The
Speakers
Explore the complete lineup of speakers, panelists, and moderators for the Steam event right here.
Keynote Speakers
Brigadier Jaswinder Singh is an Indian Army officer who presently holds the position of Chief Engineer at Project Dantak in Bhutan. He has nearly three decades of military experience, in which he has spent one decade each with Northern borders and western borders and in staff positions both in field areas and in Army headquarters. He is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun and the prestigious Defense Staff College in Wellington. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Mechanical Engineering. In addition, he holds degrees of MSc and MPhil in Strategic Studies. Consistent dedication and contributions across various challenging terrains have marked his military career. From the challenging environments of Leh, Rajauri and Srinagar in the North to Dimapur in the East. ]He has served in the mountains of Uttarakhand, in the plains of Punjab and the deserts of Rajasthan. With his wealth of experience and leadership, Brigadier Jaswinder Singh now guides Project Dantak towards its goals with a quiet and steadfast determination. His leadership style and dedication continue to inspire those around him.
Phuntsho Namgay is the Officiating Director of the Department of Innovation and Technology. Under this role, he leads the department’s efforts in developing Bhutan’s Innovation Ecosystem for a tech-based economy by leveraging Research & Development for technology with values.
With an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, his experience ranges from Program Development, Financial and Risk Management, to Business Development and Project Management. He hopes to use his experience and efforts to contribute to his Majesty the Fifth’s vision of a transformed Bhutan.
Pinda Rika Dorji better known as PindaPanda, is a Bhutanese esports personality, YouTuber, content creator and professional gamer. She is best known for her Dota 2 skills and streams. She has also worked as a television host for Astro SuperSport’s eGG Network.
She first came to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to pursue a degree in civil engineering. However, she soon realized that her passion lay in gaming. She began streaming Dota 2 in 2015 and quickly gained a following for her skills and entertaining personality.
She is currently one of the most popular Dota 2 streamers on Twitch/ Facebook. She is also a brand ambassador for several gaming companies, including Rivalry, Corsair and Tier One Entertainment.
In addition to her gaming career, She is also a vocal advocate for women in esports. She has spoken out against sexism and harassment in the industry and has encouraged other women to pursue their dreams of becoming professional gamers.
She is an inspiration to many gamers around the world. She has shown that it is possible to achieve your dreams, no matter where you come from or what your gender is.
Deputy Chief of Mission
Embassy of India, Thimphu
Niteen Subhash Yeola began his diplomatic career with joining the Indian
Foreign Service in 2010. Since then he has served in the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Missions abroad in various capacities.
In the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, Niteen has served in Public Diplomacy Division (in 2012) and in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI)
Division (from 2019-21). His diplomatic assignments in Indian Missions include
Embassy of India, Kabul, Afghanistan (from 2012-15) and High Commission of
India, Colombo, Sri Lanka (from 2015-19). Niteen joined Embassy of India, Thimphu as Deputy Chief of Mission in December 2021.
Prior to joining the Ministry of External Affairs, Niteen has worked with the Ministry of Finance, Government of India in the Indian Revenue Service. He has worked in corporate sector with a multi-national company in the field of technology from 2005-07.
Niteen holds a Bachelors degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering.
Panelist
UX designer
Product Alchemy
Diego is lifelong traveler and tech entrepreneur. Previously he was the founder and CEO of Teamscope, a company he started, scaled to thousands of users and sold after 9 years. Now, he is a freelance UX designer, exclusively advising tech companies on how to enhance their product designs so they are visually appealing and easy to use.
Executive Director<br>Disabled People’s Organization of Bhutan
41 year old, 17 years in govt with MoH, Masters in Public Health from Paro
And currently serving as ED for DPOB.
Mr. Hem Kumar Acharya has been in the Bhutanese financial sector since 1997, having first joined the Bank of Bhutan as a trainee officer in May 1997. He has worked under various departments of the bank, including as a branch manager, Head of Credit, Head of Cards, Project Manager for the Core Banking Project, and resigned from the bank in 2016 from his last post as the Head of Trade Finance services. In the same year he joined the Bhutan Development bank as the Banking & IT consultant for their Core Banking Upgradation project, and worked there for 2 years, having successfully implemented Finacle during his tenure there.
