NEW YORK; October 14, 2021 – Asia Society today announced the launch of its Technology and Innovation Council, a corporate members-driven working group bringing together senior executives from the U.S. and Asia working in the fields of technology, innovation, and development. The Council will discuss and raise visibility on related subjects and develop programming comparing policy approaches, technologies, and trends. The Council will serve as a special conduit to help foster connections and build cross-cultural understanding between technology and innovation executives, across industries, who are based in the U.S. and from across Asia. It will also support peer-to-peer networking by connecting Council members with each other and with representatives affiliated with up-and-coming technologies and start-up companies based in the U.S. and Asia.

Council members are comprised of technology and innovation executives affiliated with a range of companies based in the U.S. and in Asia across industries. Jeff Wong, Global Chief Innovation Officer for EY, is the inaugural Chair and will help drive the group’s mission, programming, and expansion. Upon being named Chair, Wong said, “We’re all navigating a world that’s more interconnected and more exposed to global disruption, and it’s vital for companies of all industries to come together — across East and West — and to drive innovation, transformation, and long-term value. When combined with collaboration, technology and innovation are the building blocks for a new and more sustainable planet, and I’m eager to advance the dialogue at a time when the opportunities and challenges are always evolving.”

The Council will host is first public program, virtually, on Thursday, October 21 at 7pm ET, as part of a planned series. Moderated by Wong, a panel of experts will compare current trends in technology and innovation between the U.S. and Asia. Speakers include: 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, a Hong Kong-based Partner at Davis Polk, 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, based in Korea.

“As a global nonpartisan nonprofit organization, Asia Society is poised to provide a welcoming space for those leading in technology and innovation from the U.S. and Asia to come together, network, learn from each other and build relationships – all in an effort to develop solutions to today’s most pressing challenges while seizing the greatest opportunities.” said Christopher M. Belisle, Executive Director of Corporate Relations for Asia Society New York.

The Council will convene a second public program in early 2022 comparing U.S. and Asia policy approaches related to technology and innovation. A special daylong conference is also planned, hosted at Asia Society New York, bringing Council members together with leading technology and innovation business and policy leaders, and representatives from start-up companies based in the U.S. and from across Asia, to support peer-to-peer networking and discuss challenges and opportunities facing technology and innovation in both the U.S. and Asia. 

Find out more about the Council and corporate engagement here.