The Asia Foundation Announces 2024 Development Fellows

January 23, 2024 — The Asia Foundation announces the 2024 class of Asia Foundation Development Fellows: Emerging Leadership for Asia’s Future following a highly competitive selection process with thousands of applicants. The 2024 Development Fellows are emerging leaders in their fields, bringing bold, innovative thinking and a deep commitment to addressing complex issues across Asia and the Pacific. The 12 fellows selected for the 2024 class are from Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

The Development Fellows program brings exceptional individuals into a network of emerging leaders working to improve lives across the Asia-Pacific region. Now in its tenth year, the program includes 119 current and alum fellows across Asia-Pacific, forming an active network of the region’s most promising leaders from diverse cultures, country contexts, and work environments.

Meet the 2024 Development Fellows:

Achala Samaradivakara | Sri Lanka is a social entrepreneur and co-founder of Good Market, a global platform specializing in rural and sustainable development that supports over 2500 small businesses in over 90 countries.

Bolorsaikhan Badamsambuu | Mongolia works as a human rights defender, death penalty abolitionist, and civil rights activist, currently serving as Secretary of the National Committee for Human Rights and Open Government Partnership Multistakeholder Forum.

Claire De Leon | Philippines is a lawyer and advocate for the LGBTQI community serving on the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and as the President of Babaylanes, a Philippine-based LGBTQI organization.

Haseenah Huurieyah Binti Wan Rosli | Malaysia is a refugee advocate and legal editor spearheading legal literacy and birth registration rule of law projects for stateless communities and previously served in the Malaysian Chief Justice office.

Hnin Shwe Zin Hlaing | Myanmar works as a gender expert to promote women’s meaningful participation in the restoration of peace and democracy in Myanmar, specifically addressing conflict-related sexual violence.

Indiah Wahyu Andari | Indonesia works with the Rifka Annika Women’s Crisis Center Indonesia to develop counseling techniques for victims of gender-based violence, centering gender and disability in the creation of violence prevention programs.

Mariyam Shunana | Maldives is the founder of the Public Interest Law Center, the first law center in the Maldives to provide free legal aid services for socially and economically marginalized individuals.

Minseo Ju | Korea is a seasoned development practitioner and currently serves as the youngest and sole female director of the Ulsan International Development Cooperation Center.

Boon Pei Ya | Singapore develops finance mechanisms that aim to unlock private and public capital for conservation and works as the regional conversation finance program manager for the Wildlife Conservation Society Southeast Asian Archipelago.

Sameer Chand | Fiji is a financial sector specialist working with the International Finance Corporation, focusing on maximizing finance for development and leveraging private sector investment for inclusive growth in emerging economies. 

Suyheang Kry | Cambodia serves as the executive director of the Women Peace Makers organization, working to facilitate participatory approaches to peace processes and gender-sensitive mediation.

Tshering Dolkar | Bhutan is the director of the Climate Change and Environmental Law Clinic at Bhutan’s law school, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and has advised the Royal Government of Bhutan and international organizations on environmental policy and law.

This yearlong career advancement program includes two intensive Leadership Dialogue and Exchange programs in the Asia-Pacific region and the United States. The coursework explores the Fellows’ leadership styles, helps them develop their stories, and cultivates innovative thinking. The fellowship will begin in mid-February in Cambodia.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. We work in more than 20 countries through our 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington, DC. Our funding comes from a diverse array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Read more about the Foundation’s work.

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