COMMUNITY PROFILE

Catherine O'Connell

Board Mentor

Criticaleye

Catherine is a trailblazer in the corporate world, holding groundbreaking roles as the inaugural foreign female outside board member at Toyota and Fujitsu, marking significant milestones in Japanese corporate history.

As an Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member at Toyota Motor Corporation, she oversees financial statements, conducts audits and ensures compliance with legal regulations, while her position as an Independent Audit & Supervisory Board Member at Fujitsu Limited focuses on transparency and accountability within the organisation.

With over five years of experience as Head of Legal and APAC North Regional Counsel at Molex Japan LLC, Catherine built legal capabilities from scratch, implemented governance and compliance systems, and advised on legal matters, earning recognition as an award-winning business leader.

Transitioning into entrepreneurship, she launched the first solo law firm by a foreign woman in Tokyo, doubling revenue through innovative outsourcing strategies. With expertise in corporate, commercial, and compliance law, Catherine serves as a mentor, coach, and podcaster, sharing insights on legal services and business success. With over two decades in Japan, she offers a profound understanding of stakeholder management and organisational change, facilitating success for multinational corporations in both Japanese and Western contexts.