S D Rasika Perera is the Project Director of the Science and Technology Human Resource Development Project, an ADB-supported project in Sri Lanka. Concurrent with this role, he works with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Open University of Sri Lanka. Before joining the project, he was the director general of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka. Mr. Perera holds degrees in master of science, master of philosophy, and doctorate in philosophy in mechanical engineering, with his PhD obtained from the Sheffield Hallam University UK. 

Mr. Jesper Pedersen is the Director of Procurement Division 1 of ADB’s Procurement, Portfolio, and Financial Management Department. His division covers ADB’s portfolio in Central, West, and South Asia. Jesper has been with ADB for over 11 years. He initially joined ADB in December 2009 in the former Central Operations Services Office (now PPFD) as a Procurement Specialist. He was responsible for procurement support in ADB’s Southeast Asia Department until 2019 when he became responsible for the development of ADB procurement policy.

Ahmed Murthaza is the Director General at the Ministry of Environment of Maldives and head of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Department. He manages the implementation of several multidonor waste management projects across the Maldives. With more than 15 years of experience in waste management, Mr. Murthaza has been working to establish a sustainable waste management system in the country. He led the formulation of Maldives’ first national waste management policy.

Matt Rees is the Financial Management Specialist in ADB’s Papua New Guinea Resident Mission. He is a financial professional with over 16 years of experience, 10 years of which are in developing member countries. As a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ as well as CPA Papua New Guinea, he brings a best practice accounting approach to solving challenges in the developing market context.  Having worked extensively in the commercial and development sectors, Mr. Rees brings a solutions-based approach in delivering successful projects in Papua New Guinea. 

Melissa Paterno is the Principal Financial Management Specialist in ADB’s Southeast Asia Department. She has over 15 years of experience in sovereign and non-sovereign operations in ADB, including as senior institutional coordination specialist in the Pacific Department, senior financial specialist with the Southeast Asia Department, and investment specialist in the Private Sector Operations Department. Before joining ADB, Ms. Paterno was with ABN Amro (formerly ING Barings) in New York and Citibank, N.A.

Maria João Kaizeler is the Senior Financial Management Specialist in ADB’s Public Financial Management Division in the Procurement, Portfolio and Financial Management Department. She has more than 15 years of professional experience in financial management, financial reporting, auditing, and governance. Prior to joining ADB, Ms. Kaizeler was the financial management coordinator in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and before that, was a financial management specialist in the World Bank.

Saranga Gajasinghe is the Safeguards Officer in ADB’s Sri Lanka Resident Mission. Prior to his current assignment, he worked as a social safeguard specialist for ADB’s water and transport projects and for World Bank’s climate resilience project. Mr. Gajasinghe has a master’s degree in integrated water resource management from the University of Peradeniya and a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the same university.

Koichi Takei is a counsel and procurement focal point at ADB’s Office of the General Counsel. He has over 17 years of professional experience in procurement for development assistance projects, particularly in Asia and Africa. He provides advice on procurement policies and rules, response to bid protests and resolution of contract disputes. Prior to joining ADB, he held senior procurement posts in the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Mr. Takei is a Japanese national and holds a master of law degree from George Washington University.