He is currently working as the Director of Banking Operations at Bhutan National Bank, having joined there in 2018 as the Chief Operations Officer. His responsibilities include the overall management and monitoring of the banking and credit services the bank currently offers, providing strategic directions for the banks’ growth, and ensuring smooth banking services for customers, including all alternate delivery channels.
He has a Masters’ Degree in Banking and Finance from Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok Thailand, and a Bachelor’s of Science from Sherubtse College, Kanglung Bhutan.
Shilpi Jha is Senior Legal IP Counsel-South Asia, in the Office of Patent and Trademark, U.S. Embassy located in New Delhi, India. She is responsible for monitoring, advising, analyzing, and reporting on Intellectual Property matters related to India and South Asian Countries.. Ms. Jha serves as lead IP specialist for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. She is responsible for monitoring, consulting, advising, analyzing, and reporting IP in those countries.
She has experience of over 18 years in legal practice, business development, and public policy.
Before joining the USPTO, She worked at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). She was responsible for framing drafting policy papers/inputs and the industry-face to the government on IPR related matters. She has been accountable for various innovative works done in IPR Policy, Capacity development, Services, Anti-counterfeiting & Piracy at both the National & International levels. In addition, she has contributed to the anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy drives in the enforcement agencies in India.
She has spoken extensively at various prestigious national and international forums and reputed management colleges on intellectual property & Innovation.
Earlier, Shilpi has worked with leading national law firms like Dua Associates, Bhasin, and Co, and Anand and Anand were and was responsible for advising and litigating matters related to Intellectual Property and civil cases.
She holds a degree in law from Delhi University. She has also done her degree course on Intellectual Property Rights from World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), Geneva, and is a certified trainer on IPR by WIPO. She also holds a degree in Data, Law policy regulation from the London School of Economics. She is also a post-graduate in statistics from Hindu College, Delhi University.
She has been the recipient of the various award, including the USPTO Director’s award, Superior Honor Award, and has been recognized as “WIPF Powerful Women in IP – INDIA 2021” for contributions in Creating, Protecting, & Securing Intellectual Property Rights.
In 2023, Ngawang was featured in the Vanity Fair Magazine’s Global Goals List featuring the critical work of 17 leaders championing SDGs. As a stakeholder capitalist, Ngawang fervently believes in developing businesses that create positive value in the society at large. Ngawang is a trustee of Loden Foundation, a Civil Society Organization leading cultural preservation, social entrepreneurship development and education in Bhutan.
In 2022, Ngawang was recognized as a European Development Days (EDD) Young Leader. Ngawang is a proud One Young World Ambassador.
“Sitting at an innovative nexus of precision agriculture, creative industry development and the blockchain ecosystem, Ngawang’s work demonstrates the critical impact that young leaders are having globally.” – Vanity Fair Magazine.
I am a dedicated social entrepreneur with a strong background in mushroom cultivation and a proven track record in leadership training and entrepreneurship development programs. My experience in the field includes serving as an IT Officer at Druck Punjab National Bank Ltd. from 2012 to 2014, where I managed various aspects of the bank’s information technology infrastructure. My educational background comprises a Bachelor of Computer Application obtained from Tashigatshel, Chhukha, in 2010.
In 2014, I founded Jangchubshing Organic Farm, where I managed the operations of Jangchubshing Mushroom Farm and Training Institute, overseeing financing, production, and marketing. This venture allowed me to hone my expertise in mushroom cultivation while contributing to sustainable agriculture practices. Additionally, I established Entrepreneurs of Chhukha in 2022, focusing on the development of an entrepreneurship ecosystem and the promotion of rural entrepreneurs in the region.
