Organizational Structure
CITYNET 2023-2026 Executive Committee and Elected Officials
Secretary General | Mr. Vijay Jagannathan |
President | Seoul Metropolitan Government |
President Emeritus | Yokohama City |
First Vice President | Kuala Lumpur City Hall |
Second Vice President | Makati City Government |
Executive Committee | All India Institute of Local Self-Government |
| Busan Metropolitan City | |
| Colombo Municipal Council | |
| Denpasar City | |
| Iloilo City | |
| Incheon Metropolitan City | |
| International Climate and Development Institute | |
| Lalitpur Metropolitan City | |
| Plus Arts | |
Auditor | Muntinlupa City |
The General Council
The General Council, the highest authority of CITYNET, comprises all full and associate members. The General Council meets every four years and reviews the activities of the CITYNET Network, elects the President, Vice-Presidents, Executive Committee, Secretary General and Auditor. The General Council also approves the Medium-Term Plan and any amendments to the CITYNET Charter.
Executive Committee
View CityNet Executive Committee in a large map
The Executive Committee consists of the President, President Emeritus, two Vice-Presidents, and nine members. The Executive Committee formulates the Biennial Work Program for the Network in accordance with the Medium-Term Plan, approves new members, and sets policy guidelines for the Secretariat. The Executive Committee convenes at least once every two years.
ADVISER
Special Adviser
CityNet has two Special Advisers who served as Secretary General. Having served for CityNet, CityNet’s Special Advisers share their time in providing advice to Network’s strategic directions. They also provide overall guidance in improving CityNet’s organizational agenda and in providing strategic and in-depth perspectives in the development of the network’s long-term goals.
CityNet Advisers bring with them unparralled experience in their areas of expertise. Even before joining CityNet stint, they already had established careers on their own.
Dato Lakhbir Singh Chahl
Dato Lakhbir Singh Chahl is the founding Secretary-General of CityNet having served the position from 1991-2009. Under his guidance, CityNet has grown and achieved its status to become the leading network of advocacy for local governments in the Asia-Pacific.
In CityNet, he had served and represented the network in several United Nations agencies committees like in UNESCAP, UN-Habitat, and UNEP, to name a few. He represented CityNet in Rio Summit 1991, in series of World Urban Forums in Vancouver (2006) and in Nanjing (2008) and at the UN Habitat Summit 1996 in Istanbul.
Mr. Singh was an adhoc expert to the UN-Department of Economic and Social Affairs. He was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Asia Urbs Program of the European Union which strengthened cooperation between Asian and European cities.
In his hometown Penang, Malaysia, Mr. Singh had contributed to the promotion of planning and development of the Penang’s State Master Plan. He has also contributed to the development of local sports having served as president or vice president in many of state’s sports associations. Currently, he is one of Penang’s most-sought legal practitioners.
Mary Jane Ortega
Mary Jane Ortega served as CityNet’s Secretary-General (2009-2013) and a mayor of San Fernando City, La Union (1998-2007). She was also one of three Vice Presidents of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
She is the first Filipina to receive the United Nations Scroll of Honour Award from United Nations Habitat in 2000 for her advocacy for the empowerment of women and for the City Development Strategies. She is currently a member of Board of Trustees of Clean Air Asia, a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Initiatives on Trans National Crime, and Special Advisor to the City of Yokohama’s Y-Port Project.
In the Philippines, she continues to be a part-time lecturer at the Ateneo School of Government, Acting Chairman of the Institute of Solidarity in Asia, Mentor for Synergeia Foundation, board member of St. Louis College and Coordinator/Liaison for the La Union Marine Center.
Mary Jane generously shares her time by representing CityNet in high-level conferences, contributing to the network’s strategic long-term agenda, and promoting CityNet in the Asia Pacific region.
Senior Adviser
CityNet’s Senior Advisers bring with them the fruitful years of exceptional public policy and program experience cross cutting urban development issues across Asia-Pacific. They are known for their commendable professional work, competence and integrity in their field of expertise.
Dr. Gyeng Chul Kim
Dr. Gyeng Chul Kim served as a president of the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) from 2011 to 2014. He received his PhD in Transport Planning and Administration at Seoul National University in 1993. His career in transport policies and management spans nearly two decades with engagement in both the public and private sectors with specific interests in public transport, such as subways and buses. He serves as a member of the Transport Committee of Seoul Metropolitan Government as well as the Committee for Rail Division of the Board of Audit and Inspection. Additionally, Dr. Kim currently heads the Public Transport Committee of Korea Transportation Research Society. Dr. Kim is also a former Director of the Department of Urban Transit in Seoul Development Institute (SDI). Dr. Kim has long been an advocate and supporter of CITYNET, and has served as Deputy Secretary General since 2009.
