Jigme Wangchuk D

Executive Director

Mr. Jigme Wangchuk D is the Executive Director of the Loden Foundation. He holds M.A. in Public Policy with a specialization in development policy from Australian National University, MBA with a specialization in Human Resources Management from University of Canberra, Australia, Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from Royal Institute of Management and BA Geography (Honors) from Sherubtse College. Mr. Jigme comes with a wide range of experiences and expertise of having worked for more than 16 years in various capacities with the Royal Government of Bhutan and international agencies in Bhutan and Australia. During his free time, Jigme enjoys spending time with his children, playing football and is passionate about issues related to gender, environment, climate change, waste management and on special needs children and their educational needs.

Kezang Wangmo

Finance Manager

Kezang Wangmo brings a wealth of expertise to the team with her bachelor's degree in Business Studies and an impressive seven-year tenure in the banking and accounts sector. Her seasoned professional journey includes pivotal roles at the Bhutan Development Bank Limited. Kezang's robust experience showcases her proficiency in financial intricacies and underscores her commitment to fostering growth and sustainable financial strategies. Her keen insights and multifaceted background make her an invaluable asset to any endeavour she undertakes.

Singye Tobden

Assistant Accounts Officer

Singye Tobden is a dedicated learner and the youngest at the office, who successfully obtained a Diploma in Financial Management from the Royal Institute of Management and gained valuable experience as an intern in the Finance Department at Tsirang Dzongkhag. He eagerly welcomes new challenges and sees distinctions and setbacks as chances for his own personal growth and advancement.

Khandu

Cultural Programme Officer

Khandu has a Master’s degree in Buddhist philosophy. He worked as a Dzongkha teacher at Paro Dogar Phudrup Goenpa Shedra and Phuntshothang Middle Secondary School at Samdrup Jongkhar. He worked as a Dzongkha editor in various private media houses before joining Shejun in 2013.

Dorji Gyeltshen

Cultural Specialist

Dorji Gyeltshen has a master’s degree in Buddhist philosophy from Gangteng Shedra and a postgraduate diploma in education from Samtse College of Education. Dorji worked as a lecturer at CLCS, RUB, teaching subjects like Bhutanese language, literature, culture, history, and Buddhist philosophy for seven years. In addition to lecturing, he has served as Head of the Rigzhung Department and Center Coordinator of the Research Center for Buddhist Studies. Dorji is the author of several publications, including Early Printing and Book Production in Bhutan. In addition, he has translated and edited numerous treatises and books. His most recent work is the Teacher and Student Manual for Dzongkha Academic Skills. He is currently leading the Loden Foundation’s Culture programme.

Tendel Zangpo

Senior Culture Researcher

After completing his monastic education in 2003 Tendel worked as an Assistant Dzongkha Editor at KMT Press. He completed his higher secondary education in Language and Culture Studies in 2015. At Loden, Tendel handles the designing for publication and other textual inputs. He is also among one of the only three textual documentation experts trained in photographic documentation of old textual heritage.

Pema Tshogyal

Education Programme Officer

Pema Tshogyal has a bachelor's degree in International Studies with a minor in Peace and Developmental Studies. She served as the Cultural Diversity Advocate at Whitworth University for two years. Before joining the team at Loden, she worked at World Relief in Spokane, Washington and Salem, NGOs that serve various marginalized communities. Before leading the Education Program at Loden, she served as the Student Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Development officer.

Karma Losel Yangnyen

Loden Entrepreneurship Programme Officer

Karma Losel Yangnyen holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the College of Natural Resources. Before joining the Loden Foundation, he worked as a Program Officer at the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative, an organisation under the Civil Society Organization- Lhomon Society in Bhutan dedicated to empowering local communities in the region.

Monika Limboo

Loden Entrepreneurship Asst. Programme Officer

Meet Monika, a dedicated professional with a Bachelor's degree in [Finance] from Royal Thimphu College, has gained significant industry expertise through her time at JDL Mines & Minerals Private Limited. Displaying a robust work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering dedication to achieving objectives, she sets a standard of excellence in her profession. Outside of work, she finds pleasure in pursuits such as photography, reading, engaging in DIY projects, and exploring hiking trails.

Lobzang Jurme

Administration Officer

Lobzang Jurme is a creative and passionate individual who enjoys writing, gaming, and sightseeing. He is driven to learn and develop himself and sees learning as a constant process. Lobzang is inspired by a feeling of purpose to impact the world and realize his long-lost ambition positively. He is always up for a challenge, whether learning about new cultures and landscapes or delving into the depths of the human psyche through his writing. Lobzang will surely achieve his personal and professional goals and leave his mark!

Choeying Dolma

Development Officer

Choeying Dolma has a Master’s Degree in Development Practices from the College of Natural Resource, Bhutan. She worked as Community Engagement Officer at the National Center for Animal Health for two years. She has passion for research, and was in collaboration with the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme (CARLEP), she participated in a research study funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) that examines the factors that influence young people's involvement in the agribusiness industry. Besides work, she enjoys walking, embracing nature, and volunteering at dog shelters.