My academic pursuits led me to North Eastern Hill University, where I completed a Master of Information Technology in 2013 and a Master of Computer Application. I possess a passion for leadership development, pedagogy, and empowering entrepreneurs, and I am known for my proficiency in languages such as English, Dzongkha, and Bumthap.
Hon. Member Tshering Tshomo is the Member of Parliament, National Council, Zhemgang. She is the only elected female representative in the National Council of Bhutan. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee, which is mandated to review and recommend the amendment of existing laws and policies relating to the social and cultural issues and also propose new legislation. The Committee has reviewed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities and the House has adopted the Convention in the 32nd session of the National Council.
Prior to joining politics, she served as High School teacher for about twelve years and ventured into travel business.
A dedicated professional with a diverse experience in education, travel and politics, she is passionate to drive positive change, create inclusive policies and empower individuals within her community and beyond.
Karma Yonten is the founder of Greener way Private Limited, a waste management company established since 2010. Today Greener way operates waste segregation and recovery facility and have lately ventured into recycling of post stream plastics.
Greener way is manned with 70 plus team and is currently contracted to collection municipal solid waste from North Thimphu.
Nyema Zam is the Founder and CEO of Bhutan’s first mediatech startup – Samuh – the country’s first OTT platform. She is a media and communication specialist with over two decades of experience in Broadcast media, marketing, communication and digital media. Nyema Zam is an Australian Awards scholar and has a masters degree in strategic communications from the University of Western Australia.
Mr. Jigme has been working as a Sr. Program Officer in the Entrepreneurship Promotion Division, Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, MoICE since 2014. He graduated from Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan, with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Geography in 2012 and completed the Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (PGDPA) from the Royal Institute of Management (RIM) in 2013. He is also a certified CEFE (Competency-based Economy through Creation of Enterprise) trainer experienced in entrepreneurship development.
In entrepreneurship programmes, persistent exclusion remains a pressing issue for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the Deaf community, especially in post-programme support. To shed light on this critical challenge, our panel discussion aims to create awareness by bringing together various stakeholders, including organisations, entrepreneurs, and PWD community representatives.
This dialogue will not only highlight the obstacles faced by PWDs and the Deaf community but also strategise ways to cultivate a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through collaboration, we’ll explore solutions that strongly emphasize post-program support, foster cooperation, and ensure sustained assistance.
This session is proudly powered by the UNDP Bhutan
The Wangsel Institute for the Deaf, initially known as the Deaf Education Unit, was founded in June 2003, primarily for Bhutanese Sign Language Research and Documentation. Starting from the academic session of 2004, the institute expanded its efforts to provide students with basic literacy and numeracy education. In 2009, the institution broadened its scope to include vocational programs such as tailoring, woodcarving, bakery, and traditional painting.
Tandin Dorji, a 27-year-old resident of Thimphu Babesa, has proven that determination knows no bounds. Despite facing physical challenges as a wheelchair user, Tandin has not only completed his 12th-grade education at KELKI Higher Secondary School but has also excelled in various professional domains. With a diverse skill set encompassing marketing, front desk operations, and advocacy, Tandin has channeled his talents into managing a successful tailoring business. His unwavering commitment to marketing strategies has played a pivotal role in the business’s growth. Beyond his professional achievements, Tandin’s culinary expertise shines through, as he possesses exceptional baking skills. His remarkable journey is a testament to his resilience and determination, inspiring those around him to break barriers and achieve their goals, regardless of the obstacles they face.
A writer, filmmaker, designer, theatre maker, artist, actor, dancer, facilitator Charmi likes to explore different mediums to tell stories, hence, at the core of it all, she is a storyteller!
Charmi Chheda, has recently written, directed and produced her second feature film named Buelwa – An offering, that premiered in Chicago.
She worked as a Creative Specialist with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information and Communication, Bhutan.
Gangnam Girls her first film, won best debut feature film at the UK Asian Film Festival. It was the closing film for the festival, screened at the prestigious British Film Institute.
