Bangkok, 16 July 2021
APCOM today announced its new Regional Advisory Group (RAG) members from across the region, which will serve for the next three years. The five in-coming RAG members are Bryan Choong from Singapore, Luc Stevens based in Thailand, Max Wahid from Fiji, Michael Liu from China, and Renier Bona from the Philippines.
Bryan Choong
Bio
Bryan Choong spent more than 15 years working on community health issues for the LGBTQIA+ communities in Singapore. He believes in empowering, mobilising and tapping communities’ knowledge and experiences to address social issues. He is passionate about community programme development, implementation and evaluation, and is highly skilled in designing and implementing qualitative research, conducting evaluation and working with volunteers. Bryan currently serves on Oogachaga’s Board of Directors and also contributed to other Singapore LGBTQIA+ organisations and projects such as The Greenhouse SG, The T Project and Same Same but Different Legal Guide. In his professional life, Bryan is a management consultant at Empact, a social enterprise in Singapore and in his role, he collaborates with mission-driven organisations in Singapore to magnify their work for the under-served communities. In recognition of his contribution to the nonprofit sector and leadership in LGBTQIA+ community work in Singapore, Bryan received a Chevening scholarship from the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2017. He has a Master in Public Health from the University of Edinburgh and a Master in Counselling from the University of South Australia.What am I bringing into APCOM
“I am excited to be given a chance to work with the RAG members and APCOM team, as well as the LGBTQIA+ organisations in the Asia-Pacific region. I will bring my knowledge and skills as an LGBTQIA+ community organiser, and my professional experiences as a management consultant to support APCOM’s work.”
APCOM in its new strategic phase
“As APCOM moves further in its second decade, we hope to see continued innovative programs to reduce new HIV infections, end AIDS and create an enabling environment for gay men, other MSM, and diverse SOGIESC people in Asia and the Pacific achieve better rights, health and well being.”
Luc Stevens
Bio
Luc Stevens has over 35 years of experience in humanitarian aid and international development. He started his international career in 1985 as a volunteer development worker in Djibouti. Thereafter he joined the United Nations where he was mainly involved in humanitarian programmes, emergency management and inspections/investigations with the UN Refugee Agency. Luc started his career with UNHCR as a Junior Professional Officer in Sudan. He also served in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tanzania, Ghana and held various positions at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.
From 2006 to 2017 Luc was assigned as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan and Thailand. In this capacity he also served as Humanitarian Coordinator, Designated Official for Safety and Security; and UNFPA Representative.
Luc Stevens is an advocate for a human rights-based approach for sustainable development. During the last ten years of his career he campaigned for inclusive development as a participatory process with focus on political and social dimensions and encouraged others to engage with civil society and the business sector as accountable partners.
Luc currently coaches staff in the UN system and the NGO community. He occasionally lectures at universities in Asia on human rights issues and international organizations.
What am I bringing into APCOM
“I am looking forward to helping APCOM push boundaries as a key player in the HIV space, advise on inclusive sustainable development programming and fulfill its human-rights-based mission in Asia and the Pacific. I will support APCOM in putting youth empowerment, research and innovation at the core of its mission.”
APCOM in its new strategic phase
“I picture APCOM as a spirited and ambitious organization in Asia and the Pacific, a defender of human and legal rights of MSM and SOGIESC people, an advocate for equitable health services, a leader in research, and trusted advisor and mentor for community-led organizations and young people in the region.”
Max Wahid
Bio
Max Wahid (pronouns he/him) describes himself as an ‘accidental’ LGBTQIA+ activist. “I have always had a very ‘authentically vocal’ approach on all things Inclusion and Diversity – and my passion was always evident”. Over 8 years’ experience as a Human Resources Practitioner, spanning in the Financial, commercial Industry & Fast Moving Commercial Goods (FMCG) Industry across Fiji, Asia Pacific & Europe – he is deeply versed on the need for genuine inclusive policies. He spearheaded the first ever ANZ Pacific ‘PRIDE Network’ for genuine inclusion of LGBTQIA+ staff in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga; initiated the first ever Women-only Leadership Speaker series for any FMCG Company in Fiji whilst he was with Paradise Beverages (sister company for Coca Cola Amatil) and paged his memoirs during his time as an ex British Army veteran as well. Max was awarded the Pan-Balkans North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal and on the back of his deployed military services in Bosnia. In 2019 Max was also awarded Gold-winner (Human Resources) from the Fiji Human Resources fraternity, this Award recognises exceptional HR Managers in Fiji.