Kinley C Tenzin

Communications Officer

Meet Kinley C Tenzin, a dynamic videographer and photographer ! Armed with certified expertise in WordPress Web Development, Marketing, and Designing from Forward School Malaysia and Refruit PVT LTD Singapore. Kinley represented Bhutan at the Jeju Youth Forum in 2017, held in the city of Jeju, Republic of Korea. With experience as an Asst. Programme/Communications Officer at the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy, Kinley brings a unique blend of professionalism and passion to his work. Beyond the lens, Kinley's heart beats for music, video editing, and embarking on adventures to discover new horizons.

Alison Tay

Based in Singapore, Alison is a recruitment specialist with more than 15 years of Human Resource management and Executive Recruiting experience. Alison received her B.A. degree in Economics and History from the National University of Singapore.

Anne Tardy

Erick Rinner

Erick, a Luxembourger, has been making private equity investments for 25 years and manages his own investment firm, Milestone Investisseurs. He has made more than 40 acquisitions across Europe in various industries, investing more than €600m in more than 20 companies. Erick sits on the board of several European companies. He received his MBA from Columbia Business School in New York (Award for Excellence) and is an executive coach and a mindfulness teacher.

Margaret Gee

Margaret Gee was born and raised in rural Australia and spent 17 years of her life in her parent’s farm. After completing high school Margaret obtained a Cadetship in Journalism at the prestigious daily newspaper The Melbourne Age. Margaret is a keen advocate of animal welfare, and was delighted to be appointed Australia’s first Ambassador for the U.S based Snow Leopard Conservancy. Margaret and her husband Dr Brent Waters who is a volunteer child psychiatrist in Bhutan, have now visited Bhutan 11 times. They both share a deep affection for the people, culture, landscape and extraordinary flora and fauna in Bhutan, and expect this transformative journey in the beautiful Eastern Himalayas to be on-going.

Thierry Canterau

An entrepreneur from France as decorator and interior design. He is a volounteer with Loden Foundation. He manages 2 companies and next to that, has spent 10 years in the French Young Manager Center to form and support entrepreneurs.

Professor Tadashi Nishihira and Noriko Nishihira

Professor Tadashi Nishihira is a professor at the Graduate School of Education in Kyoto University Japan with more than 28 years of teaching experience at various universities in Japan. Noriko Nishihira has a certificate of junior course of practical theology and is currently overseeing the work of Loden Foundation- Japan. Professor Tadashi first visited Bhutan in 2009 and has been coming every year to Bhutan with this wife Noriko ever since. Aside from their busy life in Japan, they continue to promote the work of Loden Foundation in Japan.

William Tacon

William Tacon has been visiting Bhutan for over 20 years and since retiring in 2012 has been volunteering with Loden Foundation, and in particular on the Entrepreneurship Programme. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and during his professional career of over 30 years, he worked with and advised companies, their directors and funders at all stages in the corporate life cycle from incorporation into maturity, sale or failure. He mentors several Loden entrepreneurs and has visited many to review their development. William also volunteers with a number of Civil Society Organisations in Bhutan in developing strategies and in their development.

Zoltan Valcsicsak

Based in Budapest (Hungary), Zoltan Valcsicsak is founding president of the Hungary-Bhutan Friendship Society and the first international volunteer of the Loden Foundation. Before 2011, when he got ‘Bhutanised’ and interested in bodhisattva entrepreneurship, Zoltan had been employed by Renault, USAID and the Levi Strauss Foundation. Later, as advisor and trainer, he worked with Ashoka, Eurogroup for Animals, Avocats Sans Frontières, Thimphu TechPark, Tarayana and YDF. He is the author of the first book ever published in Hungarian about Bhutan (www.bhutankonyv.hu), and he guides tours in Bhutan.

Kalman Kelemen

Kalman Kelemen visited Bhutan in 2018 first, in connection with his Buddhist studies. He became a volunteer of the Loden Foundation from that year, focusing on the Entrepreneurship Program. Kálmán began his career as a university lecturer at the Budapest University of Technology, then during his business career he managed the Hungarian subsidiaries of several major multinational companies as CFO and Managing Director in manufacturing, IT and consulting industries. He has significant experience in interim, change and crisis management, he is controlling and BI expert. He runs his own consulting company Spice Consulting Ltd.

Francois Valencony

Francois Valencony started his career within the North American division of Schneider Electric, focusing on M&A and strategic initiatives, then contributed to the set-up and international expansion of G-F-X, a software company based in London. François has been working for Institut Mérieux since 2003, contributing to several initiatives in support to diagnostic and biotech business areas, the set-up of Mérieux Développement and more recently the management of Mérieux Equity Partners, as investment platform within the healthcare and nutrition sectors. François graduated from HEC Paris and holds a Master Degree from CEMS-Köln University, Germany.