Mr Hiroshi Asahi is currently the Director-General for Energy and Environmental Policy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan. After graduating from the University of Tokyo with a Bachelor's in engineering, mineral engineering, Mr Asahi entered Japan's civil service by joining the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in 1982. He spent 18 years at MITI, with an attachment stint in London as JETRO's Director for Japan Metal Centre.

In 2001, Mr Asahi moved to the Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ) to be the Managing Director for Global Minerals Exploration Group, Metal Mining Agency of Japan. He went on in 2004 to hold dual roles as the Director General of Metals Strategy Department, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), and as the Director for METI's Mineral and Natural Resources Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. In 2007, he became Director for Technical Regulations, Standards and Conformity Assessment, Policy Division, Industrial Science and Technology and Environment Bureau for METI. His last prior position was Director for Technology Affaires, Minister's Secretariat at METI.

Mr Asahi also has a Master's in science, mineral economics, from Pennsylvania State University in the US.