Join us on September 12, 2024 to celebrate an extraordinary year of programs and community engagement as Asia Society Seattle marks its one-year anniversary from our launch! As we reflect on the past year's achievements and look forward to the journey ahead, we invite you to join our vibrant community. From thought-provoking discussions to captivating cultural performances, this anniversary event promises to be a memorable showcase of Asia Society Seattle’s critical and unique role in navigating shared futures between the U.S. and Asia, and among Asian diasporas in the Pacific Northwest. 

Hear insights from our speakers: 

• Gary Rieschel, Chair, Asia Society Northern California and Asia Society Seattle; Asia Society Global Trustee; Founding Managing Partner, Qiming Venture Partners 
• Debra Eisenman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Asia Society; Founding Director and Senior Fellow, ASPI
• Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India in Seattle
• Steve Hobbs, Secretary of State of Washington 
• Makoto Iyori, Consul General of Japan in Seattle
• Michael W. Michalak, former Ambassador to Vietnam
• Tom Robertson, Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Microsoft
• Lillian Santos Stables, Regional Community Outreach Manager for Corporate Responsibility, Southwest Airlines
• Eunji Seo, Consul General of Republic of Korea in Seattle
• Janet Yang, President, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Emmy and Golden Globe Award-Winning Producer
• Margaret Conley, Executive Director, Asia Society Seattle & Northern California

Enjoy performances by:

• Ganesh Rajagopalan, Grammy-Award Winning Violin Maestro 
• Khmer Amarak Performing Arts, Seattle-based, traditional Khmer instrumentalists

Limited special ticket prices are available now to members!

AGENDA

5:30 – 6:00 Registration and Networking 

6:00-7:30 A series of speeches, panel discussions with three Seattle Consuls General, and performances from leaders in trade, policy, business, and AAPI advocacy, and the arts

7:45-8:30 – Networking Reception in the Garden Court including snacks and wine pouring

Location: Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E Prospect St, Seattle, WA 98112

SPEAKER BIOS

Debra Eisenman is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Asia Society and Founding Director and Senior Fellow of the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI). As EVP and COO, Debra oversees the operations and strategy of the Society’s substantive pillars and the global network of centers.

Prior to this role, she was Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute, where she led and oversaw initiatives on development, governance, sustainability, and security challenges throughout Asia, with a particular focus on Myanmar, Central Asia, and Iran. She also ran ASPI’s strategy and operations, and has been with ASPI and its predecessor, the Global Policy Programs department at Asia Society, in numerous, progressively responsible roles since 2011. Debra created the business, operating, and strategic plans for the development of ASPI — and managed and oversaw the Institute’s growth from 3 staff in New York to more than 30 staff across the globe, and to a respected and well-ranked global think tank.

Before joining Asia Society, Debra worked on the Peacebuilding and Western Balkans grantmaking programs of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. She was also previously at the National Crime Prevention Council in Washington, DC, building and managing projects to advance youth civic engagement and individual and community safety.

Debra has been an election observer in Kosovo, Albania, Ukraine, and Armenia. She holds a master’s degree in politics from New York University, and is a cum laude graduate of the University of Maryland with high honors in government and politics. She is also a fellow of the Truman National Security Project and a member of Women in International Security. She is a contributor to radio, television, and print media. In June 2018, she authored the ASPI report, Reconciling Expectations with Reality in a Transitioning Myanmar.

Consul General Prakash Gupta is a career diplomat from the Indian Foreign Service, who has served in various capacities in Beijing, Shanghai, Indian Mission to the United Nations in New York and in Jakarta. He currently serves as the Consul General in India’s first Consulate in Seattle. His recent assignments included his stewardship of India’s tenure at the UN Security Council (2021-22) and he was pivotal in piloting the International Day of Yoga Resolution at the United Nations. He was a joint secretary for the planning for India’s hosting of the successful G20 Summit in New Delhi. He also served as the Consul General of India in Shanghai from 2015 to 2017. Consul General Gupta is a post-graduate and gold medalist in English Literature. He is fluent in Mandarin, English, and Hindi, and has beginner-level proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia.

