Ang Rita Sherpa, a native of Khunde village in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality-4, has served as Chairman of The Partners Nepal since its founding in 2012. Formerly a Senior Program Manager at The Mountain Institute (TMI), he brings over 40 years of experience in protected area management, eco
tourism, community-based tourism, and sustainable development. Mr. Sherpa holds an M.Sc. in Protected Area Landscape Management from the University of Wales, UK, and a
degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from Lincoln University, New Zealand. He has volunteered with the U.S. National Park Service in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Shenandoah, and Smoky Mountain National Parks. He implemented the Ambassador Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) program for Pangboche Monastery and served as Executive Chairman of the Himalayan Trust, founded by Sir Edmund Hillary. He also advises the Himalayan Climate Alliance and Hill Development Conservation Group. Mr. Sherpa has led global conservation and ecotourism projects and was awarded the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal in 2011.

Bheem Raj Rai has been the Secretary of The Partners Nepal’s executive committee since its establishment in 2012. Before joining TPN, he worked as a Conservation and Livelihood Program Officer at The Mountain Institute. Mr. Rai holds a graduate degree in Health Education and a Master’s Degree in Rural Development from Tribhuvan University. His work has focused on conservation areas, where he formed Community Forest Users Groups and provided community forest management training to partner NGOs, government organizations, and line agencies. He has also led community-based project planning initiatives.

Mr. Rai played a key role in community-based ecotourism projects in the Tin Jure Milke Jaljale region and alpine ecosystems in Sagarmatha and Makalu-Barun National Parks. He also contributed to livelihood programs in far-western Nepal through UN World Food Programme humanitarian projects. With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Rai specializes in participatory planning for natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and community development.

Bhala Kaji Rai (Kulung) has served as the Treasurer of The Partners Nepal since its establishment in 2012. He has been a Project Officer at the Himalayan Natural Fibre Foundation since 2008 and previously worked with The Mountain Institute’s Nepal programs from 1999 to 2008, including as Finance and Program Officer from 2003 to 2008. Originally from Cheskam 1, Solukhumbu, Mr. Rai holds a Bachelor’s degree from Tribhuvan University, Shankardev Campus, Kathmandu. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in financial management using accounting software (NPS, Money Manager SMART) and manual accounting. He is also skilled in establishing financial management systems for NGOs and partners, rural development, and engaging indigenous and marginalized communities in environmental conservation, poverty reduction, and livelihood improvement through participatory planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Dambar Bahadur Thapa has been an executive member of The Partners Nepal (TPN) since its founding in 2012. Holding an M.Sc. in Natural Resource Management, he previously served as a Senior Program Officer at The Mountain Institute (TMI), focusing on conservation and natural resource management. Mr. Thapa played a key role in establishing Makalu Barun National Park and its Buffer Zone, serving as a warden in the Bung sector of Solukhumbu. His expertise includes community-based conservation, conflict management, and alpine ecosystem restoration in Sagarmatha and Makalu-Barun National Parks. He also worked as an Assistant Forest Officer at the Department of Forest under the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation. Additionally, Mr. Thapa has managed conservation programs for alpine ecosystems and collaborated with the UN World Food Program on livelihood projects in far-western Nepal. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in participatory natural resource management, community development, and climate change adaptation, including involvement in the “Local Adaptation and Planning of Action (LAPA)” program.

Shova Rai, an indigenous native of Solukhumbu, Nepal, has been an executive member of The
Partners Nepal (TPN) since its founding in 2012. She holds a degree in Sociology and is currently pursuing a degree in Public Administration from Tribhuvan University. Prior to joining the international humanitarian sector, she contributed to The Mountain Institute’s Nepal program.

A passionate advocate for peace, human rights, and social development, Ms. Rai has over ten years of experience working with various development and humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children International. She has also worked in tourism, media, and education. As a dedicated TPN member, she actively volunteers and supports the organization in fulfilling its mission.

Chet Kumar Khatri has been an executive member of The Partners Nepal (TPN) since 2012. With over 20 years of experience, he has served as a technical officer at The Mountain Institute (TMI) in community development programs and as a technical lead in Nepal’s Earthquake Reconstruction and Recovery Project. Specializing in humanitarian work, WASH, shelter, and community-led development, Mr. Khatri holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on Construction Management. He has also built strong relationships with government agencies, NGOs, and donors.

Ms. Januka Kulung, from Mahakulung Rural Municipality-3, Solukhumbu, holds a BBS with a major in Financial Management from Bagmati College, Sukedhara, and completed her +2 in Math and Management from Pasupati Multicampus, Kathmandu. She earned her School Leaving Certificate from Shree Chheskam Secondary School, Solukhumbu. Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and English/Nepali typing, she has also received training in basic computer skills, advanced accounting packages (Tally, Fact), and anchoring.
From 2019 to 2021, she served as a Micro Finance and Livelihood Officer at the Hill Development Conservation Group (HDCG), where she managed revolving funds, conducted financial literacy training, coordinated with local organizations, and prepared proposals and reports for livelihood programs.