David Semaya is Executive Chairman and Representative Director of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management Co., Ltd. (SMTAM) His thirty year career spans three continents in executive leadership roles in financial services across the US, Europe and Asia. Now based in Tokyo, he joined SMTAM in April 2018.

Previously, David served as Executive Chairman of Nikko Asset Management for four years both in London and in Tokyo. Prior to returning to Japan, he was with Barclays plc as CEO of UK and Ireland Wealth Management, and Chairman of Barclays Asset Management Ltd.  Prior to 2009, he served as CEO for Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock) Europe and Asia.  Until 2004, David was with Merrill Lynch in a variety of executive leadership positions in both asset management and investment banking in New York and Tokyo.

David holds a BA from the University of Florida, an MA in education from Temple University and has completed the Stanford/NUS Executive Program in International Management.

He is a dual US/UK national and is fluent in Japanese.

Kentaro Toda received his Master of Laws degree in 2008 from Temple University Japan’s Beasley Law School and is a member of the New York State Bar as well as the Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association, licensed to practice law in both the U.S and Japan.

He is currently Partner at TMI Associates, Director of TMI Privacy and Security Consulting and a lecturer at Chuo University Law School. Mr. Toda was selected as a Next Generation Partner in 2020 and 2021 in the Antitrust and competition category of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, and as a Co-Head of TMI Associates International Trade team which is ranked Band 2 in the Chambers Asia-Pacific.

Dr. Andrijana Cvetkovikj, graduated from TUJ’s Fox School of Business Executive MBA program in 2020. Additionally to her EMBA, she holds a master's (NATFA, Sofia) and a doctoral (Nihon University) in film studies. Dr. Cvetkovikj was the first resident Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia in Japan from 2014 to 2018. At present, she serves as CEO of BrioNexus KK and as a board member of Del Sole Corporation, the OIST Foundation, and the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

Dr. Cvetkovikj is a recipient of Doctor Honoris Causa by the European University and the Inspiring Women Worldwide Award for 2022 by WIN.

In 1992, Dr. Tomoko Kaneko received her doctoral degree in education (EdD) from Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ), and became a professor at Showa Women’s University (SWU). Dr. Kaneko was appointed as a member of SWU’s board of trustees in 1996, as well as the head of the Department of English and American Literature. She became dean of the Literature Department before becoming a vice president in 2005, Dr. Kaneko served as president of SWU from 2016 until 2020.

Dr. Kaneko is currently a professor at Showa Women’s University Graduate School and is a member of SWU's board of trustees.

After graduating from TUJ, Tomoki Takebayashi joined Nikkei QUICK Information as a staff member working on a new trading system for the Osaka Stock Exchange. In 2000, he transitioned to PriceWaterhouseCoopers and engaged in various M&A projects. During this period, he dedicated time to studying for the US CPA exam, successfully passing it in 2002. Starting in 2003, Tomoki joined General Electric, contributing to diverse finance functions across multiple GE businesses globally. Following the completion of his MBA from INSEAD in France in 2007, he embarked on a consulting role with McKinsey & Company in New York, specializing in the financial industry and maintaining this position from 2008 to 2012.

Upon returning to Japan in 2012, Tomoki ventured into the fashion industry, assuming the role of COO/VP at Kate Spade. By 2015, he progressed to become the CEO of Bottega Veneta, an esteemed Italian luxury brand. In 2021, Tomoki assumed the current position of President at Christian Dior, a distinguished French luxury brand under the LVMH group.

Being chosen as a Distinguished Alumni should come as not surprise to one of TUJ’s biggest supporters as a great part of his life has been associated with the Temple “T”. Toshiaki Yokozawa has been part of the Temple University family as an undergraduate having studied at both the Tokyo and Philadelphia campuses, chairing TUJ’s annual gala fundraiser “The Diamond Dinner” and actively serving on our Board of Overseers since 2012.

Toshiaki has been tireless in his support of TUJ over the years, a passion which mirrors his business success, leading his family business through 23 years of growth and positive change. He assumed the helm of Asahi Transport (Asahi-Ecocarry) in 1999, currently celebrating 70 years of business. Transforming the company into one of Tokyo’s top environmental services firms serving all 23 wards.

As an international student studying in an American university, we asked Toshiaki what influences he had from his undergraduate days which continue to influence him today. He cited the time and effort he put into writing in English as a major impact on his life and how the investment in studying and improving his writing skills at TUJ consistently helps him both professionally and personally.

Dr. Wakako Kobayashi received a MEd and EdD in TESOL from Temple University, Japan. She is currently a professor at the College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University in Tokyo and serves as the Vice Director at Global Research and Education Center and Head of Foreign Language Education Division there. She is also the Head of the Department of General Studies in Nihon University. Her academic interests include the use of VR in language learning, sociocultural theory, and the implementation of COIL. She is well-known as a numerous award-winning poet of the Reizei School in Kyoto.

Jun Niwa, an accomplished Legal Director with extensive expertise in Dispute Resolution, Corporate Law, M&A, Legal Advice, and Commercial Litigation, currently holds the position of Senior Managing Legal Director at Dell Technologies Japan. He has previously served as VP, Corporate Counsel at PGIM Real Estate, and held prior roles such as Division Manager at NN Life Insurance and Manager at Tomen Corporation's International Legal Department. Jun earned an LL.M. from Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law in 2003, following an LL.B. in Corporate Law from Keio University in 1985. Additionally, he is recognized as an Attorney at Law admitted in New York, U.S.A.

Christopher Thomas began his career in Retail Banking during his studies at California State University, East Bay, later transitioning from operations to sales roles at Bank of America. Pursuing an MBA at TUJ, he was selected to participate in an internship opportunity at Merck Group, which evolved into an 11+ year career. Starting as an intern, he rose to become the President of Merck Life Sciences in Japan, while also holding the position of Chief EU BRT Sherpa, fostering collaboration between the EU and Japan.

Reflecting on his journey, Christopher attributes much of his success to TUJ, without which none of these achievements would have been conceivable.