Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)

CHRISTOPH PUSCH is the Program Manager of the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), providing strategic leadership and technical expertise in driving flagship knowledge programs and bridging Japanese and global expertise to shape transformative investment projects in World Bank (WB) client countries. He is a global leader in sustainable urban development and resilience, recognized for pioneering innovative knowledge platforms and programs in the past 20 years, blending technical expertise with strategic vision to address complex urban and resilience challenges, and leading high-impact initiatives across Africa, South Asia,Europe and Central Asia, and globally. Christoph previously served as Practice Manager for the Europe and Central Asia Region, overseeing an investment portfolio of more than US$5 billion to help advance sustainable cities, regional development, cultural heritage preservation, urban resilience, disaster recovery and reconstruction, critical infrastructure protection, and municipal finance reforms. He worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Germany before joining the WB and holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the Technical University of Berlin.

SHOKO TAWARA is the Deputy Program Manager of the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), supporting the strategic management and delivery of TDLC’s knowledge-sharing programs and leading the coordination across TDLC’s core program streams — from annual work planning, trust fund management, compliance, performance monitoring and reporting to the design and delivery of learning and capacity-building activities. She works closely with partners across Japan, including government counterparts, municipalities, knowledge institutions and private sector organizations, forming and strengthening collaboration to identify and mobilize expertise and practical insights that support urban development and resilient cities globally. Prior to her work at TDLC, Shoko was an Assistant Manager at a consultancy firm where she oversaw budget and contract management and resource mobilization for large-scale infrastructure projects. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Northwestern University and a master's degree in international affairs from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

JON KHER KAW, as Technical Lead at the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), bridges global knowledge, financing and operational solutions to advance sustainable urban development. With over 20 years of experience, he is a recognized global leader in spatial planning, integrated urban development, urban economics, land and real estate, urban governance and finance. At the World Bank (WB), John has led policy dialogues, business development, and the design and implementation of complex investments and policy initiatives across South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and globally. He has authored several WB global reports on cities and urbanization, managed numerous high-impact analytical and advisory services for national and subnational governments and currently serves as chair of the WB Community of Practice on Urban and Regional Planning. He held key positions within the Government of Singapore before joining the WB. Jon has a master’s degree with a specialization in urbanization and real estate from Harvard University, a master’s degree in architecture from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from the National University of Singapore.

RIEKO KUBOTA is a Senior Program Officer at the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), where she leads knowledge creation activities, spearheading the development and dissemination of technical notes, case studies and TDLC-supported WB flagship reports such as the recently launched “What a Waste 3.0”, which presents updated statistical analytics on the global solid waste management situation. She also oversees the design and delivery of knowledge sharing programs on the topics of quality infrastructure investment and urban reconstruction, drawing on her experience of more than 20 years in international development practice and research on the themes of waste management, circular economy, environmental policy and governance, governance and rule-making, and sustainable tourism. Rieko led investment preparation, policy dialogues and advisory services on waste management, circular economy, and plastic pollution for countries in Southeast Asia, East Asia and Europe in her previous post as WB Senior Environmental Engineer. Before joining the WB, she worked at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, UNESCO, DEVEX, and JICA, and represented Japan in rule-making for waste management on ISO technical committees. She holds a master's degree in peolitical science and economy.

HARUKA MIKI is an Operations Officer of the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), leading the design and delivery of knowledge exchange activities on urban development topics that include municipal finance and tourism and contributing expertise to help address the operational needs of WB projects in India, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Tanzania drawing from her extensive professional experience working on themes that include jobs and competitive cities, land-based development, municipal infrastructure, and urban service delivery. She also supports the management and expansion of the City Partnership Program (CPP), engaging partner Japanese cities to promote knowledge cooperation. Haruka worked in the real estate sector at Morgan Stanley and in sustainable city programs at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) before joining the WB. She holds dual master’s degree in public policy from London School of Economics and Sciences Po Paris, and a bachelor's degree from Hitotsubashi University.

SHIN TANABE is a Knowledge Management and Learning Officer at the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) where he leads the design and delivery of knowledge initiatives, including Technical Deep Dives - TDLC’s flagship knowledge sharing activity, and the development and management of curated knowledge materials. Shin also spearheads the evolution of TDDs into a “Practitioner Program”, a structured and phased learning approach to effectively translate knowledge shared into impacts, and the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of TDLC knowledge activities. Prior to joining the WB, he worked on global talent development and capacity building with a Japanese nonprofit organization, a global recruitment firm, and a private university. He is a certified instructional designer and a project management professional holding master’s degrees in political science from the University of Toronto, evaluation from the University of Melbourne and education planning, economics and international development from the University College London Institute of Education.

AYAKO HONZAWA is an Extended Term Consultant (Urban Analyst) at the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), providing technical expertise and support in the development and implementation of knowledge exchange programs covering the themes of urban land management and urban development, housing, city resilience, and municipal finance drawn from her experience and training as an urban planner and researcher specialized in sustainable urban development. Before her work at the WB, Ayako taught subjects on tourism and community development at the Kokugakuin University. She holds a Ph.D. in urban development from the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

ASAMI OTSUKA is a Program Assistant at the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), supporting the management of general affairs and multimedia facility and the administrative part of knowledge exchange activities. Asami worked as executive assistant at Edenred Japan, a private company, and at the Honduran Embassy in Tokyo prior to joining the WB. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.

RIE YONEDA is a Program Assistant at the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), supporting the delivery of TDLC's knowledge-sharing programs through operational, procurement, financial, and administrative support. She coordinates procurement and payment processes, contract administration, financial monitoring, and reporting, while contributing to process improvement and operational efficiency initiatives. Prior to joining the WB, Rie gained more than 20 years of experience in administration, finance, and project coordination across Japan and Hong Kong, including roles in the banking sector and private industry. Her expertise includes budgeting and forecasting, vendor and contract management, financial analysis, audit coordination, and business process improvement.

MIRINA HIROTA is an Event Coordinator at the World Bank Group (WBG) Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), leading the end-to-end logistics and procurement for TDLC knowledge exchange programs and coordinating administrative, transportation and communication requirements. Prior to joining the WB, Mirina worked at a major hotel group in Europe and Asia for more than 15 years, holding management roles in operations, and served in international affairs and planning at Japan’s National Science Museum under the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MEXT).