Dr. Pema Choephyel, Director
pema.choephyel@bhutantrustfund.bt

Dr. Pema Choephyel joined the Fund in July 2010. As the bridge between grant seekers and the Fund’s Management Board, he has responsibility for strategy development, program design and monitoring, outreach, human resource development.

Over the past 22 years, Dr. Pema Choephyel’s career has covered environmental conservation, research in renewable natural resources and commercial finance. He began his career with the Royal Civil Service Commission; as a civil servant he held various positions as the Principal at Royal Veterinary Institute, Department of Animal Husbandry, Pedagogic Head (VP) at the Natural Resources Training Institute, Chief Research Officer, Chief Extension Officer, Director, Council of RNR Research of Bhutan and recently as an Advisor to the Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited.

He has held various professional membership such as the Permanent Representative of World Meteorology Organization (2004-2007), member of the Project Steering Committee of various area Development Projects in Bhutan.(1997-2007), Board Director for Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited (2002-2007), Druk Seed Corporation, (2001-2007), Bhutan Agro Industry Limited (2001-2003),  and Food Corporation of Bhutan, (2002-2003),  He was also the Chairman of Audit Committee for BDFCL (2004-2007) and  a member of Good Governance Plus (2006).

A graduate of Bombay Veterinary College, Bombay, India Dr. Pema Choephyel received his master’s degree in Rural Development and Communication from Lincoln University, New Zealand in 1991. He is from Mongar and has three sons and a daughter.

Chukey Wangchuk, Sr. Program Officer
wangchuk@bhutantrustfund.bt

Chukey Wangchuk joined the Fund in 1999 as its program officer. He is responsible for the development, management, coordination and evaluation of environmental grant activities in Bhutan. Chukey previously worked for the Asian Development Bank funded project on technical and vocational education during 1994 to 1998.

Since 2004, he has been actively serving on technical committees in Bhutan pertaining to water, climate change, human-wildlife conflicts, and solid waste management. Chukey has been volunteering for forest fire management, RENEW, and Kuzoo Radio.

Chukey is a graduate of Punjab University in India, and in 2003, received his master’s of science degree in natural resources management and policy from Cornell University. A native of Zhemgang, Chukey grew up in Thimphu.

Singye Dorji, Finance Officer
singye@bhutantrustfund.bt

Singye Dorji has been the Fund’s finance officer since 1997. He looks after all financial operations, including accounting, budgeting, monitoring investments, and maintaining the Fund’s tax-exempt status. He also oversees the day-to-day administration of the organisation. Singye is also member secretary to the Board’s asset management committee.

Over a career of 20 years, Singye has gained valuable financial and administrative experience. Prior to joining the Fund, he served in the Royal Court of Justice in Thimphu as deputy chief accountant during 1989 to 1995. During 1996 to 1997, he served as deputy chief accountant in the secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Singye received his MBA in international business in 2007 from Escuela De Alta Direccion Y Administracion in Barcelona, Spain. He is from Wongmey Nang, Tashi Yangtse.

Sonam Wangmo, Administrative Officer
sonam.wangmo@bhutantrustfund.bt

Sonam Wangmo joined the Fund in 2001 as an administrative assistant. In 2007, she became the administrative officer, with overall responsibility for office management, human resource administration, logistics coordination, and day-to-day financial management. She previously worked for a successful transport business for a year.

Sonam graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999 from Punjab University in India. She is presently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Texas at El Paso, which is popularly acknowledged to be the home of Bhutanese architecture in America.

Sonam is from Samkhar in Tashigang, and has a five year-old son.

Dorji, Assistant Program Officer
dorji@bhutantrustfund.bt

Dorji joined the Fund in 2006. As assistant program officer, he ensures the smooth operations of the entire grants program, and assists program colleagues with proposal review, planning and coordination, and operations logistics.

Dorji graduated from Sherubtse College in Bhutan in 2005, with a first division degree in geography (Honors). As an undergraduate, he was local project coordinator for the largest book in the world project, which produced “Bhutan, A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom”. During 2002 to 2005, he was also project director of the Friendly Planet-funded school photography clubs at Sherubtse College and five schools throughout the country.

As a volunteer, Dorji provided valuable assistance in organizing Bhutan’s participation as the feature of the 42nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC, in June and July 2008. 150 artisans, farmers, dancers, officials, and monks presented Bhutan’s unique cultural heritage at its largest and most successful event organised outside the country.

Dorji is from Phongmey, Tashigang.

Pema Wangmo, Office Assistant
pema@bhutantrustfund.bt

Pema Wangmo joined the Fund in April 2010 as an office  assistant. She previously worked for a successful private  business for almost three years.

Pema Wangmo graduated from Rinchen High School in 2007. She is from Bidung, Trashigang.

Pasang Driver & Messenger

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