Laurence Brahm - Shambala Serai

In 2005, Laurence Brahm established the "Shambhala Serai" as a unique collection of four heritage hotel travel lodges in historical Tibetan buildings, each meticulously restored using only local, traditional materials. Entirely managed and run by Tibetans, Shambhala Serai has become a landmark of Tibetan heritage and cultural preservation through a business model, that in turn supports medical and educational outreach programs for the community. All hotels are solar powered. All items used in the hotels are made by Tibetans with disabilities in the group's own vocational workshop.

Kurt Luger - EcoHimal

Kurt Luger established Echohimal to address poverty reduction through rural initiatives that focus on organic agriculture, water and food system security, health and village development, as well as preservation of culture involving architecture restoration, community revival and business solutions for sustaining heritage. Cyclical economy systems are also introduced in preserving vital heritage landscapes in areas such as Mount Everest.

Wong How man - China Exploration & research society

Wong How Man is founder of the China Exploration and Research Society, and a living legend explorer in his own right. Wong How Man is the first man to reach the source of the Yellow and Yangtze rivers of China, and the Mekong Irrawaddy. and Salween of Southeast Asia -- all of which have their source in the glaciers of the Himalayas. Through China Exploration and Research Society he has preserved architecture, heritage, villages, and their culture and natural landscapes. He continues to pioneer new projects for protection of culture and environment.

Ambica Shresta - Dwarika

Ambica Shresta has been the foremost pioneer of Nepal's movement to preserve and protect its rich architectural heritage. Adopting the business model of a heritage boutique hotel, she has demonstrated how living architecture can be self sustaining. Reaching beyond she has established the downstream linkages assuring that all materials used in the hotels are involved in community and cultural preservation and all foods grown organically through fair farm and community enhancement programs. Her daughter Sangita Shresta oversees the management with meticulous detail and dedication to the heritage, culture and community of Nepal.

Sujeev Shakya - Nepal economic forum

Sujeev Shakya brings Nepal together as a community through the Nepal Economic Forum that focuses on issues of concern from economy and environment to politics and social change. He is a convenor and community leader who seeks through Nepal Economic Forum to overcome challenges by acting in coordination with the business and civil society leaders together in a constructive dynamics. He has coordinated major relief efforts throughout the aftermath of Nepal's 2015 earthquake disaster.

Shruti Poddar - Restoring Rajasthan

Shruti Poddar is a sound healer steeped in the Hindu arts of holistic health. She is leading community revival in her home region of Rajasthan where ancient homes that contain some of the finest galleries of painting are being preserved as boutique hotels and community cultural centres, healing and yoga retreats and herbal health centres. She is a leading specialist in application of Hindu concepts of body-mind-sound and quantum physics.

Sonam Jatso - Community Youth Empowerment

Sonam Jatso is dedicated to the youth of Bhutan and establishing centres for youth programs, vocational training in the service sector, while pioneering programs for youth innovation and enterprise. He is promoting the values of social enterprise among young community leaders in Bhutan and putting the concepts of Gross National Happiness into daily practice. 

John Bellezza – Himalayan Living Archeology

John Bellezza is the Indiana Jones of Himalayan archeology having reached some of the most remote regions of the Tibetan plateau in search of pre-Bon Zhang Zhung culture. With decades of exploration, his work is “living archeology” that reveals how changes in climate have affected cultures for millennia and how war and conflict – often over resources – destroyed empires. His regular reports published in “Flight of the Khyung” insights into a world before us that may very well hold the answers to our future.

• 2015 (June): A Review of the Early Cultural History of Spiti – Part Two; Interviews with Jowa, Luyar and Other Luminaries in Spiti; A Brief Report on the Oldest Residences of Spiti

• 2015 (May): Spotlight on Spiti; A Review of the Early Cultural History of Spiti – Part One

• 2015 (April): Diverting History from Oblivion: A plan to conserve the archaeological heritage of Upper Tibet

• 2015 (March): The Prehistoric collection of the Tibet Museum in Lhasa – Part Two

• 2015 (February): The Prehistoric collection of the Tibet Museum in Lhasa – Part One; Early Agriculture in Tibet: A Review of a recent scientific paper by d’Alpoim Guedes et al.

• 2015 (January): More Ancient Khyung in the Rock Art of Upper Tibet; A definition of Bon in 358 words; Senseless Greed: The irreparable loss of the ancient Buddhist murals of Mangdrak; Standing Proudly: Early equine art in Upper Tibet

Carol Wolfson and Michael Garvey 

Restoring the Lama’s Residence – Nepal

With the kind support of Himalayan Consensus Executive Board member Carol Wolfson and her husband Michael Garvey, and effort has been underway to restore the historic residence of a lineage of Rinpoches from Drigung Kadgyusect of Tibetan Buddhism.

The residence has stood in Boudha , Kathmandu for decades where it served as a halfway house for refugees and has been occupied by three generations of lamas who wish to convert the house to a full fledged Dharma center for Drigung Kadgyu teachings. Photos of Choezen Kulchen Ripoche praying from the rooftop of the house after this spring’s chain of earthquakes, with the Stupa for Granting Wishes in the background (under repair), and photos of the repair work taking place. During excavations on the house an ancient mask of the Lion-headed Dakini was uncovered among other items.

RAJEEV GOYAL - KTK BELT - THE VERTICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE HIMALAYAS

Rajeev Goyal, former Peace Corps worker in Nepal and author of the acclaimed “Springs of Namje” (a book which sensitively reveals the struggle of a developing rural village in Nepal), is pioneering the KTK Belt. Yes, this is a “Vertical University” meaning a sanctioned corridor running from the lowland jungles of Nepal up through the highlands to the mountain glaciers, preserving the layers of species and fauna. In other words – this is Noah’s Ark! Read More!

Creating an 8,000-meter 'Vertical University' in Nepal

Chris Brown - Bangladesh Social Empowerment Through Economic Restructuring

Chris Brown is advising the Bangladesh government and local regional authorities on poverty reduction through inclusive and sustainable markets, while strengthening access to land and property rights, involving public financial management improvement programs at local as well as national levels of communities and government. 

CÉLINE COUSTEAU

As Director of CauseCentric Productions Céline Cousteau produces cause focused multi-media content about humanitarian and environmental stories. Céline is also Founder and President of the nonprofit organization The Céline Cousteau Film Fellowship, extending her family legacy to the next generation of storytellers. The Cousteau Fellowship’s mission is to empower young aspiring filmmakers, creatives, and activists to inspire change through filmmaking. Daughter of ocean explorer and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau and granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Yves Cousteau, Céline has worked on over 18 documentaries as presenter and field producer. Her current major work, “Tribes on the Edge” is a result of a request the tribes of the Vale do Javari, Brazilian Amazon made to have her tell the world they exist. Based on the plight of the indigenous tribes and her own personal journey, this project includes a documentary film, engagement and education campaign, coffee table book, and sculpture installation– with a targeted launch of fall 2016

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