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HON. FRANCIS GERALD ABAYA Francis Abaya is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the 1st District of Cavite. At the House, he is the Chairperson of the Committee on Bases Conversion; Vice Chairperson of the Committees on Science and Technology, Climate Change, and Information and Communications Technology; and a member of the Committees on Housing and Urban Development, Social Services, and Government Enterprises and Privatization. Francis was an Architect prior to his stint in Philippine Congress. He graduated from Wenworth Institute of Technology in Boston, USA in 2002.
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FRGS CHIH-WEI CHEN Chih-Wei Chen is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). He serves as a Visiting Professor and co-leads the research centre with the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at the University College London (UCL) in United Kingdom. He is also a Visiting Scholar at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Japan. From 2017 to 2018, Chih-Wei was the Chief Advisor to UN Sustainable Development Goals Advisory Committee of Parliament under the Legislative Yuan. In 2018, he began his political career as the youngest member in the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) of Taiwan Govt., followed by the immediate appointment as the Political Advisor to the Premier. Furthermore, Chih-Wei has been serving as the Deputy Director of International Affairs for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan since 2019. He received his bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science, Urban Planning and Spatial Information, followed by his degree on Master of Philosophy involving three fields upon completion of the course in Doctorate of Engineering Science at the University College London. Aside from that, Chih-Wei received his Professional Certification of Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge. Chih-Wei Chen served as CALD Secretary General from 2018-2020. |
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HON. KIAT SITTHEEAMORN Hon. Kiat Sittheeamorn, received B.S. in Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, graduated in Business Management from Harvard Business School and M.A. in International Affairs from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Before being CALD Secretary General, Hon. Kiat served as the President of Thailand Trade Representative (TTR), acting as the special envoy of the Prime Minister on international trade and investment for Thailand. TTR is also responsible for developing strategies, negotiations and implementation of international agreements as well as an Advisor to the House and Senate Committees in the areas of foreign affairs, trade, investment and other economic issues. Prior to his political career, he served as the Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) of Thailand National Committee, a Director of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Board of Trade of Thailand. He played a crucial role in proposing policies and strategies to various governmental organizations related to trade and investment. He was also appointed as Thailand’s representative in the East Asia Vision Group to map out new architecture between ASEAN and China, Japan and Republic of Korea. In addition, he has had extensive work experiences in many countries in Asia, Europe and Middle East. He has written many articles on trade and investment strategies and published the books entitled “As FTA Catches You” and “Government Budget Reform”. He has been a guest lecturer at several leading academic institutions and business fora. Currently, he is a party-list candidate for the House of Representative under the Democrat Party of Thailand, and a Vice President of the Liberal International. Hon. Kiat Sittheeamorn served as CALD Secretary General from 2016-2018. |
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HON. DEMBEREL SAMBUU, MP Hon. Demberel Sambuu is an incumbent Member of the Parliament of Mongolia and Co-Chairman of Civil Will Green Party. He has been Chairman and CEO of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 1997. It was in 2005 that he took on the position as the Economic Adviser to the President of Mongolia. Other positions Hon. Sambuu held are Vice President of the Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the National Business Council for Sustainable Development. Additionally, he is also the Chairman of Arbitration Court of Mongolia. Since 2007, he has been the Deputy Chairman of the National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee and of the National Export Development Council. Hon. Sambuu finished Economics in the Mongolian National University and later went on to study in Australia, the United States of America and Japan to complete advanced training courses in Economics. He is also the author, co-author and editor of more than 100 economic research and training publication. Hon. Sambuu served as CALD Secretary General from 2014-2016. |
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SEC. NERIC ACOSTA Sec. Neric Acosta is an experienced legislator, educator, ardent advocate of the environment, and international scholar. He previously served as the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection and currently serves as the General Manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). Sec. Acosta was formerly the Secretary General of LP and served as representative of Bukidnon province in Northern Mindanao to the Philippine House of Representatives. His major legislation included bills on clean water, solid waste management and biodiversity protection. He was also the principal author of the groundbreaking Clean Air Act, a model of environmental legislation in Asia. Sec. Acosta’s passion for education earned him various scholarships. After completing his BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Political Science from the University of the Philippines, he went on to complete an MA (Masters in Arts) in Public Affairs (International Relations and Political Studies concentration) from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Hawaii as an East West Center Scholar. He also attended the special programs Leaders in Development (1999) and Environmental Economics (2002) at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. Hon. Sambuu served as CALD Secretary General from 2014-2016. |
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HON. BI-KHIM HSIAO, MP Hon. Bi-khim Hsiao was a member of the Legislative Yuan, representing the Hualien County. She began her political involvement with the international affairs of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) where she started the office of the DPP Mission in Washington D.C in 1995. From 1996 until 2010, successive Chairmen had appointed her as Director of International Affairs for the Party. Moreover she was also the spokesperson for the former President, Chen Shui-bian, in his 2000 and 2004 election campaign and became his adviser after his first election in 2000. In 2001, Hon. Hsiao was elected to the Legislative Yuan, representing overseas constitutes, and was re-elected in 2004 from Northern Taipei City. She was again re-elected in the Legislative Yuan in 2012. She was a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, eventually chairing the Committee and was active in establishing parliamentary exchanges and friendship with other countries. In 2011 she became Vice-President of the DPP’s New Frontier Foundation. Hon. Hsiao completed her undergraduate degree at Oberlin College where she received a BA (Bachelors of Arts) in East Asian Studies. She continued her graduate studies at Columbia University, Unites States of America, where she received a Masters degree in Political Science. Hon. Hsiao served as CALD Secretary General from 2004-2005. |
