Asia Pacific

Robi is a development communication professional specializing in environmental advocacy, sustainability, and climate action. A cum laude graduate of Development Communication from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, she has worked with various local and international organizations. In 2024, she was selected for the YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Environmental Issues at the University of Montana.

Anthony, or Tony, is a dynamic professional skilled in resource mobilization and project management, partnership and business development, training, talent acquisition, and life coaching. With over a decade of experience, Tony has excelled in diverse roles across non-profit organizations and corporate settings, leading transformative projects to maximize resources for impactful outcomes. Beyond his professional life, Tony is a proud LGBTQIA+ advocate, openly bisexual, and a fur parent. He finds joy in camping adventures, blending his diverse skill set with unwavering dedication to make a meaningful difference in his community.

Dette is a development professional with more than four years of experience in public policy research, project development and coordination, and capacity building and knowledge transfer activities. She previously worked on sustainable marine transport initiatives and for an independent policy think tank on projects focused on the southern region. She completed her degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines, Diliman in 2019.

Sumana is a seasoned ecologist and environmental researcher with experience in advocacy, research, and program implementation. Her skills span sustainable transport, solid waste management, and environmental policy.

Edel S. Garingan is a development work professional with over fifteen years of experience in program management, training, research, 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. He is also a visual artist (Pinoy Mandala) and a Certified Therapeutic Art facilitator.

Ralph is a GIS and Data Specialist with an advocacy for open-source mapping and for livable cities through green and open spaces. He has experience in mapping for the government, and providing data visualizations for several academes in the Philippines. He aims to create a positive impact through well-designed maps that are insightful and purposeful, communicated through the lens for the marginalized, and facilitate positive change one map at a time.

Brex Arevalo is a climate and environmental justice advocate with over five years of experience working with youth, civil society, and faith-based organizations. He recently completed a graduate degree in Global Studies at Sophia University in Tokyo, where he wrote a thesis about climate justice in Southeast Asia. Alongside his studies, he worked with KASA Sustainability in organizing sustainability-related events for local and international audiences, and running a campus farm based on circular economics. Brex previously played a lead role with the 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines in promoting youth-led collaborations around the Sustainable Development Goals through workshops, policy lobbying, and events. He also worked with faith communities through the Ecojesuit global ecology network, where he played key roles in UN-connected engagements and Global Climate Strike actions highlighting local and indigenous communities.

Yehlen has worked in different international development NGO since 2009 in providing assistance on procurement and logistics. She’s a hardworking and versatile team member with reliable organizational skills and thorough knowledge of corporate policies and procedures.

Archie started his environmental activism in 2005 as a direct dialogue campaigner in an environmental and protest organization. He has a background in history and occupational therapy. Prior to going GAIA, he worked as community organizer in an inclusive community-based disaster risk reduction and management project of a faith-based organization in the Philippines. 

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.

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.

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.

Agnes Mampusti is GAIA’s Global Digital Communications Officer based in the Philippines. Prior to moving back to Manila, she was a Publishing Manager for over 13 business and lifestyle publications in Malaysia. Since then, Agnes has fallen in love with pursuing worthy advocacies through her work on communications and digital media for international organizations including the British Council. When not glued to social media for #trendingtopics, she can be found consuming media about (and by) empowered women.

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.

Patricia has a degree in foreign relations with a keen interest in international development and international organizations. She has led and participated in several notable international affairs, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), where she played a significant role. She also led a delegation under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths Program (JENESYS) and has gained valuable experience working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Patricia is passionate about the power of grassroots communities and civil society organizations in driving international development and creating change for a better world.

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.

Doun has a background in law and has worked with national and regional civil society advocacy platforms including Korea Civil Society Forum on International Development, Asia Development Alliance, and Korea Zero Waste Movement Network. She joined GAIA’s U.S. office in 2017 and is currently based in Seoul, South Korea as part of GAIA’s Global Policy and Research Team.