Fumiko Kasuga

Global Hub Director, Japan: Executive Team

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Fumiko Kasuga is Senior Fellow at the National Institute for Environmental Studies and a Visiting Professor at The University of Tokyo. She is also former Vice-President of the Science Council of Japan and a member of ICSU’s Committee on Scientific Planning and Review. Fumiko has worked as a government researcher in the field of public health, in particular on microbiological food safety in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Internationally she has worked with the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods. She has been engaged in Future Earth since she was in charge of international activities of Science Council of Japan.

Giles Bruno Sioen

Science Officer

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Dr. Giles B. Sioen is co-Lead for Research and Innovation based in the Future Earth Global Hub Japan, Research Associate at the National Institute for Environmental Studies of Japan, and chair of the KU Leuven Alumni Chapter Japan. Among other activities, he works on the research and innovation portfolio with colleagues from across the Future Earth community, coordinates the Future Earth Urban and Health Knowledge-Action Networks, conducts individual research, and supports a range of domestic projects and activities. His research focuses on the development of a transdisciplinary system-based guideline to reduce the impact of climate change and other disasters on cities and health. Before joining Future Earth, he worked as a project researcher at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences of the University of Tokyo in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology - System Design and Management Program where he applied sustainability science concepts in the fields of urban planning and public health using a systems approach. Dr. Sioen holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Science from the University of Tokyo, a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Design from KU Leuven (Luca-Arts, campus Ghent), and a Bachelor’s degree in Garden and Landscape Architecture from University College Ghent.

Junya Tani

Senior Adviser

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Junya is a senior advisor to Future Earth, Tokyo Hub on a pro-bono basis applying his knowledge and experiences from his business career. After graduation from University of Tokyo (Bachelor of Laws), he worked for a several global financial institutions (Bank of Tokyo (currently MUFG), Citigroup, UBS, Credit Suisse, and DBS) for years. After retirement from the business, he has been engaged in various social activities including employment support for persons with mental and intellectual disabilities, education, and revitalization of local communities. In 2018, he together with Naoko Ishii and Institution for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) translated and introduced “Big World Small Planet” (by Johan Rockstrom and Mattias Klum) in Japan, which has opened his eyes to the clear and present crisis of the earth.

Kyoko Shiota MacAulay

Program Coordinator, Japan

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Kyoko Shiota MacAulay is a Program Coordinator at the Future Earth Global Hub in Japan. She previously worked for the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) as a Principal Programme Associate in the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Programme. Her responsibilities included managing two major ESD networks called the Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE), and the Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research Network (ProSPER.Net). She was the lead for program management, donor relations, and coordinating capacity building events for RCEs and ProSPER.Net members. In addition, she has worked at an international NGO in Tokyo as an advocacy officer working with parliamentarians, government officials, media, and the general public to advocate for sexual reproductive health and rights. She was also one of the representatives for the Tokyo Liaison Office of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and she represented the NGO at various UN conferences to advance global policies. She holds Master of Arts in International Educational Development from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelors of International and Cultural Studies from Tsuda College.

Marcin Jarzebski

Science Officer

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Yuki Hashimoto

Communications Officer

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Yuki is a communications officer for Future Earth and freelance sustainability consultant. Previously, she has worked for the National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES), University of Tokyo, and Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), appointed to the Future Earth secretariat as a communications officer. She also works at an environmental consulting company in Japan on issues such as marine plastic pollution, mercury waste/pollution, and the transboundary trade of hazardous waste. Yuki holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Urban Engineering from the University of Tokyo. She has lived in Japan, the United States, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam and identifies as a Third Culture Kid.

Noriko Kawata

Communications Officer

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Noriko is a communications officer for Future Earth and a communicator at the National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES) in Japan. Previously having worked with an NPO for science education, she has engaged in a variety of science events for children and also been involved in editing a children's science book. Her recent work focuses on creating and facilitating dialogue in science communication for a broader audience. She holds BAs in Language and Area Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and in Biology from International Christian University, as well as an MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement from the University of Edinburgh.