As the Creative Director of The Royal Academy of performing arts (RAPA), Royal Government of Bhutan, she has written, designed and directed stage/ theatre shows. These shows were exclusive and specially created for State guests, visiting from different countries.
Charmi also curated a 51 day drama festival in Bhutan, with more than 1500 participants.
She has also directed and designed the dance and drama performances for the prestigious National day of Bhutan for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Pallavi Sharma leads Marketing and Communications for the Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) Project led by GovTech Agency Bhutan and Druk Holding & Investments. As part of the role, she drives media, public relations, and education campaigns to accelerate the adoption of Bhutan NDI digital wallet. She also works in close liaison with national and international stakeholders for enhanced product positioning and visibility.
Prior to joining the Bhutan NDI Project, Pallavi worked with Deloitte Consulting LLP to deliver research-based advisory services to Fortune 500 companies. She has a Master’s Degree in International Relations from South Asian University. Pallavi is deeply committed to designing and developing a seamless digital ecosystem in Bhutan.
NoMindBhutan, founded in early 2023, is a visionary startup leading AI innovation. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, our passionate team of students from GCIT is propelling us into an exciting future. Our pioneering work in AI chatbots is setting new engagement standards through partnerships with organizations like Bhutan National Bank and the National Land Commission.
As we step forward, we aspire to be recognized not just as pioneers in AI innovation in Bhutan but as global trailblazers. We envision NoMindBhutan as the go-to AI Company, celebrated for its ability to craft bespoke AI solutions that address the unique challenges faced by our clients. Our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve is unwavering, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this technological revolution. Our journey has just begun, and the future is brimming with possibilities.
Sonam Chophel serves as both the CEO and founder of Druksell/CSI Market, the Largest Marketplace for products made and grown in Bhutan. The company is dedicated to promoting locally-made products, employing a two-pronged approach by means of an online e-commerce hub and physical retail outlets.
Sonam’s vision revolves around the establishment of inclusive economic opportunities for all, achieved through an innovative marketplace concept that is the first of its kind in Bhutan. At present, the company’s primary focus lies in enhancing the supply chain components required for Bhutanese products, encompassing training initiatives, and endeavors related to branding, marketing, investments, and packaging enhancement.
Druksell/CSI Market currently has an extensive network with four retail establishments in Bhutan and international stores located in Australia, United States, Japan, Singapore and Bangladesh.
Kinley Yangzom is currently serving as Chief Trade Officer in the Export Promotion Division, Department of Trade under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment Royal Government of Bhutan, where she has been making concerted efforts to facilitate trade by creating an open, liberal and enabling environment for private sectors and to promote export and integration into the regional and multilateral trading system.
Kinley served the Ministry of Economic Affairs/Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment since 2004 and her primary interest includes Trade Facilitation and Trade Policies. She has represented Bhutan in numerous important bilateral and multilateral trade negotiation meetings. She has also assisted hundreds of rural businesses by providing business related information and services. She has attended several WTO seminars, workshops and training on the WTO.
Kinley graduated from Sherubtse College in Bhutan and holds Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Curtin University, Western Australia. She lives with her husband and three children in Thimphu, Bhutan.
Karma, 49 years old from Kabesa Punakha is presently working as the Project Manager for the construction of JSW School of Law at Pangbisa, Paro. Having completed diploma in in Civil Engineering from the then Royal Bhutan Polytechnic (now JNEC), he started his career as instructor. He then did his degree in civil engineering from the then Regional Engineering College, Warangel, Andra Pradesh, India (Now NIT Warangel) and worked as Lecturer at the then Royal Bhutan Institute of Technology (now CST), Rinchending, P/Ling from 2001 to 2002. From 2003 to 2011 he worked as the Principal of Construction Centre and then as the Chief Programme Office of the Vocational Education and Training Division under the Department of Human Resources from 2011 to 2013. Between 2007 to 2008, he also availed master’s degree in public administration from Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Besides his professional career, he is a person who likes keeping himself always busy doing something. Of the many, his greatest passion is keep venturing some kind of business.
