The Award

The Award for Outstanding Service and Commitment by a Woman recognizes women who, in their official capacity within AECEN Member agencies and partners, have demonstrated an outstanding level of leadership, commitment and service, and have distinguished themselves by exemplary contributions. Nominees have a record of meritorious achievements, docu-mented by superior accomplishments and contributions to the achievement of the organization’s goals. The work of the nom-inee must advance the mission of the organization, and sub-stantially contribute to the enhancement of the environment.

Winner of the 2010 Award

Ms. Yoko Maki, Planner and Senior Director of the Global Environment Knowledge Center of the Environment Bureau of the City of Kawasaki, Japan, has worked for the city for over 30 years, spearheading efforts to transform Kawasaki, a city of 1.4 million people at the heart of industrial Japan, to a model city for Asia, and the world.

On joining the Kawasaki municipal government in 1980, Ms. Maki worked on infrastructure planning and environmental management, and was instrumental in developing a ground-breaking city ordinance on environmental impact assessment (EIA), the first of its kind in Japan. In 1997, Kawasaki was designated as Japan’s first “Eco Town”, and in 2002, when Ms. Maki was the Manager of the Urban Renaissance and Coastal Area Development Department, Kawasaki created a zero emission industrial zone. Through her vision and persistence, Kawasaki City is a model for law enforcement, stakeholder coordination and innovation. Kawasaki became an International Environmental Special Zone (2003), established compacts with business and civil society groups (2006) developed an ordinance on climate change (2008). Ms. Maki earned a masters degree in engineering from the University of Tokyo.

The 2010 selection committee included Hon. Justice Vijender Jain, former Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court; Prof. Akio Morishima, Chair, Board of Directors of the Japan Climate Policy Center; and Dr. Monthip Sriratana Tabucanon, Principal Inspector General of Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.