The Worlds of Entertainment, Finance, News, The Law, Politics, Nonprofit and Civic Engagement Just Some of the Areas of Expertise to be Represented

New York, NY – Committee of 100, a nonprofit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today unveiled the first set of scheduled speakers and topics for this year’s 2025 Annual Conference & Gala. Speakers from the worlds of entertainment, finance, news, the law, politics, nonprofit and civic engagement are just some of the areas of expertise that are scheduled to be represented at the Conference & Gala in mid-April. 

For more than three decades, Committee of 100’s Conference & Gala has drawn hundreds of distinguished academics, policymakers, businesses, and next-generation leaders from across the U.S. for a series of discussions, debates, keynotes and networking sessions under the common goal of advocating for and promoting the full participation of all AAPI’s across society. For the first time in nearly a decade, Committee of 100 is bringing its Conference & Gala back to Los Angeles. 

This year’s must-attend event – Engage. Empower. Elevate – will take place in Los Angeles on April 25-26 at the Fairmont Century Plaza. In addition to the general sessions, the 2025 Conference will have two concurrent tracks to cover important content on domestic issues faced by the AAPI community in the U.S. and internationally. The evening of the 25th will be topped off with a black-tie celebratory Gala. 

The first set of distinguished speakers being announced today, scheduled to appear:

• Wendy Cai-Lee – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Piermont Bank
• Cyndie Chang – Managing Partner, Los Angeles Duane Morris LLP
• Robert Chang – Professor of Law & Sylvia Mendez Presidential Chair for Civil Rights, University of California Irvine
• Christine Chen – Executive Director, APIA Vote
• John Chiang, J.D. – Former Treasurer, State of California
• Baldwin Chiu – Producer, Rapper, Beatboxer, Actor, and Motivational Speaker
• Mary Anne Foo – Executive Director, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
• Buck Gee – Executive Advisor, Ascend
• Ryan Alexander Holmes – Actor/Content Creator, The Mixed Message
• Russell Jeung – Professor of Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University
• Stewart Kwoh, J.D. – President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles
• Daphne Kwok – Vice President, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Asian American & Pacific Audience Strategy, AARP
• Handel Lee, J.D. – Partner, King & Wood Mallesons
• Andrew Lee – Producer, Amplify Asian
• Soo Man Lee – Key Producer and Visionary Leader, A2O Entertainment
• Huihan Lie – Founder & CEO, My China Roots
• Justice Goodwin Liu – Associate Justice, California Supreme Court
• Gary Locke – Former U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China
• Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan – Co-Executive Director, The Asian American Education Project
• Philip Lu – Senior Biologist, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• Richard Lui – Anchor, MSNBC / NBC News
• Won Palisoul – VP of Compliance and Board Member, Asian Professional Network at SG
• Shaun Pan – Chief Commercial Officer, Nazdar Company
• Brian Sun, J.D. – Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US      
• Roger Wakimoto – Vice Chancellor for Research, University of California Los Angeles
• Walter Wang – President and CEO, JM Eagle, Inc.
• Paula Williams Madison – Chairman and CEO, Sabio Holdings Inc.
• Brian Wong – Founder and Chairman, RADII
• Jackie Wong – Associate Partner and Senior Expert, McKinsey & Company
• Ronald Wong – Founding President & CEO, Imprenta
• Simon Wong – Transformation Team & Global Operation Support Leader, GXO Logistics Inc.
• Debra Wong Yang, J.D. – Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
• Frank Wu, J.D. – President, Queens College
• Gene Wu – State Representative, Texas House of Representatives
• June Xu – President, Asian American Art & Culture Initiative
• Clotilde Yap – Global Collections Manager, My China Roots
• Teddy Zee – Film & Television Producer

This year’s event will feature dynamic keynote speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Some of the must-attend scheduled sessions will include:

• Rebuilding LA: Infrastructure Strategies for a Resilient Future
• The Evolving National Security Landscape and Its Impact on Civil Rights
• How to Break Through in the Entertainment Industry
• Beyond Data: Role of Storytelling in Advocacy
• Contemporary Art as a Bridge: The Evolving Cultural Exchange Between the U.S. and China
• Challenges of Teaching Asian American Contributions Amid Anti-Asian Sentiment
• Our Faces, Our Voices: Elevating Stories, Bridging Cultures
• Revival of Alien Land Laws: The Hidden Threat to Chinese American Property Rights
• Asian American Women Leading the Way
• The Impact of Asian American Administrators in Higher Education
• Embracing Diversity: The Multi-Ethnic/Multi-Racial Chinese American Experience
• Fighting the Spy Label: The Struggles of Chinese American Politicians
• Future Leaders: Showcasing Creativity and Driving Impact
• The AI Race: US-China Competition, DeepSeek’s Breakthrough, and Global Implications
• Finding Your Roots: A Hands-On Chinese Family History Workshop
• Navigating Trade Winds: The Impact of U.S. Policies and Tariffs on Economic Relations

Additional Information

In the coming weeks, awards, panel discussions, breakouts, and keynote speakers will be announced.

Registration for the 2025 Conference & Gala is now open.  Early bird discounts for registration and the hotel room block ends March 31. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting [email protected].

Accredited media interested in attending can reach out to [email protected].

#CommitteeOf100LA #AAPI #ChineseAmerican #CivilRights #USChina #AlienLandLaws #BambooCeiling #AAPICurriculum #AAPIWomen #History #Tarriffs #Racism #AntiAsianHate #Diversity #HigherEd #RebuildingLA

About Committee of 100

Committee of 100 is a nonprofit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. For more than 35 years, Committee of 100 has served as a preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. Visit https://www.committee100.org/

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