[VT New York] — March 20, 2025, For the first time in nearly a decade, the Committee of 100 Annual Conference & Gala is returning to Los Angeles. The highly anticipated two-day event will feature an inspiring lineup of speakers and engaging discussions centered around the theme “Engage. Empower. Elevate.” The conference aims to foster thought leadership across industries, promote advocacy, and advance the full participation of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in all aspects of society.
Confirmed Speakers
The first set of distinguished speakers includes:
- 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
- Ambassador 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
Key Topics at the Conference
The agenda will cover critical discussions, including:
- Rebuilding LA: Infrastructure Strategies for a Resilient Future
- The Evolving National Security Landscape and Its Impact on Civil Rights
- Breaking Through in the Entertainment Industry
- Beyond Data: The Role of Storytelling in Advocacy
- Contemporary Art as a Bridge: The U.S.-China Cultural Exchange
- Challenges of Teaching Asian American Contributions Amid Anti-Asian Sentiment
- Our Faces, Our Voices: Elevating Stories, Bridging Cultures
- Revival of Alien Land Laws: A Hidden Threat to Chinese American Property Rights
Gala Celebration & Special Offer
On the evening of March 25, the Committee of 100 Gala will honor outstanding leaders in the AAPI community. Among the honorees, Shirley Wang and Walter Wang will receive the Leadership in Entrepreneurship Award for their contributions to business and community development.
Additionally, the Committee of 100 is offering a $100 discount on conference tickets for attendees who donate to a verified wildfire relief charity in support of Los Angeles’ recovery efforts.
