Changes in IAPH’s Tokyo-based Finance & Administration team mean that the association is bidding farewell to a valued colleague while welcoming a new face. Director, technical committees and ESI liaison, Takeshi Suzuki has completed his three-year secondment from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Takeshi has played a key role in the success of the organisation during his tenure, coordinating the association’s technical committee work, providing valuable oversight on the development of the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and critical liaison services around the organisation of the World Ports Conference in Kobe. He has taken up a new position at the Ports and Airport Research Institute. Takeshi’s successor in the role is Masaoki Shirai. Masaoki was previously director of the Ocean and Environmental Policy Division, at the Ports and Harbours Bureau at MLIT, where he was responsible for establishing a national framework for promoting the introduction of offshore wind power and promoting measures such as blue carbon and the circular economy. Masaoki has also held roles as the manager of ports and airports division for the Akita Prefecture and first secretary at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines in 2008. He holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Osaka University. Welcome to the team, Masaoki! Finally, there is a newly created email address covering technical committees, steering groups and working groups: [email protected].
IAPH welcomes Masaoki Shirai and bids farewell to Takeshi Suzuki.
