Asia and the Pacific Transport Forum 2022 - Main Forum Events

Opening Session: Accelerating Transformative and Decarbonized Transport
5 April 2022  |   2:00 – 3:30 pm (GMT+8) 

In this opening session, a high level panel of transport thought leaders, government policy makers, and leaders of international development organizations will share their perspectives on the main transport challenges and opportunities in developing Asian countries, especially the impact of the pandemic and the international development agreements – the SDGs and the Paris Agreement – on the transport sector. that are setting down. This session will also introduce ADB’s new Transport Sector Framework which will guide operations to 2030.

Moderator:
  • Sharanjit Leyl, BBC World News

Speaker:
  • Woochong Um, Managing Director General, Asian Development Bank

Leaders Discussion Panel:
  • Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan,  Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ministry of Planning, Islamabad, Pakistan 
  • Ricardo Menendez March, Member of Parliament for the Green Party of Aoteara, New Zealand
  • Young Tae Kim, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum
  • Xiaohong Yang, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Jaehak Oh, President, Korea Transport Institute
  • Ken O’Flaherty, COP26 Regional Ambassador for Asia/ Pacific and South Asia

Session 2: Transport Decarbonization Pathways
5 April 2022  |   4:00 – 5:30 pm (GMT+8) 

During this session, discussions will revolve around the key barriers and entry points to shift beyond existing approaches and towards the design of transport solutions that can meet the urgent ambitions of promoting low carbon development. Speakers will discuss current developments in decarbonizing transport across modes, share best practices and perspectives on integrated measures to promote low carbon development, and ultimately net-zero trajectories, and stimulate a larger dialogue on how to create an enabling environment for integrated approaches across sectors to accelerate solutions in the transport-energy nexus. 

Moderator:
  • Noelle O’Brien, Chief of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Thematic Group, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank

Speakers:
  • Yidan Luo, Young Professional, Transport and Communications Division, Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Lynn Loo, Professor, Chief Executive Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization
  • Edward Clayton, Deals Partner, Capital Projects & Infrastructure, PwC Malaysia
  • Urda Eichhorst, Project Director, NDC Transport Initiative for Asia, GIZ
  • Jürg Grütter, CEO, Grütter Consulting

Event 1: Data and Digital Transformation in Transport
6 April 2022  |   10:00 – 11:30 am (GMT+8) 

ADB launched the Asian Transport Outlook on transport infrastructure, operations and policies to assess how well aligned policies and investments are with relevant international transport targets and how effectively they contribute to the development of quality infrastructure. This session will review the role of the Asian Transport Outlook in supporting ADB’s developing member countries in the development of transport sector projects, and share how these countries are using digital data analytics to create smarter, more efficient and more resilient transport systems. 

Moderator:
  • Thomas Abell, Chief, Digital Technology for Development Unit, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank

Speakers:
  • Cornie Huizenga, ADB TA Consultant for Asian Transport Outlook, Asian Development Bank
  • Clara Grilo, Researcher, Center for Marine and Environment Studies, University of Lisbon
  • Ben Dorsey, Environmental Scientist & Spatial Data Specialist, Parks Canada
  • Alex Ramirez, Technical Lead, Skycatch USA
  • Kate Vyborny, Associate Director, DevLab; Research Associate, Department of Economics, Duke University
  • Louise Ribet, Partnerships Lead, WhereIsMyTransport

Session 3: Pathways to Accessible, Safe, and Inclusive Transport
6 April 2022  |   2:00 – 3:30 pm (GMT+8) 

Safe and inclusive transport systems invite citizens into full participation in society. They expand opportunities through accessible social and economic connection. Delivering such transport systems for citizens is a multi-sectoral challenge demanding vision and sustained effort over decades. This session will use a range of perspectives and country experiences to enlighten the many pathways being taken across Asia and the Pacific to make transport accessible, safe and inclusive. 


Moderator:
  • Wendy Walker, Chief of Social Development Thematic Group, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank

Speakers:
  • Weimin Ren, Director, Transport Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
  • Mark Stevenson, Professor, The University of Melbourne
  • Gabby O'Neill, Assistant Secretary, National Office of Road Safety at Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Australia
  • David Shelton, Senior Transport Specialist (Road Safety), Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Wei-Shiuen Ng, Advisor, Sustainable Transport & Global Outreach, International Transport Forum
  • Soléne Baffi, Project Manager, Codatu
  • Emma MacLennan, Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport

Session 4: Accelerating Innovations in Transport
6 April 2022  |   4:00 – 5:30 pm (GMT+8) 

Innovations in transport are needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, accomplish widespread decarbonization of transport and also, to respond to pandemic-era needs and changing of mobility. These include not only innovations in technology and approaches but also innovations in planning and project definition, the building of resilient infrastructure, and a new focus on sustainability and asset management. During this session, speakers will discuss recent developments and concrete and actionable measures for transforming transport.

