Speakers

Ryusuke Miki, MD, MPH

Manager, Health Innovation

Health Planning Division, Public Health Bureau, City of Kobe

Dr. Ryusuke Miki graduated from Kyushu University School of Medicine in 2002. He was engaged in clinical practice at core regional hospitals for 17 years, specializing in cardiovascular, emergency, and intensive care medicine. He earned his master’s degree in Public Health at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in 2018, majoring in public health and epidemiology and minoring in clinical research methods and science for re-designing science technology and innovation policy. He is currently engaged in designing healthcare data infrastructure and digital health service for City of Kobe.

Masashi Kiyomine

Managing Partner

Kicker Ventures

Masashi is a Founder & Managing Partner of Kicker Ventures with over 15 years of experience investing in early stage healthcare startups. Before he founded Kicker Ventures, Masashi was Investment Director at Mitsui & Co. Global Investment (MGI) where he led the Global Life Science Investment team until his departure. He began his career investing in early stage medical device startups, and later started the digital health/healthcare services practice at MGI. He served as a board members or observer of goBalto, ChangeHealthcare, NxThera, Cardiovascular Systems Inc. and Ekos plus many more.

He received his B.A. in Engineering and Asian Studies from Dartmouth College.

Nick Hird, PhD

Co-Founder and CEO

Aikomi

Dr. Nick Hird is co-founder and CEO of Aikomi, a Japanese start-up company developing digital therapy for dementia.  Previously he had a career in Pharma R&D in UK and Japan, focused on innovation, new technology and external collaborations. His interest in digital health started at Takeda resulting in the creation of an AI-enabled technology platform which was spun out as Aikomi in 2018. Nick has lived and worked in Japan for over 20 years, mostly based in Kobe, and is a strong believer in the value of open mindsets and cross-cultural interactions for innovation to create sustainable solutions to globally shared problems.

Bobby Uyama

Senior Director

Frontier Business Development

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma

Bobby Uyama serves as point of Frontier Business Development in exploring business collaboration since its inception in April 2019. Prior to that, he has been working on M&A, alliance management to amicable dispute resolution corporate function at Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals for more than 25 years, advancing the company’s value “Change for Challenge. Seek Something New.” Bobby’s foremost priority is to bring ideas into tangible solutions that better serve on patients and caregivers. He received his LL.M. and LL.C.M. at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and is admitted in the State of New York.

Takanari Yamashita

Chief Executive Director

JETRO San Francisco

Mr. Yamashita joined JETRO in November 2019 on assignment from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Mr. Yamashita previously served as Chief Director of the Support Team for Residents Affected by Nuclear Incidents in the Cabinet Office, where he was involved in lifting evacuation orders for Fukushima and environmental development for people to return home.

In his current position, he supports the North American expansion of Japanese startups, open innovation by Japanese companies in North America, and business development of Japanese companies by building relationships with state governments and counties on the West Coast.

In the wake of the outbreak of the new coronavirus, Mr. Yamashita hosted a series of four webinars in June 2020 to discuss future innovation activities. Each session was attended by approximately 1,700 people from corporate headquarters and Silicon Valley offices.

Masahide Azuma

Senior Coordinator

Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe

Masahide Azuma has been responsible for international medical device projects at FBRI in Kobe since 2018. Working for a medical device manufacturer for many years enriched his experience and knowledge, especially through assignments in some European countries and China.Now, he contributes to global bridge-building among the industrial, academic, governmental, and medical sectors, utilizing his experience in international business of sales channel development, local incorporation and operation of foreign companies, alliances management, and more.

Karin Zaugg Black

International Business Protocol Liaison

Port of Seattle

Karin Zaugg Black serves as the International Business Protocol Liaison for the Port of Seattle and advises on protocol matters related to international delegations of business leaders, dignitaries, and government officials in order to facilitate positive business relationships. She supports the Port's various lines of business, including Airport, Seaport (in collaboration with the Northwest Seaport Alliance), Cruise, Fishing, and Economic Development & Tourism. Ms. Zaugg Black currently serves on the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington board as immediate past chair, as vice chair of the City of Seattle’s International Advisory Affairs Board, and as co-chair of Greater Seattle Partners’ Marketing Council. She served as president of the Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association from 1998 to 2015 and continues to serve on the board as past president.