Consul General Gupta’s detailed assignments are listed below:

• August 2020 – November 2023: Joint Secretary (United Nations – Political issues), covering India’s UN Security Council innings for 2021-22 and matters related to NAM, Commonwealth, IPU and Democracy related multilateral issues; 
• May 2020 – Feb 2022: Joint Secretary (Summits), coordinating Logistical preparations and planning for India’s G20 Summit and Presidency; 2017 – 2020: Deputy Chief of Mission at Indian Embassy in Indonesia; 
• 2015- 2017: Consul General of India in Shanghai;
• December 2011 – October 2015: Counsellor at the Indian Mission to the United Nations in New York, handling issues related to the reform of the UN Security Council, cyber, all Funds and Programs, development operational activities, IBSA Fund, along with media and outreach for the Indian Mission; 
• 2009 – 2011: Officer on Special Duty (Press Relations) for Ministry of External Affairs, handling media relations and visits of media delegations for Prime Minister’s visits abroad; 
• 2006 – 2009: Consul at the Indian Consulate in Shanghai, handling commercial, consular, administrative, visa and political matters; 
• 2004 – 2006: Indian Embassy in Beijing, handling political and cultural work & learning Mandarin;
• 2002 – 2004: Policy, Planning and Research Division of Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi

Steve Hobbs is Washington’s 16th Secretary of State. He began his tenure in 2021 and was elected by the people of Washington in 2022.

 Secretary Hobbs leads one of Washington’s most diverse state government offices, which is responsible for managing state and local elections, corporation and charity filings, Washington State Library, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, and Washington State Archives. In addition, his office oversees the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and administers the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.

When Secretary Hobbs assumed office, he prioritized greater election security, countering misleading and harmful election disinformation, and expanded voter education and outreach. In addition, he pledged to preserve Washington’s unique and rich history by enhancing the State Archives’ and State Library’s capacity and ability to store and share state documents and other records. 

Prior to becoming Secretary of State, Hobbs was the state senator for Washington’s 44th legislative district from 2006 to 2021. During his tenure, he served on numerous committees, including the Transportation Committee as chair. 

Secretary Hobbs enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1987 as a private and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel with the Washington Army National Guard. He received an associate degree from Everett Community College and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and public administration, respectively, from the University of Washington.

Consul General Makoto Iyori joined the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990. After serving as Managing Director, General Affairs Department, Japan Foundation, he was appointed as Consul General of Japan in Seattle in September 2023. Past assignments include overseas postings in Canada, Indonesia, and the Philippines. He has an extensive career and experience in the field of relations with the Asia-Pacific Region at MOFA.

Consul General Iyroi's assignments include: 

• Mar. 1990 Graduated from The Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo
• Jan. 2012 Director, Regional Policy Division, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
• July. 2013 Director, Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, Cabinet Office, and Secretariat of National Security Council (July 2014～)
• Sep. 2015 Economic Minister, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
• Sep. 2019 Visiting Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council, Washington DC, USA
• Sep. 2020 Managing Director, General Affairs Department, Japan Foundation
• Sep. 2023 Consul General of Japan in Seattle

Ambassador Michael W. Michalak's diplomatic career with the U.S. State Department spanned more than 30 years and included postings to Tokyo, Japan; Sydney, Australia; Islamabad, Pakistan; Beijing, China; as well as Washington, D.C. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam from August 2007 to February 2011. Prior to his position in Vietnam, Amb. Michalak was Ambassador and Senior U.S. Official to APEC. He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In addition, he received a group award for valor for his actions in time of crisis when the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad was burned down. Amb. Michalak also worked as an independent business consultant focused on Asia and particularly Vietnam. He served as Senior Advisor to the private sector host committee of the U.S. APEC Year (2011).  Amb. Michalak began his career as a research physicist at NASA.

Ambassador Michael W. Michalak's diplomatic career with the U.S. State Department spanned more than 30 years and included postings to Tokyo, Japan; Sydney, Australia; Islamabad, Pakistan; Beijing, China; as well as Washington, D.C. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam from August 2007 to February 2011. Prior to his position in Vietnam, Amb. Michalak was Ambassador and Senior U.S. Official to APEC. He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In addition, he received a group award for valor for his actions in time of crisis when the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad was burned down. Amb. Michalak also worked as an independent business consultant focused on Asia and particularly Vietnam. He served as Senior Advisor to the private sector host committee of the U.S. APEC Year (2011).  Amb. Michalak began his career as a research physicist at NASA. 

