This is not
the beginning
and it is not
the end
A life shaped by borderlands, forests, fishing villages, and the stubborn conviction that the world can be changed.
Born at the
edge of two worlds
My story began in the vibrant town of Aranyaprathet, in Sa Kaeo Province of Thailand — famously known as "Aran," meaning "wilderness" or "forest" in Hindi. Situated on the eastern border of Thailand, adjacent to Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey Province, it sits at the heart of the "Thai Corridor," a region marked by strategic geopolitical tension between the two kingdoms.
Aranyaprathet was a town of fascinating cultural mixing — one of the busiest border crossings in Southeast Asia, a hub for travelers, merchants, and stories that crossed in every direction. But border towns like this were forever changed by the Cambodian civil war and its long, violent aftermath.
Between 1970 and 1975, as Cambodia descended into chaos, I stood witness to the unfolding tragedy. Aranyaprathet became a lifeline for those fleeing across the border. In 1975, when the Khmer Rouge seized Phnom Penh, terrified Cambodians poured into Thailand. The exodus intensified in 1979, driven by famine and the Vietnamese military advance. Again in 1984, 1985, and 1998, cycles of violence and displacement repeated themselves.
The refugee camps were harsh, unforgiving places. I saw it all — the haunted faces, skeletal children, the quiet endurance of a people stripped of everything but their will to survive. That suffering left a mark that will never fade. But amid the devastation, I also found clarity: a resolve to act.
From above, the town offers a surprising message — pathways at the municipal park near where I was born trace a perfect peace symbol, etched into the landscape. I do not know whether the designer intended it.
Student movement
& the dam that was stopped
My college years were marked by a deep sense of activism. I threw myself into the work of various activist groups, including one of Thailand's most well-known student movements — the Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.
One of the most notable victories came through the campaign to stop the Nam Chon Dam from being built in the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary — together with Huai Kha Kaeng, the largest protected area on mainland Southeast Asia, covering 622,200 hectares.
The proposed dam would have had a devastating impact on the delicate ecosystem of the sanctuary, destroying critical habitats and putting countless species at risk of extinction. We organized protests, lobbied government officials, and raised public awareness using every tool at our disposal.
In the end, the campaign was successful. The sanctuary was saved, and the critical habitats and species that called it home were protected for future generations.
The fishing villages
and the industrial tide
After graduating from King Mongkut Institute of Technology in Latkrabang, I was inspired to learn more about "right livelihood" and moved to the fishing community in Rayong province. I was struck immediately by the beauty of the eastern seacoast and the thriving marine life.
But I soon discovered that large oil, gas, and petrochemical corporations were planning massive industrial development projects that would threaten the region's pristine environment. Together with local fishermen and environmental activists, we organized peaceful protests and rallies — putting the needs of the community and the environment first against powerful corporate opposition.
My participation in the Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD) funded participatory field research deepened this work — extensive study of the impact of mass tourism, aquaculture, and industrial development on small-scale fisherfolk and coastal ecosystems.
As the last small fishing village in Laem Chabang, Chonburi was transformed into a major deep seaport, I bore witness to the people's struggle to preserve their ancestral land. Their stories were documented and shared.
Highland communities
& the geography of myth
I left the eastern seacoast in 1992 and joined the Village Foundation's Rural Development Institute as a media officer — travelling extensively across Thailand to document best practices for sustainable natural resource use, community rights, community-based businesses, savings groups, cultural diversity, and self-reliance.
In the summer of 1993, I turned up in Chiang Rai to work for the Hill Area and Community Development Foundation, helping to rally resources for a highland sustainable agriculture model and ethnic community land-use patterns. In collaboration with a professor from Chiang Mai University's Department of Geography, I learned how to use geographical knowledge and mapping as key tools to debunk the myth of "slash and burn" farming practices in the highlands.
Science of the body,
politics of the factory
I earned a Master of Science in Geography (1994–1997) from Chiang Mai University. My dissertation — "Spatial Mobility and Health Risks among Factory Workers in the Northern Region Industrial Estate, Thailand" — was the result of extensive research on female electronics workers and their struggle for occupational health and human rights.
Wetlands, dams,
& the Mekong giant catfish
I worked for the Wildlife Fund of Thailand (WFT) under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the Queen, with the Policy and Advocacy Unit. I conducted research on "the Environmental Changes of the Mae Yom River's Floodplain" — addressing the role of wetlands in mitigating flooding and drought rather than building a large dam upstream.
I also contributed to a "Critical Analysis on the Ecological and Social Impact of the Yadana Gas Pipeline Project" as part of non-violent conflict resolution on a deeply controversial cross-border project.
Together with colleagues, I helped mobilize communities in Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai, to investigate and implement a conservation plan for the Mekong Giant Catfish — one of the world's largest freshwater fish, already critically threatened. I also actively participated in the Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation for Kantuli Swamp Forest, Surat Thani Province — now a National Ramsar Site.
Greenpeace —
a founding act
I am a founding member of Greenpeace Southeast Asia and have been a campaigner for the organisation since December 1998. I took on a new role in 2011 as Greenpeace Southeast Asia's Campaign Director, and between August 2014 to February 2025 served as Greenpeace Thailand's Country Director.
My lifelong dedication to social and environmental activism drives my ambition to be a transformative and results-oriented leader. I am committed to excelling in strategic planning, project management, and organisational excellence — with a proven ability to turn ideas into practical, long-lasting outcomes.
I have spearheaded high-profile, innovative campaigns, consistently delivering under tight deadlines and financial constraints. By embracing modern leadership principles, I inspire and empower teams through inclusive decision-making, goal alignment, and clear communication. My deep understanding of Southeast Asian cultures strengthens my ability to build strategic alliances across the region.
As the co-founder and architect of a leading organisation that is trusted, impactful, and deeply relevant to the communities it serves, I embody a strong organisational ethos. I believe that life is full of possibilities waiting to be realised, as well as meanings pleading to be understood.
