Name: Paul Gilsenan

IJCC Position: President 

From: Ireland

Industry: Property

About: As a FAS overseas graduate program participant in 2001 with a position in Fujikin (Corporate member of the IJCC), I've adopted Japan as my home for last 16 years.

I am currently the Property Leader for GE in Japan. In this role, I manage all stages of the real estate lifecycle and service providers for GE in Japan, fulfill business needs for space (acquisition, renewal, expansion, relocation, disposition, subleasing, etc.), monitor and ensure legal compliance, continually focus on data improvement/system utilization and drive ongoing communication with key business stakeholders.

Before joining GE, I was the Executive Director of CBRE's Asset Services Business in Japan. In this role, I was responsible for developing and implementing Client Solutions and Strategy across CBRE's Asset Management and Property management businesses.

A seasoned professional in infrastructure management, I have overseen projects in the agricultural, electronics manufacturing, financial services, and petrochemicals industries throughout the Asia/Pacific region.  I have extensive commercial real estate experience across both the supplier and client side of the business, giving me a unique perspective of the advantages to be gained through successful partnerships. As an end-user, I have delivered new office, office relocation and portfolio consolidation projects, and I've been responsible for property acquisition, office design, construction and site mobilization.

Name: Eamonn Murphy

IJCC Position: Director

From: Dublin, Ireland

Industry: IT

About: I’m originally from Dublin, Ireland.

My career first brought me to Japan in 2013. My company, at the time, had their Japan headquarters in Yokohama. I've spent 20 years working in Information Technology.

Since 2014, I’ve been with Rakuten as a Program Manager. Based in Tokyo, I help Rakuten expand their E-Commerce services overseas to European and North American markets.

When I first moved to Japan, the IJCC were of great assistance – providing me with contacts, advice and a support network. I'm excited for the future of Ireland Japan business relations - we have the recently agreed Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Japan, the Rugby World Cup & the Olympics in the near future and business activity between the two countries continues to go from strength to strength.

Name: Philip Greenan

IJCC Position: Vice-President

From: Monaghan, Ireland

Industry: IT

About: As a 30+ year resident of Tokyo, involved in business (mostly technical, in mobile technology area) my experiences include: courting, marrying, fathering, rearing two bilingual Irish-Japanese children, have bought several residential properties (for my own use), working for large and small companies, and starting my own small business. 

Specifically, I`ve spent the last 20 years in the mobile infrastructure industry, selling mainly software solutions to the large Japanese mobile operators – NTT Docomo, KDDI and Softbank. The last 8 years have been my company providing business development services mainly to Irish technology firms entering and growing in the Japanese market, coupled with a software development business providing customized software solutions to KDDI and Softbank in the areas of charging, messaging and roaming.

In the chamber, my focus is on planning events. From networking opportunities with the American and British chambers to guest speaker events to Spring and Autumn golf outings.

If you think I can be of some assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Name: Yoshihiro Tsuchiya

IJCC Position: Vice-President

From: Japan

Industry: Insurance

About: n/a

Name: Tamaki Hashimoto

IJCC Position: Director

From: Tokyo, Japan

Industry: Hotels

About: I’ve been in logistics business more than 30 years. In 2015 I joined Toyoko-Inn. Toyoko-inn was built based on the fundamental concept of a “Modern, Japanese-style inns located near railway stations.” And we provide hotels with “cleanliness, reliability and reasonable rate.” We accept internships from Limerick University, Ireland every year since 2014.

Since 2015 I’ve been with Toyoko-inn Economy Hotel Planning & Development Co. Ltd as a Director, Toyoko-inn UK Ltd as a Director and 2016 Toyoko-inn International Ltd. in Ireland as a Director. My target is to build a Toyoko-inn Hotel in Dublin.

Name: Andy O’Doherty

IJCC Position: Director

From: Wicklow, Ireland

Industry: Foodservice/Manufacturing/Logistics

About: I came to Japan in 2004, and after spending several years in Mie Prefecture and Tokyo, I moved to Osaka in 2013 to join a new Irish company setting up in Japan. IJCC members were able to give plenty of invaluable advice as we established our Office and Warehouse. After setting up ground operations here with our Dublin team, I moved to take up Japan General Manager role in 2014. I'm very happy to discuss my experiences of setting up business in Japan to anyone facing a similar challenge.

My main role in the IJCC is the board member with responsibility for Kansai. We have fewer members than the Tokyo area, but we keep active with an Annual Dinner, some smaller events and sharing of information.

Name: John Fallon

IJCC Position: Director and Treasurer

From: Roscommon, Ireland

Industry: Finance

About: I'm from Co. Roscommon in the West of Ireland. In 2015, after visiting Japan with my wife a year previously on honeymoon and being intrigued by the Japanese culture, I moved to Tokyo.  Prior to this, I lived in Melbourne, Australia for 9 years where I was a keen triathlete.

Working as Head of Finance for APAC at Pembroke Real Estate Japan I am responsible for the financial management and oversight of Pembroke’s Grade A property portfolio across APAC.  I use my technical understanding of accounting with a collaborative and personable approach to deliver practical clear solutions.

I have a significant amount of experience working on a number of not for profit boards and committees in the past and I'm keen to give back to the community in Tokyo.

I'm a director and treasurer of the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce.  With the growing popularity of Ireland as a hub for Europe, I feel that there is a tremendous opportunity for Ireland and Japan to work together in the future. I hope to connect Irish and Japanese professionals in Japan to help them develop stronger business relationships.

