Announcement of Mr Nobuo Tanaka as Co-Chair and Mr Hisashi Yoshikawa as Advisor of the Advisory Committee

 

[Sydney, Australia, 9 June 2023] – The International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS) is pleased to announce that Mr. Nobuo Tanaka, former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has accepted the invitation from the ISETS Council to serve as Co-Chair of the ISETS Advisory Committee. Meanwhile, Professor Hisashi Yoshikawa, a Project Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, has accepted the role of advisor.

Mr. Nobuo Tanaka currently serves as the Chairman of the steering committee of the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF), established by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014. Starting his career in 1973 at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), he has held various high-ranking positions, including Director-General of the Multilateral Trade System Department. During his tenure as the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2007 to 2011, he initiated a collective release of oil stocks. While serving as the Minister for Industry, Trade, and Energy at the Embassy of Japan in Washington DC, he played a significant role in bilateral trade issues with the US. Additionally, he has twice served as the Director for Science, Technology, and Industry (DSTI) at the Paris-based international organization, OECD. Currently, as the CEO of Tanaka Global Inc, he provides advisory services to several Japanese and international companies.

Mr. Hisashi Yoshikawa is a Project Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, and is affiliated with the Policy Alternatives Research Institute. He obtained a master’s degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 1987 and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Tokyo in 1981. Prior to joining the university in September 2011, he held positions at prominent organizations. He served as Senior Advisor for Long-Term Policy at the International Energy Agency (IEA) and as Deputy Director of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Industry (STI) at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Additionally, he gained experience working in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of the Japanese Government, where he held directorial roles including Director of the Service Affairs Policy Division and Director of the Petroleum Distribution Division. Currently, he also serves as an advisor for the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) and a Senior Research Fellow at the Canon Institute for Global Strategy (CIGS). Mr. Yoshikawa’s expertise lies in policy planning and implementation, with a focus on the energy sector.

“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Tanaka and Professor Yoshikawa to the ISETS Advisory Committee,” said Professor Xiansheng Sun, Council Chair of ISETS. “Their extensive experience and profound understanding of the energy transition will be instrumental in shaping our agenda, facilitating collaboration, and generating impactful policy recommendations.”

For media inquiries, please contact: isets@isets.org.

 

About ISETS:

 

The International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS) is a leading global organization dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary research and promoting dialogue on energy transition. Through its diverse network of experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, ISETS aims to advance the understanding of energy transitions, facilitate collaboration, and provide evidence-based insights to support the development of sustainable energy systems worldwide.