Formed in 2009, the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) is a regional trans-led network that is working towards the advancement of the rights of trans and gender diverse people in Asia and the Pacific through generation of research and evidence, legal, policy and programmatic advocacy, and public campaigning.
Regional Steering Committee and Thai Foundation board
APTN receives strategic supervision from the Regional Steering Committee and the Thai Foundation Board. The Regional Steering Committee is the body that establishes and oversees the vision, mission, and strategic objectives of APTN, ensuring that its activities and finances are managed in a responsible manner and in accordance with its strategic plan. The Steering Committee members are representatives from the countries that APTN works in and provide important partnerships and insight into the particular country’s trans and gender diverse communities.
The Thai Foundation board oversees the finances and assets of the Foundation. The board is responsible for presenting activity reports, financial reports, balance sheets and income and expenditure accounts to the Ministry of Interior as required by law. With assistance from the Secretariat, the Thai Foundation Board oversees all work permits and work visas for non-Thai staff.
-
Hua as people know her, is an experienced transgender activist and a transgender woman. She has worked with organisations and groups of all sizes – from local non-profit organisations to international organisations and networks. Particularly, she has been involved in the establishment of several transgender organisations – locally, nationally in Thailand, and internationally.
This includes being the first transgender program supervisor of Sisters, a program under supervision of Population Services International (PSI Thailand), a founding member of the Thai Transgender Alliance (Thai TGA), and the first coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN). Hua has also done advocacy for organisations targeting women, LGBT, and other marginalised communities in Thailand
-
Mitch Yusof has over 20 years of social service volunteer experience and 9 years of social service working experience in HIV prevention, care & support with trans communities. In 2014, he co-founded SEED, the first trans-led community based non-profit organisation in Malaysia. Working closely with the transgender community in addressing their issues, needs and concerns by providing capacity and skills building and information, advocate on the diverse spectrum under the transgender community and increasing awareness of challenges faced by the communities. Under his tenure as Executive Director, SEED won the Human Rights Award 2016 in recognition of the community’s dedication and perseverance in the fight for Human Rights and Justice – awarded by SUARAM, an NGO established to monitor and advocate for the respect of human rights in Malaysia
-
Phylesha is a champion for the rights of sexual minority groups within the Pacific and Fakafifine of Niuean decent. She is also a volunteer for the Pacific Sexual Diversity Network (PSDN) and was instrumental in the set up of its secretariat, Phylesha previously has a background in the HIV/AIDS sector in regional, national and international roles, which is still an extension of her current advocacy and work. She is currently pursuing a diploma in child protection studies and completing her license in real estate sales.
-
A Sri Lankan national, Chamindra is a political analyst, educator and international consultant, with experience in political lobbying, public policy, gender justice advocacy, academic research and university teaching. Her discipline is International Relations, and her work has appeared in international peer-reviewed publications and in media outlets in several countries. Her first book, Decolonising Peacebuilding: Managing Conflict from Northern Ireland to Sri Lanka and Beyond, was published in autumn 2018. She is an advisor to the Community Welfare Development Fund, based in Colombo, and a board member of Venasa, Sri Lanka’s first intersectionally-inclusive grassroots trans equality network. In May 2018, she was invited to deliver Sri Lanka’s Inaugural Annual Pride Speech, organized by a collective of Sri Lankan gender and social justice organizations. In 2017-2018, she held elected office as an Executive Committee member and the LGBT+ Officer of the Labour Party in Northern Ireland. Chamindra has previously held teaching and research appointments at INALCO Paris, Université Paris 13, Université Lille 1, Utrecht University and Queen’s University Belfast. She is also a Research Affiliate at the Centre for Gender, Feminisms and Sexualities at University College Dublin
-
Doy is a Thai transgender woman activist, who has over 15 year experience in trans advocacy. After her university graduation, Doy joined M Plus organisation in Chiang Mai as Transgender woman activists, focusing on health and sexual health, HIV and AIDS. Currently she hold the position of the Director of SISTERS Foundation in Pattaya, which is the only transgender community-led organisation in Thailand working on transgender health and other issues. Doy aims to see a better quality of life of transgender women in all aspects including employment equality, gender equality, the pride and self-esteem of being transgender persons.
Secretariat
The APTN Secretariat, comprising Programmes, Human Rights and Advocacy, Communications, and Finance teams, is based in Bangkok and carries out the administrative and programme implementation of APTN. The responsibilities of the secretariat include programme development, implementation and monitoring, liaison with community members, partners and other stakeholders to build and foster partnerships, conference and workshop planning, publications, partner relationships and international relations, and facilitating collaboration between regional partners and international stakeholders.
-
With a background deeply rooted in social justice and movement building, Joe leads the Asia Pacific Transgender Network in its mission to empowering trans and gender diverse individuals to organize and advocate across various spheres impacting their lives.
Drawing upon extensive experience and a deep understanding of the social, cultural, and political landscape, Joe has co-led and intiated policies initiatives aimed at promoting transgender rights and access. His work includes the Asia Pacific Trans Health Blueprint that guides the provision of care in the region, institutionalizing equitable grant-making practices in movement funds, and the Trans Thrive Project that looks into hate crimes and conversion therapy incidents.
Joe has forged alliances and garnered funding to establish pivotal consortiums, such as the 7 Alliance Consortium comprising of key populations in the Asia Pacific, a South Asia Consortium focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and a consortium uniting two transgender networks in Africa and the Pacific.