Xceed Studio’s debut product is a versatile chatbot designed to enhance customer-business interactions. This chatbot seamlessly integrates with websites and offers compatibility with 10 popular platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, Gmail, Slack, Zoom, GitHub, Asana, and Jira, with more integrations on the horizon. With a focus on efficiency and user-friendliness, our chatbot aims to simplify communication, providing rapid responses to customer inquiries. This chatbot represents just the initial stride toward a larger vision. This vision holds the promise of reshaping the very fabric of how we live and interact.
His journey commenced at the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, where he cultivated a profound passion for financial technologies and a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies within Bhutan’s financial landscape.
Mr. Chhetri’s career path then led him to Singapore, where he dedicated over five fruitful years to roles as a business development manager and project manager, overseeing a multitude of Information Technology projects spanning seven different countries.
His true passion lies in harnessing the potential of technology to drive positive transformations and elevate business operations. His professional background reflects a deep-rooted comprehension of the synergy between technology and business operations.
Mr. Chhetri’s educational foundation includes a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of contributing to a wide spectrum of impactful projects, encompassing Credit Information Bureau systems, Stock Exchange platforms, National Payment Systems, Corporate Registrations, Crowdfunding Platforms, and Commodity Exchanges.
His professional journey has been defined by an unwavering commitment to technological innovation and an enduring dedication to enhancing the financial landscape.
Dechen Pelden, the founder of Black Mountain Organic Green Tea, hails from Samcholing, Drakten, Trongsa, and brings a wealth of experience to the table. With over 15 years of expertise in processing green tea and butter tea leaves, she has also ventured into Oolong tea and Black Tea for two years. Dechen has a remarkable background in nursery cultivation spanning over two decades. She further honed her skills by undergoing green tea processing training at GENTEC University in the Republic of South Korea. In addition, she attended training sessions covering the processing of green tea, Oolong tea, and Black tea, as well as the creation of soap, candles, candies, and face scrubs from green tea leaves, provided by TICA. Dechen Pelden’s dedication is evident through her extensive service as chairman and member of Bhutan Green Tea for over 13 years.
Regita Gurung is a dedicated youth advocate, currently serving as the Vice-President of the EB for Queer Voices of Bhutan, and as a board member for Lhaksam.She graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and a minor in Gender Studies. Regita is recognized as a One Young World Ambassador and served as a Youth Fellow for Asia Society Korea. Alongside her advocacy work, she excels as a full-time marketing strategist, collaborating with companies in Australia and Singapore. Her professional portfolio includes collaborations with numerous CSOs and INGOs, both in Bhutan and internationally. In addition, she pursues modeling and acting as her side endeavors.
John Cabeca is the U.S. Intellectual Property (IP) Counselor for South Asia serving Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Working through the American Embassy in New Delhi, India, Mr. Cabeca is the principal officer within the U.S. embassies and consulates throughout South Asia on policy matters related to the protection and enforcement of IP rights. His duties include assisting U.S. companies doing business in the region; advocating for effective IP policies; advising ambassadors and U.S. government officials on foreign IP practices; interacting with foreign government officials and exchanging best practices on IP; and promoting IP awareness for students, artists, entrepreneurs, and startups, as well as the broader public to support strong and vibrant IP systems globally.
Mr. Cabeca has been with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for over 33 years. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2008 and served in key leadership roles across the agency. Prior to his current role as IP Counselor, Mr. Cabeca was the Regional Director for the Silicon Valley USPTO in San Jose, California, where he established and led the office. In serving the western region of the United States, John worked across the innovation ecosystem at all levels to carry out the strategic direction on IP policy for the USPTO while relentlessly advocating for the needs of intellectual property stakeholders. In 2020, he received an honorable commendation from the City of San Jose for his leadership and service to the diverse and innovative region responsible for more than 37% of domestic patent applications and 28% of trademark registrations annually at the USPTO.
John also served on special assignment to the Executive Office of the President in the United States Trade Representative’s Office (USTR), where he worked on international intellectual property rights and enforcement priorities for USTR’s Office for Intellectual Property and the Office for Japan, Korea and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum Affairs.
