Participant biographies
Mr. Rustam Emiljanovich ASIZBAEV
Director, National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Mr. Rustam Emiljanovich ASIZBAEV is a director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic. He obtained his Bachelor of Agronomy in Kyrgyz National Agrarian University and Bachelor of Finance and Credit in Kyrgyz State National University with the highest honours. Mr. Rustam Emiljanovich ASIZBAEV received his master degree at Kyrgyz Research Institute of Innovation and holds a PhD in Economics.
Mr. Rustam Emiljanovich ASIZBAEV worked as a Head of Panfilov and Alamudun District of Social Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic between 2003 and 2008. He was a Head of the Department of Science at the Kyrgyz Economic University (KEU) and was a vice-rector Academic Affairs at AGUP KR. Prior to becoming the director of NISS of Kyrgyz Republic, he was a Professor at Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Dr. Sonja BACHMANN
Team leader on Northeast Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political Affairs, United Nations
Dr. Sonja Bachmann is Team leader on Northeast Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs with a focus on peace and security issues on the Korean Peninsula as well as engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum member countries. Ms. Bachmann served with the UN mission in Afghanistan, the UN Envoy in the Cyprus Negotiations, the Nepal peace process and as a Senior Peace and Development Adviser in the UN multi-country office in Fiji. Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Bachmann has worked in the World Bank on community driven development and advised the Government of Peru on investment promotion and sustainable tourism. Dr. Bachmann holds a Master of Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, MA, and a PhD in political science from the University of Vienna, Austria.
Ms. Yukako BAN
Japan
Yukako is a Learning Designer, Master`s candidate, and content director. She joined as an early member at Tiger Mov, Inc. an education startup in Tokyo. She is involved in various core projects, including providing global opportunities to students and young professionals to be next-generational leaders. Her Master’s research at Wits University, South Africa… focuses on people living on the thresholds of identities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts -from International Christian University in Tokyo- where she researched the economy under occupation in the West Bank, Palestine. As a content director at Charitsumo, Inc, she raises awareness of social issues in Japan through web media. Previously, she worked as a management consultant at Hitachi consulting, advising public sector clients in Japan and Southeast Asia. She is a yogi, a dancer, and an art lover. She grew up in Tokyo and now lives in South Africa with her amazing husband.
Ms. Veronika BEDENKO
Regional Issues Strategist, Analysts, Open Nuclear Network
Veronika is a regional issues strategist at the Vienna based NGO Open Nuclear Network. Veronika works in close coordination with the Regional Issues Manager and the Analyst Team to closely align research and analysis work with ONN’s outreach efforts, by developing proposals for analytical products, assisting in the production of such products and identifying opportunities for ONN’s strategic network to feed into the ONN analytical processes. Veronika is an expert in the use of open-source information to understand military capabilities and support nuclear risk reduction. Prior to joining ONN, during her MA studies, Veronika worked at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Nonproliferation (VCDNP), James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) and at the Russian Center for Political Research (PIR Center).
Mr. Jonathan BERKSHIRE Miller
Director and Senior Fellow, Indo-Pacific Program, Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Canada
Jonathan is an international affair professional with expertise on security, defense, intelligence and geo-economic issues in the Indo-Pacific. He has held a variety of positions in the private and public sector. Currently, he is a senior fellow with the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA). Miller is also director and senior fellow of the Indo-Pacific program at the Ottawa-based Macdonald Laurier Institute, Senior Fellow on East Asia for the Tokyo-based Asian Forum Japan and the Director and co-founder of the Council on International Policy. Previously, he was an international affairs fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, based in Tokyo. Jonathan also held a fellowship on Japan with the Pacific Forum CSIS from 2013-16. At the Pacific Forum CSIS, he chaired a ten-member group focused “ on Japan-Korea relations, in the context of the US balance to Asia. Other former appointments and roles include terms as a Distinguished Fellow with the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, and Senior Fellow on East Asia for the New York-based East West Institute. Miller has held a number of other visiting fellowships on Asian security matters, including at JIIA and the National Institute of Defense Studies (Ministry of Defense – Japan). In addition, Miller previously spent nearly a decade in the public sector in Canada working on geopolitical and security issues pertaining to the Asia-Pacific. He regularly attends track 1.5 and track 2 dialogues across the Asia-Pacific region on security and intelligence issues, and is one of Canada’s representatives on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Eminent and Expert Persons Group. He also regularly provides advice and presents to universities, corporations, multilateral organizations and government on regional geopolitics. Jonathan is a regular contributor to several academic journals, magazines and newspapers on Asia-Pacific security issues including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Nikkei Asian Review, the Japan Times and The Economist Intelligence Unit. He has also published widely in other outlets including the World Affairs Journal, Forbes, the Boston Globe the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Mainichi Shimbun, the ASAN Forum, Jane’s Intelligence Review and Global Asia. Miller has been interviewed and quoted on Asian security and geopolitical issues across a wide range of media including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Reuters, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, the Globe and Mail, Le Monde, the Japan Times, Asahi Shimbun, the Voice of America and ABC news.