Dr. Tony Michell
Dr. Michell is a regional and urban economist who has written about urban transport and worked with Korean planners and international consultants on a series of World Bank, UNDP, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Construction projects in Asia. Recently he has been involved in LRT design in Africa, Mexico and Asia. After graduating from Cambridge as a regional economist, he became the youngest lecturer appointed at Hull University. He has taught in Cambridge, Hull, Louvain, Rotterdam, Seattle, and four universities in Korea and currently teaches Change Management and Promoting FDI at KDI School of Public Policy and Management in Sejong. Currently President of KABC Ltd., Dr. Michell came to Korea as an economic advisor to the Korean government in 1978. During that time he made a number of recommendations for modifying the bus system of Seoul and was subsequently hired by the World Bank for a series of urban transport projects. He worked for various international and Korean government agencies before setting up a private practice which advises multinationals and undertakes research on aspects of the Korean economy for broad range of clients. He chairs the Korea Business Forum a monthly meeting of business and foreign diplomats held in Seoul.
Technical Adviser
CityNet Technical Advisers are leading and recognized experts in their fields. They have the technical authority and have solid foundation in their area of expertise. CityNet Technical Advisers extend their time and talent to CityNet’s member-cities serving as resource persons, providing them further with technical advice, and linking members with other experts and development institutions. Technical Advisers also provide guidance to the Secretariat, bring in fresh ideas on strategic program implementation and contribute to regional policy discussions.
Dr. Hoong-Chor Chin
Dr. Hoong-Chor Chin is a Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) specializing in transportation planning, congestion management, road safety assessments, and sustainable development. At the NUS, he also spearheads the Safety Studies and Urban Mobility Initiatives. He has won Innovative Teaching Awards in 2002, 2011, and 2016. He has published more than 100 papers for international conferences and journals.
As a registered engineer, Dr. Chin has extensive consultancy work in the field of transportation and sustainable development both in Singapore and in the Asia-Pacific Region. He has done consultancy work for Land Transport Authority (Singapore), TYLin International, Cities Development Initiative for Asia, Asian Development Bank, and UN-Habitat, among others. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, a member of the Ministry of Defence Civil Resources Compensation Board and the Governing Board of the Workplace Safety Institute, as well as a Director of the Singapore Taxi Academy.
You may reach Dr. Chin at engchc(at)gmail.com
Dr. Young-June Choi
Dr. Young-June Choi is currently the Director and Chief Research Officer at Seoul Water Institute, Seoul Metropolitan Government for 12 years. He manages water-related research and development projects that include drinking water treatment and supply, wastewater treatment, sewer system, urban drainage system, renewable energy, water reuse, water-energy NEXUS, IoT and Big Data based water system, international collaboration and policies and strategies for water issues.
He has also been a key member in many advisory committees and technical reviewers in water science -related academic journals. In 2012, he got the Excellent Reviewer of the Year award by the Desalination Journal. The same year, he and his team were awarded by the International Water Association (IWA) with the Project Innovation Award. In CityNet, he is among the key resource persons in presenting Seoul City’s best practice in urban water management.
You may contact Dr. Choi at youngjune(at)seoul.go.kr
Adviser
Lee, Hoi Seung
Formal Assistant Secretary General
Lee, Hoi Seung serves as Adviser at CityNet and is the Director General of Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG). Mr. Lee studied Public Administration at University of Seoul. He has devoted for SMG almost 25 years and has since accompanied the city of Seoul on its way to becoming a major force in East Asia. He works closely with both CityNet and SMG to facilitate the relationship between Seoul and CityNet member cities.
SECRETARIAT
CityNet Secretariat
After over two decades of success and growth in Yokohama, Japan, 2013 marks the CityNet Secretariat’s relocation to Seoul, South Korea. With this move comes new partnerships, innovative urban collaboration and an even greater network of knowledge and best practices.
Even with a new location, the mission remains the same. The CityNet Secretariat pledges to work side-by-side with over 163 members and partners throughout the Asia Pacific region. With each member city and organization, we will continue to highlight and share successes while tackling challenges standing in the way of urban development.
As the Asia-Pacific region grows in economic, environmental, and technological importance, CityNet is propelling cities toward the goal of urban sustainability, resilience and inclusivity.
