Sean Connell is a public policy professional with more than two decades of experience bridging the international, federal, state and local levels. He has served in leadership roles in international trade and economic development in both Washington, DC and Washington state. From 2003 through 2011, Mr. Connell worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he served as Director for Japan and Korea, and concurrently as Executive Director of the U.S.-Korea Business Council. In these positions he spearheaded the U.S. Chamber’s policy initiatives on Japan and Korea, and played key coordinating roles in U.S. business community efforts to secure the successful negotiation and approval of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. He was a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Japan, and a visiting fellow with the East-West Center, where his fellowship research explored areas for increasing U.S.-Japan and U.S.-Korea cooperation through policy measures related to spurring innovation and fostering economic growth. 

Mr. Connell holds a B.A. in East Asian Studies from Wesleyan University and an M.A. in International Affairs from the Elliott School of International Relations at the George Washington University. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he serves as a senior fellow with the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation; an Executive Circle member of the Institute for International Economic Policy at the George Washington University; and a national advisory committee member of the Japan-America Student Conference and Korea-America Student Conference. He also serves an executive board member of the Mount Baker Council, Scouting America, and was previously on the board of directors of the Washington State China Relations Council.