Hans-Joachim Preuß is the Managing Director of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). He holds a PhD from Justus Liebig University in Giessen, under the topic of target group-oriented agricultural research in developing countries. Dr. Preuß started his professional career in development cooperation at the GTZ, holding various positions in Africa and at the GTZ Head Office in Eschborn, also as a member of the Corporate Development Unit. He was transferred at Welthungerhilfe in Bonn, where he was initially in charge of the Programmes and Projects Department and later Secretary General and Managing Director. In 2009, Dr Preuß was appointed Managing Director of GTZ. In an honorary capacity, Dr Preuß acts as the Deputy Chair of the Peter Hesse Foundation. He is also on the Advisory Committee on International Programmes at the German Church Development Service (EED), the Board of the German-African Business Association, the Board of Trustees of Welthungerhilfe and the Advisory Board of the German foreign and security policy quarterly 'Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik'.