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HON. ALONGKORN PONLABOOT Hon. Alongkorn Ponlaboot served as a Member of Parliament and Democrat Party of Thailand’s Shadow Cabinet Deputy Prime Minister. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Thammasat University and his Master’s degree in Public Administration at Chulalongkorn University. Hon. Ponlaboot has earned distinctions as Knight Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, and the Knight Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand. Hon. Ponlaboot served as CALD Secretary General from 2002-2004. |
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SENATOR UNG BUN ANG Hon. Ung Bun Ang, former senator of the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a publisher of Alternatives Watch focusing on actions of Cambodian political parties that aspired to govern the country in the future. He was head of group of Khmer programs in Melbourne for SBS Radio, and was lecturer in Cambodian History and Culture at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia. He also served as spokesperson of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP). An accountant by profession, he was instrumental in building a strong base of SRP supporters among the Cambodian Diaspora in Australia. Hon. Ung Bun Ang served as CALD Secretary General from 200-2002. |
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MR. KAMAL NISSANKA Mr. Nissanka was instrumental in forming the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka (LPSL) with other liberal minded ideologists led by Dr. Chanaka Amaratunga. He now serves as the party’s Secretary General. Mr. Nissanka worked hard to take the party to the provinces. He was the editor of the Party newspaper in 1987 and became a National Committee member of LPSL in 1993, and was elected as Deputy Secretary General in 1999. He is a lawyer by profession and holds an Honors degree in Political Science from the University of Peradeniya. In 2002 he was elected as Deputy Mayor in the Rathnapura Municipal Council. Mr. Nissanka served as CALD Secretary General in 2000. |
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HON. BENIGNO AQUINO III President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, was the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines, served as CALD Secretary General during the chairmanship of Hon. Florencio Abad. In 1998, Mr. Aquino entered public service to make sure that the democracy his parents, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and President Corazon Aquino, fought for would bring changes in people’s lives. He served as Representative of the 2nd District of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007. In May 2007 he joined the Philippine Senate wherein he worked to bring out legislative initiatives anchored on the protection of human rights and honest and responsible governance. In 2009 after his mother’s passing he announced his candidacy for President at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan. On Jun 9, 2010 the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Aquino as the President Elect of the Philippines. As President he has lead the government and the nation towards unprecedented economic growth, which has trickled down to the margins of society through improved government services, reforms in the education system, and conditional cash transfers for the poor an inspired campaign for good governance and justice as evidenced by the prosecution of corrupt and abusive government officials; and the empowerment of every citizen so that they may participate in building a nation of hope and opportunity. Hon. Benigno Auiqno III served as CALD Secretary General in 1999. |
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HON. FLORENCIO ABAD, MP Hon. Florencio “Butch” Abad previously served as the Secretary (Minister) of the Department of Budget and Management of the Republic of the Philippines. He also served the Liberal Party as the National Campaign Manager and worked in the transition team of then President-elect Noynoy Aquino. He was a member of the House of Representatives elected in 1987 to represent the Lone District of Batanes. He was re-elected in 1995, 1998 and 2001. He became president of the Liberal Party of the Philippines from 1999 to 2004 and chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats in 1999. He served as Secretary (Minister) of Agrarian Reform during the first Aquino administration and served as Secretary of Education under the Arroyo administration. His stint as Education Secretary was cut short in 2005 when he resigned from his post due to the electoral fraud controversy charged against President Arroyo. Hon. Abad finished his Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo de Manila University and passed the Bar Examination in 1985. A fellow of the Edward Mason Program in Public Policy and Management at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hon. Abad also holds a Masters in Public Administration degree. Hon. Abad served as CALD Secretary General from 1997-1998. |
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HON. YAO CHIA-WEN, MP Hon. Yao Chia-wen is a famous lawyer and legal professor in Taiwan. He served as the President of the Examination Yuan and was appointed as one of the Senior Advisors of President Chen Shui-bian in 2000. Hon. Yao co-founded the “Legal Aid Centre” in 1972 after attending the University of California at Berkeley as a visiting scholar. In 1975 he defended many political cases and became active in human rights and political activities. In 1970, hon. Yao was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in political demonstration. He served in prison for seven years and became the Chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party after his release. Under his chairpersonship, the party adopted the “Programme for the Sovereign Independence of Taiwan”. He was then elected a member of the Legislative Yuan in 1992. Hon. Yao served as CALD Secretary General from 1995-1997. |
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HON. ONG-ART KLAMPAIBOON Hon. Ong-Art Klampaiboon, MP, served as the Democrat Party of Thailand’s Spokesperson and the Shadow Cabinet Minister for the Prime Minister’s Office. He received his Masters degree in Public Administration at the Thammasat University and his MBA at Kasetsart University both in Bangkok, Thailand. A very dynamic and outgoing person, Hon. Klampaiboon has merited distinctions as Knight Commander (2nd Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, Knight Commander (2nd Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, Knight Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, and the Knight Grand Cordon (special class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand. Hon. Klampaiboon served as CALD Secretary General from 1993-1995. |
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