Advisory Board

With over 15 years in strategic diplomacy, Mickey coined the term ‘fringe diplomacy’ to describe the new field he is creating: an innovative discipline exploring the space in international relations just beyond the boundaries of the capacity and authority of states and governments. He manages private diplomacy efforts in North Korea, Cuba, Myanmar, the Middle East and Africa. Through the Richardson Center, he has led his team to facilitate the release of more political prisoners than any other organization. Mickey creates new political capital by leading professional exchange programmes to frontier countries. Mickey is vice president and senior advisor at the Governor Richardson Center for Global Engagement; was previously executive director of the Global Alliances Program at the Aspen Institute; is professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; and is a consultant to the Clinton Global Initiative.

James is a specialist in manufacturing process improvement. From 2004 to 2008 he led supplier development in Greater China for BMW, and in 2009 established Ventual Limited as a specialist advisory firm for the automotive and clean technology supply chains in China. He supports original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in sourcing and supplier management, and components suppliers in building best-practice processes, systems, structures and strategies. James is a former chair of the Asia Transformation & Turnaround Association (www.asiatta.com), a professional body that brings together leaders in corporate transformation and turnaround. He is also adjunct faculty at Trinity Western University in Vancouver (www.twu.ca), where he teaches leadership and organisational change. James speaks Chinese (particularly well on the factory floor) and has been resident in mainland China since 1994.

Anthony is executive director of Meter Alliance, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer of smart meters, and was previously co-founder of Lifetrons International, a premium Swiss brand of electronic travel products supplied to duty free market worldwide and over 150 airlines. Anthony has served on the boards of directors of numerous companies, including companies incorporated in Hong Kong, Canada, Switzerland and the USA, active in healthcare products, the internet-of-things, and tools and accessories. Anthony has a proven record of successful mentorship of companies from incubation through to major M&A transactions.