President: Bunty Tao

Bunty Tao has worked under the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, India for 30 years as an indigenous ranger from the Nishi tribe, in various capacities. He has been passionate about environment and biodiversity conservation since a young age and discovered a new species of tortoise, Manouria Impressa (Impressed Tortoise) in India, increasing India’s Turtle species number from 28 to 29. Bunty was selected to attend 9th WRC at Nepal in 2019 by the Government of India and was invited by the 2nd Asia Park Congress (APC) to be a panel member in side events at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia in May 2022, where he spoke about his experience as an Indigenous Ranger and its role in the tribal communities. At present Bunty works as a Range Forest Officer, Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Wakro, Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh.

Vice President: Madhav Khadka

Madhav Khadka, a dedicated wildlife conservationist with over two decades of working experience, currently leads the Wildlife Conservation Association of Nepal, a member organization of IRF. With a background as a park ranger, his decade-long dedication to protected area management has evolved into a focus on strengthening law enforcement against wildlife trade and poaching in Nepal. Currently serving as the head of wildlife trade monitoring at WWF Nepal, Madhav’s expertise spans anti-poaching, wildlife trade control, law enforcement, ranger training, and wildlife crime investigation. His collaborative efforts with national and international agencies, as well as community-based organizations, have played a pivotal role in achieving Zero Poaching in Nepal.

Secretary: Hamera Aisha

Hamera Aisha is a wildlife ecologist with over 15 years of dedicated experience in wildlife conservation, particularly focusing on the domains of poaching, illegal trade, protected areas management, and community conservation, with rangers consistently serving as the linchpin of her efforts. From river dolphins to the elusive snow leopards of the mountains, she has worked in diverse ecosystems, species, and alongside ranger communities. She is presently working with WWF in Pakistan as Senior Manager Wildlife Conservation.

South Asia Representative: Srinath Bandara

Srinath Bandara is a wildlife ranger serving the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka, since 2019. He is a founding member and General Secretary of the Sri Lankan Ranger Association (SLWRA) which was recently established to take forward the cause of rangers in Sri Lanka.

South East Asia Representative: Peeranuch Dulkul Kappelle

Peeranuth (Pat) is a government officer with the Department of National Parks, Thailand. She has been actively coordinating international and national projects for the National Parks Office since 2002.

Peeranuch holds a master’s degree in National Park Management from the university of New Zealand and a Forestry Science degree from Thailand. These studies and her diverse experience as a National Park Officer have shaped Pat’s perspective on environmental conservation, protected area management and the needs of rangers.

Advisor to the RFA Board: Rohit Singh

Rohit has been associated with the Ranger cause for the past 18 years. He has extensive experience working with and training Rangers throughout Asia.

He played a pivotal role in establishing the Ranger Federation of Asia, a member of IRF that connects and supports Asian Rangers. He also works as a Director Protected and Conserved Area Management and Governance with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

His work takes him to remote areas in close proximity with Rangers; this has given him a great insight into the challenges Rangers face in the field and a strong desire to raise the global profile of Rangers in Asia and around the world. kfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Preis 2022 was given to him for his leadership in ranger work.

Honourary Board Member: Wayne Lotter

Wayne Lotter was a former Secretary of the RFA, with his valuable contributions ending with his untimely death in August 2017.

Wayne was a prominent figure in conservation, with over 23 years of professional experience ensuring his integral role in the fight against wildlife crime. His experience expanded across a vast array of topics including protected area management, ecotourism, restoration ecology and risk management systems, with his knowledge proving to be invaluable to conservation efforts internationally.