Riko Kimoto

Leading the thematic area of Public Health, coordinate conferences across Asia-Europe, and drive dialogue on pandemic preparedness and response, including AMR. Direct public health projects and facilitate partnerships. Act as main point of contact/negotiator between external stakeholders and ASEF for public health, and represent ASEF at high profile meetings, such as UNHLM on AMR. Manage all aspects of projects from ideation to execution, administer program design, select speakers, and create policy briefs. Liaise with key stakeholders, build strong relationship with donor Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan and other relevant organizations, and foster networking.

• Acted as subject matter expert, being invited as a keynote panel speaker at international events such as ECDC’s Risk Communication Workshop and the World AMR Congress
• Selected to be part of feasibility study for 'ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED)' establishment, and WHO science and knowledge translation experts’ consultation
• Planned over 15 events with attendants spanning across 40 countries, fostering Minister level for keynote speech (i.e. Minister of Health, Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Finance, Finland). Organised 2 side events at WHA and UNHLM securing high level speakers (i,e, former Minister of Health, Portugal, RD of WHO WPRO)
• Established a joint project with WHO on AMR/UHC between 2023-2024
• Brought ASEF to the UN after successful implementation of a conference 'UHC in an era of AMR and Pandemics' gathering over 60 participants across Asia-Europe, including European Commission and WHO, featuring the former Japanese Minister of Health as a keynote speaker
• Enhanced ASEF’s visibility by providing interventions at the UN multi-stakeholder hearing for Pandemic Preparedness and AMR
• Selected as a member of taskforce preparing for UNHLM on UHC in 2023
• Secured external funding GBP 20,000 between Oct 2023 – March 2024 from the University of Warwick by facilitating partnership and serving as an adviser to the UK-Japan next generation scientist project
• Made company becoming a member of Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and UHC 2030 by demonstrating relevance
• Secured partnerships with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health Viet Nam, US CDC, Sante Publique France, Ministry of Public Health Thailand, Ministry of Health Cambodia, Public Health Wales, AMR Clinical Reference Center Japan, Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Finland, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at National University of Singapore, Asia Centre for Health Security and the Robert Koch Institute
• The events were mentioned on the chair’s statement of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM 13) in Nov 2021. The outcome document I developed from the event in Oct 2021 was featured in WHO’s newsletter.
• Coordinated stockpile project under Japan Trust Fund 2, collaborating with MOFA Japan and WHO WPRO
• Provided guidance to Executive Director during COVID-19

Provided strategic guidance to Medical Director, established best hospital practices, and enhanced operations. Coached and mentored nursing staff, managed wards, hired medical staff, and drove efficiency. Chaired meetings and ensured smooth running of operations during visits from international organisations and government officials following major public health events.

• Supervised over 150 nurses, demonstrating great leadership skills

Directed rural clinic operations across 2 facilities, administered accounting, and advised local staff.

• Liaised with DoH on public health matters including vaccinations, mosquitos fumigation, and watery diarrhoea investigations
• Collaborated with local institutes/ international agencies and advocated for documented / undocumented migrants’ health
• Promoted health practices within schools, educating students on sexually transmitted diseases and encouraging hand hygiene among pre school children