Joe is on a journey of self-discovery and mindfulness through meditation. He has traveled to various countries around the world, exploring ways healing circles are being organised and how spaces are held. When not on land, Joe immerses himself in deep waters, volunteering on conservation projects or photographing small sea creatures.
-
Nhuun is a Thai trans woman and advocate with an academic background in International Human Rights Law. She had experiences working with local and regional organisations on trans rights in the context of several countries in Asia, engaging with international advocacy spaces such as United Nation bodies.
In her APTN role, she hopes to bring the voices and reality of trans people in the Asia Pacific Region to international advocacy spaces, challenging the cis and western-centric norms of trans rights in the global space.
Nhuun is obsessed with rom-com movies from the 90s and preppy aesthetics. She also loves cafe hopping and has been interested in sustainable fashion.
-
Marli is passionate about health and gender equity and, it is with deep gratitude, that her work has led to many friendships all over the world. Marli has a Masters in Public Health and previous to rejoining APTN, she worked at an international grantmaking foundation in New York.
Marli is excited to be working alongside the most brilliant and passionate leaders doing rights work and looks forward to supporting local and regional trans organisations grow and make impact in their local community and the greater world.
Marli likes trying new things including lots of different arts and crafts activities. She is currently trying her hands at pottery!
-
Jak values work-life balance and prioritizes family. He enjoys hotpot meals and playing PlayStation. He is also a true football/soccer supporter, enjoying watching games overnight with close friends.
He is passionate about exploring the world by traveling to experience new cultures. Jak strongly believes in gender equality and advocates for fairness and respect in all areas of life.
-
Jirapan Uannual, also known as Mint, is the Administrative and Human Resource Officer of Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), having joined the organization in 2022. She holds a Master of Business Administration and began her career in the finance and operations department of an NGO in her beloved hometown, Khon Kaen, Thailand, where she worked for over 10 years.
Before joining APTN, Mint worked in a global humanitarian aid in Bangkok. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a desire to contribute to society and engage with people to make a positive impact on societal issues.
Mint cherishes her experience working for non-profit organizations, where she enjoys the opportunity to develop new skills and gain experience in a variety of roles and work situations. In her leisure time, Mint loves to watch film documentaries, meditate, travel, and meet new people, constantly seeking new adventures to satisfy her curiosity.
-
AR Arcon (he/him) works as the IT Support Officer for APTN. He is a transgender person who is passionate about technology and art. With a degree in Computer Science, AR has gained significant knowledge and experience in his field. He is currently taking a certification course in Cyber Security.
In addition to his professional work, AR is also actively involved in advocating for the transgender community in the Philippines. He founded the Pioneer Filipino Transgender Men Movement and served as its first Executive Director. He is also with LakanBini Advocates Pilipinas – a national network of transgender organizations in the Philippines.
AR’s hobbies are art, history, architecture, and travel. His hobbies include painting and sketching his land travels, mountain hiking, cooking, and planting when he is back home.
-
Avali (they/them) is a young non-binary activist from India, with more than 5 years of experience of leading programmes on Queer Rights, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Comprehensive Sexuality Education globally, using strategies of research and evidence generation, capacity building and training, resource curation, advocacy, and public campaigning. Avali has extensive experience mentoring youth-advocates as part of programmes such as the Youth Advisory Network (YAN) led by UNFPA, the Peers of Equity (P4E) programme of Sangath India, and more. In the past, Avali has been a fellow at the Swedish Institute’s Leadership Lab, Rise Up India, ILGA Asia, and attendee of CREA’s Global Sexuality and Gender Rights Institute. Avali has presented their work at regional and international conferences and gatherings, including the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) in Thailand in 2022. Avali has many publications to their name, and their writing has been featured in the Indian Express, Feminism in India and Smashboard. In addition to their work at APTN, Avali is currently also a part of the Global Advisory at FRIDA fund.
Avali enjoys reading, running, and crying in therapy. Avali occasionally gets smacked whilst practicing Muay Thai, and finds that experience very fulfilling. Mostly, Avali spends their weekends rewatching videos from that one time they went to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in Singapore.
-
Arra is the Social Media Officer of APTN, and is a proud part of the comms team! She is in charge of creating content plans and disseminating news of APTN’s projects to trans and queer communities across Asia Pacific (and beyond). Graphic design is her passion.
As a proud trans woman, she is also passionate about advocating for the transgender community back in her home country, and has worked hard to build a community and volunteered a lot of her time to queer advocacy in her home country.
In her free time, Arra loves listening to video essays, playing video games, dabbling in fashion, voice acting and creating music! She has also spent large amounts of time in imaginary universes playing DnD with her friends.
-
Suwimol is Thai, she had experience working in accounting and finance more than 10 years with the international nongovernmental organisation and international school,
She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting
She joined APTN almost 4 year in the part of Accounting and Finance to support the staff of payment processing, financial report and auditing.
Chompoo is a cat lover, she likes the adventure activities and has a passion of photograph. her ambition is to have a photographic studio and a clothes store
-
Penpitcha (Ji Jie) was born in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management
She had experience working in accounting and finance for around 6 years with a logistics company and international nongovernmental organizations.
In 2020, she worked as an accountant at a logistics company between Thailand and Myanmar. In 2022, she joined as finance and grant management at Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), and before that, she worked as finance at the International Rescue Committee (IRC Thailand)
Ji Jie likes to sing and play music, go to the gym, is a nature lover, and likes outdoor activities.