11 July 2014, Kobe, Japan — APN welcomes Mr. Hiroshi Tsujihara as new Director of APN Secretariat to lead the implementation of the Network’s strategic activities in the run-up to a new five-year strategic phase.

Mr. Tsujihara, officially joining the APN today, is former Director of Research and Information Office, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan and APN’s former national Focal Point for Japan.

Mr. Tsujihara is mainly experienced in water quality management and in global environment issues when he was working with the Ministry of Environment, Japan.

In his message to the Secretariat Mr. Tsujihara noted, “I have been working with the APN as national Focal Point and donor member in the Steering Committee in the past two years and it’s my great pleasure to see the significant development of the Network over the past years.”

“It is also a pleasure to be able to work in the beautiful city of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, whose government is committed to promote activities that contribute to the sustainability and wellbeing of people,” says Mr. Tsujihara.

Former Director, Dr. Akio Takemoto, will take up the role as Director of Research and Information Office, Global Environment Bureau, at the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.