December 2012
Chibwe Chisala, Zambia (IDS ’08), First Secretary (Economic and Trade), Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Paris
As a Senior Economist, his main role entailed supervising the development and implementation of industrial policies and programs in order to stimulate sustainable growth and development of Zambia’s industrial sector. In addition, Chibwe has been involved in negotiating trade and investment agreements at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. In Paris he continues to work in the same area and is now responsible for research, analyzing, monitoring and evaluating economic trends so as to provide information to be used in policy formulation and decision making by the Zambian Government.
…Read an interview with Chibwe Chisala
November 2012
Roman Hvezda, Czech Republic (YLP ’06), Executive Manager, ELI Beamlines Project, Institute of Physics, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic
The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) Project is a new pan-European scientific infrastructure in lasers’ field. ELI-Beamlines, located in the Czech Republic, is on of the three pillars of the ELI Project and will focus on creating a new generation of secondary sources for interdisciplinary applications in physics, medicine, biology and material sciences. As Executive Manager of the ELI-Beamlines, Roman Hvezda is responsible for the overall planning, risk management, financial and human resources, procurement, and the construction of the research campus.
…Read an interview with Roman Hvezda
October 2012
Sonam Karma Tshering, Bhutan (PF ’05), Secretary General, Bhutan Olympic Committee
Until his appointment as Secretary General of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, Sonam had more than 10 years experience in tax policy and administration. Until his current appointment, he was most recently engaged at the Royal Education Council as an associate director, and before that as project manager. Sonam’s considerable experience in legal and public policy formulation will certainly help him with the reforming and strengthening the Olympic sports sector in Bhutan. Sonam has a BA in economics from the Madras Christian College, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Delhi and an MA in Public Finance from GRIPS.
…Read an interview with Sonam Karma Tshering
September 2012
Joanna Dopierala-Konkolowicz, Poland (YLP ’04), First Counsellor, Head of Economic Section, Embassy of the Republic of Poland to Japan
Joanna started her professional career in the Ministry of Finance, Department of International Economic Integration. In 2002 she was seconded by the Ministry as a consultant to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris. After her graduation from GRIPS, Joanna returned to the Ministry of Finance and from April 2006 she worked as a Head of Unit for Support of Integration Processes in the Department of the European Union. A year later, she joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a counsellor, Head of Economic Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tokyo. In 2012 she was promoted to the position of first counsellor.
…Read an interview with Joanna Dopierala-Konkolowicz
August 2012
Shukhrat Kayumov, Uzbekistan (YLP ’08), Deputy-Minister, Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education
In May 2012, Shukhrat was appointed Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education. From an early age, Shukhrat was interested in math and science and his enrollment into a lyceum specialized in math and physics paved the way for his career in science and higher education. He earned degrees in Science, in Economics, in Public Administration, and in 2002 he received a Ph.D. degree for his research on “modeling and optimisation of operation modes of pumping stations” from Tashkent State Technical University.
…Read more about Shukhrat Kayumov
July 2012
Salamat Kussainova, Kazakhstan (YLP ’06), Director, Corporate Governance Department National Holding Company “Samruk-Kazyna”
Salamat received a bachelor’s degree from Astana’s Eurasian University in 1999 and a master’s degree from the Young Leaders Program at GRIPS in 2006. She started her career in 1999 with the Committee of State Property and Privatization of the Ministry of Finance. After her return from Japan in 2006, Salamat joined the Strategy and Corporate Governance Department of the state-owned National Holding Company “Samruk”. In 2009 she moved to the World Bank Country Office in Kazakhstan, where she worked as a public sector reform consultant. She was in charge of coordinating public sector projects in Kazakhstan and was involved in projects in Europe and Central Asia region. From February 2012 Salamat is working as Director of Corporate Governance Department in the Sovereign Wealth Fund “Samruk-Kazyna”
…Read an interview with Salamat Kussainova
June 2012
Prakash Kumar, India (PF ’97), Director, Public Sector, Cisco Systems India, Internet Business Solutions Group
Prakash heads Public Sector vertical of Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), the strategic consulting arm of Cisco Systems since September 2008. A consistent theme of Prakash’s professional experience has been public policy and management. Prior to joining Cisco, he was a member of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for 23 years. As such he worked in various capacities with State Governments and the federal government in India. He worked as General Manager of Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation, Additional Commissioner sales Tax and Secretary to Government of a State looking after IT and Technical Education. Proficient in analysis of information needs of organizations and design of IT Projects. He had opportunity to handle large IT projects in the government and initiate administrative reforms programs.
