Rie Hiraoka joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2001. She is the first and currently the Director of Social Sector Division for Central and West Asia Department since it was established in 2016. In 2011–2016, she was the Country Director in Kyrgyz Resident Mission. Ms. Hiraoka holds a PhD in Development (Faculties: Economics and Regional Science) from the Cornell University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Earth and Planetary Science from Tokyo University. She has over 25 years of experience in international development in strategy and evidence—based policy development, public sector management, public finance, and service delivery.  She has also worked with the World Bank, and UNICEF.