Asia Days. Business
Conference 2023
450+ participants
Bridging the East and the West
OCT 4-5
COPENHAGEN
THIS YEAR:
Bridging the East and the West
Welcome to Asia Days 2023 – a dynamic two-day conference hosted by Copenhagen Business School that brings together professionals and experts from various fields to explore this year's theme: "Bridging the East and the West." In an era of globalization, connectivity, and cultural exchange, this conference aims to delve into the intricacies of connecting two vastly different regions while highlighting the opportunities, challenges, and innovations that arise from such connections.
SPEAKERS 2023
SVEND
OLLING
Ambassador, Embassy of Denmark in Korea
His Excellency Mr. Svend Olling represents the Danish Foreign Service as the Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. Serving in the Foreign Service for nearly 30 years, Mr. Olling has had postings in Washington, DC, Berlin, Dhaka, Ankara, Cairo, and Seoul.
While currently occupied with the investment and trade agreements in the pipeline between Denmark and Korea and cooperation within the green sectors, Mr. Olling’s specialties lie in security policy, export promotion, and information technology. With experience as both Head of Department for Export Promotion and Ambassador, Mr. Olling can give a unique diplomatic perspective on the bilateral relations between Denmark and the Asian countries of South Korea as well as Türkiye and Bangladesh, especially within the field of commercial diplomacy. Mr. Olling has generously lent his time and expertise to Asia Days, where he will participate as a speaker.
KENNETH JOHANSEN
Business Development Manager, Sea
Kenneth Johansen has vast experience with sustainability and digitalisation within the maritime industry. Johansen has worked as a Senior Account Executive for ZeroNorth, a spinoff of Maersk Tankers, overseeing market entry and expansion in Japan. Currently, he holds the position of Business Development Manager for Sea, responsible for the Nordics- and Japan region. Throughout his career, he has provided consultancy services to Danish companies entering the Japanese market, covering sectors like food & beverages, IT, education, and commodity trading.
Johansen is fluent in Japanese and has lived and worked in Japan for more than 5 years. He is a Copenhagen University alumni, having studied Japanese Studies and been on exchanges at both Keio University and Nagoya University in Japan. Furthermore, Kenneth has previously been a guest lecturer at CBS on intercultural business communication between Denmark and Japan.
​MALOU
TOFT
Company Director & VP APAC, Milestone Systems
Malou Toft, a CBS alumni, currently holds the position as the Vice President and Company Director at Milestone Systems overseeing the APAC region. Toft is based in Singapore and manages sales activities across 24 countries. Milestone is a global leader in video technology and smart surveillance platforms.
With over 16 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Malou Toft has also worked on creating profitable growth in 7 markets across both Europe and Southeast Asia from greenfield start-up in Myanmar to operational efficiency in Scandinavia.
She received notable recognitions for excellence in business development and leadership, including recognition as a Top 100 Business Talent by Danish business magazine Berlingske Tidende and an award for outstanding leadership by the Danish Association of Lawyers and Economists.
TOM
BEHRENS-SØRENSEN
Chairman, Advisor & Investor
Meet Tom Behrens-Sørensen, a seasoned business leader and board member of various Asian and Western companies. With extensive international experience, profound Asia insights and successful career (1979 – 2009) with A.P. Moller – Maersk Group (APM), he led APM’s expansion in Asia – as Group Executive Vice President - to industry leadership positions in shipping, logistics, marine terminals and related businesses. Tom co-founded the Danish Chinese Chamber of Commerce and serves a Chairman at the Danish Chinese Business Forum.
CATHERINE
HUA XIANG
Director at LSE | Published Author
Dr Catherine Xiang is an established author and applied linguist with experience in the higher education as well as high profile consultancy industry to businesses that wish to engage with China. Originally from Shanghai, she is skilled in intercultural communication, translation, lecturing, TV and public speaking. She is Head of East Asian Languages at LSE, Programme Director for BSc International Relations and Chinese; as well as UK Director for LSE Confucius Institute for Business London. In addition, she is an executive member of the British Chinese Language Teaching Society, a school governor and chief examiner of Diploma in Translation at the Charted Institute of Linguists. During the pandemic she launched a YouTube channel “å— espresso” and is currently working on developing the first Edex course for LSE on intercultural communication and finishing her book on effective communication with China.
Christian Köse Fischer
Senior Business Manager, Region Asia at Lundbeck
.
With a keen eye on Asia’s dynamic and growing markets, Christian brings years of commercial expertise in the pharmaceutical industry ranging from sales & marketing over market access to strategy & business development. Starting his career in finance and supply chain with focus on Northern Europe, and an educational background in Finance & Management Accounting from CBS, Christian has a very diverse profile. He has successfully build strategic partnerships and driven commercial expansion across all international markets from Latin America over Middle East & Africa to Asia, the last years with a dedicated focus on expansion of the business in Lundbeck's Asian markets.
FRANK
TSAI
Founder and CEO, China Crossroads
Frank Tsai is an American with a decade of experience at consultancies helping MNCs understand China and the world, at both Control Risks (the top global political risk consultancy) and The Economist Intelligence Unit. He is currently Lecturer at both Emlyon Business School, where he teaches on geopolitical risk, and at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, where he teaches on international media. He has also taught geopolitical risk at the ESSCA School of Management and was many years ago Lecturer in American Politics at Renmin University. Frank is the Founder and CEO of China Crossroads, Shanghai’s largest and only platform of public lectures on “China and the world,” where he hosts senior figures in international politics and business. His recent interviews on global media have included CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, DW, and Channel News Asia, among others.
Maximilian Schumacher
Energy Strategy & Innovation Lead - Europe, NIO
Maximilian Schumacher is heading the European Energy Strategy and Innovation at NIO, a Chinese premium electric car manufacturer with a unique battery swapping technology. Throughout his career Schumancher worked at the intersection between strategy and innovation with a strong focus on the energy sector. Starting as a working student at the Swedish utility Vattenfall, continuing at a boutique consultancy (Neon) and two wind turbine manufacturers (Enercon and Siemens Gamesa) before joining NIO in May 2022. He holds a master’s degree in Renewable Energy Engineering and studied in Berlin, Aman (Jordan) and Cottbus.
JONAS
BANG ANDERSEN
Founder of Above Borders
MODERATOR
Jonas Bang Andersen, the founder and visionary behind Above Borders, a travel company that explores the world's most isolated countries. An expert on North Korea, he's visited 11 times, sparking debates through media appearances. Jonas is a Copenhagen Business School alumnus with a background in Business Administration and E-business. He will serve as a moderator during Asia Days, embodying both inspiration and a prime exemplar of the opportunities a business background can unlock in navigating the Asian landscape.
JUN
PENG
Founder of Kauseway Agency
MODERATOR
Jun Peng is a passionate professional dedicated to assisting lifestyle and design brands/products in navigating the Chinese market through effective marketing strategies. With an international background and experience in both Denmark and China. With over 15 years of expertise in online and social media marketing, Jun founded her own agency, Kauseway, in Denmark. The agency's mission is to grow alongside brands that are committed and ambitious in the Chinese market, offering services such as market strategy and research, social media strategy and account management. In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Jun has also served as the Co-Chair of the Marketing & Media Committee at The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
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We are pleased to announce that Jun Peng has kindly agreed to moderate Asia Days. We look forward to her valuable contributions in facilitating discussions and ensuring an engaging experience for all participants.