Mr. BYAMBASAIKHAN Bayanjargal
Vice-Chair of the Business Council of Mongolia
Bayanjargal Byambasaikhan, Vice-Chair, the Business Council of Mongolia Mr. Byambasaikhan was elected as vice-chair of the Business Council of Mongolia (BCM) in July 2021. He served as the chair of the BCM from 2012-2020. He is the founding partner at NovaTerra LLC, a UB based investment and project management firm. NovaTerra develops clean energy projects, and advises domestic and international clients in financing complex deals. Mr. Byambasaikhan is a business executive specialized in energy, infrastructure, mining investments. In 2015-2016, he was the chief executive of Erdenes Mongol, Mongolia’s sovereign wealth management company where he chaired multiple mining company boards and was the director of Oyu Tolgoi LLC. From 2010-2013, Mr.Byambasaikhan served as the chief executive and managing director of Newcom, a Mongolian technology investor where he managed and built Clean Energy ($120mln), the first wind farm/IPP in Mongolia. From 2004-2010, he was an energy banker with the Asian Development Bank, where he financed power and energy efficiency transactions in Central Asia, including the region’s largest CCGT power plant ($1.3bln) in Uzbekistan. He is a trustee of the National University of Mongolia, and a board director of the Arts Council of Mongolia. He also serves as the honorary consul of South Africa in Mongolia. Mr. Byambasaikhan has keen interest in regional economic and infrastructure connectivity and is a believer in clean energy development. He was elected as the president of the Future Energy Mongolian Hydrogen Council in November 2021. In 2014, he was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Mr. Byambasaikhan is the graduate of the National University of Mongolia and the George Washington University
Prof. DAVAADORJ Begz
Brigadier General, Director, the Institute for Strategic Studies, Mongolia
Mr. Davaadorj is the director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Brigadier General. He was born in Khovd province. He passed from the Soviet Military Institute in 1982, the Military Diplomatic Academy in 1986 and the National Institute of Discovery Science in 1999. Mr. Davaadorj began his career in 1982 as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander, in 1985 as an Officer, senior officer of MIA, in 1995 as an assistant to the Minister of Defense, MOD, and in 1999 as the head of the department, MIA. He also served as Defense Attaché to China in 2001, Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies since March 20, 2009, and Military Adviser to the Prime Minister of Mongolia at the United Nations since October 20, 2017. He has been working as the director of the Institute for Strategic Studies Since July 1. He was awarded the Military Commemoration Order, Combat Honor Medal. He lives with his wife and three children.
Mr. DULGUUN Baasandavaa
CEO, New Recovery Policy Accelerator under Cabinet Secretary, Mongolia
Mr.Dulguun Baasandavaa is the CEO of the New Recovery Policy Accelerator, the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit. He is also a member of the Economic Council which advises the Prime Minister. Before joining the delivery unit, he worked as the advisor to the acting Minister of Economy and Development. He was the Deputy Chairperson of the National Development Agency between 2020 and 2022. Previously, he served as a Board Member of the Mongolian Business Development Association, as Vice President at Tenger Capital, an investment banking arm of the Tenger Financial Group. Mr. Baasandavaa has over 10 years of experience in the financial market in Mongolia. Mr. Baasandavaa holds a Master of Public Administration in International Development from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (2018) and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Mathematics from the Connecticut College (2007). He is a co-author of two books: Business Planning and Sun Tsi (2006) and An Opportunity to Enter the EU Market (2007). He also co-translated six books from English to Mongolian: Audacity of Hope by President Barack Obama (2009), Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman (2010), Energy Autonomy by Hermann Scheer (2011), 1 Hour China by Jonathan Woetzel (2015), Good Economics in Hard Times by Abhijit Banerjee and Ester Duflo (2020) and Building State Capability by Matt Andrews, Lant Pritchett and Michael Woolcock (2022).
