Kenji Takamiya is an economist of the Asian Development Bank, working on a broad range of issues related to economic policy and international development. His publications include “Recently Acceded Members of the World Trade Organization: Membership, the Doha Development Agenda, and Dispute Settlement” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019). He has MA from Yale University, MPhil and PhD from the University of Cambridge, and the Executive Certificate from the J.F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Dilfuza Zakirova is the Country Director of ACTED in Uzbekistan. With over 15 years of experience in international development, Ms. Zakirova has made significant contributions to strengthening the role of civil society organizations, promoting good governance, and advancing gender equality in Uzbekistan. ACTED in Uzbekistan where Ms. Zakirova has a long term managerial experience implemented a number of projects aimed at capacity building and empowerment of local civil society organizations, protecting the economic and social rights of women, and preventing Gender-Based Violence.

Alison is a Project Director for DT Global in the Asia Pacific Sustainable Infrastructure team. She has corporate responsibility for leading business priorities which includes developing client relationships, framing business strategy, and delivering quality project outcomes. Passionate about the leading conversation in innovative and practical infrastructure delivery, Alison focuses on developing strong collaborative partnerships with donors, executing agencies, stakeholders, private companies, government organizations, and civil society.

Heeta Lakhani is a climate educator from Mumbai, India. She has a Master's degree in Environmental Studies & Resource Management from TERI University, New Delhi. She has been active at the local as well as international level since the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015.

Elisa is a consulting professional at Arup with over 15 years’ experience in the development of feasibility studies and business cases across a range of social and economic infrastructure projects. Prior to consulting she worked with the Australian Agency for International Development with a focus on procurement and funding for infrastructure projects in the Pacific.

Rich Thorsten has twenty-five years of experience in non-profit operations, environmental and international development finance and management, advocacy, research, and evaluation. Prior to his current role at Water.org, he spent several years in program and executive positions at resource conservation organizations in the United States and served as a board member for non-profit groups specializing in international development. Rich has worked in advocacy, technical advisory, and research roles with the U.S.

William Lucht is the Youth Project Designer in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Rural Development and Climate Change at Youth for Asia, where he supports the environmental program by creating and designing sustainable innovative solutions for youth inclusion in environment-focused ADB projects.