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Work Background
FreelanceIndependent Consultant
Jan. 2025Vientiane, Laos
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)Executive Director
Jan. 2017 - Jan. 2025Bangkok Metropolitan Area, ThailandExecutive Director of an autonomous international organization for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC is the Secretariat for the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management (RCC) bringing together 26 member countries for regional cooperation on disaster risk reduction in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1986 ADPC has a Vision of "Safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction".
Independent ConsultantIndependent Consultant
Feb. 2015 - Dec. 2016Göteborg, SwedenConsultant in Water/Aquatic Resources, Environmental Management, Rural Development, Programme/Project Development. Extensive experience in Water Diplomacy and Governance and Intergovernmental Cooperation Geographic focus on SE Asia Excellent skills in coordination, management and strategic development.
Mekong River Commission SecretariatCEO
Nov. 2011 - Feb. 2015Lao PDRChief Executive of an International River Basin Organisation. MRC is an intergovernmental organisation for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. MRC support the cooperation in the development and management of shared resources of the Mekong River Basin.
Mekong River Commission SecretariatChief Executive Officer
Nov. 2011 - Feb. 2015Lao PDRI oversaw the MRC Secretariat’s strategic and operational management, ensuring implementation of the 1995 Mekong Agreement and advancing cooperation among member countries and over 50 local and international partners. As CEO, I facilitated negotiations on equitable water use and transboundary issues such as dam development, flood and drought warning, emergency water quality response, and the safe transport of hazardous goods.
I managed operations across the offices (Vientiane and Phnom Penh) with a US$20 million annual budget and 170 staff. I led recruitment and performance management for 30 senior staff and implemented capacity-building initiatives. During my tenure, I secured over US$100 million in funding for the 2011–2015 Strategic Plan, expanded donor engagement, and increased member country pledges.
I provided technical leadership in areas such as water quality standards, river flows, and initiatied the US$5 million MRC Council Study examining sectoral impacts of Mekong developments. I established new protocols and upgraded the MEAL system and reporting structures. I introduced a streamlined organisational structure with clear roles and responsibilities, enhancing operational efficiency.
I broadened stakeholder engagement beyond government agencies and championed GESI in IWRM and transboundary water management. I regularly co-chaired technical working groups and represented the MRC at high-level regional and international meetings. I liaised with senior government officials and directly coordinated with development partners on behalf of member countries, including chairing the MRC Development Partner meetings.
Wetlands AllianceCoordinator
Sep. 2007 - Nov. 2011ThailandCoordinator of the Wetlands Alliance, working with 40 agencies addressing poverty in the Mekong River region.
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)Coordinator of Wetlands Alliance (WA)
Sep. 2007 - Nov. 2011ThailandI managed the delivery of 20 WA programme activities under a USD 5.5 million joint initiative founded by WWF, WorldFish, CORIN-ASIA, and AIT. I coordinated the work of 50 local and international agencies working to strengthen the capacity of local change agents for sustainable aquatic resources and fisheries management to support food security and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable households and communities in the Mekong River region.
Apart from coordination, I was the primary liaison between involved partners, connecting local actors to national governments and international partners. I provided technical inputs in fisheries/wetlands management, water resources and rural livelihoods.
I increased the donors from one to five - Apart from Sida, I secured support from FAO, UNDP, the Viet Nam and Thai governments. I successfully extended the Alliance’s reach to include Myanmar and increased the number of cooperating partners from 30 to 50.
Mekong River Commission SecretariatCoordinator
Sep. 2001 - Sep. 2007Cambodia and Lao PDRCoordinator of the MRC Environment Programme
Mekong River Commission SecretariatCoordinator of Environment Programme
Sep. 2001 - Sep. 2007Cambodia and Lao PDRI spearheaded the planning and rollout of the MRC Environment Programme, focusing on water quality and environmental monitoring. I designed the first river health report cards, oversaw the development of an interactive river awareness kit used by universities for teaching IWRM, and introduced risk assessment for MRC programmes. I managed an annual budget of US$2 million, reported to donors including Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, and GEF/UNDP. I supervised 15 staff and oversaw recruitment, planning, coaching, capacity building and performance appraisals. I provided technical and management support to the Environment Division, including training and workshops, and developed report cards, tools, and agreements on water quality criteria, wetlands mapping classifications, etc. I was the main point of contact on all environmental matters with the National Mekong Committees (NMCs) of the four-member countries, and other national line agencies for negotiating purposes, sharing best practices and data to be integrated at the regional level, and coordinating technical inputs in preparation for negotiations. I advised MRC Secretariat senior management, the Joint Committee, and the Council on the transboundary environmental impact assessment (tbEIA) system, water quality and environmental monitoring and environmental issues of the Basin Development Planning process. I regularly presented at the Ministerial level and represented MRC at international conferences.
Asian Institute of TechnologyProgramme Specialist in Aqua Outreach Programme
Jul. 1996 - Mar. 2001ThailandCoordinating and advising AIT Aqua Outreach Programme focusing on the wild fish component.
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)Programme Specialist in Aqua Outreach Programme
Jul. 1996 - Mar. 2001ThailandI co-developed and coordinated research and development in rice field fisheries and wetlands resources in Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam and Cambodia. I published field research results, which was later converted to policy briefs and presentations (lately, the work has been cited in many academic articles). I liaised with WorldFish, FAO, WWF, IUCN, IRRI and other agencies active in small-scale fisheries, policy and legal analysis on natural resources management. I co-developed the “Legal and Institutional Framework, and Economic Valuation of Resources and Environment in the Mekong River Region: A Wetlands Approach", published in the WorldFish Journal in 2005. Together with Rick Gregory, we pioneered work on small-scale fisheries in and around the rice fields/wetlands in the Mekong region, and our work ensured that this fishery was recognised as a central resource for rural livelihoods. This resulted in national policies on “Community Fish Refuge Ponds” now promoted by the Fisheries Administration in Cambodia.
Asian Institute of TechnologyProgramme Specialist in Aqua Outreach Programme
Jul. 1996ThailandCoordinating and advising AIT Aqua Outreach Programme focusing on the wild fish component.
Tha-Ngone Aquaculture Development (TAD)Special Advisor
Jul. 1995 - Jun. 1996Lao PDRAssistant Manager on TAD’s fish farm managing over 30 employees. In charge of planning, training and managing the fish and prawn production, and assist the administrative section in improving the work. Managed joint research with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries of Lao PDR.
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)Programme Specialist
Oct. 1993 - Jun. 1995Bangkok Metropolitan Area, ThailandResource person for the Country Program Managers with extensive travel in Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam Assisted in institutional collaboration in fisheries research, training in research methodology, joint planning and execution of experiments, data management and assistance with analysis and report writing
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)Research Specialist
Nov. 1992 - Oct. 1993Bangkok Metropolitan Area, ThailandAssistant to the project manager with specific responsibilities for research issues, liaison with research institutions and Thai Department of Fisheries.
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)Research Associate
Aug. 1991 - Nov. 1992Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Thailand- Collaborative water quality experimentation on green water, pond nutrient surveys and carbon limitation, with Department of Fisheries in Udon Thani, with extensive field work in Northeast Thailand.
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