What is UTokyo Global Navigation Board?
UTokyo Global Navigation Board, an advisory council of international experts to the UTokyo President, aims to give advice on important issues and make proposals for the future development of the university, as UTokyo sets out on a voyage with "UTokyo Compass" as our guiding principle. The outcomes of these meetings will not only be discussed amongst the senior leadership of this university, but will also be cascaded down to university members, to inform them of our new direction. We also expect the members to know more about UTokyo’s challenges and play a role as ambassadors to help us increase our supporters around the world.
The University of Tokyo established the President’s Council in 2006 to develop its international strategy and take bold actions to become one of the world’s leading universities. It was restructured as the UTokyo Global Advisory Board in 2017 and reorganized once more to become the UTokyo Global Navigation Board in order to strengthen its function under the presidency of President Teruo Fujii.
For the President’s Council and UTokyo Global Advisory Board, please refer to this page.
Topics & News
NEW (February 20, 2026) The UTokyo Global Navigation Board Annual Meeting was held
Topic: UTokyo Global Navigation Board Annual Meeting was held
The Annual Meeting of the UTokyo Global Navigation Board (GNB) was held at the Ito International Research Center on Friday, February 20, 2026. This year marked the third in-person meeting, held under the theme “Designing the Future of Learning: How UTokyo Can Meet the Challenges of a Changing World.” Executive Vice President Prof. Kaori Hayashi oversaw and moderated the event.
The meeting was attended by eight internationally renowned expert board members (listed below), President Teruo Fujii, executive vice presidents, the deans of all graduate schools and faculties across UTokyo, and other related UTokyo members.
Presentations were delivered from the UTokyo side on the following topics, followed by active discussions with the GNB members:
- Report on progress since last year’s GNB meeting (presented by EVP Takumi Moriyama, VP Yujin Yaguchi, and VP Takane Ito)
- Report on status of preparations for UTokyo Design (presented by Prof. Miles Pennington, Special Advisor to the President)
- Presentation by President Fujii on the future of learning in the age of AI
In addition to these sessions, a discussion session between the GNB members and early-career researchers was held, as well as a workshop themed “Designing the Future of Learning.”
During the workshop, Executive Director/Vice President Kenjiro Taura gave a report on UTokyo’s ongoing initiatives.
A reception to welcome the GNB members was also held, providing an opportunity for the GNB members and UTokyo executives to deepen exchanges and share perspectives.
The meeting offered a valuable opportunity to receive insightful opinions and ideas for the age of AI from the GNB members, all of whom possess rich global experience and outstanding achievements, contributing meaningfully to UTokyo’s future development.
Global Navigation Board members who participated on February 20 (in alphabetical order)
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Prof. Hendrik (Ed) Brinksma (Professor and Rector Emeritus, University of Twente)
Ms. Kanae Doi (Japan Director, Human Rights Watch)
Mr. Douglas Freeman (Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Music and Dance)
Prof. Merit Janow (Dean Emerita & Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia University)
Ms. Janina Kugel (Non Executive Director, Kyndryl Inc & TUI AG & Swissport AG)
Ms. Kathy Matsui (General Partner, MPower Partners Fund L.P.)
Mr. Ben Nelson (Chairman and CEO, Minerva Project)
Ms. Gim Huay Neo (Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum)
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Board Members
UTokyo Global Navigation Board consists of experts listed below as of March 2026. We are honored to have such distinguished members from academic, industrial, and political communities all around the world.
| Prof. Hendrik (Ed) Brinksma Professor and Rector Emeritus, University of Twente / Former President, Erasmus University Rotterdam |
| Ms. Kanae Doi Japan Director, Human Rights Watch |
| Mr. Douglas Freeman Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Music and Dance |
| Mr. James Higa Founder & Managing Partner, Offline Ventures |
| Prof. Merit Janow Dean Emerita & Professor of Practice, Columbia University |
| Ms. Janina Kugel Non Executive Director and Senior Advisory, Kyndryl Inc & TUI AG & Swissport AG / Former Chief Human Resources Officer of Siemens |
| Ms. Kathy Matsui General Partner, MPower Partners Fund L.P. |
| Mr. Ben Nelson Founder and CEO, Minerva Project |
| Ms. Gim Huay Neo Managing Director, World Economic Forum |
| Prof. Londa Schiebinger John L. Hinds Professor of History of Science, Stanford University |
Honorary Members
| Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran Chairman, Tata Sons Private Limited |
| Prof. Jeffrey Sachs President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network |
| Dame Louise Richardson President, Carnegie Corporation of New York |
*Data last updated in March 2026.
Past Meetings (including the President's Council and UTokyo Global Advisory Board)
Meetings of UTokyo Global Navigation Board are in principle held once a year, bringing together some of the board members for discussions and to give advice. In addition to this, thematic meetings will be held as required.
UTokyo Global Navigation Board| FY | City | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tokyo | UTokyo Global Navigation Board First Online Meeting |
| 2023 | Tokyo | UTokyo Global Navigation Board First In-person Meeting |
| 2024 | Tokyo | UTokyo Global Navigation Board Meeting |
| 2025 | Tokyo | UTokyo Global Navigation Board Meeting |
| FY | City | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Tokyo | The First President’s Council Meeting |
| 2007 | London | The Second President’s Council Meeting |
| 2007 | Tokyo | The Third President’s Council Meeting |
| 2008 | New Delhi | The Fourth President’s Council Meeting |
| 2008 | Tokyo | The Fifth President’s Council Meeting |
| 2009 | Tokyo | The Sixth President’s Council Meeting |
| 2010 | New York | The Seventh President’s Council Meeting |
| 2010 | Tokyo | The Eighth President’s Council Meeting |
| 2011 | Geneva | The Ninth President’s Council Meeting |
| 2013 | Bangkok | The Tenth President’s Council Meeting |
| 2014 | Tokyo | The Eleventh President’s Council Meeting |
| 2016 | Tokyo | The Twelfth President’s Council Meeting |
| 2017 | Tokyo | The First UTokyo Global Advisory Board Meeting |
| 2018 | Tokyo | The Second UTokyo Global Advisory Board Meeting |
| 2019 | Tokyo | The Third UTokyo Global Advisory Board Meeting |
| 2020 | Tokyo | The Fourth UTokyo Global Advisory Board Meeting |