Amb. Michalak joined the US-ASEAN Business Council in September 2015 and was the Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director. He oversaw the Council’s seven offices in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from the Council’s regional headquarters in Singapore, and led the Council’s regional advocacy efforts and engaged regularly with key ASEAN policymakers and thought leaders to offer his unique perspective on the key role U.S. businesses can play in ASEAN. He also managed, coached and developed the Council’s most critical resource: its staff. 

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and a Master of Science degree in Applied Physics from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  He received a second Master's degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He speaks Japanese and Chinese. 

Heralded as one of the contemporary master musicians of Indian classical music, violin maestro Ganesh Rajagopalan is noted for his virtuosic tonal excellence and wide-ranging creative genius. Recognized as a child prodigy, he has played violin since the age of seven, rising to international fame and touring the world at first with his brother Sri Kumaresh and performing with other luminaries of Indian Music tradition, including tabla master Zakir Hussain.

However, Ganesh Rajagopalan's musical horizons are eclectic and broad, transcending classical Carnatic repertoire to create scintillating fusions with contemporary elements and sounds. He composes original ragas and sets tunes for the lyrics of great composers as well as creating scores for film, theatre, and dance productions, including extensive work for noted film director A.R. Rahman. An experienced educator who has taught around the world, including at Princeton, Stanford and other universities, he has founded his own music schools in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. He also plays with Zakir Hussain and John McLaughlin in the groundbreaking fusion ensemble, Shakti, legendary for its marriage of Indian music and modern jazz.

He is also the only Indian Violin player to have won a Grammy.

Recently, he was featured in the renowned Indian media outlet, Business Standard, as one of the Top 50 Indians excelling globally in business and the arts since 1975.

Gary Rieschel has over 30 years of successful operating and investing experience as a senior executive, entrepreneur, investor, and global business strategist. He held executive positions at Intel, Sequent, and Cisco, and was the Founder of the Softbank Venture Capital group. He is Founding Managing Partner of Qiming, a firm with over $8B USD under management focused on early stage investments in China and one of China’s premier VC firms. Mr. Rieschel’s investment areas are Healthcare and Cleantech. He advised the China Greentech Initiative, and the Rocky Mountain Institute in its introduction to China. He actively supports the US China Clean Energy Forum, PERC (Property and Environmental Research), The Nature Conservancy, the Climate Leadership Council, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Atlantic Council, and the U.S. Olympic Foundation where he and his wife Yucca serve as Sports Ambassadors for mental health for the U.S. Olympic team.  He served on the joint venture boards of Blackrock/Bank of China and Silicon Valley Bank/Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. Gary holds a BA in Biology from Reed College in Portland, OR, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He lived in Japan for five years in the late 1980s and lived in Shanghai from 2005 through 2016. He now lives in Seattle, WA. Gary is the Chair of Asia Society Northern California and Seattle, and an Asia Society Global Trustee.

Khmer Amarak Performing Arts is Khmer Community of Seattle King County (KCSKC)’s free all-ages, youth-focused traditional Khmer robam (dance) and pleng (music) program. Students learn to dance traditional Khmer classical and folk robam and/or play traditional Khmer instruments that originate from Cambodia. Students perform at public events, festivals, and Khmer New Year to increase their confidence and pride in sharing and preserving their Khmer culture.

Tom Robertson leads the Corporate, External & Legal Affairs team that supports the Experiences and Devices Group, which is responsible for Office, Windows, M365, Microsoft Surface devices, Teams, and many other products and services. He has led several other teams in Seattle, Tokyo, and Hong Kong since joining Microsoft in 1997. Before Microsoft, Robertson served as Associate General Counsel in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, where he was responsible for intellectual property issues globally and general trade issues with U.S. trading partners in the Asia Pacific region. Before that, Robertson practiced law at Covington and Burling in Washington, D.C., and London, England, and was a law clerk to the Honorable Albert Bryan, Jr., then Chief Judge in the U.S. Federal Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, Virginia.

Robertson holds both Bachelor of Science and Law degrees from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Washington State. He serves on the Boards of the National Bureau of Asian Research, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and Town Hall Seattle. He is a Life Member of the Council of Foreign Relations and a Fellow of the U.S.-Japan Leadership Program.

He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife and three daughters.

