Empowering the future: Clean energy innovations, regional cooperation and integration, and financing solutions.
2 – 6 June 2025 | ADB Headquarters, Manila
Plenary Speaker 2025
ALL SPEAKERS
Akilur Rahman
Hitachi Energy India
Akilur Rahman
Hitachi Energy India
Bio
Akilur Rahman is the Chief Technology Officer (India) and Market Innovation Lead (South Asia) at Hitachi Energy, where he drives technology, digitalization, and innovation strategies across the energy sector. With over 36 years of experience in research, R\&D, technology management, and product development, he has held key global and regional roles in India, Germany, and Switzerland. He previously served as CTO of ABB India and led ABB’s corporate research and automation software R\&D initiatives. At Hitachi Energy, Akilur focuses on developing core, automation, and digital technologies for power systems, asset performance, and energy management across utilities, industry, infrastructure, and transport. He actively co-creates solutions in smart grids, energy internet, sustainable mobility, and digital enterprises, while promoting ESG and carbon-neutral futures. Akilur holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Kharagpur and is a recognized thought leader and speaker, connecting policymakers, industry, and customers to accelerate the energy transition and digital transformation in South Asia.
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Bio
Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on 13 September 2018.Prior to joining ESCAP, Ms. Alisjahbana was Professor of Economics at Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia, a position she assumed in 2005. She joined Universitas Padjadjaran as a lecturer in 1988. Since 2016, she has served as Director for the Center for Sustainable Development Goals Studies at Universitas Padjadjaran and Vice Chair of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences.She also serves on the Governing Board of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia - AIPI), the Forum of Statistics Community (Forum Masyarakat Statistik or Advisory Council of the Indonesian Statistics), the International Advisory Board of the Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies and Council Member of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI).From 2009 to 2014, she was Minister of National Development Planning and the Head of the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Indonesia. She served as Co-chair of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation from 2012 to 2014. From 2009 to 2014, she was Alternate Governor of the World Bank and Alternate Governor of the Asian Development Bank representing the government of Indonesia. In 2016, she was a member of the High Level Independent Team of Advisors to support the ECOSOC Dialogue on the longer term positioning of the United Nations Development System in the context of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.Ms. Alisjahbana has been involved in various research projects and consultancies to the United Nations University/Institute for Advanced Study in Tokyo, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the European Commission, and the International Labor Organization (ILO).Ms. Alisjahbana earned her Bachelor degree in Economics and Development Studies from Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia, a Masters degree in Economics from Northwestern University, USA and a Ph.D in Economics from University of Washington, USA. She was awarded the Mahaputra Adipradana Order (Bintang Mahaputra Adipradana) from the Republic of Indonesia, honorary brevet from the Indonesian Navy and honorary flight wing from the Indonesian Air Force.
Bhargav Dasgupta
Asian Development Bank
Bhargav Dasgupta
Asian Development Bank
Bio
Mr. Dasgupta is a financial industry leader with over 35 years of experience across a range of economies, including in Asia and the Pacific. He was Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd., the largest private sector general insurance company in India. He led ICICI’s successful initial public offering, making it the first listed general insurance company in India. In his earlier years at ICICI Bank, Mr. Dasgupta held various leadership positions in project finance, corporate banking and treasury, e-commerce, international banking, and insurance. He was instrumental in ICICI's globalization and insurance business growth. As Senior General Manager and Head of the International Business Group and the Global Markets Group, Mr. Dasgupta was responsible for the company's clients in international markets, including correspondent banks and all international lending. He also led the establishment of international operations in 14 countries through branches, subsidiaries, or representative offices. Mr. Dasgupta holds a post graduate diploma in business administration from the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore, India. He obtained his bachelor of engineering (mechanical) degree from Jadavpur University in Kolkata, India.
Boonam Shin
Korea Energy Agency
Boonam Shin
Korea Energy Agency
Bio
Ambassador Shin is a seasoned diplomat and climate leader, currently serving as Executive Director of Climate Action at the Korea Energy Agency since January 2024. He has held several high-profile roles in international climate diplomacy, including Vice President of the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea and Director to the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) since 2020. His government career culminated in his service as Ambassador to Bulgaria and Kuwait (2014–2018), and previously as Ambassador for Climate Change (2013) and Ambassador for Green Growth (2011), where he led Korea’s international climate negotiations and played a key role in institutionalizing the GGGI. He was instrumental in negotiating the intergovernmental treaty establishing GGGI, adopted during the Rio+20 UN Conference in 2012, and in organizing its inaugural assembly later that year. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN (2008–2011) and gained deep expertise in environmental policy through leadership roles such as Vice Chair of the OECD Environmental Policy Committee, Director-General for International Cooperation at the Korean Ministry of Environment, and Vice Chair of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. His academic and advisory contributions, including teaching at Handong Global University, reflect his commitment to advancing sustainable development and climate action globally.
Catherine L. Fong
Department of Finance, Philippines
Catherine L. Fong
Department of Finance, Philippines
Bio
USEC Fong has worked in public-private partnerships (PPP) for almost twenty years. A lawyer by background, she has worked with both public and private sectors in various PPP projects. Appointed by the president in July 2022, Cathy now serves as the Undersecretary for Privatization and Corporate Affairs at the Department of Finance (DOF), entrusted with the task of creating a more enabling environment for PPPs to flourish, among other critical mandates. Prior to her role in the DOF, USEC Fong was a valuable member of the transaction advisory team of the Office of Public-Private Partnership of the Asian Development Bank, where she had served since its creation in 2015. She graduated AB Communications from Ateneo De Manila University and also holds her Juris Doctor at the same school.