Dr. Olga DYOMINA
Senior Researcher, Economic Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (Online)
PD in Economics. Senior Research Fellow at the Economic Research Institute FEB RAS, Khabarovsk, Russia. Research area: energy complex of the Russian Far East, Energy cooperation in NEA, energy economics. The science experience is 12 years as a participant and a head of research projects of Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Foundation for Humanities, Russian Foundation for Basic Research and The Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability. Published more than 100 papers.
Mr. ENKHBAYAR Namjildorj
Head of Economic Security Research Сenter, Institute of Strategic Studies of Mongolia
Work Experience:
1992-2006: Economist and Director of the Fiscal Policy Department and Macroeconomic policy Department, Ministry of Finance.
2006-2011 and 2016-2019: Economic advisor to the Prime Minister of Mongolia.
2011-2015: Advisor to the Executive Director for Mongolia, at the World Bank, in Washington DC, U.S.A.
2019-2021: Associate professor of the Department of Policy and Politics Studies, National Academy of Governance, Mongolia.
Since October 10, 2021: Head of Economic Security Research Center, Institute of Strategic Studies of Mongolia.
Foreign language: Good in English and Russian.
Degree: Master of Business Administration.
Dr. ENKHBAYAR Shagdar
Senior Research Fellow, Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia
Enkhbayar Shagdar is a Senior Research Fellow at the Research Division and Business Support Division of the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA), Niigata, Japan. She has Ph.D. in Economics from Niigata University, MA in International Development from the International University of Japan (IUJ) and earned a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering from Moscow Technological Institute of Light Industry. Her research interests are economic development, trade policy, environment, climate change and energy in Northeast Asia. She is a member of the GTAP (Global Trade Analysis Network) and conducts various CGE analyses using GTAP Models. She is the Focal point at ERINA for the UNFCCC. In addition, she actively engages in cooperative projects between Niigata Prefecture of Japan and Mongolia on technology transfer projects in environmental, industry and infrastructure fields. Formerly, she worked at Mongolia’s ministries in charge for industry, trade, agriculture and business entities holding managerial positions.
Dr. FAN Xiaoju
Research Professor, Deputy Director of Institute of Japanese Studies,China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (Online)
Dr. FAN Xiaoju is Director and Research Professor of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR). She got her Ph.D. from Peking University in 2007, majoring in International Relations. She was a visiting scholar at Waseda University, Japan from December 2011 to October 2012. Her research covers Japanese foreign policy, Sino-Japanese relations, and Northeast Asian regional issues.
Mr. Xiaosong FANG
Director, International Business Department, Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute, China (Online)
Mr. Fang Xiaosong is a senior engineer and work as the director of International Department of China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute. He has rich experiences in researches on energy and power policies, energy development planning, power system planning, and energy international cooperation. He has led 13th Five-Year Power Planning Research of China, and has been awarded numerous times for his excellent work in the field of energy and power engineering consulting.
Dr. Lori FORMAN
Professor and Development Advisor, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
DR. LORI FORMAN joined the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in 2011, bringing a unique international background in corporate, government, academic and non-profit sectors. An expert on international economic development and foreign aid, civil society and public-private partnerships, Dr. Forman earned a Ph.D. from Keio University, and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University. Prior to joining APCSS Lori held senior corporate positions with Microsoft and Dubai Holding. In government she held senior positions including the U.S. Alternate Executive Director on the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank and Assistant Administrator for Asia and Near East of the US Agency for International Development. Dr. Forman also served in the NGO sector for 11 years, as the Director of the Japan Program of The Nature Conservancy. Dr. Forman began her post-graduate career in Washington D.C., serving as the Senior Political Analyst for the White House pollster.
Prof. Dr. Ruediger FRANK
Professor of East Asian Economy and Society, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna (Online)
Professor of East Asian Economy and Society, University of Vienna. Born and raised in socialist East Germany and lived for five years in the Soviet Union, experienced German Unification first hand as a 21-year-old, and shortly thereafter spent one semester as a language student at Kim-Il-Sung University in Pyongyang in 1991/1992. He holds an MA in Korean Studies and International Relations, and a PhD in Economics. On the basis of these skills and experiences, he has written extensively on various topics related to North Korea, including economic history during the 1950s, the connections between ideology and economic reform after the 1990s famine, the transformation of state-socialism, tourism and trade, the political economy of unification, etc. He has been working with the World Economic Forum 2011~2021 and was named one of the 50 most influential German economists by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in 2012. He tweets as @RFrankVienna.