Name: Elliot Milton

IJCC Position: Director

From: Dublin, Ireland

Industry: Aircraft Leasing 

About: I loved Japan so much that 1.5 years studying here as a postgrad and 4 years as a diplomat with the Irish Embassy was not enough for me and I am now back since October 2016 in my third Japanese iteration, working for the Dublin-headquartered SMBC Aviation Capital. The company is one of the largest aircraft leasing companies in the world and was bought from RBS in 2012 by a consortium of SMBC bank and Sumitomo Corporation. Ireland is the leading centre in the world for aircraft leasing, with approximately half of all leased aircraft managed from there. My specific role with the company in Japan is to market our on-lease aircraft for sale to Japanese investors.

During my time with the embassy, I was very involved with the Chamber and am delighted to have this opportunity to work on the Board. Originally from Clare and then Dublin, I consider myself a proud Irishman and European and look forward to helping the Chamber develop and grow further and be an important part of the Irish-Japanese relationship.

Name: Chris Green

IJCC Position: Non-Voting Board Member

From: Kildare, Ireland

Industry: Government

About: I’m from Co. Kildare and I have been working at the Embassy of Ireland in Japan since July 2016. In addition to liaising with the IJCC for the Embassy, I also cover areas such as agriculture and food, environment, energy and sport among others.

In 2017, Ireland and Japan celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. In that time, we’ve seen the political, economic and cultural relationship grow and mature, and both countries are poised to benefit from a closer partnership in the years ahead. The Embassy, in combination with the IJCC, is focused on supporting greater bilateral trade and investment and we work closely on projects which support that goal.

Name: Robert Nestor

IJCC Position: Non-Voting Board Member

From: Limerick, Ireland

Industry: Government

About: I worked in Sales and Marketing in the Electronics Component Industry in Japan since October 2003. In June 2017, I joined IDA Ireland in Tokyo with responsibility for promoting and attracting Foreign Direct Investment from Japan into Ireland, by helping companies to expand and internationalize from Ireland.

Focus Business Sectors include ICT (Information, Communication & Technology), CCBS (Content, Consumer & Business Support) and Life Sciences industries.

Name: David Wells

IJCC Position: Non-Voting Board Member

From: USA

Industry: International Trade Development

About: I work in Enterprise Ireland as Senior Market Advisor for Irish companies looking to export to the Japanese market. I joined the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in February 2017 as Enterprise Ireland’s non-voting member. At Enterprise Ireland, we are always looking to connect Japanese companies with Irish counterparts, and feel free to reach out to me should you have any inquiries.

Name: Richard Grehan

IJCC Position: Director 

From: Belfast, Ireland

Industry: Branding and Film Production

About: I've been working as a creative director in advertising and branding for over 20 years spanning the globe from London to Johannesburg and now Tokyo, picking up some awards on the way. I founded imageMILL the first ethical and sustainable branding company in Japan, creating high-end advertising and branding for some of the biggest and smallest brands in the world. We focus on branded journalism as a new form of advertising and communication. Whether working in print, digital or film we create inspiring brand stories that resonate with the targeted consumer and create meaning for the brand.

We act as a bridge between Western and Japanese communication, helping international companies customize their communications for the Japanese market and in return helping Japanese companies learn and leverage design and marketing principals from the west.

Personally, I'm a peace and sustainable life activist dedicated to promoting non-violence and preventing abuse; human, animal and environmental. Deeply committed to corporate social responsibility and the next generation of social business. We have a long history of Pro Bono work for NGOs and charities such as UNICEF, Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Peace Boat.

At the IJCC, I plan to update and renew the brand image of the IJCC, which started with the new logo and then the redesign of the website, then extending into the different events and overall public profile of the chamber. At the same time, I hope to guide the chamber to engage effectively with sustainability and ethics.

Name: Matthew Connolly

IJCC Position: President Emeritus

From: Ireland

Industry: IT

About: n/a

Name: Patrick O’Riordan 

IJCC Position: Non-voting Board Member

From: Co. Limerick, Ireland

Industry: International Trade Development

About: Representative Director for Enterprise Ireland in North Asia (Japan & Korea).  Enterprise Ireland is the Irish state agency charged with the responsibility to support ambitious Irish companies to start, grow and scale in global markets.

Resident in Tokyo since 2015 with prior assignments with Enterprise Ireland in Singapore and India.  MSc Business Graduate NUI Galway.  Married to Mizue with one son.

The IJCC is a valued partner to Enterprise Ireland in Japan with one of our shared objectives being to stimulate & support new business activity between Ireland and Japan.

Name: Lorcan Brophy

IJCC Position: Director 

From: Blackrock, Ireland

Industry: Finance

About: I've been working in Finance and Accounting for the past 10 years, with 6 years experience in public practice with Grant Thornton, Dublin, followed by 2 years as the Head Accountant of ITX Fashion ltd, the eCommerce entity of Inditex S.A., one of the world's leading fashion companies. Most recently, I have spent 2 years as the Director and Head of PMO Controllership in the world's largest retailer here in Japan, leading finance transformation within the function.

At the chamber, my focus is on planning events such as; networking events with other chambers in Japan, guest speaker events, golf outings, our annual Irish Japan Business Awards and many more. I would like to continue to use this position to help promote Ireland from both a business and cultural perspective and increase the reach of the Irish chamber in Japan.

Finally, I serve as the Irish Japan Chamber of Commerce representative on the European Business Council's Executive Board in Japan, which works to improve the trade and investment environment for European companies in Japan.