Secretariat Team
Vijay Jagannathan – Secretary General
Aisa Tobing – Deputy Secretary General
Jeong-kee Kim – Chief Executive Officer
Jeong-kee Kim is the Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for overseeing the overall institutional and program activities of the organization in relation to the sustainable development of cities in Asia-Pacific. Just before he joined CityNet in March 2022, he worked as a distinguished chair professor at the Business School of Dongguk University. In addition, he taught courses on law, political science, history, sociology, economics, business administration, future studies, and negotiation in various universities across Korea and China. Mr. Kim was also elected as the first president of Soongsil Cyber University, the internet-based university founded by Yonsei University and Digital Chosun Daily. At the same time, he worked as a senior attorney-at-law in DR-Aju LLC, one of the most prestigious law firms in Korea. Mr. Kim was appointed as the 8th Consul General of the Korean Consulate General in Shanghai (Ambassador Rank) and as the Commissioner General of the Korean Pavilion of Shanghai Expo in 2008. He was nominated as the first deputy minister of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2010. He can be reached at ceo@citynet-ap.org.
Youngmin Chang – Director of Programs
Jaime Paulo Mora – Senior Program Officer
Danbee Lee – Senior Program Officer
Danbee Lee has a background in International Security and Economics. Prior to joining CityNet, she worked at a research institute based in Seoul to conduct academic research on city revitalization and the role of local entrepreneurship in community building. She graduated with BA in Political Science and Economics, and completed her Master of Global Affairs & Policy in International Security & Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation. Some of her responsibilities at CityNet include overall coordination of CityNet legislative meetings and coordination of the National Chapters. She can be reached at danbee@citynet-ap.org.
Hui Qian – Program Officer
Megan Chow – Program Officer
Chris Di Gennaro – Program Officer
Hyoshin Lee – Director of Operations
Hyoshin Lee has been working for the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) since 2007. Ms. Lee was dispatched to CityNet as Director of Operations in August 2022. She can be reached at dir.operations@citynet-ap.org.
Hyeongrim Lee – Senior Operations Officer
Hyeongrim Lee has been working for Seoul Metropolitan Government since 2016 and was dispatched to CityNet as Senior Operations Officer in August 2022. She can be reached at operations@citynet-ap.org.
Yookyung Oh – Operations Officer
NATIONAL CHAPTERS
The National Chapters (NCs) are part of CityNet’s decentralization strategy and support CityNet Secretariat to reach out to its members, collect membership fees and recruit new members. There are six NCs:
The concept of the NCs was first conceived in 1993. CityNet members highlighted that greater coordination of members within a country would allow experience and expertise to be better shared, and partnerships to be more easily established. This does not reduce the significance of sharing the experience with other countries; it does, however, strengthen the overall ability of CityNet to reach its members even more effectively. The NC concept was approved and recognized at the Seventh Session of the CityNet Executive Committee in Makati, Philippines in 1994.
How to establish a National Chapter
CityNet members from the same country who are interested in establishing a NC have to first discuss the preliminary issues among themselves. Afterwards members from the same country hold a meeting to define the organization and structure of the NC they wish to establish. The CityNet Secretariat provides guidance but no financial support for establishing a new NC.
Organizational Structure
- Define representative, office location, design charter, action plan, functional struchure and financial strategy, etc. of National Chapter.
Approval Process
- Application submitted by focal point to Secretariat.
- CityNet Executive Committee appoves
Registration
- Accredited representative registers NC in accordance to local laws.
How to join a National Chapter or participate in its activities?
If you are interested in joining the activities of the NC in your country, please contact the designated focal point. The focal person will provide detailed information about ongoing activities and projects (for more information see NC profiles below).
National Chapter Bangladesh
CityNet NC Bangladesh was established in 1994. It consists of six full members and six associate members of CityNet. Its active members include six City Corporations (governing body of a large city) and Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB). NC Bangladesh’s organizational structure consists of President (Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation), Vice President (Mayor of Khulna and Rajshahi City Corporation), Secretary General (Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka North City Cooperation), Auditor (Center for Urban Studies), focal point (Dr. Tariq Bin Yousuf) as well as 12 members.