Prof. Gregory GLEASON
Professor, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
Gregory Gleason works in the areas of comparative foreign policy and political economy. Gleason’s teaching, research and practical work focuses on the countries of the former USSR. Gleason served as U.S. Advisor to the Uzbekistan Ministry of Defense in 2018-2019 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Gleason joined the Marshall Center in September of 2007. Prior to joining the Marshall Center, Gleason taught international relations and comparative politics at the University of New Mexico, where he continues to be Professor Emeritus of Political Science. Gleason was a research fellow at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center. Gleason’s research has been sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences as well as other public and private foundations. Gleason graduated from the University of California, Irvine (1974) and completed graduate studies at the University of California, Davis (1984).
Prof. Jang Jae-HYUK
Research Professor
Jaehyuk Jang is an assistant professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), in the College of Asian Languages and Cultures, in the Department of Mongolian, Seoul, in South Korea. Jaehyuk Jang is the author of The Role of Mongolia in Multilateral Security Cooperation in the Twenty-first Century Northeast Asia: The Relevance of the ‘Ulaanbaatar Dialogue (UDB) Initiative, one of the papers in Asian Perspective journal’s volume 46, number 2 (Spring 2022). His Ph.D. dissertation deals with the role of Mongolia on the process of international regime building in Northeast Asia in the 21st Century. His primary research and teaching interests are the role of Mongolia on regional cooperation in Northeast Asia in the 21st century and a shift in Mongolia’s geopolitical identity. Also, his major research themes include Mongolian foreign policy and international relations in the region, based on international relation (IR) theory.
Mr. Yasin JANJUA
Economist, The United Nations Development Programme
Mr. Mohammad Yasin Janjua is an Economist with UNDP. Prior to joining UNDP, he has worked as an Economist with the Government of Canada, Canadian international Development Agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and as macroeconomics consultant with the World Bank, European Union, GIZ, DFID, and as a visiting faculty member with premier universities in Canada, including York University, Ryerson University, and University of Toronto at Mississauga. As an executive at UNDP’s Centre for Poverty Research and Social Policy Development in Pakistan, he led work on Pakistan’s Economic Growth Framework 2010 and Pakistan Millennium Development Goals Report 2010. Janjua holds a master’s degree in Economics from Kansas State University in USA and a Certificate in Economics of Environment and Innovation Policy from University of Ottawa.
Dr. Jean-Baptiste JEANGÈNE VILMER
Director, Institute for Strategic Research (IRSEM), French Ministry of Defense
Dr. Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer is director of the Institute for Strategic Research (IRSEM) at the French Ministry for the Armed Forces, and a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Washington DC. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) and an Honorary Ancien of NATO Defense College. He served previously as a Policy officer on “Security and Global Affairs” at the Policy Planning Staff (CAPS) of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Trained in three disciplines—philosophy (Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.), law (Bachelor, LL.M., post-doctorate) and in political science (doctorate)—, he held positions at the Faculty of Law at McGill University in Canada, at the department of War Studies of King’s College in London, at the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies of Yale University, at the French Embassy in Turkmenistan and at the University of Montreal.
Ms. Ijun KIM
ROK
Ijun Kim is a strong advocate of peacebuilding and sustainable development. She has cultivated an interest in such topics since a young age, growing up overseas with unique opportunities to immerse herself in culturally diverse environments. Her work experience spans from not-for-profit organizations to solar technology startups, a wide range that has allowed her to better understand the complex nature of international matters. With the hopes of deepening her knowledge about peacebuilding to later contribute to creating an environment in which more young people can be part of relevant endeavors, she participated in various projects organized by the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. The most recent initiative, named Futuring Peace in Northeast Asia, is a virtual dialogue series in which she joined as a co-designer and facilitator, working alongside professionals and youths alike to further the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.
