about US
The Asia Pacific Employee Assistance Roundtable (APEAR) is a not-for-profit forum promoting high standards and ongoing development in Employee Assistance (EA), a workplace program that improves performance through structured support for employees and managers.
Since 2003, APEAR has brought together industry leaders, HR professionals, health experts, and business advisors from across Asia-Pacific and beyond, offering opportunities to network, build skills, and share best practices in employee wellbeing and effectiveness.
As organizations in the region grow, the need for professionals who can strengthen mental resilience and staff engagement is becoming urgent. The APEAR Conference provides a platform for managers, HR, health, and mental health professionals to exchange insights, research, and the latest developments in EA and workplace wellbeing.
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
The APEAR Board is made of professionals from world over who have had global experience in EAP and Wellness. They have years of involvement in the industry and understand how corporate and individual cultures vary throughout APAC and around the world.
President
Kaoru ichikawa
Dr. Ichikawa-sensei started her EAP career as an internal EAP counselor of Motorola in Japan, and later became an Asia Pacific EAP director and is president of APEAR. She is active in EAPA and served on the Board there, and has expanded CEAP certification in Japan and throughout APAC. She is clinical director at Resilie Labs and is a prominent player in EAP and workplace wellness around the globe.
Board Member
Miyen
low
Miyen Low, a Clinical Psychologist and has been one of Malaysia’s foremost proponents of the application of psychology for individual, couple, family, workplace and community for more than 30 years, providing psychotherapy, psychological assessment, coaching, training and EAP which she pioneered since 1999 in Malaysia. She has written 3 articles on EAP Development in Malaysia for an international publication in 2004, 2010 and 2024.
Board Member
Michelle
Grow
Michelle is an industry expert, leading successful organizations in compassionate, employee-focused HR policy and services, and respected leader in global EAP. She leads APM’s global workplace wellness services, and serves on the Board of EAPA.
Board Member
Amber
ALAM
Amber is a seasoned workplace wellness professional with 19+ years. He runs global operations and employee wellness services for Optum, responsible for global service delivery of Emotional Wellbeing. Amber lives in Melbourne with his spouse and two kids and is often in India as part of his role at Optum. He keeps himself updated with latest in health tech and enjoys bike riding and running. Amber has served as a board member of APEAR since 2015.
Board Member
JAMIE
MACLENnAN
Jamie is a Senior Vice-President and Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at TELUS Health. He has operated extensively across the APAC Region for over 20 years in financial and operational management roles.
Board Member
Grace
ding
She is the senior EAP professional of Linzi EAP China Delivery. Grace has over fifteen years of sales and account management leadership
Board Member
David
levine
Dave has pioneered workplace-based counseling and wellness services, and has been active in Asia Pacific and APEAR over the past 20 years. He is founder and principal at Global Care Experts LLC and also serves on the Board of APEAR’s ‘sister’ organization in Europe, EAEF.
Board Member
JIMMY
KIM
Jimmy Kim is a Senior Manager at DAIN EAP in Seoul, Korea, where he leads global partnerships and workplace well-being initiatives. With a background in professional counseling, he develops and delivers culturally tailored mental health programs for multinational organizations and spearheads cross-cultural projects that foster healthier, more connected teams.