F. Cleo Kawawaki
Asian Development Bank
F. Cleo Kawawaki
Asian Development Bank
Bio
F. Cleo Kawawaki has more than 32 years of professional work experience, including 22 years in ADB. Cleo has led ADB projects worth over $6 billion and managed a $7 billion portfolio. In December 2014, she was promoted to Director and went on to become Deputy Director General in the Southeast Asia Department in July 2017. In 2021 she became a Senior Advisor in the Central and West Asia Department. Cleo was appointed Head of OPPP in January 2022. Ms. Kawawaki joined ADB in October 2000 as a Commercial Cofinancing Officer in the former Office for Cofinancing Operations. In January 2004 she joined ADB’s Southeast Asia Department as a Senior Private Sector Development Specialist. In 2006 she was transferred to the Central and West Asia Department as a Senior Private Sector Development Specialist and was promoted to Principal Energy Specialist in 2008. Before ADB, she worked as an investment banker at Nomura Securities in Japan and in Hong Kong, China. There, she led documentation for UK electricity privatization and worked as a transaction advisor for state-owned enterprises. Cleo also structured finance and managed syndication for equity and bond sales. Immediately before joining ADB, she structured transactions for Miyazawa initiative debt guarantees to support ASEAN countries.
Fatima Yasmin
Asian Development Bank
Fatima Yasmin
Asian Development Bank
Bio
Ms. Yasmin was the Senior Secretary at the Finance Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance. She has more than 32 years of broad development experience, including in macroeconomic management, public sector and fiscal policy reform, and trade and poverty reduction in government and international organizations. ADB’s sector and thematic expertise are consolidated in the two groups under Ms. Yasmin to deliver integrated solutions to clients in accordance with country programs and strengthen ADB’s position as a leader in development knowledge in the region. The sector and thematic groups will launch and lead innovative initiatives to tackle the region’s key development challenges, with a focus on climate change. Ms. Yasmin holds a master in development economics from Australian National University and a master of business administration from the Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University, in Bangladesh. She also received a Fellowship in Public Policy and Human Rights under the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program at Rutgers University in New Jersey, United States.
Hideaki Iwasaki
Asian Development Bank
Hideaki Iwasaki
Asian Development Bank
Bio
Hideaki Iwasaki joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2002 and since February 2025 is Director General for Sectors Department 1, which manages operations for the energy and transport sectors.Mr. Iwasaki has 35 years of professional work experience, including more than 22 years in ADB. Prior to assuming the current role, he served as Deputy Director General for the Pacific Department covering 14 developing member countries in the Pacific where he provided guidance and advice on country programs and projects and directly guided ADB’s operations in the North Pacific. He was formerly Country Director to Thailand and was Transport Sector Director in the Southeast Asia and Central and West Asia departments. Mr. Iwasaki started his career in ADB as a project engineer in the South Asia Department, primarily involved in transport sector work for Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. He also had a short stint in Myanmar in 2012-13 to reestablish ADB operations. Before joining ADB, Mr. Iwasaki worked for the Government of Japan for 12 years, in the areas of policy development and program administration in transport infrastructure development and urban/regional programs.Mr. Iwasaki is a national of Japan and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in urban planning from the University of Tokyo, Japan, and a master’s degree in transportation engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA.
Hongpeng Liu
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Hongpeng Liu
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Bio
Mr. Hongpeng Liu is Director of Energy Division in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). He is leading the energy team in ESCAP to promote regional energy cooperation with a focus on energy transition and the Sustainable Development Goal 7 - affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all including the initiatives on the development of the National SDG7 Road Map, energy connectivity for regional economic cooperation and enhancing the sustainability of minerals critical to energy transition. His work ranges from conducting policy studies to organising intergovernmental meetings and policy dialogues, as well as facilitating regional cooperation on capacity building in Asia and the Pacific.
Naeem Rauf
Energy Division, Punjab, Pakistan
Bio
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Priyantha Wijayatunga
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Priyantha Wijayatunga
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Bio
Priyantha has over 35 years of professional experience including 17 years in ADB. He served as the Director, South Asia Energy Division and Chief of Energy Sector Group prior to assuming the current position in June 2023. Before joining ADB, he served as the founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. He has extensively contributed in the areas of energy policy and regulation, energy planning and clean energy development. Priyantha holds a Doctorate in Power Systems Economics from the Imperial College London had been a regular Academic Visitor at Imperial College London during the period 1993-1998. He was a Chairman of the South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulators (SAFIR) and was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Ceylon Electricity Board and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority. He was an Advisory Board member of the Melbourne Energy Institute at the University of Melbourne. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a Chartered Electrical Engineer and a Member of the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), UK. He is a Past President of the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association.
Rhiannon Harries
British High Commission, Singapore
Rhiannon Harries
British High Commission, Singapore
Bio
Rhiannon was appointed Deputy Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific (Southeast Asia) in April 2024. She is based at the British High Commission in Singapore and leads a team of 90 staff across the region to grow the UK’s trade and investment relationships with Southeast Asia.Rhiannon joined the UK Civil Service in 2006 and her previous positions have included Director for the Better Regulation Executive in Department for Business & Trade HQ and Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia, based at the British High Commission, New Delhi. Her career has spanned several government departments on topics including business, energy, civil nuclear, policing and national security. Rhiannon grew up in Worcestershire and studied at University College, Oxford and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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