Management

Since joining the company as a new graduate in 1997, Yoshiyuki YAMADA has constantly strived to find the right balance between the two pillars of his business area, “Urban planning” and “Environment”, firmly believing in continuous improvement. He aspires to sow the seeds of transition both inside and outside the company through the development of new projects that go beyond the field of “consulting”.

Osamu SUZUKI has dedicated over 30 years to the waste management sector, focusing primarily on municipal waste disposal and intermediate treatment facilities. In addition to his consulting role, he actively participates in fieldwork, maintaining equipment alongside fellow workers. He aims to apply these experiences to tackle various challenges, including waste management and climate change.

Toru SHIMAKAGE started working part-time at EXRI in 1994 while attending an architectural design night school, and has now worked there for over 30 years. He spent more than a dozen years with the late founder, Yoji KUSUMOTO, and has since been involved in a multitude of projects, spanning beyond the scope of environmental and regional planning, and has also worked in general affairs, sales and corporate planning. He studied management by taking correspondence courses while working and is currently striving to complete his master’s degree in Social Design.

For many years, Naofumi SATO has worked as an environmental consultant, helping to solve sanitation and environmental issues caused by waste and sewage abroad. As the Director of the International Development Department, he is currently working with his team to build a society based on circular economy. His favorite saying is “Where there is a will, there is a way”.

Naohisa YAMAGUCHI graduated from the Department of Hygiene of Hokkaido University in 1993 and joined EXRI. Since then, he has been engaged in waste treatment and disposal, building of a recycling-oriented society, chemical and hazardous substance management, radioactive material treatment, nitrogen management, and more. Final waste disposal is his lifework, and he is currently the Director of the Policy Research department. With “World Peace” as his motto, he works hard every day while keenly following the rapid evolution of social issues.

Before joining EXRI, Kaoru OKA studied urban planning at university, worked as a local government official and earned a master’s degree in regional planning (majoring in environmental planning) at graduate school. With experience in national and international contexts related to air, water and waste issues, she has supported in recent years the negotiations of environmental treaties and the development of national systems regarding the transboundary movement of hazardous waste (Basel Convention), mercury (Minamata Convention) and plastic pollution. What she finds compelling about this job is that the proposals developed from one’s own analysis of information are reflected in policy.