Rob Williams is a British financial planner based in Tokyo, and started AP Advisors Limited in 2004 to provide financial advice to expatriates. He Co-founded Knights in White Lycra with a few fellow British friends out of a desire to get fit and give back to the communities impacted by the March 2011 disaster. They began a fundraising bike ride in 2013 and have not looked back since.
Since then, Knights in White Lycra have expanded their fundraising efforts to support children in need in Japan and have raised over ¥114 million through various sporting activities including bike rides, walks around the Imperial Palace, golf days, Go-Go run challenge, and pub quiz nights.
In this episode you will hear:
- How Knights in White Lycra was born in Tokyo in 2012 in a karaoke bar
- Why they expanded from fundraising for 3/11 survivors to supporting children in care homes in Japan
- How getting fit and giving back has inspired Rob’s philanthropic purpose
- How Knights in White Lycra have pivoted during the Covid pandemic to continue fundraising for their causes when they couldn’t meet in person
- The cultural differences in fundraising in Japan and Western countries
Rob Williams Bio:
Originally from the UK, Rob came to Japan in 1999 to continue his career in financial planning. In 2004 he set up an independent financial planning practice in Tokyo with two partners which continues to this day. AP Advisers Ltd provides bespoke financial planning services to the expatriate community in Japan. www.ap-advisers.com
Rob is married with two sons, 15 and 11. He enjoys playing golf and watching soccer, but his main passion is cycling which was the spur to create the Knights in White Lycra charity (KIWL) cycling group in 2012, shortly after the 3.11 tragedy. www.kiwl.net
Initially set up to raise funds for survivors, KIWL has morphed into a fundraising group focusing on supporting marginalized children living in institutional care. Through their chosen charity, the funds they raise provides them with educational and self-development opportunities in the classroom and in the outdoors. The skillsets they acquire better equips them for adult life and transforming them into happy and successful young adults.
In recognition of his community contribution, Rob was awarded ‘Person of the Year’ by the British Chamber of Commerce in 2015. In 2017, he received the Japan British Society award from HIH Princess Akiko.
Connect with Rob Williams:
Website: Knights in White Lycra https://www.kiwl.net/
AP Advisers Limited wwmw.ap-advisers.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-williams-723532/?originalSubdomain=jp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getfitandgiveback/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uotJ2yKU1IY
Links of things mentioned in this episode:
Mirai no Mori - https://mirai-no-mori.jp
500KM Cycle Ride 1- 4 June, 2023 sign up - https://www.kiwl.net/events/500km-cycle-ride
Connect with David Sweet:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/
Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/
Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY/50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent musicians and artists.
Mentioned in this episode:
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