Robert G. Lees Secretary General Pacific Basin Economic Council

As PBEC's Secretary General, Robert G. Lees acts as the chief operating officer of, and spokesman for, the organization. Lees travels extensively throughout the region, consulting with senior business and government officials and developing first-hand relationships throughout the Asia-Pacific, and maintains regular contact with regional leaders. Lees also maintains close contact with key international and regional organizations such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO).

Lees is a widely-respected and sought-after international media commentator, offering insights and observations on breaking political, economic, and business issues in the Asia Pacific. Lees has appeared regularly on CNN and CNBC, and has been quoted extensively by all the major print outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, as well as many of the major daily newspapers in the region. Lees also speaks extensively before corporate board meetings, business groups, and academic conferences.

Lees is responsible for the organization of PBEC's two annual meetings, including the International General Meeting (IGM), which typically includes heads of government, high-ranking government ministers, senior officials from prominent international organizations, and as many as 700 of the regions most senior corporate executives. The IGM is widely considered the region's premier business conference.

During the course of a corporate career, Lees has gained over twenty years of experience in the field of international business, including senior management positions with Security Pacific Corporation and Corning Inc. In addition to his PBEC responsibilities, Lees currently serves on the boards of Bank of Hawaii International, Oceanic Institute, Japan America Society of Hawaii, Pacific Asian Affairs Council, Honolulu Committee on Foreign Relations, Pacific Center for International Business Education and Research, Dr. Sun Yat Son Foundation, and University of Hawaii Foundation.

Lees has a masters in International Management from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management, a Certificate of Management Studies from Japan's Institute for International Studies and Training, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati.

For More Information:
http://www.pbec.org/