Our Team in Lao PDR

Catherine is a French national of Chinese origin. She graduated from Sciences Po Paris and holds a PhD degree in international law and politics from the University of Nottingham in the UK. After teaching international law in the UK for five years, she joined the UN in Geneva in 2005. She worked with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for 12 years, in Geneva, Cambodia and Fiji where she was Deputy Regional Representative for the Pacific. Recently, she was Governance Team Leader in the UNDP Office in Vietnam, managing a team of 30 professionals and a large portfolio of projects on justice, anti-corruption, citizen participation, mine action, disability, social impact business, etc. She is married with two children.

Pia Rebello Britto, Ph.D., Global Chief and Senior Advisor, Early Childhood Development, UNICEF, is internationally renowned for her expertise in early childhood policy and programmes.

Dr. Britto obtained her doctoral degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University and prior to joining UNICEF she was an Assistant Professor at Yale University’s Child Study Center.

Dr. Britto is known globally for her expertise in early childhood programmes, policies and advocacy. She has worked extensively with partners to advance the ECD agenda globally, and nationally, to give every child a best start to life. The focus of her work has been on strengthening multi-sectoral programmes for young children and families, measuring of results, mobilizing political commitment, creating a global architecture for ECD and setting technical standards of excellence.

Dr. Britto is the recipient of several national and international awards in recognition for her work and has published numerous books, articles, chapters and reports.

Dr Ying-Ru Lo has joined as WHO Representative to Lao PDR in January 2022 after serving four years as WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. In her position as Head of Mission, she led strategic and policy dialogues with the Ministry of Health and partners. Building upon her rich public health experience she was successful in enhancing WHO’s presence, excellence and visibility during the COVID-19 pandemic response in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore. She was instrumental in guiding the three-level support of WHO and partners to close the poliovirus outbreak in Malaysia.

In her new role, Dr Lo firmly believes in the importance of partnership, in health equity of reaching the unreached and building capacity in global health.

Dr Lo is an infectious disease physician from Hamburg, Germany with over 30 years of experience as a clinician and public health adviser. She started working for the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1998, holding positions at country (Thailand and Malaysia), regional (South-East Asia Regional Office in New Delhi and Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila) and headquarters levels (Geneva).

Dr Lo has more than 65 peer-reviewed articles showcasing Asian expertise in global health published in reputable international journals such as Nature Medicine and The Lancet. She is an associate editor of the Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal.

Alex Kremer became World Bank Country Manager for Laos in July 2021. He oversees the World Bank’s program in the country and leads policy dialogue with government counterparts, civil society, and other partners.

Alex joined the World Bank in 2005. Before coming to Laos, he was the Country Manager for Belarus (2017-21), Moldova (2014-17), the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan (2010-14). On joining the Bank in 2005, he worked in the Middle East and North Africa region as a Senior Sector Economist. During that time he published several research works on agriculture, the impact of the 2006 war in Lebanon, energy efficiency and lagging regions. He was the lead author of "Poor places, thriving people: how the Middle East and North Africa can overcome spatial disparities" (2010).

Before joining the Bank, Alex worked for the UK Department for International Development in India as National Program Manager, and as an EU official, including as Economic and Political Counsellor in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Alex Kremer holds degrees in Economics from Cambridge and London Universities, a Ph.D. in Economics from London, and a Diploma in Business Administration. He is married with three children and enjoys singing, writing, visiting mountains and foil fencing.

Mr. Ambrosio N. Barros has been appointed IFAD Head of the Mekong Multi-Country Office and Country Director for Laos, Viet Nam, Myanmar and Thailand.
He will be based in Hanoi, Viet Nam, moving from Johannesburg where he headed the IFAD Southern Africa Multi-Country Office. After joining IFAD in 2010, he has mainly led IFAD’s portfolios in various countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Haiti, Malawi and Zambia.
Prior to IFAD, he managed a Master’s Programme at Sciences Po Paris, France, and served as a diplomat for the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Barros holds a BA in History and Social Sciences as well as two Master’s degrees: one in History of International Relations from Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and another in Public Administration and Public Policy with a specialization in Economic and Political Development from Columbia University in New York, USA.