What am I bringing into APCOM
“Genuine inclusion begins with authentic leadership, daring greatly to setting realistic boundaries through thriving relationships at grassroot level’ To be a part of RAG for APCOM comes with sheer responsibility, one that requires wholeheartedness in advocating and amplifying the Pacific voice and to be heard where decisions are made.”
APCOM in its new strategic phase
“Being literal in every sense when we say – Leaving no one behind. Stronger interlinked communities and broader partner networks, to progress with human rights dialogue at every table!”
Michael Liu
Bio
Michael Liu received his Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Northeastern University in China, and his Masters in Social Development from the University of Sussex, England. He used to work as the Vice Director and Project Manager at the Consultation Center of AIDS Aid and Health Service for 9 years. He also works as a Consultant at Northeast Transgender Support Network. These two non-governmental organizations both advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, HIV/AIDS support services, and sex workers’ human rights advocacy in Asia and the Pacific region. In May 2020, Michael joined APNSW as the Communications and Policy Officer.
He was responsible for grant writing, fundraising, project coordination / management, and organizational strategic planning. He also conducts community-based research and leadership building training workshops for the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker community. He has served on the advisory and management boards of several regional and international organizations and networks that aim to help the development and fundraising of non-government organizations worldwide. In 2014, he directed two short documentary films on transgender women sex workers in China as a community-based director.
What am I bringing into APCOM
“As a RAG member, Michael will help with resource mobilization and networking, linking APCOM with NGOs, CBOs, and corporations in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Michael will also help with fundraising by facilitating the co-application of projects between APCOM and other stakeholders in East Asia in terms of HIV prevention and LGBTQIA-related human rights.”
APCOM in its new strategic phase
“As one of the most prestigious regional networks, APCOM will be the leading force working with LGBTQIA+ groups, people living with HIV, and other key populations to voice out and create equal spaces for individual and rights-based organizations in Asia and the Pacific region. Meet the deepest community needs of the most marginalized group and continuously advocate for their human rights.”
Renier Bona
Bio
Renier Louie Bona is a senior researcher in Addictus Research and Intervention Center Inc., an NGO focusing on persons who use drugs, and sexual and reproductive health. He is also currently the Vice President of the Board of TLF Sexuality, Health, and Rights Educators Collective Inc., an NGO that seeks to develop programs, and review policies for the key populations in the Philippines. This NGO sits as a member of the Philippine National AIDS Council, the highest advisory body to the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. He also co-founded a devolved HIV clinic in Metro Manila. His special interest is on the intersectionalities of HIV and drug use.
What am I bringing into APCOM
“I would like to bring into the discussion the experiences of our organization in HIV and human rights work, particularly in the context of war on drugs, incarceration, and extra-judicial killings. There is a need for regional cooperation especially where the environment for the MSM and TG (including those who use drugs, and involved in sex work) is harsh. Further support is needed for community-based organizations who work in risky situations. In contexts like this, prior program development and policy advocacy, human rights education and popularization may be an immediate need first. This way, our local partners are not put in risky and unsafe situations. Everyone cannot be safe if at least one is not (institutionally) protected.”
APCOM in its new strategic phase
“There is a need to address human rights barriers, especially in accessing healthcare interventions. Stigmatization and discrimination push the key populations into hiding. And a hidden population cannot be (properly) intervened. If we want to address HIV, we need to address these barriers, most especially in contexts where these barriers are systemic, systematic, and structural. Regional support should focus on these barriers.”
“The Asia and the Pacific region is a highly diverse region. Given this, focus should be where the barriers are seen to be more complex and more systematic. In areas where human rights situations are dismal, there is a need to go back to basics: human rights education, popularization, community organizing, and giving support to the amplification of the voices of the key populations.”
