Our Team &
Board Members

Executive Director

You can reach Ang Phuri  at ang.sherpa@redpandanetwork.org. 

Conservation Officer

Dinesh’s interest in nature and wildlife conservation has been ever-present since his childhood growing up in a remote mountainous village in the Rasuwa district of Central Nepal. After completing his undergraduate studies, he joined the Himali Conservation Forum, a local partner NGO to the Red Panda Network. Dinesh loves engaging with the local community and helping them understand the value of red panda conservation activities.

You can reach me at dinesh.ghale@redpandanetwork.org

Program Development Manager

Haris first began volunteering with Bird Conservation Nepal as a university student in Kathmandu, where he received a Masters Degree in Zoology and Ecology. In 2006, he started working with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal, where he focused on helping drive conservation efforts for various wild species, including medicinal and aromatic plants, snow leopards, and red pandas. After several years at WWF, he worked on a joint initiative involving the Government of Nepal and development partners, developing community-based responses for the impact of climate change. Haris began working for Red Panda Network in 2018, and is excited to continue to find opportunities to ensure the survival of red pandas in harmony with people’s livelihood.

You can reach me at Haris.Rai@redpandanetwork.org

Administration & Finance Officer

Khagendra is responsible for RPN-Asia’s administrative and financial management and provides financial projections and accounting services.

He holds a Master's Degree in Business Studies from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

Khagendra previously worked as an accountant for Shree Birta Dhanlaxmi Saving and Credit Co Ltd.

You can reach Khagendra at khagendra.karki@redpandanetwork.org

Program Associate

Munmun pursued a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. After graduation, she started her conservation journey as a volunteer assisting the zookeeper in the Central Zoo, Kathmandu. This experience enthused her love of wildlife. Five qualities paint her passion for wildlife: love, integrity, commitment, passion, and fun for nature preservation. She would like to make a call-to-action so others can join the endeavor, be involved, and work together towards advancing conservation.

You can reach Munmun at munmun.tamang@redpandanetwork.org

Program Associate 

Driven by an interest in studying movement ecology, resource utilization, and spatial dynamics, Naresh continues to impact wildlife research and conservation.

Naresh is a Forestry graduate from the Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal. He has an unwavering commitment to wildlife research and conservation, beginning at a Wildlife Research Techniques Training in 2020. Naresh then volunteered with Friends of Nature (Nepal), where he led a field team in monitoring the clouded leopard population by collecting scat and DNA samples in the Hugu-Kori forest of Kaski.

Being a resident of Ilam, Naresh’s connection to the region, combined with his field experiences in research and conservation, led him to join RPN's local partner organization, Mountain Organization Nepal (MOON), as the Field Program Officer. RPN's Plant A Red Panda Home and Project Pangolin are some initiatives Naresh has contributed to.

Monitoring Officer

Pema’s deep passion for conservation started as a child when she first encountered a red panda that had been attacked by wild dogs. In college, she studied forestry and became involved with several wildlife research and conservation organizations. After graduating, Pema interned for the RPN, charting the population and distribution of red pandas in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, and soon after joined RPN as a full-time Conservation Coordinator. She left RPN for three years to pursue a Master's degree in Ecosystem Management and Conservation from The University of Melbourne, and was excited to return to RPN in 2021 for her second stint, serving as Monitoring Officer, where she is in charge of implementation, reporting and communication of RPN’s community-based programs in Nepal. 

Connect with Pema on LinkedIn

Program Associate 

You can reach at Rakshya at rakshya.basnet@redpandanetwork.org.

Office Assistant 

Shiva is RPN’s Office Assistant, providing administrative support for the team in Kathmandu. He is always smiling while serving the best black tea in Kathmandu.

Before joining RPN, Shiva worked for The Mountain Institute in various roles for 26 years. Shiva has a wife, two sons, and three grandchildren. He said, "I am very happy to work directly or indirectly in the conservation of endangered red pandas."

Conservation Program Manager

Sonam has been with Red Panda Network (RPN) since the beginning (2007). Sonam serves as RPN's Conservation Program Manager in Nepal, responsible for implementing and developing community-based conservation programs throughout the country's red panda range. 

