Harumi Chikada Japan Customs

Ms Harumi CHIKADA currently serves as Director of the Customs Administration Research Office, which is the strategic planning office of the Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance (Japan Customs HQs). Key responsibilities include driving medium to long-term strategic agenda of Japan Customs and project management, covering the use of advanced technologies in Customs operations. Prior to this, Ms Chikada undertook directorship at the HQs in the areas of rules of origin and nomenclature respectively, preceded by senior management positions at airport Customs for air cargo clearance. She also worked on Authorised Economic Operator issues and Intellectual Property Rights files. In addition to her rich experience in policy development and Customs operational issues, she has played a pivotal role in the WCO context. Ms Chikada worked as a Customs attaché in Brussels representing Japan in various WCO committees. She later joined the WCO Secretariat in the Capacity Building Directorate. She has an LL.M. in European Legal Studies from the University of Bristol, the United Kingdom.