Session 2: State-of-Play of E-mobility Policies and Financing in Asia Pacific

Mr. Jamie Leather, Director, Emerging Areas, Transport Sector Office, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Mr. Leather is the Director of the Transport Sector Group at the Asian Development Bank. Mr. Leather has over 30 years of experience in transport, working internationally with development organizations, governments, private sector and research institutions. Mr. Leather overseas the strategic direction of ADBs transport sector knowledge, technical and financial support to its developing member countries, private sector clients, and partners. Mr. Leather obtained his Master of Science in transport planning and engineering from the Institute of Transport Studies, Leeds University (UK).

Mr. Sudhir Gota, Co-Team Lead, Asian Transport Observatory (ATO)

Mr. Gota is an internationally recognized sustainable transport expert with 25 years of global experience. He currently co-leads the Asian Transport Observatory, an award-winning joint initiative of the Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, where he plays a key role in guiding transport policy reform and innovation across Asia.

Mr. Alvin Mejia, Co-Team Lead, Asian Transport Observatory (ATO)

Mr. Mejia is Co-Team Lead of the Asian Transport Observatory (ATO). He previously served as the Director of Analysis and Impact at the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI), and as Senior Researcher at the Wuppertal Institute. He also managed the Sustainable Transport Program at Clean Air Asia and has consulted on global initiatives at the intersection of transport and sustainability. Mr. Mejia holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ateneo de Manila University, a master’s in environmental management from Miriam College, and a master’s in transport management from the University of Sydney.

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Ms. Katrin Luger, Chief, Transport Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Ms. Luger is Section Chief in the Transport Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), based in Bangkok, Thailand. Ms. Luger has over 20 years of private sector experience in sustainable transport. At the UN, she is leading work on transport sector decarbonization, the transition to electric mobility, and linkages with sectors such as energy and urban planning. Ms. Luger holds a Ph.D. in economics on reform of the Chinese railway sector.

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Mr. Josua Biulailai, Principal Transport Planner, Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport (MPWMST), Fiji

Mr. Biulailai serves as Principal Transport Planner (Land) at the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport in Suva, Fiji. With an academic foundation in Economics, Mr. Biulailai brings a data-driven and analytical approach to transport planning and policy development. He focuses on creating sustainable, efficient land transport systems that align with national development priorities and economic growth. His role involves strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and implementing innovative solutions to improve connectivity, safety, and resilience across Fiji’s transport network. Committed to sustainable mobility and community impact, Mr. Biulailai leverages his economic expertise to ensure transport initiatives deliver long-term value for both people and the economy.

Ms. Litea Tikoinayau, Manager Corporate Governance, Land Transport Authority (LTA), Fiji 

Ms. Tikoinayau has over seven years of experience in the public sector, particularly within the Land Transport sector, where she initially served as one of the organisation’s legal representatives before progressing to Manager of Corporate Governance. She has broad experience in litigation, legislative reforms, policy drafting, governance, and legal advisory functions. In her current role, she oversees governance systems, review policies and SOPs within the Land Transport Authority (Fiji). She is passionate about establishing clear processes, upholding ethical practices, and driving continuous improvement in public service delivery. Ms. Tikoinayau is a legal professional with a Bachelor of Laws degree. 

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Mr. Davit Jaiani, Deputy Head, Tbilisi Transport and Urban Development Agency, Georgia

Since the establishment of the Tbilisi Transport and Urban Development Agency, Mr. Jaiani has been in charge of identification of most relevant best practices of the urban mobility reform directions, developing a concept for its implementation in Tbilisi, and creating relevant environment, resources and connections for the transition. This covers three main sets of reforms – administrative/legal; infrastructure/financial and experience sharing/staffing and training. Mr. Jaiani was in charge of developing these angles of the overarching public transport reform happening effectively since 2017, under the first ever Tbilisi transport plan (20 years’ strategy) also created under his direct supervision. Lastly, since the start of the current mayors administration, in collaboration with the national government and IFIs such as ADB, a complete bus fleet has been changed and the route map updated. Currently, the agency is looking into new opportunities and infrastructure for the city's BRT and general bus system.

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Ms. Souphany Heuangkeo, Deputy Director, Department of Transport, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Ms. Heuangkeo is Deputy Director of the Road Passenger Transport Division of the Department of Transport within the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Lao PDR. She am directly in charge of urban transportation, especially in cooperation projects with ASEAN countries and international organizations such as UN, GIZ, JICA, World Bank, ADB and other related organizations, all with the aim of improving urban transportation in Lao PDR. Ms. Heuangkeo graduated Ph.D in 2024 at Yokohama National University Japan. Her specific topic of research focuses on how to promote public transportation ridership in Vientiane, Lao PDR, that with the objective of developing sustainable urban transportation in Lao PDR.

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Ms. Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, Executive Director, Board of Investments, The Philippines

Ms. Halili-Dichosa is a career executive with over 30 years of experience in the Board of Investments (BOI). She handled various assignments in BOI, from industry development to international marketing and treaty negotiations. She is currently the Executive Director of the Industry Development Services, composed of Infrastructure and Services, Resource-based, and Manufacturing Industries Services as well as the Investment Policy and Planning Service. She handles various industry programs and policies of the agency. She also handles environmental policy matters and the agency’s ISO Certification and Performance Governance Scorecard. She sits in several government Committees and Boards as a designated representative of the Department of Trade and Industry. Ms. Halili-Dichosa obtained her B.S. and M.S in Chemical Engineering from the Mapua Institute of Technology and Bachelor of Laws from the Adamson University. She also completed the Certificate Programs on Regional Marketing of the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft and on Strategic Business Economics of the UA&P.

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Mr. José da Costa, Chief of Staff & Principal Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Transport and Communication, Timor-Leste

Mr. da Costa is the Chief of Staff and Principal Advisor to the Minister of Transport and Communications of Timor-Leste. He also leads the Project Management Unit overseeing the Development and Expansion of Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport. Mr. da Costa has extensive leadership experience in both government and international development, having served as Deputy Country Director for World Vision International and Program Director for CARE International in Timor-Leste. He also previously led Timor-Leste’s State News Agency, TATOLI.IP. With expertise in project management, infrastructure development, and strategic policy, he is actively engaged in advancing sustainable transport initiatives and public sector reform to support Timor-Leste’s national development goals. 

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Mr. Nodir Khudayberdiev, Project Manager, Ministry of Transport, Uzbekistan

Mr. Khudayberdiev is Project Manager at the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, leading the “Accelerating Investments in Low-Emission Vehicles in Tashkent” project with UNDP and GEF. With 15 years of experience in public transport regulation, sustainable mobility, and transport digitalisation, he has held various positions at the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan. His key achievements include removing legal barriers for women to become bus drivers and initiating Uzbekistan’s first Green Urban Transport Corridor.

Presentation slides available here