Vermont and Japan are both emerging as leaders in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. But how can VT and the rest of the United States continue to learn from Japan’s success? How will U.S.-Japan relations move forward in our new reality?
Join the Vermont Council on World Affairs as we host Ambassador (Ret.) Skipp Orr to address these questions and discuss the economic, health, and diplomatic implications for the U.S. and Japan in an online discussion moderated by Bill Clifford.
Meet the Panel
Ambassador Robert Orr (Ret.)
Former Ambassador to the Asia Development Bank (2010-2016)
Robert Orr was confirmed by the Senate as United States Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in September 2010. In July 2013 he became Dean of the Board of the ADB, first American so elected in history. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the ADB until 2016. From 2007-2010 he was Chairman of the Board of the Panasonic Foundation and concurrently Vice Chair of the National Association of Japan-America Societies.
On November 3, 2018 the Government of Japan formally announced the Imperial Household will confer the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette on Ambassador Orr. The ceremony took place on June 4, 2019 at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to the United States.
From January 2002 until March 2007 Dr. Orr was President of Boeing Japan holding that position during the development of the most successfully selling airplane in history, the 787 Dreamliner, 35% of which is made in Japan. Prior to joining Boeing, Ambassador Orr was Vice President and Director of European Affairs for Motorola based in Brussels. And before that he held various senior level posts with Motorola in Japan culminating as Vice President of Government Relations. In that capacity he successfully led the negotiations that opened up the cellular phone market in Japan.
Moderated by
Bill Clifford
President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of America
Bill Clifford is President and CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America in Washington, DC, where he leads WACA's national office and represents its nonpartisan nonprofit network of more than 90 World Affairs Councils across the United States. In March 2017, he was appointed nonresident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Before joining WACA in September 2013, Bill spearheaded the revitalization and growth of WorldBoston, a WACA member Council known for innovative programming, access to leaders, and a tradition of advancing public learning about critical international issues. Previously, Bill served as Asia bureau chief for the pioneering multimedia venture CBS MarketWatch, where he launched and directed news bureaus in Japan and Hong Kong.
In 2019, Bill was appointed as a member of the Korea Economic Institute of America's advisory council.