Elections 2025

Dear CCCJ Member Community,

My name is Patricia Bader-Johnston. Thank you for considering me as a candidate for the CCCJ Board of Governors.  I believe this is a pivotal moment in the Canada-Japan relationship and in international trade as a whole, and I would be honored to bring all of my experience and skills to support a dynamic future for Canadian companies and friends of Canada in Japan.

I have lived in Japan for over 40 years, raising four kids who attended Japanese and international schools, and I celebrate the vibrant cultural life that surrounds us in our amazing host country.  At the same time, I have remained closely connected with Canada.  My four (now) adult children all currently reside in Canada, and studied at world class Canadian universities.  It would be my great honor to serve as a Governor for the CCCJ during this historic period of transition as Canadian trade continues to flow naturally to Japan, beyond the US, and toward a decarbonized future. I am motivated to contribute in any way I can to ensure the future for my own children and newborn grandchild, as well as for yours as we all grapple with a changing climate and unprecedented global economic uncertainty.

I previously served for 17 consecutive years as a Governor of the CCCJ, including two terms as VP and the maximum allowable term (at the time) as the (so far) only female CCCJ President. This was also a time of deep challenge for the Chamber, since as I inherited the President’s role, the organization was essentially bankrupt, and we were able to balance the books only through the huge cooperation of key corporate members who agreed to pay two years of future membership dues in advance.  We also worked very hard to grow the membership to revitalize the organization and hold a range of fund-raising events - even as the federal government decided to close consulates in Fukuoka and Osaka.  The same year, Mad Cow disease dramatically impacted Canadian beef exports to Japan. Despite all this, with the help of an amazing team of dedicated Governors, we pulled through stronger than ever. This truly taught me the power of teamwork and love for Canada that exists among our dedicated membership who constantly give their all as volunteers for our community.  At no time did the Board ever doubt that the CCCJ could survive anything, as we kept things afloat through the sheer will-power of its members!  I would be very honored to have an opportunity to support the current President as well as I was supported during my own time as Chair.

I have represented the Chamber in many capacities over the years, for instance, I travelled with JETRO Chairman Hayashi to Toronto to speak at the JETRO 70^th anniversary events and also joined a panel discussion to commemorate the 70 year Canada-Japan relationship  in Parliament, (along with former Ambassador Don Campbell, (then) Japanese Ambassador Ishida). This helped raise CCCJ’s profile with both governments and I believe, helped lead to a renewed focus on the EPA discussions in which I had actively participated over several years.  (The EPA was passed after I stepped down.) I also worked with our Board to update the Chamber’s Constitution to avoid similar fiscal failures in future, hosted many dignitaries (including our current PM Mark Carney on his first visit abroad as the Governor of Bank of Canada) and supported numerous Trade Missions to and from Canada. I have chaired four Maple Leaf Balls and served on multiple committees over the years, so I am very familiar with the priorities and protocols of the Chamber community. I do however deeply respect the fact that priorities can change, and I look forward to learning and adapting to any new thinking and innovations that have been fostered by many Governors who have served since I last played an active role.

I took a break from the CCCJ for a few years, to make room for new faces around the Board table, while I focused on growing my own companies.  I am currently the Vice President of Fly-Concorde Ltd. which just signed an MOU with a BC based SAF provider (Sustaero Inc.) to provide sustainable aviation fuel for the first test runs of the iconic Concorde supersonic airplane, (to be upgraded to be the most sustainable airplane in service, by 2026). We have recently been issued the only patent for sonic boom suppression in the world and are planning a Canadian flight hub (tba) along with future manufacturing opportunities for the Canadian aviation and defense sectors. I have other start-up businesses in Canada as well in the areas of atmospheric water generation and Generative AI – all built around Japanese partnerships. I believe strongly in the future of innovation in Canada, and the intrinsic value of collaboration with Japan.

Career Summary:

My journey started in the public sector, with three years in Japanese government followed by eight in the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, where I started the Canadian Education fairs, managed the Canadian Studies Awards program and supported the entry of the McGill MBA program into Japan, among other culture and economic initiatives. 

After earning my own McGill MBA I joined Goldman Sachs as a VP and worked in Operations and Finance, leading teams in Tokyo, New York, Hong Kong and Sydney.  I was then invited to join BAT as Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, and to lead the team that issued the first Social Report ever published in Japan, ushering in the era of CSR and Sustainability.  I started the CSR committees at the CCCJ, ACCJ, and BCCJ, conducting many workshops with corporate, government and academic institutions including the UN University, as CSR and Sustainability reporting became mainstreamed in Japan. I have continued to teach Sustainability at the Kenichi Ohmae Graduate School of Business MBA, and at Rikkyo University Graduate Faculties of Business and Social Innovation for the past 15 years, as well as guest lecturing at many other universities and corporate events over the years. 

My corporate journey then took me back to financial services with Standard Chartered Bank where I oversaw Corporate and Government Affairs and remained active in CSR, leading numerous charitable activities in support of eradicating curable blindness, and HIV/AIDS Malaria and Tuberculosis across SE Asia Africa and the Middle East.  My last corporate role was as Director of Communications for IBM Japan with oversight of 91 area offices and Asia Pacific responsibilities and was a Director on the IBM Japan Board.

After leaving IBM I founded over 20 companies in Japan and Canada, under the umbrella of Sustainability, across the Energy, Food, Water, Clean Tech and Digital sectors. I have advised numerous international organizations including the ADB, World Bank, foreign governments and over 100 corporate clients. I have also curated and spoken at 7 TEDx events and organized numerous ESG and entrepreneur-related events over the years.

I will be happy to bring all of this experience to bear in my role as Governor, if the CCCJ membership might allow my participation once again. I am happy to support trade and technology initiatives, market entry for Canadian companies and of course fundraising for worthwhile projects that will benefit the Japan-Canada relationship. I have founded the Vancouver Community Kintsugi Association that is dedicated to revitalizing the Powell Street District (Japan Town) in Vancouver. 

Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself. I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks to come.  Unfortunately, I am in Canada during the meet and greet for candidates, welcoming my first grandson, born May 31^st.  I am most certainly with you all in spirit.

Sincerely,

Patricia Bader-Johnston