Los Angeles, CA, September 14, 2020 – Asia Society Southern California is delighted to honor five visionaries in diplomacy, business, technology, sports and the arts, at the 2020 Annual Gala on Sunday, September 20. One of the premier Asia-related events in Los Angeles, the Annual Gala will be held online from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 21, Hong Kong Time).

Our outstanding honorees are:

AMBASSADOR MASAHARU KOHNO as the 2020 Bridge Building Visionary – A career diplomat, who has served Japan in the U.S., Europe and Middle East, on the Organizing Committee of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 and as an advisor to the TOMODACHI Initiative, an educational program to connect future Japanese and American leaders.

STEPHEN RIADY as the 2020 International Business Visionary – The leader of Singapore-based real estate company OUE and senior executive of the multinational conglomerate Lippo Group, who has blazed a trail in global business and philanthropy.

ANNE SHIH as the 2020 Arts and Culture Visionary – A pioneer Chinese-American museum leader, who has elevated the Bowers Museum and enhanced collaboration between Chinese and American artists, scholars and cultural institutions.

VIVEK RANADIVÉ as the 2020 Game Changing Visionary – A technology entrepreneur and first Indian majority owner of a National Basketball Association team, who kept the Kings in Sacramento and led the revitalization of the capital city’s downtown district.

JAIME LEE as the 2020 Urban Visionary – A business and civic leader, who is shaping Los Angeles’s urban landscape through Jamison, the most active developer of multifamily residential property and owner of commercial holdings throughout Southern California.                    

“In a world so in need of hope and of inspiration, we are thrilled to celebrate an unprecedented group of game changers,” said Josette Sheeran, President and CEO of Asia Society, “Their stories of hope and building bridges of respect in our fractured world will lift us all and be shared during the Gala in fireside chats.”

They include:

Mayor Eric Garcetti – A former Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader, who will interview Jaime Lee

Peter Guber – Producer and owner of professional basketball, baseball and soccer teams, who will interview Vivek Ranadivé

Peter Keller – President of the Bowers Museum, who will interview Anne Shih

Yuko Kaifu – President of JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, who will interview Ambassador Masaharu Kohno

The Gala will be emceed by actress Kara Wang and feature performances by erhu virtuoso Karen Han, singer-dancer Sabrina Imamura, singer-songwriter Cheryl K and the Taiko Center of Los Angeles.

Tickets are free, but registration is required. Sponsors will be invited to a VIP virtual reception with the honorees.

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please click here or contact Anjali Sharan at (213) 788-4712 or asharan@asiasociety.org

About Asia Society Southern California 
Asia Society Southern California is the Los Angeles branch of the leading nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening relationships and forging understanding among the people of Asia and the United States. Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is based in New York and has centers in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Manila, Mumbai, San Francisco, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo, Washington, DC, and Zurich.