Dr. Eduardo M. Leaño is currently the Director General (since 2024) and concurrently Senior Programme Officer (since 2010) of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) based in Bangkok, Thailand.  He serves as chief executive officer, directs NACA programme in accordance to Regional Work Programme formulated and endorsed by the Technical Advisory Committee, and manages the NACA Secretariat.

He also manages the Health and Biosecurity Programme and Food Security, Safety and Certification Programme. He provides specialist advice on aquatic animal health matters, and assistance to countries in the Asia-Pacific region on the assessment of health status and institutional development.  He also supports strengthening of national programmes on aquatic animal health management, disease surveillance and reporting, and other issues including antimicrobial use/resistance and biosecurity.

Dr. Leaño serves as Secretary to the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Fish Health Section of Asian Fisheries Society.  He is also a member of several Ad hoc Groups of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as well as member of the Steering Committee for the WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Network for Asia and the Pacific (AP-AquaNet). He also worked as Researcher/Scientist at the Aquaculture Department of Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC AQD) in Iloilo, Philippines (1989-2001), and as post-doctoral research fellow at Taiwan Fisheries Research Institute (2002-2003) and National Taiwan Ocean University (2004-2010), Keelung Taiwan.

He graduated: Ph.D. in Applied Biology (Microbiology; 1999) from the City University of Hong Kong; M.Sc. in Fisheries (1993) from the University of the Philippines Visayas; and, B.Sc. in Inland Fisheries (1989; Cum Laude) from Central Luzon State University, Philippines.  Dr. Leaño has published more than 60 scientific articles (in international and national journals) and book chapters, and co-edited seven books in aquaculture and aquatic animal health.  

Putsorn Chuntachorn (Nicky) is a Community Developer at FutureFish in Bangkok, Thailand. She collaborates with local farmers to support sustainable aquaculture initiatives by coordinating field activities, collecting and validating data, and maintaining stakeholder databases for both domestic and international projects.

She has a solid background in aquaculture, with hands-on experience in hatchery and farm management, aquatic animal breeding,conducting on-site farm assessments and surveys. She has worked with respected organizations such as Grobest Corporation, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and private hatcheries specializing in tilapia, shrimp, and sea cucumber. She holds a Master’s degree in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management from AIT and a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science from Naresuan University.

Outside of work, she enjoys gardening and playing music, which help keep her grounded and creative. Her goal is to apply her knowledge and experience to promote sustainable aquaculture and agriculture practices that support environmental health and help small-scale farmers achieve stable incomes and improved livelihoods.

Christine is a Brand Leadership Coach, Designer, and Marketer with over 25 years of experience creating award-winning brands, campaigns, and strategic communications.

As Head of Marketing and Communications at FUTUREFISH, she brings a powerful blend of creativity, strategy, and design expertise to amplify the reach and impact of sustainable aquaculture initiatives. Driven by a passion for helping partners clarify who they are, what they do, and why it matters, Christine transforms complex ideas into compelling, personable and user-friendly narratives. From strategic reports to digital campaigns and dynamic visual storytelling, her work bridges insight and innovation. Since joining FUTUREFISH, she has contributed to diverse aquaculture-related strategies and marketing initiatives, collaborating with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, The Nature Conservancy and the World Economic Forum.

Christine’s leadership spans from the boardroom to the field. She has worked directly with women-led aquaculture businesses in South Africa, developed digital IP, and provided brand leadership coaching for emerging aquabusinesses. She thrives on shaping global marketing and communication strategies that turn niche partner interests into valuable assets and deliver lasting impact. Whether facilitating high-impact workshops, coaching or building purpose-driven brands, Christine brings clarity, creativity, and momentum, delivering sustainable brand solutions for marginalised aquaculture value chains and advancing the future of blue food.

Dr. Sanghamitra is currently working as a Professional Associate on an IDRC-funded project at the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA). Her main responsibility is to coordinate and monitor the research activities of a three-country team — Thailand, the Philippines, and Fiji — focused on the baseline study of Nature-based Aquaculture (NbS) Practices under the IDRC–NACA initiative.