Lillian Santos Stables is the Regional Community Outreach Manager for Corporate Responsibility at Southwest Airlines. She is an experienced community engagement strategist with a proven track record of cultivating deep, meaningful partnerships with nonprofits, community based organizations, city entities and corporations. She has a background in Asian American studies, education, criminal justice, non-profit management, and strategic partnerships. 

Consul General Eunji Seo joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 1995. Since she served as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs, MOFA and Director-General of the 2021 SEOUL UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Secretariat, which was held in Asia for the first time, she was appointed as Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle in March 2022. Her past assignments abroad include San Francisco in USA, Hanoi in Vietnam and Geneva in Switzerland. She has extensive careers and experiences in the fields of public diplomacy, development cooperation and disarmament.

Consul General Seo's career journey is listed below:

• Apr. 1995: Passed High Diplomatic Service Examination; 
• May 1995: Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); 
• Jan. 2002: Consul, Korean Consulate General in San Francisco, U.S.A; 
• Jul. 2008: Counsellor, Korean Embassy in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
• Jul. 2011: Director, Culture and Arts Division, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT); 
• Jul. 2013: Director, Multilateral Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance Division, Development Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); 
• Jul. 2015: Minister-Counsellor, Korean Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland; 
• Mar 2018: Director, Public Diplomacy Division, Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs Bureau, MOFA; 
• Sep. 2019: Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs, MOFA; 
• Apr. 2021: Director-General of 2021 SEOUL UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Secretariat

Janet Yang is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning producer, and the current President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She began her career by running the first distribution company to market Chinese films in North America and reintroduced American cinema to China after a long hiatus. Yang gained prominence through her collaboration with Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg on "Empire of the Sun" and a long partnership with multiple Academy Award-winner Oliver Stone. She served as Executive Producer on "The Joy Luck Club" and Producer on "The People vs. Larry Flynt" and the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning "Indictment: The McMartin Trial." Her most recent credit is as Executive Producer on the Oscar-nominated "Over the Moon." Other credits include the Sundance award-winning "Dark Matter" with Meryl Streep, "The Weight of Water" directed by Academy Award-winner Kathryn Bigelow with Sean Penn, "High Crimes" with Morgan Freeman, a Chinese adaptation of "High School Musical," "Zero Effect" by Jake Kasdan, and "Shanghai Calling." Yang was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” by The Hollywood Reporter, honored by Variety's Power of Women 2023, and featured on 2024 Forbes’ “50 Over 50” list.

Margaret Conley, a Bay Area native, is the Executive Director of Asia Society Northern California and Seattle. She is Chair of Asia Society's global Asian Americans Building America task force. Margaret was previously based in Asia for several years as a television news correspondent with ABC News in Jakarta and Tokyo, and with Bloomberg Television in Shanghai. She was part of the global ABC team that won a News and Documentary Emmy Award for presidential inauguration coverage. Her interviews include Howard Schultz, Richard Branson, Ban Ki-Moon, LeBron James and Beyoncé. Her non-profit experience includes the Berggruen Institute, where she built and launched a Philosophy + Culture Institute with a focus on the US and China. She has a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Hong Kong, which specializes in coverage of Asia. Margaret was selected as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times in 2019. She is a member of the board of the International Women's Forum.   

Watch highlights from our momentous Launch Celebration last year here. Over 200 guests from the business and local community, and leadership from Asia Society New York, Northern California, and Southern California gathered at the Seattle Asian Art Museum to celebrate the launch of Asia Society’s 16th Center. Bill Gates, Kevin Rudd, Gary Rieschel, Danny Russel, and Lingling Wei had a fascinating discussion about technology, U.S.-China relations, Asia, global health, and the important role Asia Society Seattle will play in the Pacific Northwest region and globally. Our all-star speaker lineup also included Tom Robertson, Robert Blair, Yasufumi Nakamori, Catherine Roche, Ping Foong, and Margaret Conley. The festivities also feature with a mesmerizing performances by world renowned bass Hao Jiang Tian and Javanese gamelan player Jesse Snyder.

Mark your calendars and make sure to join us on this year's special night of celebration and inspiration.

Event Sponsorship and Partnership opportunities are a meaningful and valued way to support the work of Asia Society Seattle and get involved in our annual event. To learn more, contact Jason Fong, Director of Partnerships & Memberships.

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Gary & Yucca Rieschel

Brent Irvin & Molly Quan

David Tang 

Hwa Park

John & Sarah Cheng

Nelson Dong

Heather Yang Hwalek