Recent projects
• Green Campus Initiative through Climate and Disaster Resilient Activities in School (2014-2015)
• Creation of a Resilient Community through Knowledge Sharing and Awareness Building on Disaster Risk Reduction (2016-2017)
Contact
Name: Dr. Tariq Bin Yousuf
Email: tariqbinyousuf@gmail.com
Phone: +88-02 985 5630
National Chapter India
CityNet National Chapter-India was established in 2013. Housing & Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) is its leading institution and host. The organizational structure of the NC India consists of Chairperson Dr. M. Ravikanth, Secretary General Dr. D. Subrahmanyam, Sr., focal point Executive Director (Training), and fifteen members. The Vision of City Net National Chapter is to establish healthy environment, an eco-friendly city in India. NC India is to act as the focal point and facilitator to coordinate with CityNet and other agencies for capacity building, research, technical study visits, and documentation.
Recent projects
• Improving Public Transport System- Addressing the missing links (2014)
• Transit Corridor Development (TCD): Framework and Guiding Principles (2016)
Contact
Name: Ms. Nila Pandian, nilapandian@gmail.com
Executive Director (Training) HUDCO, edthsmi2013@gmail.com
Phone: +91 11 2430 8611
Website: https://hudco.org/Citynet.aspx
National Chapter Indonesia
CityNet NC Indonesia was established in 2007 and is hosted by Sidoarjo City Government. Its organizational structure consists of a supervisory board, advisory board, followed by executive board (president, two vice presidents, secretary, and treasurer). Its management structure includes the Director of administration, Program director, as well as 25 members. NC Indonesia holds a congress every four years to elect a new host and president city.
Recent projects
- Catfish Breeding for Business Development and Youth Empowerment in Sidoarjo Regency (2014)
- Improving waste management at the village’s public health center in Sukabumi City (2015)
- Aksiku.bdg: A Digital Platform for Neighborhood Data Mapping (2016)
Contact
Name: Mr. Ari Suryono
Email: ari.suryono1997@gmail.com
Phone: +62 812-3253-303
National Chapter Nepal
NC Nepal was established in 2001. In 2019 the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET) has expressed its interest to host the NC Nepal. In the coming months, NSET will reach out to CityNet members and partners in Nepal in order to jointly develop a proposal for a new organizational structure and strategy for CityNet’s NC Nepal.
Recent projects
- School Sanitation and Public Toilet Projects (2010, 2012, 2013, 2016)
- Installation of Streetlights in Putalibazar Municipality (2014)
- Building Resilience of Municipalities and their Residents: Responding to the Nepal Earthquake (2015)
Contact
Name: Mr. Ganesh Kumar Jimee
E-mail: gjimee@nset.org.np
National Chapter Philippines
NC Philippines was established in 2017 and is hosted by the Makati. National Chapter Philippines has a three-year term. The President shall automatically be from the host city, while the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor and PRO shall be elected every three years. The host city shall designate a secretariat and/or focal person in-charge of the day-to-day transaction of the chapter.
Contact
Name: Ms. Merlina Panganiban
E-mail: uddmakati@gmail.com
Phone: +632 899 8958
National Chapter Sri Lanka
CityNet National Chapter Sri Lanka was established in 1997 with Colombo Municipal Council as the host organization. Its organizational structure consists of president, two vice presidents, treasurer, executive committee members which are confined only to Mayors of municipal councils, as well as secretary general, consultant, auditor, and 23 members (municipal councils).
Recent projects
• Community-run Computer Learning Centre Project (2014)
• Artistic Skill Training Project for Children of Low Income Communities (2015, 2016)
Contact
Name: Ms. Thamara Mallawaarachchi
Email: thamaramal@gmail.com
Phone: +94 11 268 1198
YOKOHAMA PROJECT OFFICE
Establishing the CITYNET Yokohama Project Office
Mr. Nobuyuki Onozaki
Head of CITYNET Yokohama Project Office
Mr. Onozaki brings in the experience of working at a local government for over 30 years. He feels that the field of disaster, which CYO has been engaged in, is one of the top priority issues that cities have to deal with. His mission to help cities become more resilient so that its residents can live safely by maximizing wisdom and human resources to address various challenges they face.
While at CITYNET, Mr. Onozaki wishes to contribute to the further prosperity of member cities, companies and organisations by deepening the connections and collaborations.
