Nobuo Tanaka

Nobuo Tanaka is a leading authority in global energy policy, best known for his tenure as Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2007 to 2011. As the first Asian to lead the IEA, Tanaka brought a transformative vision to the organization, strengthening its focus on energy security, climate change mitigation, and collaboration with emerging economies. Under his leadership, the IEA expanded its engagement with China, India, and other non-OECD countries, recognizing their growing influence on global energy markets. 

Tanaka’s career spans more than four decades in energy and economic policy. A veteran of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), he held a variety of senior posts dealing with international trade, energy, and industrial policy. His diplomatic and analytical expertise helped shape Japan’s approach to liberalization, innovation, and  

energy diversification. He also served in key international roles, notably as Director for Science, Technology and Industry at the OECD, where he led efforts to enhance innovation, technology transfer, and structural reform across member countries. 

After leaving the IEA in 2011, Tanaka remained a central figure in the global energy landscape. He has served as Chair of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and has been a consistent advocate for energy innovation and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. He has also held academic appointments, including a fellowship at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and a professorship at the Graduate School of  

Public Policy at the University of Tokyo. His research and public speaking have addressed energy security, nuclear policy, renewable energy, and the challenges of decarbonization.