Staff

Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief

THY Try is an Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief of Open Development Cambodia (ODC). In 2011, he joined ODC as an advisory board member, and later on, he became a chairman of the board. As an Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief, Try plays an important role in increasing public access to current and historical data and information about Cambodia’s development trends in an online ‘open data’ platform, compiling freely-available data from a wide range of public sources. Prior to joining ODC, Try worked for the National Network on Extractive Industry Social and Environmental Impact (EISEI) as a coordinator of Development and Partnership in Action (DPA) for four years. He also spent two years with ADHOC as a human rights investigator and another two years with Indochina Research Limited (IRL) in social and commercial research. He also holds multiple degrees and training-related certificates.

Managing Editor

VENG Seang Hai has joined Open Development Cambodia (ODC) since 2023 in the role of Managing Editor, providing both operational and technical assistance to the Executive Editor/Editor-in-Chief and to the ODC team as a whole. He works closely together with ODC’s Editors team to ensure reliable sets of data and content which contribute to inclusive and sustainable development in Cambodia. Before landing on ODC, Seang Hai undertook consultancy research studies for various institutions including Gothenburg Research Institute, Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Chiang Mai University, Rapid Asia Co., Ltd, and others. Seang Hai holds MA in Development Studies from Chiang Mai University, and BA in Education from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. From the background as a development anthropologist focusing on the Mekong Region, Seang Hai shares several areas of interest in the field of development including transnational migration and inequality, a human rights-based approach to sustainable development, disabilities and child rights, and others.

IT and Website Advisor

Huy Eng graduated with a double major in Computer Science from Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), and International Study from Institute of Foreign Language (IFL). She has been working for ODC since it was firstly established in 2011. With several years of experience in web development, she takes the leading role in developing an online information resource for Cambodia’s development community. She guides oversee and manages works of the IT team to ensure accuracy and technical competence. In addition, she advises and provides technical support to other team members in addressing any IT-related problems.

Information Technology and Website Manager

Mardy’s main responsibilities are managing and overseeing ODC platform and network infrastructure. He is in charge of involving in and monitoring the development and maintenance of ODC platform under collaboration from other ODC team. Moreover, he is responsible for providing technical guidance and support as well as identifying, preventing, and mitigating IT-related issues of the network infrastructure and project implementation.

Mardy is a graduate from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) majoring in Computer Science and holds a Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL).

Web Development and IT Officer

Vichra is mainly responsible for ensuring the well-functionality of IT network systems and infrastructure, including hardware and software. Moreover, his primary responsibility is on digital security control, system upgrade, and other IT-related support. Additionally, he supports website development and maintenance.

Vichra held a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambodia in 2018. Before joining ODC, Vichra had more than five years of experience with private and non-private sectors in IT support.

Research and Web Content Manager

Vatana has been working with ODC as an Editor-Researcher and Research and Content Officer since 2016. Vatana has been acknowledged for her leadership in organizing and overseeing the content and web development teams in the expansion of online resources. She was enthusiastically promoted to Research and Web Content Manager in late 2020. In her present position, she is given multiple duties to guarantee that the work plan and project goals are met. She controls the daily operations of the content teams and website, as well as the project activity plan, and takes the lead in site design and development. Vatana also collaborates with the ODC team to monitor web traffic and uphold editorial standards, ensuring timeliness content, completeness, and user-friendliness.

Before joining the ODC, she was a Research Assistant for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) framework project (LWR-ID/2009/046) and various university research schemes. Vatana graduated from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) in 2014 with a degree in Water Resources Engineering and Rural Infrastructure.

Social Development Editor – Researcher

Chanphalla is a Social Development Editor – Researcher of Open Development Cambodia. His main responsibilities are daily news summary, conducting research, producing social development related contents, translating, editing and other reporting tasks.

Chanphalla is an International Relations (IR) graduate of Institute of Foreign Language(IFL), the Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2017. Before joining ODC, Chanphalla worked as Future Forum’s young research fellow on which he has conducted various projects. His latest research project concentrated on STEM education in Cambodia.

NRM Program Coordinator

Chhuonvuoch is an NRM Program Coordinator of Open Development Cambodia. Her main tasks involve working on website design and content, researching , compiling legal documents, policy papers, reports, and other publications, and organizing outreach and promotional events. She also manages several projects related to natural resource management, environment, and indigenous peoples. This includes coordinating with partners and donors to ensure successful project implementation.

