Filipino named head of Greenpeace SE Asia

A multi-awarded Filipino environmentalist has been named as the new head of a world-renowned environment group in the Southeast Asian region.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia board chairperson Dr. Opart Panya announced the appointment of Von Hernandez, 41, as the organization’s new executive director effective March 3.

“Von’s leadership will reinvigorate Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s regional campaigns to defend the environment from the threats of climate change, deforestation, pollution, and genetic contamination. We are especially pleased that one of his major priorities will be to lead the fight against climate change, which will adversely affect the poorest nations in the region,” Panya said.

With more than 15 years’ experience as an environmental activist, Hernandez is known for his campaigns exposing and stopping waste trade and waste incineration in Southeast Asia. 

Hernandez was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for grassroots environmentalists in 2003. He is the first Filipino to win the award, whose previous recipients include Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai. 

Recently, Hernandez was cited as one of Time Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment 2007 for his work exposing the economic pitfalls and environmental and public health hazards of waste incineration.

Hernandez’s involvement with Greenpeace began in 1995 with his work as coordinator for Greenpeace International’s Toxics Campaign in Asia. He is a board member of Greenpeace India, and served as campaign director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia for four years prior to his new appointment as executive director. – Katherine Adraneda