Distinguished Speakers

Dr Thomas Eugene Lovejoy

Biodiversity Chair at the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment, Washington, DC.

Dr Thomas Lovejoy is an innovative and accomplished conservation biologist. He currently holds the Biodiversity Chair at the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment based in Washington, DC. He served as President of the Heinz Center from 2002-2008. Before assuming this position, Dr Lovejoy was the World Bank's Chief Biodiversity Advisor and Lead Specialist for Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Senior Advisor to the President of the United Nations Foundation. In 2010 he was elected Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University.

Presentation Title: Climate Change and the Living Planet

Professor Somsak Panha

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Professor Somsak has been a Professor at Chulalongkorn University since 2006 and is the Deputy Dean of Research Affairs at the Faculty of Science in the university. He also holds the position of Adjunct Curator at the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. His research field is in systematics and evolution of small animals in Southeast Asia and he has received the Outstanding Scientist in Thailand (Biology) Award in 2009. Professor Somsak was a recipient of the Hitachi Scholarship Foundation.

Presentation Title: Biodiversity is Our Ultimate Breath

Professor Dato Zakri Abdul Hamid

Science Advisor to the Government of Malaysia

Professor Zakri is Science Advisor to the Government of Malaysia since March 2010. He was the founding Director of the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies and holder of the Tuanku Chancellor Chair at Universiti Sains Malaysia. He was a Professor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from 1992 to 2000 and was conferred Emeritus Professor from the same university in 2004. Professor Zakri has extensive experience in science governance at the national and international levels.

Presentation Title: Biodiversity for Human Well-Being

Ms Ayako Kohno

CSR Management Sector, Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd

Ms Ayako Kohno is Assistant Manager (Administration Dept.) of the Corporate Communication Center, CSR Management Sector, Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. She entered Hitachi Chemical in 1999 and worked in the Electronic Materials Planning Division. In 2004, she was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, First Southeast Asia Division where she worked as an official to negotiate the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Kingdom of Thailand and Japan. From 2007, she joined Hitachi Chemical again, in the IR/PR department, and was assigned to the CSR office as of 2008.

Presentation Title: Business Management for Biodiversity Conservation

Mr Lim Eng Hwee

Chief Planner and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

Mr Lim Eng Hwee is the Chief Planner and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). As an urban planner, Mr Lim has extensive experience in strategic and local planning, implementation of land use policies and development initiatives. He has also served in the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Trade and Industry, overseeing urban development and economic development policies and initiatives.

Presentation Title: Planning for Singapore-Balancing Development and Biodiversity Conservation

Dr Lawrence Leong Chee Chiew

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of National Parks Board (NParks) and the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation

Dr Leong is currently the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Park Board's Professional Development and Services Cluster. Dr Leong chairs the Singapore Landscape Industry Council, the Heritage Trees Panel, the Workforce Safety and Health (WSH) Landscaping Sub-committee and co-chairs the inter-ministry Technical Committee on Coastal and Marine Environment. He is a member of the Coastal Protection and Management Steering Committee and the WSH Construction and Landscaping Committee of the WSH Council. He is also a Board Member of the Singapore Environment Council, the Singapore Garden City Private Limited and the Garden City Fund.

Presentation Title: Enhancing Singapore's Biodiversity

Ms Taryn Mead

Biomimicry Guild, United States

As a Biologist at the Design Table for the Guild, Taryn specialises in Nature's functions at the ecosystem level. With a bird's eye view on planning, architectural and production challenges, she provides insights into ecological principles that can be used to enhance the way designs fit into the landscape of a place. Her role includes consulting with corporate clients, researching biological strategies, facilitating workshops with design professionals and biologists, and creating tools to assist in the design process.

Presentation Title: Biomimicry

Mr Yoriyuki Yamada

Deputy General Manager, Office of Global Environment, Kajima Corporation

Mr Yamada is Deputy General Manager of the Office of Global Environment for Kajima Corporation. His experience is in the field of landscape planning and design and he plays a significant role in strengthening Kajima's biodiversity strategy and guidelines.

Presentation Title: Corporation's Biodiversity Efforts for a Sustainable City

Mr Masahiro Kitano

Vice President and Executive Officer, General Manager, Environmental Strategy Office, Hitachi, Ltd.

Mr Masahiro Kitano is Vice President and Executive Officer of Hitachi who is in charge of quality assurance, productive technique, and environmental strategy. After joining Hitachi in 1980, he has engaged in many aspects of Hitachi's ICT business, including design and development of hardware and software for servers, storage systems and networks. As General Manager of the Environmental Strategy Office, he spearheads Hitachi's efforts to realise the Environmental Vision.

Presentation Title: Hitachi Environmental Strategy - Contributing to the Preservation of the Ecosystem through Business