Jun Okawara is the senior management executive with extensive global leadership experience driving high performing teams within dynamic and high-pressure environments. He leads new business collaboration with key strategic partners. In 2021, He led Sumitomo Corporation’s global CVC operations in five independent regions managing 80 members globally with assets under management of ~US$200 million as General Manager of Investment & Innovation Department on Sumitomo Corporation. He was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Business Development Group at Sumitomo Corporation of Americas in 2018, managed and led all business development activities in North, Central and South America. He joined Sumitomo Corporation in 1986 under the Inorganic Chemical Department. In 1992, he was placed as the Product Manager of Chemical & Plastic Division at the NY office of Sumitomo Corporation of Americas. After nearly seven years at the New York office, he moved back to Tokyo. In 2008, he was assigned the assistant to the Chairman & Business Development Officer for Interacid Trading S.A. Lausanne in Switzerland. He came back to the U.S. in 2015, where he served as the Vice President of Business Development Group at the Houston office, and since 2018 has been serving as the Senior Vice President and General Manager for Business Development Group in the New York office. He is a fellow at the United States Japan Foundation USJLP.