“HIV is not over until we address the structures that further the marginalization of the key populations.”
“We’re very pleased to have new members on board particularly during the pandemic, to help steer APCOM in its next phase where, due to Covid-19, we’ll need to re-imagine many things but we would strongly maintain and deepen our community engagement and empowerment in the Asia Pacific region,”
Dédé Oetmono, current Chair of the RAG
The new RAG joins Surasak Chalermsri, Chair of the APCOM Foundation, and Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director who is ex-officio in the RAG. The RAG is APCOM’s steering and sounding board and the main governing body of APCOM. RAG members will, set out and approve the overall strategic direction of APCOM in order to achieve the vision and mission. The RAG will meet at least two times per year, and will work on an ad-hoc basis with APCOM. All RAG members are working on a pro-bono basis.
The new RAG comes with a variety and wealth of expertise and experience from across the region, including on HIV/AIDS, health, persons who use drugs, human rights, activism, advocacy, diversity and inclusion, partnership building, and human and resource mobilization. And the members come to APCOM with diverse educational and professional backgrounds from academia, the private sector and the humanitarian and development sector.
“I am extremely excited that we have a new Regional Advisory Group who are great experts and colleagues of a very high calibre from across the region. They will be instrumental in ensuring that APCOM continues to innovate and push APCOM’s work forward in the region, in particular at this challenging time with a pandemic that will have repercussions for our community in years to come. With the advice from the RAG, I feel confident, that APCOM – with our community partners and other stakeholders – will be able to effectively implement solutions to improve the human rights, health and well-being of our communities and being an equal partner in finding solutions.” commented Surasak Chalermsir, Chair of APCOM Foundation.
APCOM is currently in the process of developing its new strategic plan in place of TENACITY: TENACITY leaving no one behind strategic framework, ensuring strong human rights of LGBTQI, and will take into account the effect of Covid-19 including the recent data from UNAIDS SEIZING THE MOMENT: Tackling entrenched inequalities to end epidemics:
- Gay men and other men who have sex with men account for 44% of new HIV infections;
- Young gay men and other men who have sex with men (15-24 years old) account for 52% of new HIV infections;
- Half of key population living with HIV are not aware of their HIV status;
- Only one quarter of gay men and other men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs in the region—and less than half of transgender people and female sex workers—receive the HIV prevention services they need;
- Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) access is still limited;
- The regions with the largest shares of the overall resource gap in low- and middle-income countries in 2019 were western and central Africa (32%), The Asia and the Pacific requires a large share – 26% – of the overall resource gap in low- and middle-income countries.
“As APCOM moves further in its second decade, we hope to see continued innovative programs to reduce new HIV infections, end AIDS and create an enabling environment for gay men, other MSM, and diverse SOGIESC people in Asia and the Pacific achieve better rights, health and well being.”
Bryan Choong
“I am looking forward to helping APCOM push boundaries as a key player in the HIV space, advise on inclusive sustainable development programming and fulfill its human-rights-based mission in Asia and the Pacific. I will support APCOM in putting youth empowerment, research and innovation at the core of its mission.”
Luc Stevens
“Being literal in every sense when we say – Leaving no one behind. Stronger interlinked communities and broader partner networks, to progress with human rights dialogue at every table!”
Max Wahid
“As one of the most prestigious regional networks, APCOM will be the leading force working with LGBTQIA+ groups, people living with HIV, and other key populations to voice out and create equal spaces for individual and rights-based organizations in Asia and the Pacific region. Meet the deepest community needs of the most marginalized group and continuously advocate for their human rights.”
Michael Lu
“The Asia and the Pacific region is a highly diverse region. Given this, focus should be where the barriers are seen to be more complex and more systematic. In areas where human rights situations are dismal, there is a need to go back to basics: human rights education, popularization, community organizing, and giving support to the amplification of the voices of the key populations.”
Renier Bona
For more information on APCOM’s new Regional Advisory Group, please visit www.apcom.org/about and click on “Our Governance” tab.
