Cristina Merino

Founder & CEO, JA Network

Cristina Merino is the Founder & CEO of JA Network and Deputy CEO of the Australia Japan Business Cooperation Committee (AJBCC). She is an international business leader with more than two decades of experience working at the intersection of business, culture and diplomacy between Australia and Japan.

Through JA Network, Cristina develops and delivers cross-border initiatives that connect businesses, governments, researchers and innovators to create practical pathways for collaboration and partnerships. JA Network’s flagship program is the Japan–Australia Sports & Health Innovation Exchange (JASHIE), a multi-year initiative connecting Australian and Japanese organisations across health, wellness, sports technology, elite performance and the digital economy. JASHIE brings together businesses, government and research communities to identify opportunities for technology transfer, innovation partnerships and international expansion, with a particular focus on building capabilities and connections that can contribute to the Brisbane2032 legacy.

Cristina has held leadership roles across corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations, driving programs to strengthen Australia–Japan economic and people-to-people ties. She has also managed commercial and customer experience teams delivering official hospitality and travel programs for major global sporting events, including the Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, World Baseball Classic 2023 and the Australian Open.

Earlier in her career, Cristina developed extensive experience in bilateral relations through roles with the Australian Olympic Committee Advisory Team in Tokyo, the Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue, the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Australia Business Asia, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Embassy Tokyo.

A recipient of the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship, Cristina holds a Master of Intercultural Communication from Kyushu University and a Bachelor of International Business from Queensland University of Technology. She is fluent in English, Japanese and Spanish.