Bernadia IRAWATI TJANDRADEWI

Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC)

Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi is the first woman to serve as Secretary General of the United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), the largest regional section of the global UCLG network. With over 20 years of experience in urban development and related fields, Dr. Bernadia has established herself as a respected figure in the international arena.

Her professional journey began at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), followed by a significant tenure at CITYNET in Yokohama, Japan. Dr. Bernadia has also contributed to academia as a visiting professor at several universities in Japan and has been a sought-after speaker at numerous international forums. In recognition of her expertise, she was appointed to the Advisory Group on Gender Issues (AGGI) of UN-Habitat in 2015. Her impactful work was further acknowledged in 2018 when she was named one of the prominent women driving change in the Asia-Pacific region by GovInsider Asia.

Dr. Bernadia holds a PhD in Urban Engineering from the University of Tokyo, a Master’s degree in Atmospheric Physics from Nagoya University, Japan, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the National University of Singapore. In August 2022, she completed the prestigious National Resilience Institute Programme (PPRA 63) of the Republic of Indonesia. Her contributions to sustainable urban development were further recognised on 2 October 2023, when she received special citations from UN-Habitat. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Expert Group on Climate and SDGs Synergy, co-convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat.

Dr. Bernadia’s professional interests span strategic urban planning, climate change, disaster management, water management, women’s empowerment, and local governance. Her leadership at UCLG ASPAC has been marked by significant achievements. Under her leadership, the ASEAN Mayors Forum (AMF) received accreditation from the ASEAN Secretariat in 2018, making it the only local government entity formally affiliated with ASEAN. She also spearheaded the formation of the Asia-Pacific Local Government (APLG) Coordinating Body, a vital advocacy platform for local governments at the United Nations. Furthermore, she has played a pivotal role in assisting cities and local governments in SDGs localisation, such as the development of the Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) of Hamamatsu, Jakarta, Surabaya, Jambi, Bandar Lampung, and Samarinda, among others.

As Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, Dr. Bernadia is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Regional General Assembly, the Regional Council, and the Executive Bureau. Her role includes managing the Secretariat, programmes, and finances, ensuring alignment with the strategic direction set by the Presidency and reporting to the Executive Bureau.

INADA Kyosuke

Director General for Sustainability Management, Operations Strategy Department, JICA

Over 30 years of experience in infrastructure and environmental financing working for Japan’s international development agency. Currently serves as Director General for Sustainability Management, overseeing organization-wide mainstreaming of sustainability related issues (climate/Paris alignment, nature, and other ESG aspects), both for operation and corporate. Past assignments include, Chief Representative for Europe based in Paris, Senior Deputy Director General of Africa Department, member of the Digital Transformation Taskforce, Senior Director and head of India Division, Deputy Chief of Myanmar Office, Director of Climate Change Office, Deputy Director of Corporate Finance Department, Representative of PRC Office in Beijing. Obtained BA Economics, Keio University, Japan, MSc in Environmental Change and Management, University of Oxford, UK, and studied Chinese language at Peking University, PRC.

KOSAKA Kayoko

Chief Sustainability Officer, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.