Asia 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.

Caryl has worked with various environmental and human rights groups, focusing on issues of climate change and extractives. Before her professional work in the development sector, she was a grassroots volunteer organizer for about five years in a humanitarian organization, and seven years in an environmental movement. She enjoys painting and hiking in her spare time.

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.

He has been working in the development sector for more than 10 years in the areas of program planning, monitoring and evaluation, research, training, and resource mobilization. He has worked at different nonprofits on the issues of biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, human rights, social enterprise, children and youth development, and participatory community development processes. On the side, he is a visual artist and uses his craft to help advance his advocacy.

Right after graduating AB Development Studies, she joined the Jesuit Volunteers and was deployed to Eastern Samar, the Philippines for 10 months where she provided technical assistance in helping several farmers associations set up their cassava community enterprise. After her volunteer year, she joined GAIA in September 2018.