She brings a wealth of expertise to her role, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science , alongside a Bachelor’s degree in TESOL, and a Master’s degree in Disaster Management (International Program). She has also contributed significantly to academia, with publications in several conferences and scientific journals across various research platforms. Before her current position, Chhuonvuoch served as an Associate Team Leader at an EIA company.

Program and Partnership Manager

Vimoil is a Program and Partnership Manager at Open Development Cambodia (ODC). She provides strategic oversight and management for the Innovations in Social Accountability in Cambodia (ISAC) project and the research contributions to ODC content, while also coordinating all aspects of the Innovations in Social Accountability in Cambodia (ISAC) project. She is also responsible for developing training programs and training target groups on how to use ODC’s website.

She holds two bachelor’s degrees in economic development and English for translation and interpreting, and Master’s degree in environment, development and sustainability from Chulalongkorn University. Before being a part of ODC, she was a programme assistant at Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) and an assistant to managing director at a private company.

Project Officer/Co-national Coordinator

Pheaktra is responsible for facilitating training and workshops, and documenting activities, while also monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on progress. Additionally, he executes the projects’ communication plan and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders. He also coordinates the Media for One Health project while providing support to the SMEs, ICT in education projects and the Prayuters Library Program in Preah Vihear.

In his academic journey, he holds two bachelor’s degrees: one in English Communication and another in Tourism Management. Professionally, he has experience conducting market and social research projects and performing data analysis in various areas, including education, youth development, community-based tourism, and SMEs. Additionally, he has coordinated a national youth volunteer program. He is strongly passionate about research and projects, particularly those related to ICT, social inclusion, sustainable development, and mental health.

Youth-Led Project Officer

Promnea is working with Open Development Cambodia (ODC) as a Project Officer of the Youth-Led Project. He provides support to ODC to ensure that Cambodian youths can implement their projects’ initiatives that are crucial to their community. Primarily, he works collaboratively with the relevant teams of ODC to build necessary capacities for youths who selected from marginalized groups, and coordinate them to carry out their projects’ initiatives once they acquire the essential abilities from the program of ODC.

Promnea was previously a Project Assistant at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Public Administration separately. He was selected to join the Young Researchers Program at Future Forum, where he is currently conducting policy research on rural-urban migrants in Phnom Penh. In addition to migration, his interests also consist of gender equality, climate change, decent work, and sustainable growth.

Communications Manager

Maneth manages social media platforms, designing, and programs of Open Development Cambodia (ODC). He is also in charge of other internal and external communications.

Maneth graduated from the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy, RUPP, with International Relations major and completed his exchange study at Carroll College, USA. He later became an International Relations lecturer at the Institute for over 3 years. Then, he worked as a Digital Marketer at private companies and is now working as a Communications Manager at ODC.

Communications Officer

Nara joins Open Development Cambodia Organization as a Communications Officer in 2024. His sole responsibilities include communications content and material creation, along with a supporting role in training, workshop, and meeting with ODC’s key stakeholders and partners.

Prior to ODC, he was a Communications Officer at a health-tech company for over three years. On top of that, he was an English language teacher for over four years at private various schools and a well-known university.

With two respective Bachelor’s Degrees majoring in TEFL and IR at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), he’s currently pursuing a Master’s Program in International Affairs (MSc-IA).

Data Research and GIS Specialist

Kalyan is a data research and GIS specialist at Open Development Cambodia (ODC). He used to work for ODC since it was firstly established in 2011 until 2015. Later he led GIS technical project of GPS navigation in a private sector. He joined back to ODC in 2019.

He is responsible for leading the team in all data-related research activities, focusing on gathering, organizing, and display data about a particular location in a digital format. He also uses GIS technology to compile, maintain, and update information from a variety of sources for the public’s use and ensure that data across all topic areas are complete, accurate, and up-to-date. He finished high school with permission to graduate prematurely and received a scholarship from the Royal Government of Cambodia to successfully pursue a bachelor’s degree in Land Management and Land Administration in 2011 and holds a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources Management from the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in 2020.