Moderator:
  • Maruxa Cardama, Secretary General, Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLOCAT)

Speakers:
  • Katja Schechtner, Visiting Scholar at MIT Senseable City Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Fayaz Khan, CEO, TransPeshawar, Pakistan
  • François Davenne, Secretary General, International Union of Railways, UIC
  • Sylvain Haon, Senior Director (Strategy), International Association of Public Transport
  • Sasank Vemuri, Head of Global Secretariat at MobiliizeYourCity (MYC), Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Event 2: Knowledge Solutions for Tomorrow
7 April 2022  |   10:00 – 11:30 am (GMT+8)

This showcase for the solutions and innovations of tomorrow will feature ADB and its partners presenting on their major transport initiatives, sharing details of partnerships and discussing the latest transport knowledge products. Both ADB and its partners will showcase new publications on topics that range from road safety to futures planning for transport, while also offering insights on recent best practices that have supported the ongoing work in the transport sector.

Moderator:
  • Sujata Gupta, Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Division, East Asia Department, Asian Development Bank

Speakers:
  • Alexandra Pamela Chiang, Senior Transport Specialist, Asian Development Bank
  • Arndt Husar, Senior Public Management Specialist (Digital Transformation), Asian Development Bank
  • Rebecca Stapleton, Transport Specialist, East Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Urda Eichhorst, Project Director, NDC Transport Initiative for Asia, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
  • Tyrrell Duncan, Transport Economist & Policy Advisor
  • Glynda Bathan-Baterina, Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Asia, Member of the Council for Decarbonising Transport in Asia
  • Alok Jain, CEO and Managing Director, Trans-Consult Ltd.
  • Rob McInerney, CEO, International Road Assessment Programme

Session 5: Quality Transport Infrastructure Investments
07 April 2022  |   2:00 – 3:30 pm (GMT+8)

Ensuring quality transport infrastructure and services will be essential to enable economies across Asia and the Pacific to achieve national, regional and global development targets and goals. Countries across the region have large deficit in terms of transport infrastructure and activity and must continue to invest and expand their transport systems. Immediate action is required to scale up investments, strengthen governance, improve asset management and tackle the externality effects associated with the sector; these are consistent with the ambition of the G20 quality infrastructure agenda. This session looks beyond discrete transport projects to implementing whole-of-systems approaches for the planning, design, implementation, management and operations of integrated transport systems in Asia and the Pacific.

Moderator: Hiroaki Yamaguchi, Director, Transport and Communications Division, Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank

Speakers:
  • Cleo Kawawaki, Head, Office of Public-Private Partnership concurrently Senior Advisor, Central West Regional Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Valéry Peltier, Integration Manager, Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation
  • Patrick Malléjacq, Secretary General, World Road Association (formerly Permanent International Association of Road Congresses)
  • Azad Huseynov, Head of Strategic and Corporate Development Department, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC
  • Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty, NCRD-DSDG/UN DESA, United Nations Center for Regional Development

Closing Session: Sustainable Transport by 2030
7 April 2022  |   4:00 – 5:30 pm (GMT+8)

In this closing session, the key findings of the Forum will be reviewed and linked to the ADB Transport Sector Framework which will serve to guide ADB’s operations in transport until 2030 and how this will respond to emerging challenges and opportunities to guide sustainable transport development in Asia. Given this framework, high-level speakers will be sharing their visions for sustainable transport by 2030, and the actions that can be taken to achieve this future.

Moderator: Sharanjit Leyl, BBC World News

Speakers:
  • Sungsup Ra, Chief Sector Officer, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Jamie Leather, Chief of Transport Sector Group, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Benedict LJ Eijbergen, Global Practice Manager, Transport, World Bank
  • Lise Breuil, Transport and Mobility Director, Agence Française de Développement
  • Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General, International Association of Public Transport
  • Hideaki Iwasaki, Director, Transport and Communications Division, Central and West Asia Department, ADB
  • Sujata Gupta, Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Division, East Asia Department, ADB