My goals for the next 12 months
Welcome to another BCCJ year and thank you to everyone who has supported my re-election to the Executive Committee.
I feel very privileged to have been given this opportunity to help steer the chamber through the next stage of its development.
I would like to thank all the nominees, and congratulate and welcome the incoming team.
Member engagement is at an all-time high and the hotly contested election was tangible evidence of this.
Thanks to all those who attended the annual general meeting on 25 April at the BCCJ’s Ark Hills Regus office, and for sending ballot votes ahead of the event, the most ever received by us.
Credit must also be given to Sue Kinoshita, director of UK Trade and Investment at the British Embassy Tokyo, for kindly handling the Q&A session.
British Ambassador to Japan Tim Hitchens CMG LVO opened the evening with his comments on the chamber’s excellent position and remarked on the strength of the relationship between the British Embassy Tokyo and the chamber.
So, what are my goals for the next 12 months? My theme, More of the Same … But Different, is demonstrated by the following initiatives.
• Same:
Maintain the high quality of our events with timely topics, relevant speakers and formats that will appeal to the membership.
Different:
Enhance the promotion of events through BCCJ-owned channels and elsewhere, ensuring our audience continues to grow.
• Same:
Continue to draw high-quality members.
Different:
Integrate traditional and social media to drive awareness about the chamber and attract more members.
• Same:
Represent members to the fullest of our abilities.
Different:
Undertake a needs assessment to create true transparency and ensure member needs are being met.
• Same:
Maintain our strong financial base.
Different:
Use our resources to retain and further drive membership.
• Same:
Past initiatives have shown that members are keen to come together for the benefit of the community.
Different:
Maintain community outreach and strengthen our existing efforts to engage with Japanese firms who value the UK–Japan relationship.
• Same:
Our three very successful events in the 2012–13 chamber year have promoted gender and disability issues in the workplace.
Different:
Feedback from the membership needs assessment will allow us to develop further our diversity programme to address issues that are of high priority to the membership.
Working together and with your support, I am confident that we will build on the BCCJ’s strengths and further enhance the tangible value we bring to our members and their businesses.
You will be seeing a lot more of me over the year, especially at BCCJ events, so please say hello. You can follow me on Twitter for the latest BCCJ updates, or simply to connect. I look forward to serving the chamber and its members.
