Profile

• Director for Energy Policy Planning Office, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Born in 1964. After graduation from Tokyo University of liberal arts international relations course in 1989, entering the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). At the MITI, in charge of international trade policy, financial policy, information technology policy mainly. During this period, drafting of monetary system reform at the Ministry of Finance, and the Personal Information Protection Law at the Cabinet Secretariat, and becoming a temporary stuff in European Commission (DGⅢ). Then having been in charge of manufacturing policy and the issue of foreign laborer, engaged in energy policy planning since 2005.

• President of Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology Research Association

Graduated from Faculty of Science at Kumamoto University in 1963. Obtained Doctor of Engineering at Osaka University in 1982. Joined Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 1963. Held a post of the company director, general manager of R&D department, general manager of information and communication department, the president of Semi-conductor Company and the president of Sanyo Electric from November 2000 through to June 2005. Succeeded in the world's first industrialization of amorphous solar cells, and received the prize of Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency, the Solar Cells International Prize.

• Deputy Executive Director, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE)

Karen Schneider is ABARE’s Deputy Executive Director with responsibility for management of ABARE’s research program. She has specialist knowledge of the energy, minerals and agriculture sectors. In the energy context, Karen has developed and led ABARE’s energy economics program, with a strong focus on international energy issues. In the past several years Karen has, among other areas, directed research on LNG issues in China, Korea, India and the overall Asia Pacific region; on developments in China’s coal market; and on alternative scenarios of Japan’s energy future. She has also led research on international climate change issues, including analysis of alternative international approaches to climate change mitigation and the role of advanced technologies in meeting greenhouse gas emission abatement targets. Before joining ABARE in 1995, Karen was an energy analyst at the International Energy Agency. She has an honours degree in applied science from the University of New South Wales.

• Professor, Faculty of Policy Studies, and Director, Center for Contemporary Asian Studies, Doshisha University

Shigeyuki Abe is currently Professor, Faculty of Policy Studies, and Director, Center for Contemporary Asian Studies, Doshisha University. He obtained Ph.D. from University of Hawaii. His first job assignment was with UN-ESCAP. He had taught at Kyoto University, Kobe University, and Kyoto Sangyo University prior to the current assignment. His current research focuses on FTA issues in Asia, FDI/trade and development, economic issues of China, and social security issues in Asia. His publications include Japan: Why It Works, Why It Doesn't (1997), The Trade Investment Nexus (2000), and The Trade Investment Nexus (2000), Emerging Developments in East Asia FTA/EPAs (2007).

• Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University

After studying doctoral course at the Law School of Kyoto University, he joined the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University as research associate in 1981. He then moved to the Faculty of General Education, Okayama University as associate professor in 1987. In 1993 he joined the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University as associate professor and as professor since 1996. Prior to that he served as political attache at the Japanese Embassy in Manila, analyzing the early years of the Ramos Administration. He is specialized in Southeast Asian politics centering on the Philippine.

• Professor, Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, Kobe University

After graduated in 1975 and obtained Ph. D. in 1985 from Tokyo Metropolitan University, he worked at National Museum of Ethnology as research fellow and associate professor (1975-1993), and moved to the Faculty of Cross-Cultural Studies, Kobe University as professor in 1993. Since 2007 he joined the Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, Kobe University. He is currently President of Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology and Chief Director of NPO Pan-Pacific Forum. His specialized fields are research of cultural anthropology and overseas migration in Oceania. His major publications include The Structure of Matrilineal Society, Ethnography of Sexuality(co-edited), Republic of Palau(co-edited), Contemporary Migration in Oceania: Diaspora and its Networks(co-edited).