Ayano Sasaki is the founder and representative director of General Association Catalyst Kyushu, a Fukuoka-based strategic platform dedicated to strengthening ties between Kyushu and Asia through regional innovation, economic development, and people-to-people exchange. In Fukuoka, she leads programs that support Asian startups entering Japan, promote sustainable urban growth, and foster cross-sector partnerships among governments, universities, and private sector leaders. Her work emphasizes inclusive economic growth, international talent engagement, and resilient regional ecosystems that benefit both local communities and global partners. She contributes to initiatives on gender equality, environmental leadership, and peacebuilding across the Asia-Pacific region. She began her career at Boston Consulting Group supporting public-private transformation initiatives. Ayano is active in youth leadership and social impact networks, including as a US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP) Fellow and a member of the Global Shapers Community Fukuoka. She has academic foundations from Kyushu University, Fukuoka, and a master’s degree in international relations from Tsinghua University, China.