Speaker: Karen
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About the spreaker
Karen Makishima is a Member of the House of Representatives of Japan representing Kanagawa's 17th District and a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She previously served as Japan's Minister for Digital, Minister for Administrative Reform, Minister of State for Regulatory Reform, and Minister of State in charge of Cybersecurity. Dr. Makishima holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Public Administration from International Christian University, a master's degree in Political Management from George Washington University, and also studied at Yale University's Women's Campaign School. She currently serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Cross-Party Parliamentary League on LGBTQ+ Issues and is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party's Project Team on Marriage Equality. Her work focuses on digital policy, cybersecurity, democratic governance, and building an inclusive society through cross-party dialogue.