AAP Washington Doorknock Debrief [Virtual]

Event Details

From July 17-20, AmChams of Asia Pacific (AAP) organized a delegation which comprised of 45 senior executives from different AmChams in the region to Washington DC. The delegates met with business leaders, policymakers from US Congress, US government officials, and think tanks experts to gain on the ground perspective on the US economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region including digital trade and sustainability.

To gain a better understanding of the trip, AmCham Hong Kong has invited Steve Okun, AAP Chair to give a briefing to members. The session will also be joined by Brett Stephenson, Co-Chair of Trade & Investment Committee, who represented AmCham Hong Kong during the Washington Doorknock.

Remarks

This session is off the record and held under Chatham House rules
Members only

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Speakers

Amy Jackson

Head of Government Affairs and Policy for Pharmaceuticals for the Asia Pacific at J&J

Mary Tarnowka

Executive Director of AmCham Vietnam

Steven Okun

Chair, AmChams of Asia-Pacific at Senior Advisor, McLarty Associates

Brett Stephenson (Moderator)

Public Affairs Lead for North Asia at UPS

Amy Jackson joined J&J as the Head of Government Affairs and Policy for Pharmaceuticals for the Asia Pacific region in October, 2021. She also currently serves as a Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) and as a member of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation Board of Directors.

From January 2016-September 2021, Ms. Jackson was the Japan Representative for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) association. For six years before that, Ms. Jackson served as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea). Ms. Jackson was awarded an Industrial Service Medal by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in 2012 and was inducted as an honorary citizen of Seoul in 2013.

Prior to joining AMCHAM Korea, Ms. Jackson was a Director at Crowell & Morning International, a trade and investment consulting firm based in Washington D.C. From 1998-2005, Ms. Jackson worked at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), first serving as the Director of Japanese Affairs and later as the Deputy Assistant USTR for Korea. Prior to that, Ms. Jackson worked in the International Relations Division at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Ms. Jackson served as a Mansfield Fellow from 1995-1997.

Ms. Jackson has a master’s degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in Government from Pomona College.

Mary Tarnowka joined AmCham Vietnam as Executive Director in August 2019. Under her leadership, AmCham Vietnam has been revitalized to achieve AmCham’s long-term mission to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnam trade and investment partnership and serve as the “voice of American business” in Vietnam. First established informally just after the trade embargo was lifted in 1994, AmCham Vietnam is one of the largest, most diverse, and inclusive foreign business associations in Vietnam. Its network of active committees and extensive range of events provide members opportunities for professional networking, business intelligence, advocacy, and business promotion. As one of the most strategic and influential business associations in Vietnam, AmCham drives innovation and sustainable growth and helps its members succeed.

Prior to joining AmCham, Mary served as the U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City. As a career diplomat and member of the Senior Foreign Service, Mary has decades of experience in Asia, including postings in Seoul, Delhi, Shanghai, and Taipei, as well as at the State Department’s China Desk and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Before joining the State Department, Mary worked as a CPA and Tax Manager at KPMG’s San Francisco Office. Mary also serves as a Director on the Board of VInaCapital GS Energy. She enjoys yoga, kayaking, gardening, and exploring the ever-changing, dynamic country of Vietnam. She has two daughters, one a high school student in HCMC, and the other, a young professional thriving in San Francisco.

The Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors, Mr. Okun is widely considered a leader on corporate public affairs, sustainability and stakeholder engagement in the Asia Pacific region. He is also the ASEAN representative for the Emerging Market Private Equity Association (EMPEA).

Living and working in Singapore since 2003, Mr. Okun created and led Asia Pacific public affairs for both global investment firm KKR and global logistics firm UPS, as well as being a leader of multiple business chambers and industry associations, including having been elected three times each as Chairman of both the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC). He remains on the boards of both.

As KKR’s first Director of Asia Pacific Public Affairs, Mr. Okun’s responsibilities encompassed government affairs, communications, stakeholder engagement and environmental and social responsibility issues for KKR, as well as in supporting those efforts for its portfolio companies across the region.

In particular, his responsibilities included working on Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) initiatives. Also, he created and led KKR’s impact investing pro bono program, a model for strategic philanthropic engagement for which KKR was awarded the Gold Standard Award for Corporate Citizenship by PublicAffairsAsia.

Mr. Okun led UPS Asia’s public affairs matters on aviation, competition and trade from 2003 until 2010, and before that worked in UPS’ Washington, DC office. He was instrumental in UPS Airlines obtaining it first-ever authority to operate in China in 2001.

Mr. Okun served in the Administration of President Bill Clinton as Deputy General Counsel at the US Department of Transportation, being at the Department from 1994 to 1999. For his public service, he was awarded the Secretary’s Award for Special Service Commendation.

He represents and advocates the views of the US business community in Asia, including as a periodic guest host on CNBC. A sought after expert on public affairs, he speaks frequently in the media, at universities, businesses and conferences across the region, as well as is the author of numerous articles.

Mr. Okun received his BA from the University of Virginia and his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Brett Stephenson is the Public Affairs Lead for North Asia with UPS based in Hong Kong, covering trade, supply chains, customs, e-commerce, public policy, and healthcare logistics issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Prior to his time in Hong Kong, he worked at the American Chamber of Commerce in China in Beijing as a government affairs analyst and energy coordinator, developing policy reports that were used by Chinese and US government officials and reported on by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, and other international media outlet.

Mr. Stephenson previously worked for a federal cabinet minister in Canada and worked in campaign politics. Brett is the current Vice-Chair of AmChamHK’s Trade and Investment Committee.

Brett holds an M.A. in international relations and a thesis in energy geopolitics from Renmin University of China, an international program certificate from University of Ulsan (Korea), and an urban planning degree from the University of Lethbridge (Canada). He speaks and reads intermediate Chinese, Spanish, French, has beginner level Korean, and is taking Japanese language classes currently. Mr. Stephenson is a regular golfer, hiker, boxer, and likes to play tennis and train in Kendo.

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