VICTOR MULAS is a Senior Urban Specialist and TDLC Team Lead. Since joining the Bank in 2010, he has been involved in numerous operations and initiatives at the intersection of technology, innovation, start-ups, and cities. Victor has also led Bank-wide programs to embed innovation and technology in its operations, including the Innovation Acceleration Program and the Disruptive Technologies for Development Program. Before joining the World Bank, Victor worked in global consulting and legal firms. He holds an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.
HARUKA MIKI-IMOTO leads TDLC’s Operational Support component, working with projects across multiple regions. She previously organized Technical Deep Dives and worked on analytical projects, contributing to global publications such as “What a Waste 2.0” and competitive cities case studies. Throughout her career, Haruka has devoted herself to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban development, working with cities in Japan and across Europe. Before joining the World Bank, she worked at Morgan Stanley and at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies in Japan. Haruka holds dual MBAs from the London School of Economics and Sciences Po Paris and a BSc in social sciences from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.
SHOKO TAWARA co-leads TDLC’s Technical Deep Dives and City Partnership Program, overseeing the design and implementation of Technical Deep Dives, knowledge exchange activities, and partnerships. Prior to joining TDLC, Shoko was a project manager at a consultancy firm overseeing budgets, contracts, and resource management for large-scale infrastructure projects. Her project portfolio includes the design and supervision of infrastructure and shipbuilding projects in India and the Philippines. She was also a sales consultant for a SaaS provider, delivering media and brand monitoring solutions to PR and marketing executives in Japan and Korea. Shoko has a BA in political science from Northwestern University and an MA in international affairs from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
SHIN TANABE co-leads TDLC’s Technical Deep Dives and City Partnership Program, supporting the design, development, and implementation of Technical Deep Dives and other international knowledge exchange programs. Before joining the Bank, Shin worked with a Japanese nonprofit organization offering human resource development in developing countries; a global recruitment firm; and a private university in Japan, focusing on global talent acquisition and development. He has also developed a variety of knowledge exchange programs in collaboration with local and international stakeholders. Shin holds an MA in political science from the University of Toronto and BAs in political science from Amherst College in Massachusetts and International Christian University in Tokyo. He is a certified Instructional Designer.
JAMES LEE co-leads TDLC’s Technical Deep Dives, supporting the design and delivery of Technical Deep Dives and other international knowledge exchange programs with a thematic focus on disruptive technologies and smart city development. Previously, James worked as investment analyst at an emerging markets asset management firm, where he extensively covered energy, industrial, and technology companies. He holds a M.S in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and B.A in International Development from the George Washington University.
VIBHU JAIN co-leads the Publications component of TDLC and contributes to flagship global publications of the World Bank. An urban planner, she joined the Bank in 2012 as part of the urban development team in the New Delhi office. Before joining the Bank, Vibhu worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. She has extensive experience in various aspects of urban development, including public policies, infrastructure and service delivery, institutional frameworks, and capacity building. A core member of the team delivering analytical works on many frontier topics, Vibhu holds a bachelor’s degree in physical planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and a master’s degree in urban regional planning and public policy from CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
AKIKO ASAMI leads TDLC communications team. Throughout her career, she has devoted herself to communications consulting, primarily in the field of Corporate Communications over the past 10 years. Based in Tokyo as a local consultant for one of the world’s largest US public relations firms, she has worked closely with private and public sector clients in Japan and overseas. She is committed to ensuring transparency in communication activities and building internal mechanisms that support the multifaceted organizational needs. Within her wide expertise, she focuses on sustainability program development, Mission, Vision and Values development, crisis communications, speech writing, and employee engagement. Akiko holds a MSc in Media and Communications from London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA in Education from Keio University.
IAIN MITCHELL is our Senior Knowledge Management Assistant. He joined TDLC in 2004, supporting multimedia operations for a range of World Bank Group events including seminars, government roundtable meetings, and Technical Deep Dives. In 2015, he was assigned as project lead and architect for the redesign of TDLC’s control room and conference room infrastructure. In his current position, Iain is responsible for technical operations and facility maintenance. Prior to joining the Bank, Iain worked in live television news operations for CNBC Financial Television in London and for Reuters Financial Television and Bloomberg Financial Television in Tokyo. Leveraging his experience working with multimedia, he also films and edits video content for TDLC.
ASAMI OTSUKA is TDLC’s Program Assistant. She interfaces and communicates with individuals at all levels of the organization, managing general affairs (office administration, finance, human resources), coordinating operational support, and assisting the Program Manager. Prior to joining the World Bank, Asami gained experience in both the private sector and in international diplomatic organizations as an executive assistant at Edenred Japan, a major employee benefit service provider, and at the Honduran Embassy in Tokyo. Having lived for 15 years in Latin America, Asami is proficient in Spanish as well as Japanese and English. She holds a BA in English literature from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.
CHIYUKI MIFUJI is an Event Coordinator supporting Technical Deep Dives and other TDLC events and activities. Prior to joining TDLC, she worked at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies as a Program Officer and organized several international conferences mainly focused on climate change issues. Since joining TDLC she has organized more than 20 Technical Deep Dives as well as events related to Smart Cities and G20 meetings.
YUMI SARUMARU is an Event Coordinator supporting Technical Deep Dives and other TDLC events and activities. She previously worked for two airline companies, where she pursued her interest in international cultures while traveling the world. Yumi also worked for the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies as an administrative assistant and supported a capacity-building program for developing countries, which included study tours and international conferences on climate change.