Dr. Ki-Jung KIM
President of the Institute for National Security Strategy, ROK
Dr. Ki-jung Kim is currently the President of the Institute of National Security Strategy (INSS). Before joining the INSS, he taught and conducted research in the field of International Relations, East Asian international history, and foreign policy at the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Yonsei University. He received Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 1989. He served as policy advisor for the Korean government: for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Unification, and National Defense during 2004~2008. He served as Dean of the Graduate School of Public Administration at Yonsei University. He worked as Second Deputy of the Office of National Security in 2017. He has written many books and articles on Northeast Asian regional politics, American foreign policy, Korean-American relations, and strategic designing for the Korean peninsula.
Dr. Seiichiro KIMURA
Senior Researcher, Renewable Energy Institute, Japan
Seiichiro Kimura (Ph.D., P.E.jp) joined Renewable Energy Institute in 2018. Specializes in cost-benefit analysis, techno-economic analysis with market penetrating simulation in the energy system. He started his career at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2004, and was engaged in development of hydrogen energy until 2010. After working for International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research of Kyushu University, he became an associate at the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management between 2014 and 2018, where he was engaged in research on interconnecting electric power systems with the aim of increasing energy self-sufficiency through its own resources and eventually becoming a nation capable of suppling energy to other countries (energy-exporting nation). He received B.Sc. from Tokyo University of Science, M.Sc. from Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. from Kyushu University. At Renewable Energy Institute, his research focuses on interconnectors and market design for electricity system reform.
Ms. Yulia KRYACHKINA
Senior Research Fellow, Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, Russian Federation
Yulia Kryachkina is a senior expert at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, where she has been working since 2011. She is also a senior research fellow at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the RAS. Received B.A. in American Studies and M.A. in Asia-Pacific Studies from St-Petersburg State University, School of International Relations. Her research interests include the security problems in Asia-Pacific region, Eurasian integrational processes, Russia-Japan relations, defense policy of Japan, US policy in Asia-Pacific region.
Dr. Sunghoon LEE
Senior Research Fellow, the Institute for National Security Strategy, ROK
Senior Research Fellow of INSS
Former Dean of Joint Forces Staff College
Former Professor for the Korea National Defense University
Former Director of the Center for the Korea National Defense University
Former Research Fellow in the RAND Co. Asia-Pacific center
Ms. Rachel LEE
Regional Issues Manager and Senior Analyst, Open Nuclear Network
Rachel Minyoung Lee is the Regional Issues Manager and Senior Analyst for Open Nuclear Network (ONN), a program of One Earth Future. Rachel oversees the creation and development of ONN’s strategic network and works closely with analysts to identify strategies and products that can best meet partners’ and consumer’s needs. Rachel is also a Nonresident Fellow with the Stimson Center’s 38 North Program, where she is conducting research on North Korea’s economic policy-making. Rachel was a North Korea open-source collection expert and analyst with the US government from 2000 to 2019. She researched and wrote on the full range of North Korean issues, from leadership, domestic politics and economy, and foreign policy to social and cultural developments. As Analysis Team Lead, Rachel managed the entire collection-to-analysis cycle, leading a team of analysts in the collection, curating and baselining of data and the analysis of North and South Korean issues.
Mr. LUVSANTSEREN Ichinkhorloo
Director General, Fuel Policy Implementation Coordination Department, Ministry of Energy, Mongolia
Mr.Luvsantseren Ichinkhorloo, Director General of the Fuel Policy Implementation Coordination Department of the Ministry of Energy of Mongolia has been working in the energy sector for 12 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Moscow Power Engineering University in High voltage electrical equipment engineering and a master’s degree in Energy policy and green energy from the University of Korea in the Republic of Korea. Participated in long-term and short-term professional development trainings in Japan, India and Korea.
Mr. MASHBAT Otgonbayar
President, National Institute for Security Studies, Mongolia
Mr. Mashbat Otgonbayar is President, National Institute for Security Studies, Mongolia. He is a professional of national security and foreign policy of Mongolia, specialized in Tibetan and North Korean affairs. He has started his career as Assistant to Chair of the Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, Parliament of Mongolia in 1996-1998, after which he have worked for the Institute for Strategic Studies for fifteen years from a staff researcher to a vice-director. In ISS, he has effectively worked for National Security Council, MoD and MFA. In 2013, he has served for Minister of Foreign Affairs as Strategic Policy Adviser. In October 2014, he was appointed as Consul General of Mongolia in San Francisco, USA. He made his L.L.M. in Law School, National University of Mongolia in 1998 in the field of comparative constitution and MA in National Security Affairs in Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA in 2007.
