Asankha Pallegedara, Professor in Economics, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, Policy Analysis Program (’11)

Dr. Asankha Pallegedara began his academic journey in engineering before transitioning to economics at the postgraduate level. After completing his high school studies in Sri Lanka, he came to Japan in 2001 as a Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship recipient. Asankha earned an associate degree in Information Engineering at KOSEN Kushiro College, followed by a Bachelor’s in Engineering at the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo. After briefly working as a systems engineer at Fujitsu, he enrolled at GRIPS, where he completed a PhD in Development Economics in 2011.

Upon graduating, Asankha returned to Sri Lanka and has since taught economics and econometrics at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, while conducting research in health, education, and environmental economics. He also serves as Director of the Centre for Quality Assurance, contributing actively to university administration.

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Ahmad Zamri Razak, Senior Special Duties Officer, Internal Audit, Prime Minister’s Office, Brunei, Young Leaders Program (’12)

Ahmad has served Brunei's civil service for over two decades, beginning in private audit firms before joining the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in 2009. His GRIPS scholarship allowed him to bridge financial expertise with policy insights, which he applied across multiple ministries - from finance to education to energy - strengthening governance systems at each step. Now back at the PMO's internal audit, he takes quiet pride in supporting the next generation of public servants while maintaining his focus on careful oversight. 
Ahmad graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the Young Leaders Program at GRIPS in 2012.

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Ritah Karungi Butime, Manager, National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) Coordination and Monitoring, Bank of Uganda, One-year Master's Program of Public Policy (’17)

Ritah Karungi Butime is a seasoned public policy professional and financial inclusion specialist with over thirteen years of experience at the Bank of Uganda. Currently serving as Senior Financial Inclusion Policy Specialist, she leads the coordination and monitoring of Uganda’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy. Ritah has been instrumental in shaping national policies on financial literacy, digital payments, and gender-inclusive finance, and played a key role in launching Uganda’s Regulatory Sandbox. Her work focuses on building inclusive, data-driven financial systems that empower underserved populations, particularly women and youth.

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Maksud Ibodulloev, Head of U.S. Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Uzbekistan, Young Leaders Program (’17)

Maksud Ibodulloev is a career diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, currently serving as Head of the U.S. Division. His diplomatic career began in 2012 following his graduation from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. He has held key roles within the Ministry where he contributed to foreign policy formulation through strategic analysis and reporting on global trends. Over the years, he has been actively engaged in advancing Uzbekistan’s international partnerships and representing the country’s interests abroad. His professional path reflects a strong commitment to diplomacy, public service, and Uzbekistan’s evolving global engagement. 
Maksud graduated with a Master of Arts from the Young Leaders Program at GRIPS in 2017.

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Chaikal Nuryakin, Director, Institute for Economic and Social Research, Universitas Indonesia, Ph.D. in Economics ('15)

Dr. Chaikal Nuryakin is the Director of the Institute for Economic and Social Research at Universitas Indonesia and a lecturer in its Department of Economics. His research focuses on behavioral economics, digital transformation, and development policy. He has led and collaborated on projects with institutes such as the World Bank, ERIA, and the Asia Competitiveness Institute, particularly on digital inclusion, MSME development, and public policy in Indonesia and ASEAN. His work appears in leading academic journals, and he regularly speaks at high-level forums including the World Bank, ERIA, and Bank Indonesia. 
Chaikal holds a PhD and MA in Economics from GRIPS, and Master's and Bachelor's degrees from Universitas Indonesia.

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Vuthy Chea, Regional Director, Asia Debt, Incofin Investment Management, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, International Development Studies Program (’08)

Vuthy Chea is an impact investing professional with around 20 years of experience working across Asia to promote financial inclusion, sustainable agriculture, and climate finance. As Regional Director for Asia Debt at Incofin Investment Management, she leads investment strategies across 11 countries, supporting fintechs, agri-SMEs, and inclusive financial institutions. Vuthy began her career at the National Bank of Cambodia before moving into global impact finance, including key roles at BlueOrchard. She’s passionate about using finance to drive real change, mentoring young professionals, and strengthening the region’s impact ecosystem. A CPA and GRIPS graduate, she brings deep expertise in ESG, risk management, and emerging markets—and believes strongly in the power of capital to do good.

