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Meet JCI Secretary General Edson Kodama

Meet JCI Secretary General Edson Kodama

Edson Akitoshi Kodama was named JCI Secretary General at the General Assembly of the 2004 JCI World Congress held in Fukuoka, Japan from November 21 to 26.

As JCI Secretary General, Kodama is responsible for the overall management of the organization and the World Headquarters team based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

He sets objectives for growth and development, coordinates all four JCI Area Conferences and the JCI World Congress. Kodama also oversees JCI’s relations with UN agencies and other partners such as UNICEF, UNESCO, the UN Foundation, the UN Global Compact, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Pan American Health Organization, AIESEC and the Hanns Seidel Foundation. Kodama holds a seat on the World Chambers Federation General Council and the Transnational Chambers of Commerce Board of Directors.

Prior to joining the JCI World Headquarters team, Kodama worked as an architect in São Paulo, Brazil. Before appointment as JCI Secretary General, he served JCI in capacities including Director of Growth and Development for the Americas, Director of Growth and Development for Asia and the Pacific, Executive Director and Deputy Secretary General.

Kodama first joined JCI in 1988, becoming a member of JCI Brasil-Japão, a JCI Local Organization in São Paulo, Brazil. He held several leadership positions with his JCI Local and National Organizations before serving on the international level.

He holds the JCI Training certification level of International Graduate (IG) and is JCI Senator No. 52051.

Holding an architecture degree from Universidade Mackenzie in São Paulo, Brazil, Kodama also completed a specialization course on Architectural Projects and Construction at Kagoshima University in Japan.

Kodama was born in São Paulo, Brazil and currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, with his wife, Cristina, and their daughter, Naomi. Kodama speaks Portuguese, Japanese, English, Spanish and basic French.