Ian Williams

Principal, IMW Advisory

Ian holds Bachelor’s Degrees in both economics and law from the University of Sydney and a Postgraduate Diploma in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford.

He is Vice-President of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC), Chair of NEX Building Group (majority-owned by Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Asahi Kasei), and a director of two ASX-listed companies: New Hope Corporation and Lindsay Australia. Ian is also a consultant to several major Japanese listed companies and previously spent 20 years as a partner at international law firms, specialising in Japan–Australia business.

Ian has written extensively about the Japan-Australia business relationship and is co-author of the annual Herbert Smith Freehills and The Australian National University’s Japan-Australia Investment Report.

Beyond his legal and Board roles, Ian has also had a distinguished sporting career. He is the only person to have represented both Australia and Japan in rugby, playing for the Wallabies from 1984 to 1990, and for the Brave Blossoms in 1993. He also represented Australia in baseball. In 2016, Ian was awarded the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Commendation for his contribution to business and sporting ties between Japan and Australia.