Nicolas du Bois is an international policy and programme professional with expertise in institutional strategy, innovation ecosystems, and global development. He currently serves as a Programme Officer in the Office of the Rector at the United Nations University in Tokyo, where he supports high-level strategic initiatives, governance processes, and institutional coordination across the University’s global network.
In his role at UNU, Nicolas contributes to project and programme management, operational planning, and executive support functions within the Rector’s Office. His work spans institutional reporting, internal coordination, partnership engagement, and administrative oversight, ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and operational execution. He also supports initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness and enhance UNU’s global research and policy impact.
Prior to joining UNU, Nicolas served as Programme Manager at the University of Tokyo, where he led FoundX, a startup inception programme designed to cultivate early-stage ventures and connect founders with mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners. He has also worked as a consultant facilitating investment partnerships between African startups and Japanese investors, contributing to cross-regional innovation and capital flows. Earlier in his career, he gained legal experience as a paralegal at an international law firm in Tokyo.
Nicolas holds an MPhil in Modern Japanese Studies from the University of Oxford, where his research examined Japanese investment in African economic development. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Cape Town. Multilingual and internationally oriented, he is fluent in English and Japanese, with additional proficiency in Russian and Afrikaans.
Through his work at the intersection of policy, innovation, and international cooperation, Nicolas du Bois contributes to strengthening global research collaboration and advancing evidence-informed institutional strategy.