Mr. MENDEE Jargalsaikhan
Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies
Dr. Mendee graduated from the Mongolian National Defense University and received his MAs from the US Naval Postgraduate School and the University of British Columbia. He obtained his PhD in political science from the University of British Columbia. Mendee served as political science and language instructor at the National Defense University, the Chief of the Foreign Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Defense, Defense Attaché at the Embassy of Mongolia in Washington, DC, senior expert at the Institute for Strategic Studies and Deputy Director of the Institute for Defense Analysis. He was the first Senior National Representative at the US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, the Asia Studies Visiting Fellow at the East West Center in Washington, and Post Graduate Research Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Dr. Mimura MITSUHIRO
Senior Research Fellow, Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia, Japan
MIMURA, Mitsuhiro is a Senior Research Fellow at the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA) in Niigata, Japan. His specialty includes North Korean law and economy, Northeast Asian cooperation mainly in economic field. He is one of the rare Japanese scholars who regularly exchanges thoughts directly with North Korean scholars in Pyongyang. Supported by colleagues in both Koreas, China, Russia, the U.S., the E.U. and Japan, his research has deep insight on Northeast Asia. His recent research can be accessed through: https://researchmap.jp/mimura?lang=en
Mr. MUNKH-OCHIR Dorjjugder
Chief of Strategic Policy and Analysis, Executive Office of the National Security Council of Mongolia
Munkh-Ochir Dorjjugder (Colonel, Mongolian Army) is a career military officer, security practitioner, academic and former intelligence officer. Since 2021 he has been affiliated with the Executive Office of the National Security Council of Mongolia as its Deputy Chief and Director for Strategic Policy and Analysis. Prior to that, he served as senior fellow/military analyst at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) (2018-21). His previous assignments include a number of key positions in the Mongolian military and intelligence community, notably Director of Military Intelligence (J2) (2015-17), Director for Administration, Ministry of Defense (2012-15, 2017-18) and Director for International Cooperation, Ministry of Defense (2009-2010). Col. Munkh-Ochir was also actively involved in academic community; besides NISS, he was Director of the Institute for Defense Studies (2011-12), senior fellow at the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) (2000-01, 2003-07) and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution (2010). In 2015, he was posted as military advisor to Permanent Mission of Mongolia to UN and other international agencies in Vienna and was involved with Mongolia’s chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Forum for Security Cooperation (OSCE FSC).
He is a graduate of the National University of Mongolia (1996) and the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA (2003) and completed the senior-level course at the NATO Defense College in Rome (2017). Col. Munkh-Ochir is an active supporter and contributor to the annual Ulaanbaatar Dialogue conferences – he served as moderator of first sessions in three consecutive UBD preceding the COVID-19 lockdown, in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Mr. Jean-Pascal NGANOU
Senior Economist for Mongolia, World Bank
Jean-Pascal N. Nganou, Ph.D., is the World Bank Senior Economist for Mongolia, based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia since August 2017. He leads the macroeconomic and fiscal analysis and forecasting and coordinates the World Bank’s policy and institutional advice for Mongolia. Dr. Nganou recently led the preparation of the Mongolia Mines and Minds (3M) report which argues that mines represent Mongolia’s present while minds (i.e., people and institutions) are its future. Moreover, the latest Mongolia Economic Update, Navigating Stronger Headwinds (April 2022), describes the daunting challenges that Mongolia faces in its Post pandemic recovery. Dr. Jean-Pascal Nganou joined the Bank in 1998. Following two years of work on private sector development issues in several Latin American and Asian countries, he worked as the country economist for Burundi, and Uganda, either in Washington or in the field. His assignment in Burundi was focused on public finance management, private sector development, and poverty reduction in a post-conflict country. In Uganda, he mainly helped the government reflect on alternative approaches to the management of future oil and mineral resources, which were described in the country’s growth report. Dr. Nganou has a special interest in macroeconomic and econometric modeling as well as issues pertaining to economic diversification for development, especially in resource-rich countries. He is an external research associate at the Info-Metrics Institute at American University, Washington DC. He holds a master’s degree in Economics from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Economics from American University in Washington, DC., USA.