Mr. Kendra Hirata
Director, Project Development
Mr. Kendra Hirata has worked in both the private and public sectors for several years conducting training for and managing of development projects. His previous experience includes leading a Japanese non-profit organisation, conducting projects in developing countries, as well as several years of living and working in developed and developing regions. He brings a balanced perspective into his work through CITYNET Yokohama Office. He previously worked for the CITYNET Secretariat in Yokohama and was assigned to his new position upon the Secretariat’s relocation to Seoul. He continues to provide his expertise for CYO by developing meaningful projects to improve urban communities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ms. Yukiko Kudou
Director, Administration
Ms. Yukiko Kudou has been dispatched to CityNet Yokohama Project Office from April 2020. She joined the City of Yokohama in 2004 and since then has worked in offices concerning legal affairs, gender equality, and family registry. She has a strong interest in contributing to development works through CityNet and learning more about the actual needs and conditions of CityNet members. She has a Master’s degree in International Law.
Ms. Sachiko Ohtake
Project Staff
Ms. Sachiko Ohtake’s long experience with managing CITYNET accounts has been a vital contribution and continues to be an asset to the office.
Access
CITYNET Yokohama Project Office
5F International Cooperation Center
1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-0012 JAPAN
Contact
Phone: 045-223-2161
Fax: 045-223-2162
Email: info@citynet-yh.org
http://www.citynet-yh.org/
CITYNET-PLUS ARTS CENTER FOR CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Establishing the CityNet-Plus Arts Center for Creative Partnerships
On April 1, 2021, Plus Arts NPO established the CityNet-Plus Arts Center for Creative Partnerships in Kobe to expand knowledge sharing from Japan. The Center for Creative Partnerships will support CityNet members in strengthening their disaster education programmes, including the establishment of DRR learning centres, and by enhancing the capacity building of public officials through creative and innovative solutions for multi-sector challenges. The Center for Creative Partnerships is primarily supported by staff and funding from Plus Arts.
Plus Arts was launched in 2006. Learning from the lessons of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (Kobe Earthquake, 1995), Plus Arts formulated the "Have Fun while Learning about Disasters" programme that utilizes design and art to raise awareness on disaster prevention, and carries out promotional activities through workshops and exhibitions held domestically and abroad. In cooperation with overseas partners, it implements programmes that are flexibly adapted to local needs, so that disaster education originating in Japan is also widely disseminated overseas. It has improved the level of disaster awareness among students, communities, organizations and local authorities in many parts of the world.
The staff members of the CityNet-Plus Arts Center for Creative Partnerships are:
Mr. Hirokazu Nagata - Chairperson, Director
A planner and producer, Mr. Hirokazu Nagata founded the City Culture Creation Research Institute in 2001. He also established Plus Arts NPO in 2006. Since August 2012, he has been working as the Vice Director of the Design and Creative Center Kobe and in 2021 he was appointed as the Director of the same center. His major planning and production achievements include Iza! Kaeru Caravan! since 2005 which is a DRR education program, Earthquake Expo in 2006, and Chibikkobe since 2012. He is also the recipient of the 15th JICA President’s Award Commendation.
Ms. Makoto Sasaki - Chief Staff, Program Officer
Ms. Makoto Sasaki is from Miyako, Iwate. She experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake when she was junior high school student. After she had taken part in the internship at Plus Arts while she was in university, she started working at Plus Arts in2019. She is in charge of the domestic disaster education programs.
Ms. Mayu Takihara - Staff, Program Officer
Ms. Mayu Takihara has worked at Plus Arts since 2022. She majored in education at university, and got teaching licenses of elementary school, English for junior high school and English for high school. She got a certificate in Bousaishi, a disaster prevention expert certification in Japan in 2020. She works in international cooperation projects.
Mr. Kazuyoshi Mitsuda - Staff, Program Officer
Mr. Kazuyoshi Mitsuda is from Oita. He learned graphic design during his school days. He has been employed at Plus Arts since 2020. He is active in the frontline activities utilize his technical skills for the disaster education programs, and works in editorial design for private sectors.
Ms. Masayo Morimoto - Part-time Staff
Ms. Masayo Morimoto is responsible for procurement, online sales, shipping and handling of Plus Arts material and related administrative duties. Previously she lived in the Midwest of the United States. She speaks Japanese and English.
Ms. Takako Nakamura - Accounting and General Affairs
Ms. Takako Nakamura is from Kobe. She is in charge of the accounting and general affairs. Previously she also worked in accounting in the private sector companies. She is working behind the scenes to support our members.
Address
CityNet-Plus Arts Center for Creative Partnerships
c/o Plus Arts NPO
Design and Creative Center Kobe 307
1-4 Onohama-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0082
JAPAN
Contact
Phone: +81-78-335-1335
Fax: +81-78-335-1339
Email: info@plus-arts.net
http://www.plus-arts.net
