The year 2021 saw an unprecedented amount of attention around COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland, from key stakeholders around the world and in Japan. We can safely say that sustainability is more mainstream than ever. From regulators to civil society to businesses, there is clearly buzz around themes such as environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, and human rights, to name a few.

What key trends will shape the sustainability agenda in 2022? Join us for this virtual event to hear from a distinguished group of panelists. During a discussion moderated by ACCJ Sustainability Committee Co-chair Heather McLeish, the panelists will share their perspectives on the sustainability outlook for 2022 and the implications for businesses and society. They will also address the key points of how to turn sustainability ambitions into reality.

Date: Tuesday 29 March 2022

Location: Online

ANZCCJ Member Fee: ¥600

Registration/Cancellation Deadline: Monday, March 28, noon

About the Speakers

Alexander Dmitrenko

A partner in the Tokyo dispute resolution practice of international law firm Ashurst LLP, Alexander Dmitreko has practiced in New York and Tokyo over the past 15 years and is a gaikokuho jimu bengoshi (registered foreign lawyer) in Japan. His expertise spans sanctions and export controls, anti-bribery and corruption, ESG, human rights and forced labor, and other compliance-related matters. He frequently writes and conducts media interviews related to sanctions developments, and teaches international compliance at the Beasley School of Law at Temple University, Japan Campus, where he is also chair of the Compliance Advisory Subcommittee.

Trista Bridges

A sustainable business expert who is passionate about changing business for good, Trista Bridges strongly believes that sustainable business equals smart business. She co-founded Read the Air to shift mindsets, business strategies, and ways of working towards models that put sustainability at the core, and works with companies across various sectors to achieve this objective. Bridges is co-author of Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything, published by Routledge in 2020.

Angela Yuen

Deputy General Counsel of JERA Co., Inc., Japan's largest power generator and a global energy company, Angela Yuen oversees the entire Legal Group and advises on projects and transactions that are strategically important to JERA's corporate mission. JERA owns businesses across the entire supply chains for fuel and thermal power, from fuel upstream business (gas field development) to fuel transportation and storage (fuel terminal operation) to power generation and wholesaling. Yuen is an expert in major projects in energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors, and has diverse experience in large-scale international transactions, including joint ventures, project development, construction, asset acquisition and disposal, procurement, and marketing arrangements across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the Americas. She has more than 20 years of combined experience gained at iconic Japanese trading companies, Australia's largest gold miner, and top-tier private practice.

Heather McLeish (Moderator)

Heather McLeish is a Director at EY Japan focused on the global business development for one of Japan's biggest Insurance companies. She connects and empowers the global EY team to bring the best EY services to the client their group companies. Heather started her career in EY Japan by helping to build the Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) practice in 2015 and was involved in the overall management, development and market impact of this business. In CCaSS Heather built a business service which focuses on helping Japanese companies understand and mitigate their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks.

Heather serves as the ACCJ Sustainability Chair (2021) and is an Executive Committee member with the BCCJ since 2018.

Co-hosts: American Chamber of Commerce in Japan; Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan; British Chamber of Commerce in Japan; Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan

NOTE 1: This event is OFF THE RECORD.

NOTE 2: Please note that, as with all guest presentations, the content and comments of the speakers reflect their own opinions and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the ACCJ or co-hosting Chambers.

NOTE 3: If you cancel after the stated deadline, the full meeting fee will be charged to your account.