Conference Speakers

Closing Speaker
Edward Kimmi, Honorary Consul, Republic of Korea; Member, Beaverton City Council

Edward Kimmi is the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Korea to the United States for the City of Portland. He is an immigrant and a refugee of war, who was drawn to public service from a very young age. He is also an elected member of the City Council of Beaverton, Oregon.

Dr. Kimmi was a founding member of the City of Beaverton's Diversity Advisory Board. He helped craft the city's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, and helped launch the Beaverton Night Market. He said at the time, “we saw that there was a need to create access for minority and women-owned small businesses to showcase their goods and crafts, but there was also an overwhelming desire by Beaverton residents to learn more about and experience the diverse cultures and cuisines of the world that are found right here in our city.” The Night Market is now Beaverton’s biggest event, drawing in about 10,000 people a year.

Dr. Kimmi joined the Beaverton City Council in 2022, filling a vacant seat to complete the remaining three years of the term. In 2024, he was reelected to serve a full four-year term. A dedicated community leader, Dr. Kimmi owns a local health clinic and previously contributed to the city as a member of the Diversity Advisory Board. 

He is a past president and active member of the Korean Society of Oregon, which serves and represents over 40,000 Korean-Americans who live in Oregon. He also served as Board Chair. He has been involved in program implementation, including teaching Korean-Americans about Korean culture and language at the Oregon Korean School, and has also been involved in organizational leadership, including budgeting and planning. Dr. Kimmi and his wife, Dr. Helen Pak, own and operate a family medicine and chiropractic clinic in Beaverton. They have two sons, Alex and Nick. When not working or volunteering, Edward likes reading, fishing, playing guitar, and traveling.