Biography
Mr Lowell Sheppard is an author, speaker, social entrepreneur, and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society with a lifelong commitment to social impact, ethical leadership, and exploration. He has worked extensively with established NGOs and start-ups, most notably as the Founder of HOPE International Development Agency Japan. Under his leadership, HOPE-JP has grown to rank among the top 2% of charitable organizations in Japan, achieving the prestigious nintei tax-deductible certification. Mr Sheppard has been a longtime supporter and past speaker at IAFOR Conferences. He currently serves as the organisation’s Director of Development, seeking to expand the Global Fellowship Programme and scholarship opportunities.
Mr Sheppard’s passion for social and environmental improvement projects has driven his career. For over two decades, Lowell has served as an informal advisor to companies and boards around the globe. In pursuit of adventure and deeper insights into ageing and longevity, Mr Sheppard moved onto a sailboat five years ago and has been sailing full-time around Japan, embracing the life of a digital nomad and explorer. Most recently, he has been moored in the Blue Zone of Okinawa, learning from one of the world’s longest-living communities.
In 2025, he embarks on a bold new journey: sailing the entire length of Japan, following the annual Cherry Blossom Front, retracing by boat the route he cycled 25 years ago. As he celebrates his 70th birthday along the way, he aims to uncover the secrets of long and energized living from Japan’s remote coastal communities.
As an author, his book Never Too Late (Lion Hudson PLC, 2005), published in four languages, became the inspiration for his latest social enterprise, the Never Too Late Academy. His most recent book, Dare to Dream, was shortlisted for the UK Business Book of the Year Award in 2023.
Orientation Session (2025) | IAFOR Information Session
Previous Presentations
Featured Presentation (2020) | From South East Asian Classrooms to the Middle of the North Pacific!