Avi Sarkar (India) is the Regional Advisor covering South-East Asia for UN-Habitat. Besides representing UN-Habitat in Lao PDR, Dr. Sarkar also heads the Urban Basic Services Programmes in the South-East Asian region. He has earlier worked as the Regional Coordinator for South-East Asian Region for the Norwegian People’s Aid and has also worked in the private sector as analyst in a fund management group

Dr. Sarkar has a PhD in Management and two Master’s degrees in Business Administration and in Environmental Economics. He also has an Honors in Physics.

Since April 2021, David Frend has been the Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and Financing of Terrorism (GPML), Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Mentor and Advisor for the Mekong Region based in the UNODC Programme Office, Lao PDR. In April 2022, David was appointed the Officer-in-Charge of the UNODC Programme Office Lao PDR.

Previously, David was the GPML AML/CFT Adviser and Mentor in Afghanistan, working out of the UNODC Country Office for Afghanistan. He is an English barrister by professional training, and worked at the independent English and Welsh Bar, the British Army and the Crown Prosecution Service before joining UNODC in September 2018. He is a graduate of both Keele and Bristol Universities with a bachelor’s degree in Law and Politics and a master’s degree in International Law.

Mr. Jan Delbaere is a Belgian National active in rural development and food security programmes since 1983.

He has worked in DRC (Zaïre) (NGO), DR China (FAO), DPR Yemen (FAO), Rwanda (Belgian ODA), Philippines (Belgian ODA) and on short-term assignments in other developing countries. In 2004 he joined WFP and has since then worked as a Deputy Chief of Food Security Analysis Service based in Rome HQ (2008-2010), Deputy Country Director in Rwanda (2010-2014), Deputy Country Director in India (2014-2018), and since 2018 as the Country Director / Representative to Lao PDR.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, a Master’s degree in Agriculture and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics.

Nasar Hayat has over 25 years of progressive professional experience.

Prior to his present assignment as FAO Representative to Lao PDR, he worked as Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) at FAO Pakistan since 2013. He started his career as a Civil Engineer in 1993 and subsequently joined the Pakistani Civil Service. He worked in Pakistan's diplomatic service both in Pakistan and abroad and served as the Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan's mission at Maldives for four years.

Nasar joined UNDP in 2006 on Governance related projects, and has also worked with USAID as an Economic Growth Specialist and with Asian Development Bank as a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in Pakistan. He re-joined UNDP to manage a high profile project that supports Election Commission of Pakistan. Intermittently he has worked as consultant with various agencies including AusAID, UN-Women and Norwegian Embassy's Development Sector.

Nasar holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Law and Development degree.

Paul A Martin is a graduate professional working over the last 10 years within the ASEAN Member States with specific emphasis on the Greater Mekong Sub region.

As the UNCDF Senior Regional Technical Advisor, he has a corporate responsibility for UNCDF country portfolios for local economic development finance in all ASEAN Member States and three more countries and the Pacific Islands. Paul has worked in various global locations that include East Africa, South East Asia, including China, South Asia, Balkans, Eastern Europe (former Soviet Union), and the Middle East. Throughout his international career he has worked for international agencies and private sector companies.

Sommai Faming (Lao PDR) is currently the UNIDO Country Representative after having joined UNIDO in Lao PDR as the Head of Operations in 2012.

He has many years of experiences in various areas such as poverty reduction through value chain sustainable development and private sector participatory, financial auditor, banking and finance, and commerce.

He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Bachelo’s degree in Business, Banking and Finance, and a Bachelor’s degree in Art-Linqistics.

Mr. Viengprasith has held the post of ILO Coordinator in Lao PDR since 21 July 2022. Prior to take this position Prasith join ILO as Safe and Fair National Project Coordinator since November 2018.

