【Event Report】AGM 2020
AGM 2020 – Record high attendance, a presentation on sustainability and revisions to the Articles of Association
On February 12th we hosted our Annual General Meeting at the Norwegian Embassy. A record high attendance of 51 participants came to Aurora Hall, consisting of a wide variety of representatives from the Norway-Japan business community in Japan. The evening consisted of a presentation, the AGM and finally a networking reception featuring a standing buffet.
Ambassador Inga Nyhamar opened the first part of the evening, sharing the embassy’s perspectives on sustainability, followed by Dr. Svein Grandum from Innovation Norway who gave a compelling presentation on the Norwegian Perspectives on profitable sustainability and how strategic, national priorities in Norway are linked to the stakeholders’ involvement in various areas. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session with participants taking the opportunity to discuss the topics covered.
With Chairperson Svend Haakon Kristensen welcoming the audience, we went on the to the AGM with the new General Manager Simen Aasen appointing himself as Chairman for the meeting.
After a financial and activity report of 2019, the chairman together with the chairperson presented the many new and reoccurring initiatives the Chamber has in store for 2020. Among these, the reintroduction of NCCJ Academy, the planning of Norway-Asia Business Summit in 2021 and Tie-in, Tie Off, a monthly gathering (勉強会) where members tie in to listen to a featured speaker.
In addition, changes to the Articles of Association were presented and accepted by the voting participants.
The new and updated version of the articles can be found here: https://www.norwegianchamber.com/articles-of-association
New additions to the Boards and Anette Yamamoto-Hansen taking on a new role
The Chamber wants to thank Ms. Anette Yamamoto-Hansen for her contribution.
The voting participants unanimously welcomed Mr. Toshinobu Yamazaki (Seagull), Mr. Kenji Kojima (Fuglen), Ms. Elise Frantzen (individual member) and Ms. Anette Yamamoto-Hansen (AkerBiomarine and former Executive Director at the NCCJ) to the Board of Directors. Mr. Hiroaki Kitano (Navtor) and Mr. Mats Steinnes (Wallenius Wilhelmsen) were welcomed to the Board of Trustees.
Simen Aasen, the new General Manager and Chairman for the night, thanked Anette for her contribution to the Chamber during her time as Executive Director, and for her continuing support, now as a member of the Board.
The NCCJ would also like to thank Mr. Toshiyuki Kanawa (Gard) and Mr. Hiroaki Kitano (Navtor) for their contribution to the Board of Directors, and Mr. Jens Simon Ulvøy (individual member) and Mr. Tom Isetorp (individual) for their contribution to the Board of Trustees.
We are very grateful for the support we got this evening from the Ambassador Inga Nyhamar, Svein Grandum of Innovation Norway, the interns from Laerdal Medical helping out and for the great turnout from our members and from guests. 2020 will be an exciting year for the Chamber with new initiatives and activities, new additions to the Board and with focus on making NABS in 2021 relevant and valuable for our members.