PLENARY SPEAKERS
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
DR. LAURA DAVID
Professor and Scientist, Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Philippines
Laura T. David is a Physical Oceanographer and Professor at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (MSI) who studies ocean physics and its effects to productivity and diversity. She is currently the Chair of the Commission of Higher Education Technical Committee on Marine Science, and a member of the CHED Technical Panel on Science and Math. She is currently a member of the National Panel of Technical Experts for the Climate Change Commission. She is an awardee of the Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) and The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS), a former L’Oreal National Fellow and a continuing OML Senior Fellow. She took her PhD in Physical Oceanography from the University of South Carolina, USA.
DR. HUL SEINGHENG
Director of Research and Innovation Center, Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Cambodia
Hul Seingheng is currently the Director of Research and Innovation Center at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. He works to raise science and technology awareness both in private and public sector through the “Scientific Day”, an event organized by the Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports to bring all the stakeholders and officials from the line ministries to highlight the importance of science and technology. He obtained his graduate degrees from the De La Salle University and University of the Philippines. He is a recipient of ASEAN-US Fellowship for Science and Technology in 2016 and ASEAN Science Diplomats Award in 2018.
DR. JUAN PULHIN
Professor and Former Dean, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines
Juan M. Pulhin is a Full Professor and former Dean of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños. He also holds the title of UP Scientist III since 2011 in recognition of his scholarly outputs and international scientific standing and a member of the National Panel of Technical Experts of the Philippine Climate Change Commission since 2015. Has was a four-time Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo and a Visiting Scholar at the Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. He is a recipient/co-recipient of numerous national and international awards foremost of which was his contribution to the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Award shared by the members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. Dr. Pulhin earned his Ph.D. degree in Geographical Sciences from The Australian National University.
DR. MOHD FADHIL BIN
Director, Campus Sustainability, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
Mohd Fadhil took double-program, between UTM (Malaysia) and TUDelft (The Netherlands). The study is comprehended with Dutch-Malaysian collaborations under WOTRO foundation. He is now working under campus sustainability as a champion in environmental and sustainable operational framework in the campus. He is an expert in environmental sciences and application, and environmental management system (EMS), environmental impact assessment (EIA), risk management and sustainability projects (mobility/transnational agenda). He is an ASEAN Science Diplomat (2017) and presently the Director for Sustainability, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
HON. MAYOR ALFREDO CORO II
Mayor, Municipality of Del Carmen, Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
Alfredo Matugas Coro II is on his third term as the Municipal Mayor of Del Carmen in Siargao Islands. In his 9th year in public service, Mayor Coro was able to transform Del Carmen from a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere to one of the most inspiring stories of success through science based approached to good local governance. The programs of the Municipality of Del Carmen has been recognized by various regional, national and international government and non-government for its innovative public service initiatives for health, education, social tourism, environmental management and climate change. The focus on strengthening local governance has made the local government a Hall of Famer in the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance and Good Financial Housekeeping. Del Carmen is host to the largest contiguous mangrove wetland forest in the Philippines with 100% No Mangrove Cutting and 95% Reduction in Illegal Fishing. The social tourism program anchored on the mangrove forest initiated by Mayor Coro was recognized as a Galing Pook Awardee, featured in CNN Profiles, I Witness of GMA 7 and other prestigious quad media outlets giving the program name of “nowhere to cover” story. Since 2014, Mayor Coro has been regularly invited to share the story of Del Carmen’s governance in various local and internal forums and summits including his recent fellowship with the Global Equity Initiative, International Visitors Leadership Program and MASHAV Program. These stories of change made LEAGUE Magazine recognize Mayor Coro as one of the top 10 Local Government Leaders of 2018.