PhD in Geography (Climatology and Windrelated Hazard), Kent State University, US. 2002-03, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); contributed to developing the disaster risk reduction programme; 2003-09, with UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), worked on an early warning system and helped manage the ISDR Scientific and Technical Committee. Former Chief, Disaster Risk Reduction Section, ESCAP, providing a regional platform for cooperation and policymaking for disaster risk reduction, with particular attention to developing countries and vulnerable social groups. Currently, Professor and Assistant Director at the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University; Visiting Professor at Water Resources Research Center at Disaster Prevention and Research Institute of Kyoto University; Director of the Global Centre for Disaster Statistics (GCDS) at IRIDeS, Tohoku University.