Sonam joined RPN in 2007 as a Community Coordinator in eastern Nepal. He was responsible for conservation outreach campaigns and hiring and training Forest Guardians, now a national team of over 100 citizen scientists and conservation ambassadors. The Disney Conservation Fund recognized his grassroots work in conserving red pandas with the Disney Conservation Award 2015 and 2022 Whitley Conservation Award from Whitely Fund for Nature. His red panda conservation career has been featured in National Geographic, Guardians, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Mongabay, AllCreatures PodCast, and Nepali Times. 

Sonam works closely with RPN's partner organizations in 13 districts across Nepal to help them maximize their impacts on the ground. He has experience in project management, grant management, donor relations, education and outreach — he hosted a YouTube series called Habre Guff-Gaff — and community capacity building. 

Sonam earned an MSc in International Nature Conservation from Lincoln University in New Zealand and Goettingen University in Germany after conducting one of the most comprehensive camera trapping studies in the eastern Himalayas, which produced the first photographic evidence of a marbled cat. Sonam received the Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship and Wildlife Conservation Network Scholarship for his MSc. He also holds a B.A. from Tribhuvan University. 

You can reach Sonam at sonam.lama@redpandanetwork.org

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Finance and Admin Assitant

With a Master of Business Studies and a wealth of experience spanning multiple sectors from international NGOs to national NGOs, as well as saving and credit cooperatives, Mr Sujan Prasad Timalsina is a seasoned Finance and Administration professional. His expertise encompasses managing diverse donor projects, adeptly navigating complex regulatory environments, and implementing robust internal control measures. He is proficient in various accounting software, ensuring accurate financial reporting and analysis, and driving organizational success through strategic financial management. We are grateful to have him on the RPN team!

Program Officer 

Before joining RPN, Wangchu led grassroots conservation efforts for over a decade. His work included training people to cultivate medicinal and aromatic plants, teaching outdoor learning and bio-intensive farming, and designing permaculture community nurseries.

Wangchu has also worked as a guide during red panda ecotrips, and as a field biologist during RPN’s red panda tourism survey in the Myagdi district. He also assisted in the production of “The Forgotten Panda” documentary!

You can reach me at wangchu.bhutia@redpandanetwork.org

Development Coordinator

I enjoy building relationships between people and wild places so conservation initiatives can thrive. My role at RPN is to strengthen donor outreach and deepen membership engagement.

Before joining RPN, I worked in enterprise marketing, the experiential-travel industry, and nonprofit development. I have a BA in International Relations with additional work in environmental studies.

I'm also a Certified Interpretive Guide from the National Association for Interpretation, a Wilderness First Responder, and am completing studies as an Oregon Master Naturalist. When time permits, I lead educational travel programs with Road Scholar and am a volunteer webmaster at an international language school.

When not in the office I'm leading tours, storytelling, and hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail.

You can reach me at mark@redpandanetwork.org
Connect with me on LinkedIn

Development Associate

I am a passionate conservationist who loves to connect with people over our shared experiences here on Planet Earth.

At Red Panda Network, I work closely with donors and partners to support our sustianable livelihood initiatives and conservation efforts — protecting red pandas while promoting a sustainable lifestyle. I love working at the intersection of people and planet, and this work allows me to do just that!

My background is in conservation biology, nonprofit outreach, and writing. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with my BS in Conservation Biology & Ecology from Arizona State University in 2021, conducting research on community ecology and Aspen mortality. While at ASU, I spent my time volunteering with Kesem as an outreach coordinator and director.

After college, I taught English abroad in Tenerife, Spain and honed in on my communication skills through my freelance environmental writing services. When I'm not writing or working with RPN, I'm hiking around the PNW and cooking big meals for me and my friends!

You can reach me at madison@redpandanetwork.org

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Check out my website

Deputy Director

You can reach me at terrance@redpandanetwork.org
Connect with me on LinkedIn

Curator of Applied Behavior - San Diego Zoo

Nicki is a founding board member of the Association of Professional Wildlife Educators, and has worked for the Zoological Society of San Diego for 18 years. She is currently an Associate Curator at the San Diego Zoo, and is responsible for setting up training programs for the Collection Husbandry Science Department; protocols for carnivores, primates, hoofstock, various birds, herbivores and reptiles; and managing the personnel needs for over 100 employees in the zoo’s mammal department. She was also selected to help write the curriculum for the American Association of Zoo Keepers and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums keeper training course at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