Dr. Byung Kwang PARK
Senior Research Fellow, Institute for National Security Strategy, ROK
Park, Byung Kwang is Director of Center for International Cooperation and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) in Korea. Dr. Park received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Fudan University, China. He is a Member of the Advisory Committee for Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the Evaluation Committee for Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the Advisory Committee for Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, Member of the Advisory Committee for Korean Air Forces, Standing Committee Member of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC). He was a Post-doctoral Fellow of Seoul National University, Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for Oriental Culture of Tokyo University, Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University (NCCU), President of the Korean Association of Area Studies (KAAS). His main research field focuses on China’s foreign policy toward North-East Asian Countries, and East Asian Security Issues.
Mr. Pavit RAMACHANDRAN
The Country Director at the Mongolia Resident Mission with the Asian Development Bank
Mr. Ramachandran serves as the Country Director at the Mongolia Resident Mission with the Asian Development Bank. He is responsible for overall country program, operational portfolio and knowledge management. Leads operations in Mongolia managing an active portfolio of around $2 billion. Supervises the implementation of the ADB’s Country Operations Business Plan in line with the current Country Partnership Strategy, 2017-2020 and the next Country Partnership Strategy to be developed. Primary liaison for ADB with government, private sector, development partners, and civil society in Mongolia. He has a diverse and multifaceted background with more than twenty-six years of international development experience, covering over twelve countries in the Asia-Pacific region. His experience spans both public and private sectors in developing and managing complex country and regional programs. He is skilled in strategic visioning, program development, building partnerships, operational planning and delivery. Mr. Ramachandran possesses strong operational expertise including investment projects as well as policy and knowledge support covering rural development, environment, energy, agriculture, and water sectors. Mr. Ramachandran joined ADB in May 2009 and has progressed through different positions in charge of programming, processing and administration of projects and knowledge work. In his previous role, as a Principal Environment Specialist of ADB’s East Asia Department, he was leading policy dialogue and program lending operations in Mongolia including the preparation of the Ulaanbaatar Air Quality Improvement Program. Mr. Ramachandran has led efforts to facilitate and enact policy reforms, mobilize financing, and promote capacity development across multiple countries in Asia and the Pacific. Educational qualifications include a Master’s in Public Management from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Masters from the Delhi School of Economics.
Dr. Albrecht SCHNABEL
Head, Asia-Pacific Unit, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance
Albrecht SCHNABEL is Head of the Asia-Pacific Unit at DCAF “Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance. His research, advisory and capacity-building activities focus on security sector governance and reform, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining DCAF in 2008, he held research and teaching appointments at the American University in Bulgaria, the Central European University/Budapest, United Nations University/Tokyo, Swiss Peace Foundation, and the University of Bern. Further experiences include military service in the German Federal Armed Forces, OSCE election monitoring missions, a term as President of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centre’s, and serving as an external faculty member on regional security sector development courses at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. He studied comparative politics and international relations at the University of Munich, the University of Nevada, and Queen’s University, Canada, where he received his PhD in Political Studies in 1995.
Mr. Mike STEVENS
Faculty Associate for Research, Department of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School
Michael has been on the faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School since 2010. His research and teaching focuses on comprehensive defense as a means of strategic deterrence for countering attacks on national sovereignty.
Mr. Jie TANG
Practice Manager, Energy and Extractives Global Practice, World Bank (Online)
Jie Tang, Practice Manager for the Energy and Extractive Global Practice of the World Bank, is in charge of the Bank’s energy programs covering 26 countries in East Asia and Pacific Region. He joined the World Bank in 2001 as a Young Professional and has recently held the positions of Lead Energy Specialist, Program Leader for energy/transport/ICT, and Practice Manager. Before joining the World Bank, he worked for 15 years on China Three Gorges Dam Project, at various technical and managerial positions including senior power engineer, Division Director for mechanical and electrical engineering and the assistant to the Vice Chairman of the State Council Three Gorges Project Committee. He holds a BSc in Electric Engineering from the Hydropower College of Wuhan University, China in 1985, and a MBA from University of Cambridge, England in 2001.
Mr. TENGIS Batbayar
Mongolia
He is working in Mongolian of Northeast Asian Security and Strategy (MINASS) as a fellow researcher, also coordinator of MINASS club which is club of young researchers. During his time, he organized couple of online dialogues with international student from foreign universities such as like Hokkaido, Kyoto from Japan, Johns Hopkins University from US. He also wrote a book called “Indo-Pacific Concept: The position of the quad countries” which is the first book about Indo-Pacific strategy in Mongolian, with colleagues. His chapter is US policy on Indo-Pacific strategy. His research area is Security studies, Peace studies and International investment law.
