A Memorial for Gwen Robinson
6:30pm - 8:00pm, Friday, April 25, 2025

It is with deep sorrow and immense respect that we invite you to join us for a memorial gathering to honor the life of Gwen Akiko Robinson, a reporter, an editor, a mentor, and tireless advocate for old-school journalism, who passed away recently at the age of 65 following a battle with cancer.

Gwen’s extraordinary career spanned over four decades and multiple continents. A woman of both Australian and Japanese heritage, she brought a rare and compelling global perspective to every newsroom she graced. Her work took her from The Times of London and The Financial Times, at which she had postings in Tokyo, Jakarta, Washington and Bangkok, where she went on to have an influential role as editor-at-large at Nikkei Asia.

She was, as one colleague put it, a “walking internet router,” effortlessly connecting people, ideas, and institutions across borders. Gwen’s bylines included exclusive interviews with leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Sheikh Hasina, and Joko Widodo, and she reported with insight on Myanmar, Thailand, and events across Southeast Asia.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Gwen was a stalwart of the regional journalism community. She served with distinction as President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (2019 - 2021) and was a long-standing member of the FCCJ.

Those who knew her will remember her not just as a sharp, fearless journalist but as a fiercely loyal friend, a brilliant conversationalist, and an unmatched source of camaraderie and mentorship. She lived fully, worked relentlessly, and never failed to make time - no matter the hour - for colleagues, contributors, and friends. Gwen was laid to rest earlier this month in Thailand, where friends and colleagues gathered to bid farewell. We now invite all who knew and admired her to come together to celebrate her life, legacy, and the enduring impact she had on journalism in Asia.

We hope you will join us in remembering and celebrating Gwen’s remarkable life.

Please make your reservation for the FCCJ as soon as possible at Reception 03-3211-3161, front@fccj.or.jp so that we can make the appropriate preparations. The fee is 1,100 yen (including a light meal, one drink and tax). Non-members, including former members, can pay at Reception for admission and additional drinks.

Daniel Sloan
FCCJ President