CEO at Parc Animalier d’Auvergne
Treasurer at La Passerelle Conservation

Pascal is a founding member of La Passerelle Conservation and has worked for 10 years at Parc Animalier d’Auvergne: a zoo in France committed to conservation and supporter of Red Panda Network (RPN). He also serves as chair of the Caprinae Taxon Advisory Group for the European Zoos Association and as a member of the Caprinae Specialist Group for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He is also part of a conservation committee at AFdPZ (the French zoos association) and has co-founded Biodiv’Educ — an effort aiming at educating kids about biodiversity using the technology they use everyday. Pascal joined the RPN board in an effort to do more to protect wild red pandas by finding new ways to raise money for RPN’s community-based programs.

The former head of conservation and research at Rotterdam Zoo, and founder of red panda GSMP. 

Angela is a trained zoologist with a strong interest in animal behavior, in particular the impact of environmental factors on reproduction and maternal behavior. Previously, Angela worked at the Rotterdam Zoo and conducted research into red panda behavior, establishing an international studbook to register all zoo red pandas, and leading the red panda European Endangered Species Program. She also previously chaired the Red Panda Global Species Management Plans (GSMP). Angela has been a supporter of Red Panda Network since its inception, encouraging European zoos to support RPN’s work and joined the Board of Directors in 2014, and now serves as the Chair.

China Country Director for the National Geographic Society

Jim has worked on issues of biodiversity and sustainable development in China and the United States for over 30 years. He helped the International Crane Foundation establish its programs in China in the 1980s and 1990s, and conducted the first population census of the endangered black-necked crane in Tibet in 1991. Harkness has also served as Country Representative for the World Wide Fund for Nature in China, where he led a major expansion of their conservation programs. Jim currently serves as China Country Director for the national geographic Society, and his continued strong ties with the Chinese conservation community helps RPN with its goals of protecting red panda habitat.

Former Project Leader, Nordens Ark Zoo

Christer is a founding member of Foundation Nordens Ark and was deeply involved with the planning and construction of the Nordens Ark Zoo and breeding facilities. He worked for over thirty years as a bird conservation project manager for the reintroduction and restocking of the Peregrine Falcon, White-backed Woodpecker, and Lesser White-fronted Goose. He also serves as a member of various working groups and committees with the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission. Christer’s firsthand understanding of the challenges of studying red pandas in the wild inspired him to join the RPN board and helps him to better understanding this species.

Environmental Engineer

Joy is the RPN board’s administrator. She discovered red pandas as part of a 7th-grade science project, and later pursued a career to protect them and the rest of the planet as anEnvironmental Engineer. . Today, Joy is an Environmental Engineer, and she works to create more sustainable products to protect the environment. At RPN, in addition to serving on the Board, she writes online content, and is an event planning aficionado, known for her work building outreach programs for children. In her personal life, Joy is an experienced yoga teacher and a strong advocate of diversity and mentorship through her support and leadership within the Society of Women Engineers, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

With a career spanning over 15 years in the marketing industry, Nathalia has consistently executed successful strategies for globally recognized brands, including Natura, Nubank, Nestlé, and Avon. Nathalia is widely acknowledged for her adeptness in driving growth, fostering innovation, and differentiation within highly competitive and dynamic markets. As a Board Member at RPN, she is dedicated to enhancing the organization's communication prowess, ensuring its message resonates genuinely with supporters, partners, and stakeholders.

Attorney & Wildlife Photographer

Rafael Salvador has worked with National Geographic Explorers on wildlife photography projects and has coordinated several wildlife photography workshops in the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, and Thailand. He has been a trip leader in the previous phototrips organized by the Red Panda Network in Nepal.

Regional Representative Asia - Wildlife Works Carbon LLC

Brian's first walk into the steep, terraced mid-hills of Nepal inspired him to take action in preserving the remaining forests in eastern Nepal. He first conducted research on the status of the red panda in the Ilam region of Nepal's Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung corridor, as part of his Masters studies as a Fulbright Scholar. These experiences reinforced his conviction that conservation can be achieved only with long-term commitment, and inspired him to found and manage Red Panda Network from 2005 to 2011. Brian has since transitioned to work as Regional Representative at Asia for Wildlife Works, but continues to work on the RPN board of Directors to capitalize on promises made to a community and region that has captivated his spirit.