This year, we honor Ambassador John Roos, Founding Partner of Geodesic Capital and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, with the Keizai Silicon Valley Outstanding Impact Award for US-Japan Business.
Aside from giving the keynote speech, Ambassador Roos will participate in a fireside chat with Professor Richard Dasher. We will also be performing our traditional Kagamiwari (sake barrel “breaking”) ceremony. The Consul General of Japan, Mr. Tomochika Uyama, is expected to lead this tradition.
John V. Roos is the Founding Partner at Geodesic Capital, a late stage venture capital fund focused on investing in enterprise and consumer technology companies. He is a Senior Advisor at Centerview Partners, a preeminent mergers & acquisitions advisory firm and a member of the Board of Directors at Salesforce.com and the Sony Corporation. In addition to the Global Advisory Board of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Ambassador Roos chairs the Toyota Research Institute Advisory Board and serves on the Board of Directors of The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. Previously, Ambassador Roos served as Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich, & Rosati, the leading law firm in the United States in the representation of technology, life sciences, and emerging growth companies.
From August 2009 – August 2013 Ambassador Roos served as the United States Ambassador to Japan. On August 6, 2010 he became the first sitting U.S. Ambassador ever to attend the commemoration ceremony of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. Ambassador Roos’ service in Tokyo coincided with the devastating 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis on March 11, 2011. Following this tragedy, Ambassador Roos led the American effort on the ground in support of Japan’s response to the multi-dimensional and unprecedented disaster. After the crisis, Ambassador Roos also led the creation of the TOMODACHI initiative, a public-private partnership that has raised more than fifty million dollars and established more than 40 exchange programs.
Friday, January 25th, 2019
5:30 – 6:45 p.m. Reception
6:45 – 9:30 p.m. Program
10:00 p.m. Venue Close
Early bird (before Sunday, January 6th 11 pm PST): $55 (60 seats limited) SOLD OUT
Regular Registration (before Sunday, January 20th 11 pm PST): $75
Late Registration (before Wednesday, January 23th noon PST): $100
Walk-in: $140
