Awaji Global League

Nicolas du Bois is a Programme Officer in the Office of the Rector at the United Nations University Headquarters in Tokyo, where he supports strategic coordination, international partnerships, outreach, and high-level event coordination.
He previously worked at the University of Tokyo as Programme Manager of FoundX, a startup incubation program, and has experience connecting African startups with Japanese investors. He holds an MPhil in Modern Japanese Studies from the University of Oxford, with research focused on Japanese investment and African development.

Dwayne Grech is the CEO of Osaka-based immersive experience company Hello xLAB, developing the MRSV*SPACE ecosystem—a suite of tools to design, deploy, and engage immersive experiences in physical spaces, lowering the barrier to VR without headsets.
He is a business and academic mentor, university board member, and advisor to the City of Osaka, and previously served as Former Pavilion Director for the Republic of Malta at Osaka Expo 2025.

Hans Kuijpers was appointed Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan in November 2025.
Japan has been a common thread in Hans's career. His first stay in Japan was in 1987, and ever since he travelled regularly to Japan with this time being his fourth time living in Japan.
In addition to working for the Government of the Netherlands, Hans has also worked in the private sector and served as Director of the Japan Museum Sieboldhuis. In 2025, he received a Japanese Imperial decoration for his contribution to promoting economic and cultural relations between Japan and the Netherlands.
He looks forward to continue strengthening the ties between the Netherlands and Japan.

Yasuka Inoue is the founder and director of Awaji Kids Garden (AKG), an international early childhood forest education program on Awaji Island that nurtures children to shape their own future through nature, global experiences, and child-led learning.
As part of Pasona Group's regional revitalization initiatives, AKG develops children's motivation, creativity, and respect through an innovative approach that has served more than 6,000 children.
Before founding AKG, Yasuka built an international career as a professional flutist, performing with leading orchestras worldwide.
She has been a visiting professor at Ashiya University, visiting researcher of Columbia University, and is a licensed Hoikushi, Montessori educator, Trinity CertTESOL-qualified English teacher, and Nurtured Heart Approach Trainer.