Nobuo Tanaka is currently the Global Associate for Energy Security and Sustainability at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) since September 1 of 2011. He is also Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo as of April 1, 2013. As Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2007 to 2011, he oversaw a seminal period in the Agency’s work and direction. Under his leadership, the IEA initiated a collective release of oil stocks in June 2011. He also played a crucial
and personal role in the strengthening of ties with major IEA non‐Member energy players, including China, India, Russia and South Africa. He began his career in 1973 in
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Tokyo, and has served in a number of high‐ranking positions in METI, including Director‐General of the Multilateral Trade System Department and Director for International Nuclear Energy Policy of the Natural Resources and Energy Agency. He was deeply engaged in a range
of trade and economic issues with the US as Minister for Industry, Trade and Energy at
the Embassy of Japan, Washington DC from 1998 to 2000. He has also served as Director for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI) of the Paris‐based international organization, OECD before the appointment to the IEA.