Dr. Tomoko Imai aims to empower children to acquire skills that will enable them to thrive in the future, with a particular focus on building a global network where children can support one another.

Drawing from her background in system development at Hitachi Central Research Laboratory, VR research at the University of Illinois and the University of Tokyo, and recognition with the international academic award APCC/OECC’99, Dr. Imai has consistently pursued value creation from the user’s perspective. Her journey through corporate business experience and independent ventures has shaped a strong sense of purpose in education, informed by her personal experiences raising children and caring for family members.

Currently, as Director of Educational Strategy at Jiyugaoka Gakuen High School in Japan, Dr. Imai leverages her expertise to lead transformation in the educational field. She focuses on cultivating cross-border collaborative skills and fostering the ability to think and act independently for the benefit of society through initiatives such as “student-centered school design” and the development of an “international network where children worldwide can learn together and support each other.”

Dr. Imai also serves as a committee member for the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan. She is active in several non-profit organizations, including the international think tank Salzburg Global; Karanga, which promotes social and emotional learning globally; and Paris Collaborative, which supports children’s ideas by connecting them with people worldwide.