…Read an interview with Prakash Kumar
May 2012
Heru Subiyantoro, Indonesia (PP ’88), Secretary, Directorate General of Fiscal Balance, Ministry of Finance
Heru Subiyantoro is the Secretary of the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance in the Ministry of Finance of Indonesia. He is also a lecturer at the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Indonesia. Mr. Subiyantoro obtained his Master’s degree in Economics from University of Indonesia in 1983 and joined the Ministry of Finance shortly after that. In 1986 he got the opportunity to study in Japan with a MEXT scholarship and he received his Master of Policy Science from GRIPS’ predecessor in 1988. He returned to MOF but hungry for more he took another study leave and returned to Japan to pursue his PhD, specializing in finance, at Nanzan University in Nagoya from which he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in 1998.
…Read an interview with Heru Subiyantoro
April 2012
Susan Bultitude, Australia (YLP ’06), Advisor to the Executive Director, International Monetary Fund, Washington D.C.
After completing degrees in Economics and Commerce at the Australian National University Susan joined the Australian Treasury in 2002. In 2005, Susan came to GRIPS to pursue further studies under the Young Leaders Program from which she graduated with a Master of Public Policy in September 2006. After her return to the Australian Treasury she was soon hard at work to deal with the global financial crisis. In June 2010 Susan started a posting to the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C. as an advisor to the Executive Director representing 15 countries, including Australia. The issues she looks after range from commenting on economic assessments of individual fund members, to looking at global macroeconomic surveillance, to policy issues relating to the composition and governance of the Fund.
…Read an interview with Susan Bultitude
March 2012
Mukhtar Paras Shah, Pakistan (YLP ’11), Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development
Mukhtar joined civil service after qualifying the Central Superior Services Examination in 2001 and has since served in various capacities in national and international assignments. One of his key postings has been in the Ministry of Economic Affairs (2004) where he served as the Economic Policy Officer looking after matters pertaining to International Financial Institutions. As such he was responsible for developing the country strategy for development projects worth $1.4 billion. As the Director, Planning and Strategy Development in National Vocational and Technical Education in Pakistan (2009), he proudly contributed to the development of the National Skills Strategy focusing on the 100 million young population and the same is now under implementation. Presently Mukhtar is working as Deputy Secretary in the Government of Pakistan.
…Read an interview with Mukhtar Paras Shah
February 2012
Angela Carabas, Romania (YLP ’06); General Director Treasury and Public Debt Department, Ministry of Public Finance & Alternate Board Member European Investment Bank
Angela Carabas has worked more than eight years in the Ministry of Finance, being involved in drafting documents, legislation and positions related to public debt issues, relations with international financial institutions and with the banking sector. Recently she was part of the technical team discussing the IMF/ EU/ WB external financing packages for Romania. Since January 2010 she is general director of the treasury and public debt department, as well as alternate Board member with the European Investment Bank. Angela is fluent in English and French, and intermediate in Italian and Spanish. She is married and has two sons.
…Read an interview with Angela Carabas
January 2012
Sakihito Ozawa, Japan (PP ’81); Member of the House of Representatives (Diet) & former Environment Minister
Sakihito Ozawa is the first Japanese GRIPS alumnus to become a member of parliament and to have served as Cabinet Minister. Mr. Ozawa has served in numerous key positions in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), including vice secretary general, economy, trade and industry minister in the shadow Cabinet and chairman of the national rallying and canvassing committee. In the Diet he headed the environmental committee and was a member of the financial affairs committee. He was the Environment Minister in 2009/10 in the Hatoyama Cabinet. First elected to the Lower House as member of the Japan New Party in 1993, Ozawa joined the DPJ three years later. Before launching his political career, he worked at the Bank of Tokyo before heading the policymaking group for LDP Diet members for 10 years, specializing in economic policy.
…Read an interview with Sakihito Ozawa
