Christopher J. Fussner
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Christopher J. Fussner is an international businessman, philanthropist, and contributor to various non-profit organizations. He possesses deep knowledge of and experience in Asia, having lived and worked in the region for 38 years.
Mr. Fussner founded and owns TransTechnology Pte. Ltd. in Singapore in 1988, a major distributor of surface mount technology and semiconductor capital equipment. Headquartered in Singapore, Trans-Tec has 235 employees worldwide with offices in China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam. He has had extensive experience in negotiating and establishing joint ventures, strategic alliances, licenses, distribution networks and sales worldwide. In addition, Mr. Fussner is also founder and owner of Certain Cellars Pte. Ltd. in Singapore, an importer and distributor of fine wines. Prior to forming these companies, Mr. Fussner headed Asia sales for Amistar Corporation based in Seoul, Korea and Singapore. As such, he was responsible for sales and service for electronics manufacturing industry machines in Australia, Asia, and India.
Mr. Fussner began his international career during the late 1978 in Ouagadougou (Upper Volta) Burkino Faso, where he was involved in aid work for Catholic Relief Services. He subsequently joined Church World Services during 1979 – 1980, devoting his time as a refugee resettlement officer in Malaysia, being responsible for the resettlement process of Vietnamese refugees. Mr. Fussner also taught English at the Hyundai Corporation in Seoul, Korea. As a young man, Mr. Fussner also worked in New York as a steamfitter, waiter, busboy, paperboy, and gardener.
Mr. Fussner received his B.A. in History and East Asian Studies from George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs (1979), and his M.I.M. (Master of International Management) at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona (1982). He is proficient in Chinese and French with some knowledge of Korean and Spanish.
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Mr. Fussner is recognized as an experienced observer and astute analyst of Southeast Asian affairs. He has lectured on topics related to Southeast Asia and U.S. relations with Asia at The George Washington University; Thunderbird Global Entrepreneurship Program; University of Southern California; Georgia State University; Harvard University; San Francisco State University; Brandeis University; Dwight D. Elsenhower School for National Security; and other institutions. He was the keynote speaker at PACIBER (Pacific Asian Consortium for International Business and Research) in Kona, Hawaii in 2010 and in San Francisco in 2014.
Mr. Fussner has also served on a variety of non-profit boards and organizations, including:
- International Republican Institute (IRI), Board of Directors, 2017—.
- Republican National Committee (RNC) Representative and appointed as Assistant Chairman to the International Democrat Union (IDU) (2011—) – a global organization of over 50 international political parties around the world. In this capacity, he has attended various IDU Executive Board Meetings in Finland, Bosnia – Herzegovina, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Spain, and Ghana, and was a member of the IDU Observer Mission to Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- IRI International Election Observer in Mongolia (2016), Timor Leste (2017), Tunisia (2019).
- Republicans Abroad, Global Chairman (1998 – 2014)
- American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Singapore, Member (1990—); Governor for Cultural Affairs, (1996-2000).
- The George Washington University, Elliott School International Affairs International Advisory Council member (1996 – 2004).
- In 2008, Mr. Fussner was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) and served as Chairman from May 2011 to April 2012.
- Rubin Museum of Art, New York City (Himalayan Art) Board of Trustees 2018—
Mr. Fussner is also a long-time philanthropist and contributor to various organizations, including; Singapore Repertoire Theater “Shakespeare in the Park,” Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), Singapore Dance Theater, Rubin Museum of Art (NYC), The George Washington University, Elliott School International Affairs Program, The Chinese Foreign Policy Program, Grameen Bank Microfinance Internship Program and Grand Teton Music Festival. Of particular note has been his sponsorship of the Jesuit Mobile Medical Clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal – which reaches 157,000 patients in rural areas in Nepal per year over the past 20 years. He also provided significant help for earthquake relief in Nepal in 2013, for which he was awarded the St. Ignatius Loyola Circle Award.
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