About HPAIR
A Historic International Conference Since 1991 — and Japan's Return After 11 Years
HPAIR (Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations) is one of the world's largest international conferences hosted by Harvard University.
It provides a platform for young leaders from around the world to discuss and exchange ideas on political, economic, and social issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
The conference brings together approximately 450 carefully selected undergraduate students, graduate students, and young professionals from around the world. Through lectures and discussions featuring leaders from politics, business, and culture representing the host country, as well as professors and practitioners at the forefront of their respective fields, participants with diverse backgrounds deepen their knowledge and build international networks.
HPAIR is often called the "Young Leaders' Davos" and is one of the few international conferences that connects outstanding young people from around the world with leaders who are driving the current world.
Held annually in Asia during summer and at Harvard University during winter, it serves as a venue for next-generation leaders to interact and engage in intensive learning.
This year marks the return to Japan for the first time since 2014, after 11 long years.
Past Distinguished Speakers
・Ban Ki-moon
8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
・Kim Dae-jung
President of South Korea
・Tedros Adhanom
Director-General of WHO
・Surin Pitsuwan
Secretary-General of ASEAN
・Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand
・Norodom Ranariddh
Prime Minister of Cambodia
・S. R. Nathan
President of Singapore
・Raja Nazrin Shah
Crown Prince of Perak, Malaysia
・Tawakkol Karman
Nobel Peace Prize Winner (2011), Women's Rights Activist
・Philip Murphy
Goldman Sachs Asia Regional Representative
・Zhang Ruimin
CEO of Haier Group
・Jaime Augusto Zobel
Chairman of Ayala Corporation
・Thierry Porté
President of Shinsei Bank
・David Li
Chief Executive of Bank of East Asia
・Takeshi Sasaki
President of University of Tokyo
・Lee Soo-hyuck
Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, South Korea
・Bernd Fischer
Acting German Ambassador to Japan
・Heizo Takenaka
Minister for Postal Privatization
・Ong Keng Yong
Secretary-General of ASEAN
・Ezra Vogel
Professor Emeritus at Harvard University
・Kiyoshi Kurokawa
President of Science Council of Japan
・Akito Arima
Former Minister of Education and President of University of Tokyo
・Richard Cooper
Professor Emeritus at Harvard University
・Hiroshi Komiyama
President of University of Tokyo
・Masahiro Kawai
Professor at University of Tokyo
・Eikoh Tsuboi
Former President of Japan Medical Association
・Yukio Senbon
Chairman and CEO of eAccess
・Victor Fung
Chairman of Li & Fung Group
・Jesus Estanislao
Secretary of Finance of the Philippines
・Takeshi Isayama
Vice Chairman of Nissan Motor
・Yuriko Koike
Governor of Tokyo
※Titles are as of the time of their speaking engagements