Saying Goodbye and Hello at RECOFTC

Saying goodbye is never easy, but it helps to do so among friends.

On Thursday, September 8, 2011, RECOFTC held an official  farewell for our outgoing Executive Director, Dr. Yam Malla.

Dr. Malla leaves RECOFTC after nine years as Executive Director to continue working in Community Forestry in his home country, Nepal. He will be missed in an organization which has grown from a training center to an international voice for people and forests in Asia-Pacific during his tenure.

We also took the opportunity to welcome his successor, Dr. Tint Thaung, coming to us from The Nature Conservancy with many years of experience in the region, working on a range of issues from empowering forest communities to fair, sustainable practices in the timber trade. Dr. Thaung is from Myanmar but has lived and worked in Australia for many years.

The event was attended by RECOFTC staff, board members, partners and donors from throughout the region.

Then, on Friday, September 9, 2011, RECOFTC held a staff celebration for Dr. Malla where we shared stories and good wishes over lunch and expressed the hope that Dr Malla would continue to be associated  with RECOFTC in the days ahead.