UIC Chair & Vice-Chair

Yuji Fukasawa joined the Japanese National Railways (JNR), predecessor of East Japan Railway Company (JR East), in 1978, following graduation from the University of Tokyo where he attained a degree in law. He has long served in a role of leadership in the rail industry, with more than 45 years of experience behind him.

Y. Fukasawa served as JR East’s President from 2018 to 2024 and currently serves as the company’s Chairman. He has unfailingly stood at the company’s forefront even through such unprecedented challenges as those presented by Covid-19, working tirelessly to transform Japan’s railways.

One of the most significant achievements under his leadership was the inauguration of “Takanawa Gateway City”. It is one of the largest urban development projects taking placing in Japan in recent years, now being developed alongside a recently constructed station on land made available through the repurposing of a former rail depot. Takanawa Gateway City is positioned to become a place of experimentation and innovation toward new and fulfilling lifestyles into the century ahead. It aims to become a hub from which solutions for the future are to be generated and shared with the rest of the world in the form of new culture, new business modes and models for a more environmentally viable economy.

Y. Fukasawa believes in the greater potential of railways as leaders in promoting decarbonization initiatives and has been instrumental in making the utilization of hydrogen energy a reality along with other investments to further address issues facing the global environment and reduce CO₂ emissions.

Y. Fukasawa took it upon himself to make sure that the company learned from both operational and technical aspects of past safety-related incidents. He emphasized safety as the company’s top priority, applying lessons from the past to further prevent accidents and ensure safer and more secure railway services.

He has also made important contributions in the development of human resources in the industry through training programs in the fields of operations, maintenance, and customer service. Last but not least, his leadership has been indispensable toward the success of the High-Speed Rail Project now underway in India.

Since 2023, Y. Fukasawa has served as member and is actively involved with both the UIC Executive Board and the UIC Asia-Pacific Management Committee (APMC), where he has emphasized the importance of UIC initiatives, most particularly as an advocate of standardisation. His membership in the APMC has led to participation in activities within the Asia-Pacific region, including Safety Training Session, a major forte of JR East, which he has organized within the framework of regional projects.

Y. Fukasawa has always had great interest in the culinary cultures of the world and is a certified expert in both wine and Japanese sake. A lifelong tennis enthusiast, he has been serving as President of the Japan Tennis Association since April 2025, active worldwide in revitalizing communities through the power of sport.

Gianpiero Strisciuglio graduated with honours in transport engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari (Politecnico di Bari) and obtained a second level Master’s degree from the Parthenope University in Naples. Since 2001, he has been registered with the Italian National Council of Engineers (Consiglio Nazionale degli Ingegneri (CNI)).

In 2002, he began his career at the FS group, taking on increasingly important managerial roles over time.

From 2013 to 2014, he was responsible for planning and service development at Italian Railway Network (RFI).

From 2014 to 2017 he was RFI’s Commercial and Operations Director. 

From 2017 to 2018, he was Director of the Long-Haul Passenger Division at Trenitalia.

From 2018 to April 2022, he held the position of Director of Strategy, Industrial Planning, Innovation & Sustainability at Mercitalia Logistics S.p.A.

In April 2022, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Mercitalia Logistics S.p.A., a position he held until May 2023.

In May 2023, he was made Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of RFI, until March 2025 when he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Trenitalia S.p.A, holding the position until July 2026.

In the past, he has also held additional roles such as Chair of the Supervisory Board of TX Logistik, President and CEO of the Alpine Rolling Highway (AFA), member of the Board of Directors of Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal and Alpe Adria, member of the Executive Council of FERMERCI, CEO of Quadrante Europa Terminal Gate, and member of the Board of Directors of the transport facilities in South Tyrol (STA).

He currently holds the role of President of the Confederal Agency for Transport and Services (AGENS), President of the Italian Association of Railway Engineers (CIFI), and Vice President of Federturismo.