In 2019, Mr. Cabeca was recognized by the head of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for his leadership role as Chair of the San Francisco Federal Executive Board and for his service to the nearly 50,000 federal employees working in over 450 agencies and offices across northern California. Mr. Cabeca is a graduate of Widener University with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He is also an advisory board member emeritus for the High-Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law.
Ashutosh Tiwari is the Founder of SAFAL Partners, which is an investment and corporate consulting firm in Kathmandu. As one of its verticals, SAFAL created a platform called SAFAL Angels which allows Nepali professionals to invest in growth-oriented companies as angel investors and serve as Board Members and mentors. SAFAL works with growth-oriented companies to improve their operations and governance, and helps them be ready for investments. SAFAL also works with large companies to reset their growth trajectories.
Ashutosh is the President of South Asia Society of Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE) which is based out of the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad, India. Earlier, Ashutosh served as the CEO at Sherpa Adventure Gear-Nepal and at Himalmedia, and as the Country Director at WaterAid-Nepal. Ashutosh co-founded Entrepreneurs for Nepal in 2008, and was honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2011.
With leadership experiences in the private sector, the development sector and the civil society sector, Ashutosh is a sought-after organizational leader, adviser, coach and investor.
I’m a passionate tailor and committed social entrepreneur, driven by my love for the art of tailoring and my desire to make a positive impact on society. My journey includes founding Karma Stitch House, establishing the KSH Tailoring Training Institute, and creating Pinafore. My educational background includes graduating from Gedu Higher Secondary School in 2016, and I’ve honed my skills through various courses in accounting, tailoring, social entrepreneurship, business management, bookkeeping, and digital marketing.
In my professional journey, I began at Tashi Dargay Stitch House in 2017, specializing in garment repair and maintaining meticulous customer records. In 2022, I founded Karma Stitch House, where I’ve focused on measurement, cutting, design, reformation, record-keeping, and marketing. In 2023, I launched the KSH Tailoring Training Institute, emphasizing marketing, management, and record-keeping while nurturing the next generation of tailors.
My skillset comprises design proficiency, technical expertise, business management, leadership, team management, marketing, and networking. My dedication and contributions to social entrepreneurship were recognized with the Social Entrepreneurship iSprint award in 2022. Through Karma Stitch House, the KSH Tailoring Training Institute, and Pinafore, I’m dedicated to blending my passion for tailoring with a commitment to creating a brighter and more sustainable future. Join me on this journey of passion and purpose.
Prior to joining the district, he worked as a Research Officer to study Policy and Gross National Happiness.
He currently works on promoting entrepreneurship among youths, especially in the rural areas of the district. He also develops tourism products and serves as the agriculture marketing officer.
He completed his M.A in International Development focusing on Rural Development from the Nagoya University, Japan in 2017.
His main interest is to pursue local economic development through various initiatives, including focusing on conservation and livelihood options for the far-flung communities. More than 500 youths in Chhukha have benefited through his development initiatives with 60 new startups begun by the youths in rural areas in the past three year from 2020-2023.
A committed queer advocate, the coordinator of Queer Voices of Bhutan is working to advance inclusivity, equality, and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community in Bhutan. In 2016 I co-founded Rainbow Bhutan, Bhutan’s first LGBTIQ+ network, and in 2018 I founded Queer Voices of Bhutan. For the past ten years, I have been actively involved in our nation’s queer movement. Creator of the instructional booklets and the first Bhutanese talk show with a queer theme, Queer Talks Bhutan. Additionally produced Inside Queer stories Bhutan, Inside Queer Bhutan Podcast and informational booklets. Been actively engaged to create safe spaces, raise awareness, and educate others about the diverse experiences within the community.
