Staff

Ben Swanepoel
Program Director: NEPL landscape & WCS Country Program law enforcement advisor
Ben completed his Nature Conservation studies in South Africa in 1987 and was involved in protected area management over a period of 22 years in the South African context. He has a wealth of experience in all aspects of protected areas management and community conservation projects. Ben has a strong mentoring and community engagement philosophy and was one of a two-person team instrumental in the design and implementation of one of the leading conservation services programs in South Africa, the "Working For Water" program. In 2003, Ben obtained his degree majoring in environmental management and industrial psychology. In 2009 Ben was seconded to WWF Laos as a protected areas management advisor, during which time he resigned from his South African position to work full time in Lao PDR. In 2011 Ben joined the WCS Lao country program as program manager for the Bolikhamxay landscape, later transferring to his current position as the Nam Et-Phou Louey landscape director.
Oudomxay Thongsavath
Savannakhet Program Manager
Oudomxay Thongsavath first worked at WCS between 2011-2014 for crocodile conservation project Coordinator in the Xe Champhone Wetland. When this program was completed he continued working in Xe Champhone Wetlands with IUCN until 2019 when he rejoined WCS as the coordinator for the renewed and expanded Savannakhet Landscape Program. He holds a degree in forestry from the Savannakhet Agriculture and Forestry College as well as an English language teaching diploma from the Savannakhet Teacher Training College. He has more than 10 years of experience and specialization in community engagement, co-management, ecotourism, Wetland and endangered species conservation and has been a member of the IUCN/SCC Crocodile Specialists Group since 2013. Oudomxay believes that conservation tasks need time and to always include capacity building for local government and communities. Improving awareness of the long-term benefits to livelihoods from natural resource management and building local interest in biodiversity conservation are goals he works to achieve.

Page 1 of 1First   Previous   Next   Last   

Facebook

Copyright 2007-2021 by Wildlife Conservation Society

WCS, the "W" logo, WE STAND FOR WILDLIFE, I STAND FOR WILDLIFE, and STAND FOR WILDLIFE are service marks of Wildlife Conservation Society.

Contact Information
Address: P.O. Box 6712 House No 390, Unit 34, Naxay Village, Xaysettha District, Vientiane, 01000, Laos |