The Asia Science Mission is led by a diverse and collaborative team from across Asia and the Pacific. Together, we bring expertise in science, policy, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability action. The Coordination Unit of the Asia Science Mission comprises the Executive Team and Task Force members, serving as the operational center, facilitating communication and tasks among personnel and units. In collaboration with scientists, individuals with transdisciplinary experience, and administrative staff, the Coordination Unit ensures the efficient and organized development, implementation, and evaluation of the demonstration projects. Additionally, it will facilitate and coordinate a co-design process for the full implementation of the Science Mission, based on the demonstration projects underway.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee will be formed soon and will include leading sustainability experts, practitioners, and societal leaders from across Asia and beyond.
| Name | Affilitation |
| Csaba Kőrösi | Former President, United Nations General Assembly; Senior Advisor on Sustainability and Water Diplomacy |
| Athena Ballesteros | Global Leader in Climate and Sustainable Finance |
| Paul Shrivastava | Co-President, The Club of Rome; Professor, The Pennsylvania State University |
| Oyun Sanjaasuren | Director, External Affairs, Green Climate Fund; Former Minister of Environment, Mongolia |
| Jawaid Akhtar | Senior Public Policy Leader; Former Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka (India) |
| Toshiyuki Yamasaki | Director, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) |
| Jamie Pittock | Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; Expert in Water Governance and Climate Adaptation |
| Makoto Taniguchi | Professor Emeritus, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN); Former Vice-Director of RIHN and internationally recognised groundwater scientist |
| Shih-Chun Candice Lung | Research Fellow, Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica; Expert in air pollution, environment–health risks, and transdisciplinary research |
| Vanessa McBride | Science Director, Acting Head of the Centre for Science Futures, International Science Council |
Executive Team
Mission Director
Anik Bhaduri
Lead, Operations and Coordination
Ria Lambino
Lead, Knowledge Infrastructure
Kazuo Nadaoka
Lead, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
Shih-Yu Lee
Lead, Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
Kate Nairn
Lead, Communications & Impact
Sruthi Subbanna
Science Officer
Habibur Rahman
Task Forces
Task forces have been established to identify the ASM’s critical elements, address specific challenges or objectives, and serve as a bridge between the committees and operational tasks. This includes task forces on fundraising, identifying research priorities, engaging stakeholders, developing partnerships, and monitoring and evaluation.
The following task forces support the executive team with additional members to be included:
Joon Kim – Chair Task Force Research Priority
Daniel Niles – Member, Task Force Research Priority
Giles Sioen – Member, Task Force Research Priority
Kate Nairn – Task Force Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
Segundo J. Romero – Task Force Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
Linda Stevenson – Task Force Fundraising
Fumiko Kasuga – Task Force Fundraising
Kazuo Nadaoka – Task Force Knowledge Infrastructure & Data
Ram Avtar – Task Force Knowledge Infrastructure & Data
Kuaanan Techato – Task Force Monitoring & Evaluation
Shih-Yu Lee – Task Force Monitoring & Evaluation
Institutional Partners & Funders
- Future Earth Asia (Lead Entity): Strategic direction, regional coordination, and partner engagement.
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) (Host): Hosting, logistics, transdisciplinary research expertise, regional integration.
- Fenner School, ANU (Implementing Partner): Scientific leadership and Australia–Asia collaboration.
- Asia Pacific Network (APN) (Implementing Partner): Convening, capacity building, and policy connectivity.
- International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific: Supporting the co-design phase.
