Yumiko Watanabe

Yumiko is Head of the Japan Programme at the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), where she leads market development and policy engagement to accelerate green and transition finance. She brings over 20 years of experience in the financial sector, with a strong foundation in fixed-income investment and bond structuring gained at leading global institutions.

Her career also spans the public sector, including service at the British Embassy in Japan, where she worked on aligning financial policy between Japan and the United Kingdom, with a focus on sustainable growth, energy transition, and climate-aligned investment.

Yumiko joined CBI in November 2024 and currently guides the organisation’s strategy and partnerships in Japan. She holds a Law degree from Kyoto University.