Asami Okahashi is a Governance Specialist focusing on GovTech at the World Bank’s Governance Global Practice. She leads the GovTech Innovation Lab, which is dedicated to supporting problem-solving through emerging technologies. With around 15 years of experience in policy advisory, project design and implementation, and technical assistance in the areas of digital government, service delivery, and smart cities, she currently works on projects focused on digital transformation across various regions, particularly Europe and Central Asia, and South Asia regions. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Asami was an Urban Development Specialist, serving as a regional urban lead at the UNDP in Asia and the Pacific. In this role, she was responsible for supporting 10+ countries on topics such as smart cities, climate and disaster resilience, water supply, and waste management. Additionally, she has experience in the private sector, where she spearheaded business development in the tech and infrastructure space for Southeast Asia and Latin America.
She holds an MSc degree in Urban Economic Development from University College London, UK. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Japanese.