Irene Hirano is the former President and founding CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles and continues to serve as Executive Advisor through June 2009. After twenty years, she stepped down from her CEO position in 2008 with her marriage to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. The Japanese American National Museum opened its restored Historic Building to the public in 1992 and in 1999 opened a state-of-the art 85,000 square foot facility with an expansion of national and international programs in arts, culture and history presented in partnership with regional communities and diverse organizations. In 2005, the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy was opened as its third major expansion of facility and programs. The National Museum has over 65,000 members/donors in all fifty states and sixteen countries. It received accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 2002 and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
Ms. Hirano was appointed President of a newly created U.S.-Japan Council in Spring 2009. The Council has offices in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles and will promote strengthened relations between the United States and Japan through people-to-people connections.
A recipient of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, Ms. Hirano has more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit administration, community education and public affairs with culturally diverse communities nationwide. Prior to her current position, Ms. Hirano served for 13 years as the Executive Director of T.H.E. Clinic, a not-for-profit community health facility serving low and moderate income women and families.
Ms. Hirano’s professional and community activities currently include serving as former Chair and member Board of Director of the American Association of Museums, Board member of the Ford Foundation, immediate past Chair and Board member of the Kresge Foundation, Board Member, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Member, National Board Smithsonian Institution, past chair and Board member of L.A. Inc./Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau. She previously served as a member of the Toyota Corporation’s Diversity Advisory Board, the Business Advisory Board of Sodexho Corporation, the Accreditation Commission of the American Association of Museums, President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities by Presidential appointment, Chair of the California Commission on the Status of Women, and Board member of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. She has received numerous awards for her work in civic, cultural, and museum leadership including from the Anti-Defamation League, League of Women Voters, National Education Association, University of Southern California Alumni Association, Liberty Hill Foundation, Arab American National Museum, Asian American Federation, Asian Justice Center, and Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics.