Professor Wade TURVOLD
CAPT, USN, (Ret), Professor, Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies
Captain Wade Turvold, United States Navy (Retired) serves as a Professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has extensive operational and flight experience in the Indo-Pacific region. He was privileged to serve in two educational assignments during this time, as the U.S. Navy Senior Service Representative and Director National Security Studies at the U.S. Army War College, and the U.S. Navy Exchange Directing Staff at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Defense Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, England. He focuses on maritime security, Russia, Japan, and Northeast Asia. He leads the Maritime Security Working Group and has organized numerous courses and workshops on the topic. He also focuses on Russia in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as on Japan and Northeast Asia.
Hon. Bryon WILFERT
Former member of Parliament, Strategic Advisor, Macdonald Laurier Institute, Canada
The Honourable Bryon Wilfert served for 26 years of elected political office both as a Municipal Councillor and as Member of Parliament. He served as Junior Minister of the Environment, as well as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and National Defence. He served as Vice President of APPECD Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Environment Conference Development) based in Korea. Bryon holds a Master of Arts in Political Economy (U of T), Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D) (U of T – Rotman School), and holds an Accredited Municipal Clerk and Treasurer (AMCT) in Municipal Administration from St. Lawrence College. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun – Gold/Silver Star from His Imperial Majesty and the Prime Minister of Japan for his tireless work on Canada/Japan relations. He holds the Queen’s Gold and Diamond Jubilee Medals. He has received three times Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow awards. He is Senior Associate at Tactix Government Relations & Public Affairs in Ottawa, Vice President – International Relations with Emission Technologies International Inc., and Honorary Consul General for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Bryon serves as Chair of the Canada/Pakistan Business Council and Advisor to the Canada/Vietnam Trade Council. Bryon is a Member of Board of Director of the NATO Association of Canada; a member of Advisory Board of Macdonald Laurier Institute; and an Oversight Committee Member of Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). Bryon played an active role during Canada’s mission to Afghanistan. He is a Vice Chair of the Special Canadian Committee on Afghanistan of Shadow Minister of National Defense; Vice Chair of the National Defense Committee, Member of the Special Afghan Documents Committee. He had three trips to Afghanistan in 2006, 2008, 2010 and had meetings with Former President Karzai, MPs of the Afghan Parliament, Tribal Elders, Canadian Allied Forces and Afghan Soldier. Bryon also visited to Kabul, Kandahar and Zhari District. The Honourable Bryon Wilfert, has spoken on International Relations in various universities. He has also been a Master of Ceremonies at various events over the years.
Mr. Matthew WITTENSTEIN
Chief, Energy Connectivity Section, Energy Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Matthew Wittenstein is Chief of Section for Energy Connectivity at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). In his role, Matthew supports member States in their efforts improve the sustainability and security of their energy systems through increased cross-border power system integration. Recent work includes capacity building for energy regulators and utilities in South East Asia, an assessment of the potential to develop a green power corridor in North-East Asia, and supporting increased cooperation on sustainable energy among the countries of the Pacific. Prior to joining the UN, Matthew was a Senior Electricity Analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA), where he focused on the economics of generation, the challenges of encouraging investment in clean energy technologies, and electricity market design. From 2011 to 2014, he was a Fellow at the US Department of Energy. Matthew holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, with a concentration in international economic policy.
Mr. David M. WOGAN
Assistant Vice President Asia-Pacific Energy Research Centre
Dr. David Wogan is Assistant Vice President and a Senior Visiting Researcher at APERC. He coordinates the APEC Energy Outlook, which provides supply and demand projections for the 21 economies of APEC. In addition, David leads data science and energy economic modelling research activities. Previously, David was a Senior Research Associate at the King Abdullah Petroleum Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There he led projects on energy subsidy price reform, low carbon transition pathways, and integrating the electricity systems of GCC member states. David served in the White House Council on Environmental Quality in 2010, and at Austin Energy, the municipally-owned electricity utility for the city of Austin, Texas, USA. David holds a PhD in Energy Economics from the University Paris Nanterre; a Master of Science (M.S.) in Mechanical Engineering; and a Master of Public Affairs (MPAff) from The University of Texas at Austin.