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Wempi Saputra, Executive Director, Office Executive Director, World Bank Group of Southeast Asia, Public Finance Program (’03)

Dr. Wempi Saputra is the Executive Director of the Office Executive Director of the World Bank Group for Southeast Asia, representing 11 countries, since November 2022. Previously, he was Indonesia’s Assistant Minister for Macro Economy and International Finance.
With a distinguished career in the Ministry of Finance since 1995, Dr. Saputra has held key positions, including Director of Policy Analysis, Chief of Staff, and Head of Business Process Division. He has extensive experience on the transformation and reform program of the Ministry of Finance. 
Additionally, he serves as Indonesia’s G20 Finance Deputy, Ex Officio Governor of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Head of Secretariat for the National Committee for Islamic Economic and Finance (KNEKS). 
Wempi holds a BS in Economics from the University of Indonesia, an MA in Public Finance from GRIPS, and a PhD in Economics from Nagoya University. 

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Nabilt Jill Moggiano Aburto, Academic Director of Civil Engineering, Universidad Continental, Huancayo, Peru, Disaster Management Policy Program (’17)

Nabilt Moggiano is the Academic Director of Civil Engineering at Universidad Continental, specializing in disaster risk management, seismic engineering, and tsunami resilience. She holds a Bachelor's in Physics (Geophysics) and a Master’s in Disaster Management from GRIPS.
Her career began at the Peruvian Tsunami Warning Center, focusing on seismic monitoring and tsunami alerts. Seeking to bridge science and engineering, she pursued a second degree in Civil Engineering to design resilient infrastructure.
As Academic Director, she oversees curriculum development, fosters interdisciplinary research, and builds industry partnerships to strengthen disaster preparedness. She is committed to mentoring students, promoting innovation, and advancing solutions that mitigate seismic and hydrological risks. Her work integrates geophysics and engineering to create safer, more resilient communities in Peru and beyond.

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Mohd Shuhada bin Othman, High Commissioner of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Young Leaders Program - School of Government (’13)

Hailing from Kuala Terengganu, a small town on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Mohd Shuhada holds an LL.B from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He joined the Malaysian Civil Service in 2002 after passing a rigorous assessment and entry examination for the position of Administrative and Diplomatic Officer. Since then, he has embraced a nomadic lifestyle, moving between his home country and various international postings, fostering diplomacy that strengthens relationships between nations, whether in trade, economic cooperation, or people-to-people connections. In August 2024, he received the Letters of Credence from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, appointing him as the seventeenth High Commissioner of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Mohd Shuhada earned his Master’s Degree in Public Policy through the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship 2012–2013, under the Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) at the GRIPS School of Government.

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Ruopeng An, Ph.D., Constance and Martin Silver Endowed Professor in Data Science and Prevention & Director of the Constance and Martin Silver Center on Data Science and Social Equity, New York University, Transition Economy Program (’06)

Dr. Ruopeng An is a distinguished scholar specializing in obesity epidemiology, policy evaluation, and the application of artificial intelligence to tackle public health disparities and social inequities. He holds the prestigious Constance and Martin Silver Endowed Professorship in Data Science and Prevention and directs the Constance and Martin Silver Center on Data Science and Social Equity at New York University. Dr. An’s expertise spans environmental and policy influences on obesity, health outcomes across the life course, and social determinants of health. His innovative research, funded by leading agencies and organizations, has earned recognition as one of Elsevier’s top 2% most cited scientists, with features in major media outlets such as TIME, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Previously, he led AI and data science programs at Washington University in St. Louis. Ruopeng An holds a PhD in Policy Analysis from Pardee RAND Graduate School, a Master of Public Policy from GRIPS, and a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from Peking University.

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