Rosemary Evans
Rosemary was named principal of University of Toronto Schools (UTS) in 2011. During her tenure she re-established UTS as a school-based partner for the Master of Teaching Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and solidified the affiliation relationship with the University of Toronto which included the rebuilding of UTS historic home at Bloor and Spadina.
Rosemary received her BA in history from Western University and her MA, B.Ed. and MBA from the University of Toronto. She has served as a teacher of history, a department head and subject co-ordinator as well as a vice-principal. During her time as an instructor in the initial teacher education program at OISE, Rosemary was the recipient of a teaching excellence award.
As Academic Head at Branksome Hall, she oversaw the implementation the International Baccalaureate programs from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Rosemary is the author of several history textbooks and has presented on such topics as global education, critical thinking, assessment and equity.
Daisuke Kan
Daisuke Kan is the President of Cheerio Corporation Co.Ltd, an innovative Japanese beverage company specializing in carbonated and energy drinks founded in 1961. He currently serves as a Board Member of Japan Soft Drink Association to strategically coordinate the industry’s sustainable development. Kan serves on the Board of Councilors of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) where he is the Chair of Sustainable Development of Okinawa (Business) Committee. He is also a Senior Advisor to SKY Labo, an organization which promotes equity in STEAM education for junior and senior high school girls. He has been appointed as an Advisor to the Dean of Hitotsubashi University Business School, School of international Corporate Strategy. Kan has been an active supporter of LGBTQI+ rights. Cheerio has been the top sponsor of the Tokyo Rainbow Pride since 2014. In 2020, The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto published a case study of Cheerio for their effort to support LGBTQI+ inclusion and diversity in Japan.
Kan is currently the Co-Chair of the United States Japan Foundation’s Fellowship Advisory Council. He was selected into the United States Japan Leadership Program in 2015. Also, a Fellow of the Asia Society, he has been an active member of the Asia 21 Young Leadership Program since 2011. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Asia Society Japan Center. Kan received his BA in American Studies from the University of Tokyo (2005) and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business (2007). He is the President of the Stanford GSB Alumni Association Japan Chapter.
Mio Takaoka
Mio Takaoka is Partner at DNX Ventures, one of the largest independent venture capital firms in Japan. She also serves on the Board of several publicly listed companies, namely Septeni Holdings Inc, Information Services International-Dentsu, Hennge KK, and Kayac, Inc. She has built her career working at various investment banks including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Monex Group. As an Executive Director of Monex Group, she managed various strategic acquisitions and investments and helped launch their corporate venture capital arm. She has been selected as one of top 100 Fintech Asia Leaders, featured as one of 55 influential women by Forbes Japan, and currently serves as a Scott M. Johnson Fellow at the United States Japan Foundation. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.