role: Associates

Formerly an international businesses consultant and a Defense Official, Ms. Ayano Ito is a government relations expert with extensive experiences of facilitating Japanese and international industry and government stakeholders across business sectors. Currently as Director of Military Programs and Government Relations for Pratt & Whitney Japan, Ms. Ito’s expertise includes government relations, policy and regulatory analysis, defense program management and political advocacy.

After years of experience in international business consultation and M&A, she served the Japan Ministry of Defense where her specialities included policies and procurement selections of various aircraft programs at the Ministry’s Internal Bureau and Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency. In-depth knowledge in industrial security for highly sensitive and classified programs adds to her unique skillsets. In pursuit of gaining a broader range of experiences in the US private sector, she resigned the Government of Japan and joined Pratt & Whitney in 2017. Since joining Pratt & Whitney, F135 (F-35), F100 (F-15) and PW4062 (KC46A) Programs comprise her portfolio.

Ms. Ito has led the regulatory efforts for F100 Global Transfer Project, realizing one of the first business models in Japan’s defense history which enable Japanese defense suppliers to enter global defense markets. In collaborative efforts with Pratt & Whitney Canada she also serves as a government relations advisor on Japan’s UH-2 Program. From programmatic management to advocacy efforts, Ms. Ito is a committed professional to Japan’s national defense landscape.

Torrence Smith is an American national living in Japan, where he is engaged in various academic and professional activities. Currently, he is a student at Rikkyo University. Torrence specializes in economic research, particularly focusing on macro and microeconomic trends in the Indo-Pacific region. He has a background in business leadership from the University of Toledo and has been an advocate for deeper cultural and economic ties between the East and West.

Torrence values connections with people, especially in Japan, where he appreciates the opportunity to engage with a culture different from his own. Torrence’s journey in Japan has broadened his worldview, and he aims to foster further connections between Eastern and Western cultures.

Giorgi Mamisashvili, having attained a Bachelor’s degree in Law, presently navigates a unique academic trajectory, concurrently pursuing dual Master’s degrees across distinguished institutions. Within the sphere of international law, Giorgi is diligently formulating a thesis elucidating the intricacies of international humanitarian law at Tbilisi State University. Simultaneously, in the discipline of international relations, Giorgi rigorously scrutinizes the development of the Japanese New National Security Strategy and Defense Policy for the second thesis at Tallinn University, having previously completed an exchange program at Akita International University in Japan. This interdisciplinary approach attests to Giorgi’s commitment to scholarly excellence in both fields.

Giorgi’s specific academic proclivities gravitate toward the nuanced realms of defense, arms control, and disarmament. Giorgi exhibits a pronounced scholarly focus on discerning the intricate intersections between emergent technologies, notably artificial intelligence and nuclear arms control. Giorgi’s scholarly pursuits extend to the broader domain of security studies, manifesting a nuanced and comprehensive approach to grappling with the multifaceted challenges inherent in contemporary global security dynamics.

Ms. Rupal Kalebere is an associate for the International Security Industrial Council-Japan. She brings a wealth of expertise in law and policy to the organization and is committed to strengthening the relationship between India and Japan.

Rupal currently serves as a project lead at the Center of Policy Research and Governance, a think tank located in Delhi. She holds a BA LLB degree from ILS Law College and is currently pursuing her MA in Defence and Security Laws from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in Hyderabad. Her education has provided her with a strong foundation in legal and policy matters related to security and defence.

Previously, Ms Kalebere has completed various international courses and has researched and interned for several organizations such as Princeton University, HSE University in Moscow, Athena Model United Nations, Adhyayan Foundation for Policy Research, Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sanstha, The Indo-Japan Community (IJC), Sahyadri Law Academy, and Amnesty International.

Rupal is an Indo-Japan Relations enthusiast and has a deep interest in promoting bilateral cooperation between the two countries. She is passionate about fostering growth and development in the region and believes that stronger ties between India and Japan can be a catalyst for progress. To achieve this, Rupal aims to facilitate greater collaboration between the two countries in areas such as defence, security, and technology. She brings her extensive knowledge of legal and policy matters to this endeavour and is committed to developing innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Mark is a current Masters Student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), studying for a MSc Strategic Studies degree. His research interests consist of Japanese and Philippine defense/foreign policies.

Prior to his Masters, Mark has conducted freelance work researching on Islamist extremism in the Philippines in 2021. From 2020 to 2021, he interned at the Counterterrorism Analyst Intern as a PACOM (Pacific Command) specialist, where he conducted research on Japanese defense, foreign and social issues for security briefings and reports. He also collaborated on working on writing reports in other parts of the Indo-Pacific, including South and Southeast Asia.

Jonas Matenia is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Coding & Software Engineering at XU Exponential University in Potsdam, Germany. During his studies, he also completed a semester abroad in Kofu, Japan, where he deepened his understanding of both Japanese culture and the technological landscape.
With a strong interest in Artificial Intelligence, Jonas plans to focus his Bachelor’s thesis on automation on the battlefield, particularly the use of FPV drones. This interest is rooted in his 1.5 years of service in the Bundeswehr as a rifleman (OR-3) in the mechanized infantry, where he gained practical experience and developed a keen interrest in understanding military operations.
Additionally, Jonas interned at the Bundeswehr Centre of Military History and Social Sciences, where he contributed to the S6 department of military staff. This experience further solidified his interest in the intersection of technology and defense.

Having gained insights into both Europe and Japan, Jonas is particularly interested in fostering connections between these parties.
After completing his Bachelor’s degree, Jonas plans to return to military service before pursuing a Master’s degree in AI and autonomous systems.