderated by Jeff Wong, Chair of Asia Society’s Technology and Innovation Council and who serves as Global Chief Innovation Officer for EY, this panel discussion will also feature Laura G. Brent, Senior Fellow of the Technology and National Security program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), James (Jim) Andrew Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director, Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), James Lin, Partner at Davis Polk and who is based in Hong Kong, Elina Noor, Director of Political-Security Affairs and Deputy Director, Washington, D.C. Office at the Asia Society Policy Institute and Mark Tetto, Co-CEO of TCK Investments who is based in Korea.
The conversation will reflect on which areas within technology and innovation seem to be growing, how does the current political and business environment in both the U.S. and select countries in Asia support or hinder development and why, and which countries are leading efforts to build or strengthen an existing technology and innovation hub, why and how. As the technology and innovation industry continues to diversify and change with new players all the time, the potential yields are enormous for the global economy and international peace and security. What is the short and long-term gains for both business and countries that seek to become or sustain their positions as a powerful and influential hub for technology and innovation?
SPEAKERS
Laura G. Brent is a Senior Fellow in the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Prior to joining CNAS, Ms. Brent served on the NATO International Staff, where she developed and implemented cyber defense policy, focusing particularly on NATO's ability to operate in cyberspace. Previously, at Ernst & Young (EY), she led and supported cybercrime investigations and cybersecurity assessments, assisting clients in responding to incidents and improving their cybersecurity posture. Prior to EY, Ms. Brent served at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the Immediate Office of the Secretary and the now-Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where she advised senior leaders on a broad range of national and homeland security topics. She also completed a rotation to the Joint Staff within the Office of the Vice Chairman. Her writings have appeared in the NATO Review, Military Technology, and The Three Swords magazine. Ms. Brent received her B.A. from Harvard College and her M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
James A. Lewis is a senior vice president and program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Before joining CSIS, he was a diplomat and a member of the Senior Executive Service. At the Department of State, he worked on a range of political-military issues and was a political adviser to two military commands. Lewis negotiated bilateral agreements on transfers of military technology and regional stability, developed groundbreaking policies on remote sensing and encryption, and led the U.S. delegation to the Wassenaar Arrangement Experts Group. James Andrew Lewis was the rapporteur for three UN Group of Governmental Experts on Information Security. He leads a long-running Track 2 dialogue with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. He has authored numerous publications since coming to CSIS, is frequently quoted in the media, and has testified numerous times before Congress. Lewis is a distinguished visiting professor at the United States Naval Academy’s Center for Cyber Security Studies. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago.
James Lin focuses on public and private corporate finance transactions, including initial public offerings, convertible and high-yield debt offerings and private equity investments, and mergers and acquisitions. He has worked on some of the most significant capital markets transactions in Asia, including with companies from the technology, media, healthcare, financial services, natural resources, real estate and energy sectors. He is recognized as a leading capital markets lawyer by publications including Chambers Asia-Pacific and IFLR1000. James is fluent in English and Mandarin.
Elina Noor is Director, Political-Security Affairs and Deputy Director, Washington, D.C. Office at the Asia Society Policy Institute. A native of Malaysia, Elina’s work focuses on security developments in Southeast Asia, global governance and technology, and preventing/countering violent extremism. Previously, Elina was Associate Professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Prior to that, she was Director, Foreign Policy and Security Studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia. She was also formerly with the Brookings Institution’s Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World. Between 2017 and 2019, Elina was a member of the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace. She currently serves on the ICRC’s Global Advisory Board on digital threats during conflict. Elina read law at Oxford University. She obtained an LL.M (Public International Law) from The London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, graduating with distinction at the top of her class. A recipient of the Perdana (Malaysian Prime Minister’s) Fellowship, she also holds an MA in Security Studies from Georgetown University where she was a Women in International Security Scholar.
Mark Tetto is Co-CEO of TCK, in charge of investor relations and investment strategies review. Mark brings 14 years of finance experience spanning investment banking, corporate M&A, private equity and venture capital investing. Prior to TCK, Mark was at Samsung Electronics’ corporate M&A team, where he spent four years successfully acquiring companies and building the firm’s M&A practice. Previously, Mark was with Morgan Stanley, working in New York and London on M&A and corporate finance, raising funding for clients in excess of $1Bn. Mark holds a BA in Chemistry from Princeton University, and an MBA from The Wharton School, with a concentration in Finance.
Jeff Wong is the EY Global Chief Innovation Officer, challenging everything from the way EY operates internally to how we provide services to our clients. He works across the entire organization to help identify, share and scale the best ideas. Additionally, part of the EY Global Innovation team’s remit is to research and explore new technologies. He brings deep experience across strategy, investing and building new ventures globally. Throughout his career, he has built new businesses across various concepts, including local commerce, B2B exchanges, services, mobile and big data at Boston Consulting Group, JAFCO America Ventures, J.P. Morgan Partners and eBay. Jeff sits on the Oxford Foundry Board, Oxford University and the Advisory Board for AI4All, a non-profit organization working to increase diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence. He is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council. Jeff has an AB in Economics, master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management and an MBA from Stanford University.