Naoko Ishii, Ph.D. — Professor and Inaugurating Director, Center for Global Commons, The University of Tokyo

Dr. Naoko Ishii has dedicated her career to safeguarding the global commons, our stable and resilient earth system that serves as the bedrock of human prosperity and yet is under threat by the current economic system. She serves as Special Presidential Envoy for Global Commons at the University of Tokyo. Dr. Ishii is also the inaugural director of the university’s Center for Global Commons, which has been collaborating with international research institutions on sustainability initiatives and is launching projects with Japanese businesses focused on energy transition, food systems, and a circular economy. 

Before joining the University of Tokyo in 2020, Dr. Ishii served as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). During her eight-year tenure, she formed GEF’s first mid-term strategy, which focused on the transformation of key economic systems and collaborating with multi-stakeholder coalitions.

Dr. Ishii serves on the Board of the UN Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Emergent and Global Pandemic Monitoring Board, and the Advisory Board of Capitals Coalition and EAT Foundation. She is also a member of the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance, China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), and Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW). 

Dr. Ishii began her career in 1981 at the Ministry of Finance, Japan, where she focused on international finance and development. Subsequently she worked for the International Monetary Fund as well as the World Bank (Vietnam and Sri Lanka). Dr. Ishii also studied at the Harvard Institute of International Development (HIID). She has also served as Deputy Vice Minister at the Ministry of Finance.

Dr. Ishii is a distinguished alumna of the University of Tokyo, holding both a B.A. in Economics and a Ph.D. in International Studies. She has authored several books, two of which have received academic awards.