GIFT Team
PrintChandran Nair
Founder and chief executive
Chandran Nair is the founder of what he believes is a “first” – the Global Institute For Tomorrow is an organisation based in Asia that is focused on the relationship of Asian society and values with those of the rest of the world.
Chandran was chairman of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) in the Asia Pacific until March of 2004. He established the company as Asia's leader in environmental consulting.
For more than a decade Chandran has strongly advocated a more sustainable approach to development in Asia, and has helped the governments of Taiwan and Hong Kong instil these principles into their key decision-making processes. He continues to advise the Hong Kong government, devising a new approach that gives the public a bigger role in key policy making decisions – another first for Asia.
Chandran has worked and travelled extensively; corporations seek his advice on how to meet the challenges of doing business in Asia and of globalisation, on investment geo-politics, leadership development, ethics, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. He has addressed many of these issues at forums around the world, notably at speaking engagements in London, New York, Washington, and Sydney, and all of the major Asian capitals.
In addition to his work with GIFT, Chandran has maintained his interest in business, continuing to provide strategic management advice and coaching to business leaders with a focus on achieving growth targets and bringing about organisational change.
Dr Thomas Tang
Executive director
Thomas Tang has been a management consultant for the past 15 years as a director and managing consultant in leading consultancy practices in Asia. These include the PA Consulting Group and GML Consulting. In this time, he has worked with major corporations, governments, lending agencies and NGOs.
A believer in the power of positive change, Thomas has facilitated this process in different organisations through a blend of management techniques, policy changes and shifts in work attitudes. In more recent work with GIFT, he has been instrumental in the development and delivery of various capacity building programmes to help organisations realise their role and worth in society as well as business. He co-developed the first Global Young Leaders Programme held in Yunnan province, China, in 2006.
In the course of his work, Thomas has written numerous reports on sustainable development, civil society and, more recently, climate change.
Polly Lee
Director, Social Investments
As Director of Social Investments, Polly’s major focus is to develop a financial framework for social enterprises projects. She also assists social entrepreneurs to access the right channel for funding or financing supports; as well as channels venture philanthropy funds to reach suitable projects.
She has developed a model of investment planning and asset management which put emphasis on allocation to social objectives and community development.
Polly Lee has over 20 years of experience in financial and capital markets, covering institutional and private investors in Asia. She has extensive experience in marketing, planning and advisory work from leading financial institutions, including HSBC, Mizuho Financial Group, LGT Investment Management and Zurich Financial Advisory Management.
Bindiya Rupani
Business development manager
Bindiya brings to the GIFT team a wealth of experience in policy work, top-level executive development, and communications.
As business development manager, she has a hand in almost every aspect of our operations.
Bindiya has gained this experience through working with organisations such as the Brookings Institution’s Centre for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, and DNMStrategies, where her talents were put to marketing, leadership, technology and finance conferences. She has also turned her skills to developing brand awareness and company strategy.
Bindiya has also volunteered in famine relief, a teen mothers’ shelter, and other situations, bringing an understanding of the real world that informs her work at GIFT.
Eric Stryson
Programme manager
As Programme Manager for the Global Young Leaders Programme (YLP) Eric Stryson is involved in programme design, participant recruitment and facilitation of the field work module, in addition to developing new opportunities for company and industry-specific programmes.
Prior to joining GIFT, Stryson was the primary China-based liaison for a corporate working group focused on stakeholder engagement ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.
In this role he advised executives from global companies on risks and opportunities in China, drawing on research and ongoing conversations with the most influential civil society groups working on issues related to environment, labor and human rights.
Stryson also has previous experience in the areas of Sustainable Development, Strategic CSR and Corporate/NGO partnerships and is a frequent speaker on these and other related topics.
Freda Tong
Programme manager
As Programme Manager for GIFT, Freda Tong is responsible for turning ideas into action – to develop business-led solutions, engage potential investors and oversee project implementation.
Freda has been involved in a number of projects and provided research and consultancy services for global executives and investors.
Freda has developed extensive network and expertise in China Corporate Affairs. Prior to joining GIFT, she was the China Affairs Manager of the world’s largest supply chain management group, engaging in the group’s strategic planning, handling and overseeing projects in relation to China business development, marketing and consultancy.
Amanda Chiu
Programme associate
Amanda Chiu is currently the programme associate at the Global Institute For Tomorrow, where she puts her skills in event organizing and marketing into full use.
Prior to joining GIFT, she worked at the Hong Kong Tourism Board as an executive in Tourism Marketing to develop and execute overseas marketing initiatives in North Asia (Japan and South Korea).
Amanda holds a master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Heidelberg in Germany and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hong Kong.
Anita Yang
Consultant
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Anita Yang is a Chinese-Canadian with a degree in International Relations from Canada.
Prior to joining GIFT, Ms. Yang was involved with several international development organizations including consulting work with the World Bank.
Previously, Anita led a regional evaluation in Asia to improve implementation of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program focusing on HIV/AIDS and education.
Jennifer Tsang
Office manager
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Jennifer brings to the GIFT office order as office manager, co-ordinating the many and disparate members and staff of GIFT in their endeavours.
William Lorenz
Global Young Leaders Programme director, USA
Bill Lorenz runs his own consulting business in Pennsylvania. Previously with the international consultancy Environmental Resources Management (ERM), Bill has successfully implemented strategic planning programmes for many Fortune 500 multinationals, integrating environmental health and safety measures into their business
mainstream.
Currently at GIFT, Bill is responsible for business development and operations in North America where GIFT’s outreach is growing.
Edmond Jurczek
Global Young Leaders Programme director, Europe
Edmond Jurczek runs his own company, ART-TECH Ltd, the focus of which is integrated risk management, sustainability, business excellence, social accountability and conformity assessment.
Edmond is the creator and chairman of the WOTC Foundation (World Organisation for a new understand of Technology and Culture), the mission of which is to contribute to governing globalised values and relations. Edmond also created TSM (Total Security Management) a system for the application of oriental awareness and occidental consciousness to risk management practices, including safety, quality, environment and ethics.
Dorit Lehrack
Global Young Leaders Programme director, Germany
Dorit Lehrack is International Senior Advisor to the China Association for NGO Co-operation (CANGO), which involves strategic communication/advocacy for strengthening China's civil society.
Dorit works on the development of strategic partnerships between government and business, and the design and development of projects such as basic health care, poverty alleviation, and assistance for disabled children.
In her 28-year professional career Dorit has also worked extensively throughout industrialised and non-industrialised Europe as an environmental consultant, project manager, organisational development consultant and trainer.
Dorit has held positions with Greenpeace International, Friends of the Earth Germany, the Heinrich-Boll-Foundation Germany, and the World Wildlife Fund China.