Shinko Tana

Japan/AusAID Advisor

Shinko Tana has been the Japan advisor since March 2011, managing the International Rescue Committee’s response to the earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck northeast Japan. She is based in New York and travels periodically to Japan. She has overseen the successful implementation of over $3.5 million in emergency relief and recovery activities, working closely with local partners. She has also been heavily involved with designing the recovery phase projects in livelihoods and community development.

Prior to joining the IRC, Shinko worked for six years with IDSS Pty Ltd, an Australian international aid agency, designing and managing community-centered development programs in the Asia Pacific, and subsequently became an independent consultant. Her work has taken her, among other places, to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Thailand.

She is a native of Japan with a bachelor’s degree in international studies from DePaul University and a master’s degree in international development and environmental analysis from Monash University.