Senior Data Research & GIS Officer /Capacity Building Coordinator 

Pisith works as a Senior Data Research & GIS Officer /Capacity Building Coordinator at Open Development Cambodia (ODC). He satisfactorily completed Engineering’s Degree of Geo-Resources and Geotechnical Engineering (GGE) from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) in 2019. During the year of his graduation in 2019, Pisith was granted a scholarship for a one-semester exchange program at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand where his thesis was completed for successful graduation in ITC.

At ODC, his work focuses on researching spatial data, on various sectors relevant to development in Cambodia from all reliable sources which provide open data, for handling assembling enhancing and visualizing by using GIS to generate a usable data product for publication in organization web pages. Besides the key role of producing dataset, particularly spatial dataset, he also takes part in conducting training and developing the curriculum of training related to data and GIS for the relevant projects.

Data Research and GIS Officer

Oudom is a Data Research and GIS Officer. His primary responsibilities include reviewing public domain documents for data collection and archiving. He is also responsible for updating and creating maps and information graphics based on publicly available data.

Oudom holds an engineer’s degree in Water Resource Engineering and Rural Infrastructure as well as a master’s degree in Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC). Before joining ODC, He worked for a well-known private petroleum company as a Transport Intern.

Investment Data Research Officer

Visith is a Data Researcher at Open Development Cambodia (ODC). At ODC, he is responsible for the desk research and data collection on foreign investment from multi-languages sources and translates it. Under the direct supervision of Data Research and GIS Specialist and Research and Web Content Manager, he works closely with several ODC teams in developing online resources on foreign investment and its impact on the development of Cambodia. He is also responsible for providing the Executive Director with written and oral reports, translating and interpreting services to any other team members if needed.

He graduated bachelor degree with a major in English from the Institute of Foreign Language (IFL) and a master degree with a major in Chinese English Translation from Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). Before becoming a member of ODC, he had been engaged in many interpreting and translating careers.

Finance and Administration Manager

Somary is the Finance and Administration Manager at ODC, where she collaborates closely with the Executive Director to produce financial reports for donors, the Management Team, Board members, Ministries of Interior, Ministry of Economic and Finance, and the Accounting and Auditing Regulator (ACAR), prepare new budget proposals, and keep track of all expenses in each project. She is also responsible for assisting in the process of global and project audits by responding to any questions and clarifications from the auditor.She is especially responsible for ensuring that all financial and administrative tasks run smoothly.

Somary graduated Bachelor Degree of Administration in the major of Accounting from National University of Management in 2011 and she also completed the professional taxation in Tax on Income at National Taxation School in 2024 Before joining ODC, she worked in finance and administration for both local and international NGOs for about ten years.

Senior Finance and Admin Officer

Transparency, accountability and honesty are Mr. Sarath’s core values. In charge of finance and admin tasks of ODC, Mr. Sarath works closely with all team members to produce the good achievements on: 1. ensure that all financial documents are legally compliant with the rule and standard of accounting, follow the financial policy of ODC and make all payments on time. 2. correctly record all financial transactions in the accounting system, follow each budget line and donor and produce financial report on time. 3. Have good cooperate with relevant stakeholders like Cambodia civil servants (tax department ‘staffs, NSSF`s staffs, the staffs of ministry labor…), NGO partners and private sector staffs… to apply tax obligation and ensure all staffs receive the benefits follow the labor laws of Royal Government of Cambodia.

Mr. Sarath completed his Master’s degree in Finance from National University of Management (NUM) in 2019. Before starting with ODC, Mr. Sarath have experience to work with local and international NGO over 10 years in finance and administration sector.

Admin & Finance Officer

Tevin’s main responsibility is to assist the Finance & Admin units in providing admin/logistic support for the events, preparing Travel Authorization (TA) form and clearance, scanning and copying financial documents, maintaining fixed asset and inventory lists, procurement works, monthly tax declaration, National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and Pension Scheme, coordinating with Prayuters Library Program staff and volunteers to facilitate monthly payments and office supplies.

Tevin held a bachelor’s degree in Economic Development from the University of Law and Economics in 2020. Before joining ODC, Tevin had more than 3 years of experience with private company sectors in Admin & Procurement.

Housekeeper

Kimhuoy is mainly responsible for maintaining the ODC office, a good environment, cleanliness, and a well-organized office. She also assists in drinks and snacks preparation for guests and staff as needed during meetings, training, and workshops and takes care of all the kitchen supplies. Before joining ODC, Kimhuoy used to work at Bayon Airlines for seven years as an airline catering.