She holds a PhD in Fishery Sciences from the Aquaculture Business Research Center at Kasetsart University (KU), Thailand, where she specialized in shrimp pathology and the effects of Bacillus antimicrobials on diseased shrimp. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Fish Nutrition at PKNU, South Korea.

Prior to joining NACA, she worked as a techno-commercial professional in the aquaculture and livestock industry, gaining extensive experience in the practical application and commercial scope of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the sector. Her interests lie in product development, practical applications, and sustainable practices in both the aquaculture and livestock industries.

Dr. Michael Phillips (Mike) brings over 30 years of experience in aquaculture sustainability and international development and senior-level management experience from across Africa, Asia, and Europe, across research and innovation, government, investor, and business communities.

Chokanan "Van" Prompichai is a Senior Programme Officer for Education and Training at the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA). With over a decade of experience in inland aquaculture, Van specializes in the aquaculture of highland aquatic species like rainbow trout and sturgeon. His passion for aquaculture comes from his childhood love of fishing and a desire to contribute by breeding and releasing fish back into their natural habitats. Van began his career in the Department of Fisheries (Thailand), working on projects such as the Royal Project for sturgeon and rainbow trout.

He earned a Master's in Aquaculture from National Taiwan Ocean University, focusing on surrogate technology. Additionally, Van has worked on collecting rare fish species from the wild, studying their breeding to aid in repopulation efforts. He also expanded his expertise in IoT system technology for aquaculture to improve farm management and sustainability.

Currently, he leads a project on innovations in aquaculture, particularly in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with nano-bubble and phage technology. Outside of work, Van enjoys badminton, fishing, and exploring nature.

Ms. Ubolratana Suntornratana, with the Master Degree of Science from Mahidol University, started work as a Fisheries Biologist in the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Thailand, in 1986. An experience on research interests included River Fisheries Ecology, Fisheries Assessment and Management, Fisheries and Aquaculture Valuation, Socio-economic Survey in the Mekong River Basin, and Research on Gender in Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Border Trade. Thereafter, being promoted to be the Quality Management Representative of the DoF Certification Body, Ubolratana has also played a pivotal role in promoting the adoption and implementation of Aquaculture Standards and Certification in Thailand.

An advocate whose work to promote Gender in Fisheries and Aquaculture helped visible and better understanding of gender roles in fisheries and aquaculture, particularly in Northeast Thailand. The work has also been instrumental in shifting perceptions about gender in fisheries and aquaculture and helped move the sector toward greater recognition of womenʼs roles, promoted gender-sensitive policy and practice, provided gender training in the DoF, and establishment of sex-disaggregated data in DoF. Presently, works for NACA as Gender Consultant for NbS Project and would like to effectively promote GESI integration for sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in Thailand.

Niran Warin is a Business Development Manager in aquaculture, holding a Master’s degree from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), with a specialization in innovation and sustainability. He has led initiatives integrating sustainable shrimp farming, microbiome management, aquatic animal nutrition, feed technologies, and probiotics to enhance productivity and climate resilience in aquaculture systems. At Grobest Thailand, Niran served as a Technical Sales, supporting shrimp farmers with a holistic management approach and sustainable practices. He played a key role in introducing innovative feed solutions (functional feeds) and farm management strategies that improved both operational efficiency and environmental performance.

Prior to joining FutureFish, he worked as a Community Manager at Aqua-Spark, an impact investment firm supporting sustainable aquaculture startups. There, he conducted market research, industry analysis, and technical studies to drive sustainability in the aquaculture sector. He was also part of the Dealflow team, responsible for sourcing investible opportunities and identifying innovative solutions to improve industry practices and promote sustainable growth.

Now at FutureFish, Niran leads interdisciplinary projects that merge science-driven approaches with market insights. He collaborates with industry leaders and researchers to implement practical solutions in the aquaculture industry and beyond. His work combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial vision, aiming to scale sustainable innovations and strengthen the aquaculture value chain.

Simon manages Information and Networking for NACA, an intergovernmental organisation that promotes rural development through sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resource management. He has 30 years experience spanning international fisheries and aquaculture policy, animal and public health, emergency management, fish farming, digital communications, and information system design.

A digital technologist and open-source software developer, his current interests include digital farm automation, environmental monitoring systems and management of related IT security risks.