Prasith graduated from former Soviet Union (Ukraine)-as engineering on Machine et Chain Automobile and also completed his master from Lion (French) on Project Administration and Management, completed his fellowship at School International Training (SIT) in Vermont and Colombia University on project management and public advocacy in USA and has several esteemed degrees and certifications.

Prasith brings with him rich experience having worked in the government such as Ministry of Public Work and Transportation and Ministry of Defence, IOs, INGOs and local CSOs. First started with UN agency was Food Agriculture Organization; Handicap International as deputy director in Laos, National Regulatory Authorisation for unexploded ordnance; Danish Red Cross; The Asia Foundation, Care International and support other local CSO. He has been working on issues of GBC, women’s empowerment, especially specific to vulnerable women and children including women with disabilities, dignified work and migrant women, human trafficking issues in the last three decades. He has huge experience on liaison and coordination with government agencies.

Manithda Sithimolada is a Country Coordinator for the UNV Programme in Lao PDR since 2020.

She has many years of work experience in a wide range of sectors including international organizations, local NGOs, and private sector. She spent over 10 years (2003 – 2015) working for then Australian Agency for International Development (now Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) in the area of basic and higher education and in managing human resource development program. She worked as a Communications Consultant for the World Bank in 2017 – 2019. She became Vice President of Children’s Home Foundation in 2018 while also taking on a role of General Manager in a private sector.

She graduated in International Relations under Australia Award Scholarship and in Human Resource Development under Fulbright scholarship.

Ms. Khan has over 20 years of diverse experience in leading and managing development programmes, humanitarian response and change management initiatives in various locations including UNFPA HQs, Sub Saharan Africa and Asia. She was appointed UNFPA Representative to Lao PDR in 2018.

Previous assignments include UNFPA Representative in Algeria (2015-2018), leading the UNFPA office in Tanzania and as Deputy Representative working in UNFPA China also covering DPRK. She supported the 2004 Tsunami response for UNFPA in Indonesia and led the 2008 Wenchuan, China earthquake response as UNFPA Representative a.i. She is a human rights-based approach facilitator for the UN Staff College. Prior to working with UNFPA, Mariam has experience with the First Women's Bank in Pakistan and in research institutes in China.

She holds two Masters degrees: Sociology and Population Studies and speaks English, French, Urdu and basic Mandarin.

Patricia Ongpin is the UNAIDS Country Director of the multi-country office covering Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Malaysia since June 2022.

Ms Ongpin is an international development and public health specialist with over 15 years of experience spanning across Asia, Africa, and Europe. As a strong advocate for equality and leaving no one behind, she has a rich background in coordinating evidence-based decentralized programmes that focus on inclusiveness, partnership, and sustainability.

Ms Ongpin was most recently the Regional Fast Track Advisor for the UNAIDS Regional Support Team in Asia and the Pacific. Prior to this, Ms Ongpin served in UNAIDS as Fast-Track Advisor in Namibia and Strategic Information Advisor for Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Ms Ongpin is a national of Canada. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations, and Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics and International Relations.

Shareen Tuladhar was designated as the IOM Chief of Mission in Lao PDR in June 2020.

Ms. Tuladhar has been working with IOM in different capacities since 2015, serving as a Program Manager at IOM Maldives and as Head of the Migrant Protection and Assistance Unit at IOM Azerbaijan.

Prior to taking on this posting in Lao PDR, she worked as a national expert on a mid-term evaluation for a USAID funded trafficking in persons project. She was also actively engaged in research on labour migration and trafficking in persons in Nepal. From 2010 to 2015, she was a program manager at The Asia Foundation’s Nepal Office with a diverse portfolio of managing trafficking in persons and safe migration projects funded by USAID. Prior to this, she worked for a research firm in Nepal focusing on public health.

Ms. Tuladhar holds a Master’s degree in International Business with an emphasis on Economics.