Chief Social Enterprise Officer
Youth Development Fund
Kinley has across 16 years of experience in the social sector in Bhutan and Australia, with hands-on business comprehension. He was a co-founder of a Business Clinic Centre in Bhutan that conducts business health checkups providing cutting-edge business development solutions. He has also been part of community support projects with Disability Services Australia and currently he leads Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF’s) social enterprise division with a mission to build businesses for people and the planet by leading social and environmental enterprises. He has a masters of Social Entrepreneurship from Macquarie Business School in Australia and also has a diploma studies in Alcohol and Drug Studies from University of Amsterdam.
Suprit Pradhan has been the Project Manager of the NDI Project of Bhutan under Druk Holdings and Investments (DHI) since 2020. He is responsible for leading the project through the development and implementation of a cutting-edge digital identity system based on the Self-Sovereign Identity philosophy.
His expertise in project management and digital identity systems is committed to delivering a secure, convenient, and reliable digital identity platform that will benefit the people of Bhutan and transform how citizens interact with online services.
Prior to joining DHI, he worked as a research engineer for over 10 years under Druk Green Power Corporation. He has a Master’s Degree in Power Engineering from Edith Cowan University, Australia and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from Anna University, India.
Khurshid Alam assumed the position of Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Bhutan in September 2021. With over 25 years of experience spanning 50 countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe, he is a dedicated advocate for an equitable, multilateral, and resilient world. Mr. Alam has made significant contributions to the fields of climate and disaster resilience and played a vital role in responding to international crises. His career encompasses leadership, consulting, and media roles, including positions at ThinkAhead Limited and ActionAid in the UK. Prior to his current role, he held dual responsibilities at UNDP Bangladesh Country Office. As a frequent keynote speaker, author, and participant in inter-governmental processes, he embodies a post-humanist and futurist perspective. In his personal life, he has a deep appreciation for the arts and antiques, and he is passionate about world music, politics, and history. Hailing from Bangladesh, Mr. Alam is a proud husband and father of two daughters.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and a Master’s Degree in Agribusiness from Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, I bring 25 years of experience in the civil service, during which I’ve held diverse roles, including socio-economic researcher, Policy and Planning officer, Agri-economist, Marketing Officer, Specialist at the former BAFRA (now BFDA), and Chief Industries Officer at the former Department of Cottage & Small Industries (now DoI). Currently, I serve as an Advisor to the Department of Agricultural Marketing & Cooperatives within the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
I am Purushotam Adhikari. The current president of GCIT DevForge (previously GCIT+Startup). I together with my team lead the students of GCIT in providing software development and UI/UX services to businesses of all sizes in and outside the country. Our Unique agency provides opportunity to the students to work on real-world industry projects while pursuing their undergraduate studies. This gives students a competitive advantage upon graduation, as they have already gained hands-on experience in the start-up world. Some clients that we have worked with and are currently working with are The Pema(hotel), Willing Resort, Travi’n, DHI and many more.
Moderators
UX designer
Product Alchemy
Diego is lifelong traveler and tech entrepreneur. Previously he was the founder and CEO of Teamscope, a company he started, scaled to thousands of users and sold after 9 years. Now, he is a freelance UX designer, exclusively advising tech companies on how to enhance their product designs so they are visually appealing and easy to use.
If he wrote an autobiography for himself, he would like to title it as “Orphan Of The Crazy Phallus.
Kinley Wangchuk, also known as Ganchu, likes to consider himself to be an artist and Business and Entrepreneurship is his canvas.
Because he did not like the music being aired on the one and only government owned radio station, at 27 he quit his government job, working as an engineer, and started a one man run radio station.
His generation was deprived of a live music platform for musicians and singers, he started the first live music club ‘Mojo Park’.
He also co-founded Breathe Bhutan, a travel company that is focused on offering unique and authentic travel experiences. Breathe Bhutan has worked with some of the biggest travel content creator such as the Bucketlist Family, Kara and Nate, Flying The Nest and Fernweh Chronicles.
His most recent startup is Azha Pasa and Sibjam, both are e-commerce platforms. Azha Pasa is on a mission to create a create a one stop marketplace for both buyers and sellers. A place where buyers devote themselves to being a customers for life and a market where sellers sit at home and count their profit. Where customer experience, business relationship and social responsibility are the core values.
