Asia Pacific

Arpita is the Plastic Policy Officer for the Asia Pacific region. Her work focuses on strengthening the capacity and engagement of members in Global and national advocacy work towards plastic production caps, advancing Zero Waste policies, just transition for waste pickers and workers, and phasing out false solutions. Since 2012, she has worked across international and Indian organizations leading public mobilization, advocacy, and movement-building campaigns and programs across diverse issues including clean energy, sustainable agriculture, climate-resilient cities, gender justice, and plastics.

Belmiro graduated from Udayana University in Bali with a degree in Archaeology. Belmiro put his interest in environmental issues in 2019 when there was a subject named environmental archeology. In the middle of his study, he worked as a host for one of the popular TV programs in Indonesia called Insert, which produced infotainment about the celebrity world. Before joining GAIA, Belmiro worked at Nexus3 Foundation as a Communication Officer. He wants to use digital platforms to increase public awareness about environmental issues.

Leo has more than three years of work experience in quantitative and qualitative research, project management, and stakeholder coordination. They have published journal articles, book chapters, and policy notes on a wide range of topics including political dynasties, Philippine politics, inclusive growth, environmental cooperation, and fertility. They completed their undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman and are currently completing their master’s degree in Demography at the same university. They are part of several youth-led environmental organizations in the Philippines.

Janssen is an environmental management and urban planning specialist with experience as a consultant, researcher, and educator to several private companies, NGOs, universities, and government institutions. He has organized various environmental and urban management engagements in the Philippines, Ghana, the Netherlands, and Cambodia.

Celine started working in international non-government organizations in 2016, providing resource mobilization assistance to capacitate youth through Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, she continued her resource and grants management work in a child rights institution. Furthermore, she handled strategic portfolio and awards management and project implementation with various international and local organizations in Asia and the Pacific.

Ambily is a sustainability practitioner with deep interest in solving local environmental issues. She actively works towards improving her city’s waste management practices through behavioural change and community engagement model. She is experienced in program strategy & delivery, research and program led advocacy across development and waste management sector.

Dan carries almost 30 years of experience in communications work, from media publishing to marketing to web content writing, and as the Campaigns Coordinator of other non-government organisations. His traditional and modern approach to comms work is a solid support to GAIA AP campaigns.

Rhoda handles administration and finance matters from GAIA’s office in Quezon City, the Philippines. She holds a degree in business administration with a major in accounting. She has over 30 years of experience in the fields of human resource, administration, and finance, and has worked with various NGOs working on issues related to family development and youth organizing, urban poor housing, and agriculture.

Prior to joining GAIA in November 2016, Sherma worked for Philippine-based non-government organizations working on agriculture and health. She also worked as managing editor of a health magazine and has written feature stories on arts, culture, health, and business for various publications. A fictionist writing mostly in the vein of social realism, she uses storytelling to add her voice to the call for social justice and equity and to delve into issues that are often overlooked in discourses.

He has been active in movements and campaigns related to the environment and toxics since 1991. He entered the realm of environmental activism by organizing environmental education programs for schools in Kerala. He is one of the pioneers of the zero waste movement in India and led the zero waste campaigns and programs for Thanal — one of the oldest environmental organizations in South India. His expertise is in organics management, designing and developing zero-waste systems at the community level, and strategizing zero waste programs and campaigns.

Sonia has more than 15 years of experience working in media and communications for women’s magazines, a Philippine Senator and a Congressman, and three other NGOs: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia Pacific, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Asia, and The Way To Happiness – Philippines. She studied Journalism and has a master’s degree in public policy from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo, Japan. She is also a certified raw vegan chef, detox coach, and yoga teacher. In her spare time, she does batik painting.

As a graduate student currently pursuing international relations, Patricia’s academic background has piqued her interest in international development. She has witnessed and been involved with affairs that have helped to shape international relations, including participation in the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation National Organizing Council, becoming head of delegation under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths Program (JENESYS), and working under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Yobel’s interest in waste issues started from learning the history of a catastrophic landfill avalanche in his hometown, Bandung, Indonesia. Later on, his interest transformed into a passion for learning about zero waste. Before joining GAIA, Yobel worked for 2 years as Zero Waste Policy Advocacy staff at YPBB Bandung (a local NGO which implemented a Zero Waste Cities program since 2013). He was also involved in Aliansi Zero Waste Indonesia works. Yobel graduated from Institut Teknologi Bandung with a degree in environmental engineering.

Froilan is a committed environmental justice campaigner who has assisted more than 20 cities/municipalities in the Philippines in developing and improving waste management programs and systems. He has extensive experience in module development and training and legislative work, providing support to legislators at the local government level, especially in areas of policy review.

Prior to joining GAIA, Jed worked with several non-government organizations as a media and communications officer and project manager. He holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from the International Institute of Social Studies part of Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Hague, Netherlands.

Before joining GAIA, Mayang coordinated the policy and lobbying work of two global civil society platforms on accountable development finance to human rights and environmental instruments, the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness and the NGO Forum on ADB. She also steered Philippine coalitions and non-profits for policy advocacy and the mainstreaming of integrated local solutions. For ten years, she has managed grants programs for civil society campaigns in the Philippines and regionally in Asia wherein she has administered full grants cycles, knowledge management, and communications work. Earlier in her career, she was a researcher for the progressive think tank, IBON Foundation. She holds a master’s degree in public management.