Workshop: Contextually Intelligent Leadership

As businesses operate across borders, leaders increasingly find themselves facing invisible challenges, where well-intentioned strategies falter against unspoken cultural norms. Teams may struggle with conflicting communication styles, where directness might be perceived as rudeness in some cultures while indirectness reads as uncertainty in others. In an ever increasingly interconnected business world, contextual intelligence in leaders has become a critical differentiator for companies seeking to remain competitive and attractive to top talent.

This World Refugee Day​, Refugee Empowerment International​ will guide participants through transformative approaches developed at the crossroads of global communities. Drawing from community-led crisis response models this workshop will examine and celebrate innovative community-driven models from Thailand and other global examples that can inspire transformative leadership approaches for Japanese and European corporate environments. Whether it's adapting leadership styles to motivate diverse teams or creating inclusive spaces where cultural differences become organisational strengths rather than stumbling blocks. Join us to discover how to turn these insights into action.

This event is hosted by Global Perspectives, and Refugee Empowerment International (REI). Co-organized by the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ), the Danish Chamber of Commerce in Japan (DCCJ), The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (CCI France Japon), and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (SCCJ).

Event Details

Date: Friday, June 20th, 2025

Time: 12:00–14:00

Venue: L`espace (CCIFJ) 1F, Nihonbashi Honcho Ys Building, 1F, 2 Chome-2-2, 103-0023

Admission

DCCJ Members: JPY 2,000

Non-Members: JPY 4,000

Notes:

• Refreshments and drinks will be served at this event. Please note any dietary restrictions at your time of booking.

• Cancellations up to one week before the event will be refunded minus a banking fee of JPY 500. Cancellations within one week of the event date will not be refunded.

• All net proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Refugee Empowerment International​ initiatives as part of our commitment to social responsibility.

About the Speakers

Jane Best

Executive Director of Refugee Empowerment International

After college Jane went to Zambia for four years with VSO British volunteer organisation. She came to Japan in 1984 and ran a British restaurant for 12 years. In 2000 Jane joined REI (then RIJ) as Funding manager. Jane took on a full-time role with REI in 2006. Since then she has visited projects and displaced communities in approx 20 countries.

Tove Kinooka

Director & Co-Founder of Global Perspectives K.K.

Tove is a bicultural (British/Danish) organisational transformation consultant who has worked in Japan since 1998. She founded Global Perspectives K.K. in 2015 in Japan with her business partner Gavin Dixon. She works across Asia with major global corporations, SMEs, NPOs, Embassies, Chambers of Commerce, and social venture organisations to amplify and accelerate actions for an inclusive and sustainable future.Her work focuses on transforming company culture to align with responsible, future-fit business strategy and ambitions, and leverages her combination of scientific & agricultural background, business experience, and people development skills. She holds certifications in Business Sustainability Management (Cambridge University) and Organizational Change Consulting (Ashridge-Hult Business School), and a BSc (Hons) in Biological Science (University of Exeter).Tove served 6 years as an Executive Committee member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ), where she led the Responsible Business Task Force, and is a member of the Management Committee for NPO Refugee Empowerment International, (REI).