Board of Directors

Phub is the former Chief Executive Officer of Bhutan Development Bank Limited. He started his career at the Ministry of Economic Affairs as a Coordinator for the Cottage, Small and Medium Industry (CSMI) development project. He was the Head of the Entrepreneurship Promotion Centre (EPC) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs when he was summoned to start a Research Centre as an extension to His Majesty The King’s Secretariat in 2006. He later served as a Professional Changkarp to His Majesty The King. He was working as the Head of a think tank focusing on Bhutan’s macro and socio economic studies when he was recruited as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bhutan Development Bank in early 2016. Phub Dorji holds a Masters degree in Public Administration (MPA) and Edward S Mason Program in Public Policy and Management from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA. He is currently serving as Thimphu Dzongda.

Dasho Karma is the Zimpon Wom (Deputy Chamberlain) at the Secretariat office of Her Majesty The Queen. He now heads the Queen’s Project Office. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Deputy Chief Livestock Production Officer at the Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF). He holds a Master’s in Biology from the University of New Brunswick, Canada.

Dr. Pema is the Executive Director of the Bhutan For Life Fund Secretariat. He joined his carrier as Assistant Research Officer and National Research Program Officer, Council of RNR Research of Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest (1999-2012). Later he served as the Chief Forestry Officer, Watershed Management Division, Department of Forest and Park Services from 2012-2018. He worked as a National Counterpart to various Universities (The University of Tokyo, Komozawa University, Columbia University, University of Vienna) and International Agencies (FAO, ICIMOD, World Bank). He headed the REDD+ Readiness Project of USD 9 Million (FCPF) in Bhutan from 2013-2018. Dr Wangda was a recipient of JSPS International Fellowship for Research in Japan in 2016. He received his Doctoral (PhD) and Masters (MSc) Degree in the field of Natural Environmental Studies from the University of Tokyo, Japan (2001-2006). He was also a recipient of EU scholarship for his Bachelor’s degree in (BSc Forestry) from the University of Philippines, Los Banos in 1998. As a researcher, Dr. Wangda published several International, Regional and Local peer reviewed journal papers besides many important technical reports. He served as an adjunct lecturer at the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan (2012-2014).

Dr. Pema is the Executive Director of the Bhutan For Life Fund Secretariat. He joined his carrier as Assistant Research Officer and National Research Program Officer, Council of RNR Research of Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest (1999-2012). Later he served as the Chief Forestry Officer, Watershed Management Division, Department of Forest and Park Services from 2012-2018. He worked as a National Counterpart to various Universities (The University of Tokyo, Komozawa University, Columbia University, University of Vienna) and International Agencies (FAO, ICIMOD, World Bank). He headed the REDD+ Readiness Project of USD 9 Million (FCPF) in Bhutan from 2013-2018. Dr Wangda was a recipient of JSPS International Fellowship for Research in Japan in 2016. He received his Doctoral (PhD) and Masters (MSc) Degree in the field of Natural Environmental Studies from the University of Tokyo, Japan (2001-2006). He was also a recipient of EU scholarship for his Bachelor’s degree in (BSc Forestry) from the University of Philippines, Los Banos in 1998. As a researcher, Dr. Wangda published several International, Regional and Local peer reviewed journal papers besides many important technical reports. He served as an adjunct lecturer at the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan (2012-2014).

Yonten is the Director of the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest (MoAF). He started his career at the MoAF as a Deputy Fodder Officer. He was the laboratory Manager at the National Seed Center, Paro under the MoAF. He worked as Counselor (Trade) in Royal Bhutan Embassy, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2013-2016). Prior to his current appointment, he served as Chief Marketing Officer under the Department of Agricultural Marketing Cooperatives,MoAF. Yonten Gyamtsho holds a Master’s degree from Imperial College at Wye, London, United Kingdom.

Dr Karma Currently serves as the Managing Director of BTFEC. Prior to this position he served as a freelance consultant for close to eight years in the field of conservation and ecotourism after leaving his services under the Department of Forests and Parks where he started his career spanning over 20 years. Obtained his masters from University of Edinburgh and PhD from University of Sydney on conservation and sustainable tourism. He started his career as the National Tiger Coordinator under the Department of Forests and Park Services which gave him a perfect opportunity to travel extensively within Bhutan. As a firm believer of incentive-based conservation, he was instrumental in promoting nature recreation and ecotourism programs under the Department of Forests and Parks. Some of the highlights in his life have been serving as a voluntary militia officer (close to 5 years), conducting tiger surveys in the grasslands of Nepal, internship in some of the iconic National Parks of USA, and evaluating tourism campsites in Serengeti and Masai Mara (Africa) in the capacity of a National Geographic evaluator. As a proactive person he has founded the Bhutan Sustainable Tourism Society (BSTS) to create an informal forum for like minded people to support and promote the growth of sustainable tourism in Bhutan. His other professional affiliations include Board member for Asian Ecotourism Network, International evaluator for National Geographic and Beyond Green to promote Green travel, and Chair of the IUCN Green list program of Bhutan.

Dr. Kinley served as the Program Director at Renewable Resource Research and Development Center, Yusipang under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests before taking up the new responsibility as the Executive Director of the Royal Society for Protection of Nature. He went to University of the Philippine at Los Banos for B.Sc. in General Forestry and got M.Sc. in Resource Management form the University of Edinburgh in UK. He obtained his PhD in Forest Ecosystem Dynamics from University of Boku, Vienna, Austria in 2008. He started his career as Forestry Research Program Officer in RNR-RC, Jakar in March 1997. In 2005, he was transferred to RNR-RC, Yusipang as Deputy Chief Research Officer and back to RNR-RC, Jakar in the same capacity in 2009. Considering his capacity and vast experience in research, he was appointed as the Program Director at RNR-RC, Yusipang in 2010. Besides attending numerous national and international conferences, seminars and trainings, he has made several important publications.