Dr. Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi assumed leadership of UNU-IAS in November 2019. Her fields of specialisation include international development and cooperation, ICT in education, reform and policy of education, science and technology policy, and the application of technology in world heritage site preservation. Prior to this post, Dr Yamaguchi worked at Tokyo Institute of Technology as an Associate Professor (2002‒2006) and then full Professor (from 2006). In 2005‒2007, she concurrently served as Advisor to the President.

Before joining Tokyo Institute of Technology, Dr Yamaguchi worked for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), first at the Paris headquarters, and then in the Beijing Office. While with UNESCO, she was involved primarily in the development of education systems in China, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Pakistan.

Dr Yamaguchi is an Associate Member of the Science Council of Japan, and an active member of the Comparative and International Education Society, the Japan Society for International Development, Educational Research Association, and the World Council of Comparative Education Societies. She also has served on numerous committees focused on international activities and comparative educational studies, including those organised by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Dr Yamaguchi holds a PhD in Economics of Education from Columbia University (New York). She has authored or co-authored more than 200 publications and conference/seminar presentations.