Taku Minami is CFO and Managing Executive Officer of Sustainability in Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. He joined Tokyo Gas in 1988 and has held leadership roles in Energy Planning, Corporate Planning, Human Resources, and Fuel Procurement, later serving as General Manager of Energy Planning. In 2019, he became Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer at Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions, and in 2021, Executive Officer and General Manager of Finance. Since April 2024, he has served as Senior Managing Executive Officer and CFO, overseeing Finance, Accounting, and Sustainability Promotion. Minami focuses on enhancing corporate value while advancing decarbonization, improving capital efficiency, and strengthening integrated reporting and investor engagement in alignment with TCFD and ISSB standards. He works closely with global stakeholders to achieve sustainable growth

Ayano Ryugo is Director and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) of Spice Factory Inc., where she leads sustainability strategy at the intersection of business growth, innovation, and social impact.

She began her career in public relations at a small and medium-sized enterprise before becoming an independent PR professional. She later founded With Media, providing public relations and strategic consulting services to startups and emerging companies.

In 2017, she supported the public relations strategy of Musca Inc., a bioresource-based venture company. In 2018, she was appointed Representative Director and CEO of the company. During her tenure, Musca received multiple awards, including Grand Prizes and SDGs Awards at national business competitions, and was selected as a J-Startup company by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, a government-backed program supporting high-growth startups. She played a key role in enhancing the company’s visibility and securing investment before stepping down in 2020.

In 2021, she joined Spice Factory Inc. as Director and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). She also serves as an Advisor for Public Relations and Sustainability Promotion at SPACE WALKER Inc., a private space rocket development company. Since 2023, she has served for three consecutive terms as a Mentor for “Zero Ichi,” an acceleration program launched by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to nurture social entrepreneurs.