In September and October, APLN warmly welcomes seven new senior network members:

• Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano (Japan), Executive Adviser, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)
• Professor Michiru Nishida (Japan), Professor in the School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences and Deputy Director of the Research Center for Global Risk at Nagasaki University
• Professor Kazuko Hikawa (Japan), Vice Director and Professor at the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Nagasaki University
• Professor Joon Hyung Kim (South Korea), Member of the Korean National Assembly, former Professor at Handong Global University, and former Chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
• Ms. Maima Koro (New Zealand), Pacific Research Fellow and academic co-lead of the Regional Perspectives Research Project, Adelaide University
• Attorney Kazuko Ito (Japan), Tokyo-based human rights lawyer and Co-Representative of Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapon Abolition
• Ambassador Mohan Pieris (Sri Lanka), Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations

The APLN is working hard to expand our network across the Asia Pacific region, improve engagement and diversity on gender, race, age, and nationality. We recognise that we have much work to do but are working hard to do better. The wealth of expertise and experience of our newest network members increase APLN’s reach and engagement with governments across the region, increasing its policy impact and effectiveness.

The APLN network is comprised of political, military, diplomatic and thought leaders who work to address the security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region with a particular focus on nuclear non-proliferation, risk reduction and disarmament. APLN members contribute to security policy debates through writing articles, papers, and group statements, engaging in direct discussions with regional governments, and debating the issues in public and private events.