Our Speakers

Chanthong Bormy

Chanthong Bormy graduated in computer science and engineering in 2005 and earned a master of science in Geoinformatics in 2011. He has extensive working experience in software design, development, and management. During his work as a software engineer, he has had the opportunity to work across domains such as finance, telecommunication, construction, aviation, etc. He achieved his career path from being a software developer to being a solutions architect. Additionally, he earned more skill sets in spatial information systems after pursuing his master’s degree which includes spatial data acquisition, spatial database design, and spatial data visualization. Besides professional experience, he takes scuba diving and farming as his hobby. He likes spending his free time cleaning the ocean and planting more trees.

Christopher McCarthy

Chy Sophat

Chy Sophat is the lead organizer of Barcamp Cambodia and a digital content creator in Cambodia. He has been organizing and contributing to many technological events for over 10 years. Besides, he has been creating content on digital platforms relating to digital literacy and internet safety.

Dixon Siu

Dixon is a software engineer and SDG 9 Enabler at Fujitsu. He promotes ethical use of data and digital human rights. Most active SDGs activities include hosting children online safety workshops and events that inspire all stakeholders to improve the well-beings of invisible disabilities.

Dr. Lonn Pichdara

Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira

Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira is a Research Manager and oversees the operations of the research team at Asia Centre. He is responsible for editorial aspects of the Centre’s publications and for ensuring the professional and ethical research conducted by in-house staff and external field researchers. He obtained his doctoral degree in Politics from the University of Bristol in the UK, where he was also a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations focusing on global justice. His research has focused on civil society and political participation in Southeast Asia in the digital age. Before joining Asia Centre, Dr. Piñol Rovira was a Research Fellow at the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace.

Ekmongkhon Puridej

Ekmongkhon Puridej is a Researcher at Asia Centre. He engages in research activities, conducting interviews and focus group discussions, and plays a pivotal role in crafting baseline studies, commentaries, website articles, and other publications for the Centre. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (First Class Hons.), majoring in International Relations, from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Kanika Chhit

Kanika, journalism and digital security consultant with almost a decade of experience working with local, regional and international organizations, media outlets on issues such as digital security, digital hygiene, internet freedom. Areas of expertise include digital security training and audit, data collection, project management, video journalism and media literacy. Proven ability to deliver training about digital security, produce video documentary and to coordinate remotely with colleagues and partner organizations based in different countries.

Khon Danaeth

Danaeth is the Cybersecurity Incidents Data Collector, dedicated to supporting civil society organization members, journalists, LGBTQIA+ communities, and Indigenous peoples in defending against cyberattacks and online harassment. Her work focuses on documenting incidents to strengthen digital security and advocacy. Since 2019, she has been involved in non-profit organization working on natural resource protection, youth empowerment, and civic engagement on social issues, providing social media literacy and basic digital training to target groups across provinces in Cambodia.

Linh Tong

Linh Tong is currently the Deputy Director of the Center for Education Promotion and Empowerment of Women (CEPEW) and a member of the Youth Advisory Board to the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). She is committed to promoting inclusive governance of digital technology by engaging vulnerable groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, youth, and women leaders. Linh has actively promoted applications of digital transformation and AI tools to enhance Vietnamese citizens’ access to information and public services.

Merl Chandana

Merl is the Team Lead of the Data, Algorithms, and Policy (DAP) team at LIRNEasia. Recently, he led the efforts of one of two research hubs in Asia that contributed to the publication of the Global Index on Responsible AI. He recently served on the Sri Lankan Task Force for the National Strategy for AI, where he drive the efforts on Trust, Safety, and Responsible Artificial Intelligence. Before joining LIRNEasia, Merl was a team member of the Analytics Unit of the Ministry of National Policies and Economics Affairs, Sri Lanka.

Muhammad Hafizh Nabiyyin

Nancy Jaffe

Nga Nguyen

Nga Nguyen is the National Coordinator for Open Development Vietnam (ODV), part of the Open Development Initiative by the East-West Management Institute, which promotes open data across the Lower Mekong region. As a researcher, she leads content creation and data visualizations that make complex development issues accessible. Nga is also dedicated to empowering indigenous women and local communities through leading digital skills training and knowledge-sharing initiatives, fostering inclusivity and equitable access to technology.

Ngai Jane Yuet Ching

Ngeth Moses

Poren Chiang

Poren Chiang is a digital law researcher and a software developer based in Taiwan. He writes on open data, digital policy, and FLOSS community building.

Rasy Chum

Rasy is the consultant of digital security and digial media literacy for more than 7 years. Currently, He also work as part-time lecturer at The University of Cambodia (UC). Before he started working as the consultant of digital security and digital media literacy, he has worked as a web editor with international media and local magazines for nearly a decade, since 2011. Rasy awarded the Master degree of Information Technology Engineering from Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), certified as Cybersecurity by International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) and the IT Risks and Control Management.

Sam An Mardy

Saowalak Jingjungvisut

Sokhachan Socheata

Somphop Krittayaworagul

Somphop Krittayaworagul, known affectionately as “SK,” is a dedicated Regional IT Manager at FHI 360, based in Bangkok. With a strong background in IT service delivery, Somphop brings over 25 years of international experience spanning regions from Africa to the Asia Pacific. This extensive experience has equipped Somphop with a profound understanding of the challenges faced when working in low-resource environments and countries.

Sreng Saren

Sreng Saren has been a digital security consultant since 2018, providing digital security training, consultation, and technical support to civil society organizations in Cambodia. He also contributes to DigitalHub101, a Khmer-language platform offering cybersecurity resources and practical guidelines to enhance digital security literacy in response to the growing digital threats in Cambodia.

Thomas Honnet

Vong Pisith

Within ODC, Pisith focuses on curriculum development for the capacity building program, specializing in data-related skills and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He has extensive experience in conducting training on Data Literacy, Data Journalism, and GIS. Pisith’s passion for data storytelling is further evidenced by his mentorship of journalists in data story production, drawing upon his expertise and experiences in data collection, analysis, visualization, and communication.

Waiphot Kulachai

Waiphot Kulachai, Ph.D., is a distinguished academic and professional with a career spanning academia, public administration, law enforcement, and industry. He holds dual Ph.D.s in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Chulalongkorn University and Public Administration from Ramkhamhaeng University, an M.Sc. in Transport from Imperial College London (Royal Thai Government Scholarship), and a Master of Public Policy from GRIPS in Japan (Japanese Government Scholarship). He also earned B.A. degrees in English from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and in Political Science from Thammasat University. From 2014 to 2020, he was the Assistant Dean at Burapha University’s Faculty of Political Science and Law. His Royal Thai Police service (2002-2014) included overseeing CCTV and Red Light Camera systems and lecturing in traffic management. He also has industry experience from Siam Cement Group (1994-1998). Currently, he is the Vice Dean at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University’s College of Politics and Government.