Sibjam is on an ambitions mission to make Bhutan self sustainable in food.
Sangay Tshering is the managing partner of an IT firm and has tried multiple start-ups. He is the President of the Loden Foundation, a civil society promoting entrepreneurship, supporting education, and documenting culture in Bhutan. A strong believer of Ethical Entrepreneurship revolving around the idea of Bodhisatta Entrepreneurs.
Yeshey Choden is a satellite engineer by profession and STEM advocate by passion. Technically, she is involved in satellite development and remote sensing image processing. In addition, she plans activities for space promotion and STEM education to inspire the youth of Bhutan. In 2022, she co-founded the Women in STEM Bhutan to promote and empower girls and women in STEM. She also formed the Thimphu Robotics Club to engage interested youth in exploring and learning about robotics. Yeshey has a masters degree in space engineering from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan.
Karma Jigyel (PhD) is currently an Assistant Professor at Paro College of Education (PCE), Royal University of Bhutan. Karma has worked for over fifteen years in Paro College of Education and worked in different capacities contributing actively to different programmes offered in the PCE. With Karma’s initiative and leadership PCE introduced the first ever Master of Education in Inclusive Education in Spring 2020. Karma is also a programme leader for Master of Education in Inclusive Education. Currently, in addition to regular teaching and other responsibilities, Karma leads two big international joint projects supported by Erasmus Plus, EU and International Development for Research Center (IDRC), Canada. The Erasmus Plus joint project will develop Diploma Programme for SEN Teacher Assistants that will be offered in PCE and the IDRC joint project as an action-oriented research to study on educational innovations for out of school children with disabilities and children with disabilities at risk of dropping out form schools. His research areas of interests are Inclusive Education, Special Education, Assessment in Primary Schools, and Mathematics Education for Secondary and Primary Schools.
Sonam Ugyen is an entrepreneur, film writer, director, and producer. He is the founder and CEO of the first Bhutanese OTT, Songyala. Prior to venturing into the OTT business, Sonam was a renowned broadcast journalist in Bhutan. While profitability matters, it’s not the sole focus; ethical business practices and cultural preservation are paramount for Sonam. He is also a recent addition to the community of Loden entrepreneurs.
Jigdrel is an analyst at the Innovation & Technology Department at DHI. He is responsible for testing, learning, and scaling novel projects with a key focus on impact and results. An agile, autodidact and results-oriented professional, Jigdrel thrives on tackling complex challenges and creating implementable solutions through building-measuring-learning cycles. Jigdrel is passionate about the role of innovation and technologies in creating pathways for socio-economic development and nation-building. Specifically, his interest and passion lie in the web3 and blockchain sector and is an integral member at DHI implementing institutional scale projects. This role demands skill sets comprising of project management, business development, system thinking, strategy planning, partnership structuring, technology sourcing, and contract management. Ultimately, Jigdrel believes in the principles of creativity, collaborative spirit, growth initiatives, and lifelong learning. Jigdrel is a Chevening Scholar and graduated with 1st class honors from the University of Manchester, U.K., with a Master’s degree in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship.
Namgay works at the intersection of climate, policy and youth empowerment. She works at the Bhutan Ecological Society on projects related to renewable energy, reforestation and carbon markets. Her passion also lies in making policy conversations around climate action more accessible to young people, through a voluntary initiative called the Bhutan Climate Futures Lab, which imparts climate literacy and funding to youth-led climate initiatives.
Mr Madhav Verma holds a Master’s Degree in Business from Jamia Millia Islamia and has done his Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Course from Samtse College of Education. He is currently serving as the Bcom Program leader and as an associate professor in business. He is also actively involved in EU-funded projects related to entrepreneurship ENCORE and RECALL. He also works closely with entrepreneurs to prepare them for various Pitch decks.
His area of specialization is in the fields of Accounts, Finance, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship.
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