Leave a Nest Singapore Managing Director Kihoko Tokue at NIKKEI FORUM MELBOURNE 2025
Leave a Nest Singapore at NIKKEI FORUM MELBOURNE 2025: Connecting People, Creating Value Across the Japan–Australia Corridor
Melbourne, Australia — August 18, 2025. Leave a Nest Singapore Managing Director Dr. Kihoko Tokue joined leaders from government, industry, and academia at NIKKEI FORUM MELBOURNE 2025, a full‑day convening themed “Japan–Australia Partnership: A Renewed Agenda for Changing Times.” Hosted by Nikkei in Melbourne CBD, the forum explored priorities ranging from the global economy to innovation, energy transition, cultural diplomacy, and collaboration at the frontiers of space, defence and AI.
Dr. Tokue contributed to the Cultural Diplomacy track in the afternoon session, “Connecting People, Creating Value: Shaping the Future at the Crossroads,” alongside Toshiro Maruyama (Mayor of Hakuba Village), Temesgen (Tom) Assefa (Chief Consultant, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting), and Hiroyuki Kurahashi (CEO & Managing Director, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI)), moderated by Natsuko Ogawa (Chair, Australia‑Japan Foundation). The session followed a keynote on tourism by Eijiro Yamakita (President & CEO, JTB). Discussions highlighted how people‑to‑people links and cross‑sector partnerships can unlock new opportunities and impact in the region.
Building on Leave a Nest’s mission to Advance Science and Technology for Global Happiness, the conversation underscored the importance of cultivating “Science Bridge Communicators”—practitioners who bridge between parties from different disciplines/sectors. For example, Science Bridge Communicators can bridge researchers, industry, and communities to translate knowledge into solutions with societal value. This perspective expands on themes from our pre‑event announcement and Dr. Tokue’s cross‑cultural leadership focus.
Looking ahead, the forum positions Japan and Australia to deepen collaboration in the lead‑up to the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 2026, and as a prelude to the JABCC–AJBCC Joint Conference in Perth this October. Leave a Nest will continue building bridges among local governments, corporates, and start‑up ecosystems across Australia, Japan, and Southeast Asia to catalyse practical collaborations born from these dialogues.
Science Bridge Communicators book: https://global.lne.st/news/sg/2025/06/14/sbc2025/
Past Nikkei Forum news: https://global.lne.st/news/sg/2025/06/23/nikkeiforum_2025/
If you are interested in collaborating with Leave a Nest Singapore on cross‑border programmes that build Science Bridge Communicators to explore partnership opportunities, or offers for joining as panelists or public speaking on the matter of entrepreneurial mindset, survival strategy as entrepreneurs or southeast Asia expansion contact us .
info-asia “at” lne.st