Hiroto Mitsugi is FAO’s Assistant Director-General of Forestry Department since 21 June 2017. He is a Japanese national, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (Forestry and Forest Products) from Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, and a Master of Science degree in Forestry Extension from the University of Reading, UK.
He started his career in 1987 with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Forestry Development Division (Forestry and Fisheries Development Cooperation Department).
Between 1990 and 1993, he served as Assistant Resident Representative in the JICA Malawi Office and from 1993 to 1995, he worked in the Consultant Contract Division, Procurement Department. After a period of study leave, he joined the Planning Division, Planning Department in 1997. In 1999, he was appointed Deputy Director, Agriculture Development Study Division (Agriculture and Forestry Development Study Department). From 2001 to 2002, he served in the General Affairs Department and in 2003 he became the Deputy Resident Representative of the JICA Cambodia Office. From 2006 to 2009, he was appointed Director of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Team 1 and in 2008 of Division 1 in the Global Environment Department. In 2009, he served as Deputy Director General and Group Director for Forestry and Nature Conservation. From 2011 to 2013, he worked as the Senior Resident Representative of the JICA Philippines Office and served from 2013 to 2014 as Deputy Director General for Administration and Planning for the Secretariat of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. In April 2014, he was appointed Senior Deputy Director General for the Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.
Before joining FAO, he served as Director General of the Rural Development Department, JICA.