Takafumi has 10 years of experience in environmental governance, policy coordination and programme management. He started his career at a private consultancy firm based in Tokyo, specializing in chemicals and waste management and knowledge management. In 2019, Takafumi joined the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury at the United Nations Environment Programme, where he supported governments on scientific and technical issues to promote the implementation of the Convention. A Japanese national, he holds a Master’s degree in environmental studies and Bachelor of Engineering in architecture from the University of Tokyo.