WHO WE ARE

Our Team

Sallo Polak

Founder & Executive Director

Originally from the Netherlands, Sallo founded PCF in Thailand in 2011. After years of working in Dutch television, his travels to Southeast Asia gave him the vision of helping local communities in need by providing them with the necessary resources to improve their living conditions and lead dignified lives.

Kanyarat Pinyonitchakul (Kan)

Administrative Officer

Ms Kanyarat Pinyonitchakul (Kan) from Thailand, joined PCF as Administrative Officer in June, 2018. She brings 13 year’s of non profit administration and finance experience, specifically in the area of indigenous peoples’ rights. She holds a Bachelor of Political Science from Chiang Mai University.

Adam Lawrence

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Though originally from the UK, Adam spent most of his early life in Portugal and has been working in South East Asia as an English teacher and teacher trainer since 2008. After focusing his MA thesis on migrant students in northern Thailand, Adam decided to settle in Chiang Mai and joined PCF in October 2022.

Krist Inmanee (Ton)

Teams Support Officer

Ton, from Thailand, joined PCF in May 2021. His several years experience in hotels, condominium and tour booking administration has supplied him with all the varied skills needed in his role of teams support officer.

DJ Robertson

Chief Operating Officer

From Scotland. DJ brings a diverse background in corporate business management and wealth of leadership experience to the operational running of PCF.

In addition to managerial expertise, DJ brings knowledge from many years in front-line voluntary work in fields ranging from medicine to life skills education and psychological support for humanitarian and children’s organisations.

Sarawut Pengsannoo (O)

Communications Officer

O, from Thailand, joined PCF as Project Team Support in July 2021 and moved to the Communications Team in 2023.

O has the difficult job of combining all the information for sponsor reports, proposals and factsheets. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Chiang Mai Rajabhat University.

Saisuda Pohl (Rose)

Project Team Manager

Saisuda Pohl (Rose) has worked extensively in Germany, managing marketing projects for Thai organisations and companies in Germany.

Over the last 20 years Rose has been involved with several social projects in Thailand, particularly those helping refugees from Myanmar living along the northern region. Together with her German friends, Rose also established fundraising associations in Germany to support these various projects.

Pong

Mae-Baan

This is Pong! Our Mae-Baan.

Pong has been with PCF since 2016, helping to keep the office clean.

Pah Panitnantanakul

Finance and Accounting Manager

She has been working in multicultural environments for around 15 years, primarily in the Thai and international NGO and business sectors. Pah has been crunching numbers as a cost controller in a food chain company and an accounting firm.

Pah has actively engaged in various meaningful initiatives – raising funds to help those in need in the border regions of northern Thailand area; and has contributed to a team dedicated to creating sustainable food sources for wild elephants, ensuring the local community’s food supply remains intact.

Sathiravija Heebthong (Earth)

Project Coordinator

Earth’s experience as a social work student has provided him with the skills in empowerment, effective coordination of diverse groups, and a comprehensive understanding of individuals in difficult situations.

Motivated by a genuine desire to assist others, he is dedicated to making a positive impact. With a focus on compassion and a commitment to community well-being, his goal is to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of others’ lives.

Jitkamon Lawantrakool (Nite)

Project Coordinator

With a background in political science, Nite holds a profound passion for community empowerment, cooperation, equity, and inclusiveness. Her prior role as a programme associate has equipped her with proficiency in facilitation, organisational expertise, and database management.

Recognising the challenges faced by underserved communities, Nite is committed to raising awareness of diversity, inclusion, and fostering a sense of belonging for every member of the community.

Mark Kearns

Communications

Mark, originally from Ireland but mostly the UK, started volunteering for PCF in 2012 soon after arriving in Chiang Mai. Mark has worked for many years in global IT teams developing websites, managing technical teams and projects. A once frequent traveller, he has worked in Europe, USA and now Thailand.

Phong Changyue

Social Media Officer

 Phong, a native of the picturesque hill tribe region of Chiang Rai, Thailand, is a passionate individual with a profound educational background in Social Sciences. His academic journey provided him with a strong research foundation, particularly in the realms of humanitarian and environmental issues.

Throughout his life, Phong has aspired to bring about positive change, driven by his understanding of social sciences and a compassionate heart. His unwavering dedication to creating a better world through his work in humanitarian and environmental fields has made him a remarkable force for change and an inspiration to those around him.

Zaw Moon Ra
(Arra)

Communications Team Manager

Arra, of Kachin ethnicity from Myanmar, graduated with a BA in International Relations and Development, focusing on youth migration study in Myanmar. With two years of experience in political and social research in Kachin State, and helping grow small business owners from rural areas at a social enterprise in Yangon, Myanmar, he is passionate about empowering others and serving underprivileged communities.

Arra is delighted to join PCF as he is driven by a desire to create meaningful change through educational and economic empowerment initiatives.

DIN

Chief Morale Officer (CMO)

Born in the leafy comforts of Chiang Rai and raised in the bustling streets of Chiang Mai, Din is no ordinary team member. Son of the revered Pooklook and Ninee, and brother to the equally notable Hin and Namtan, Din comes from a distinguished lineage.
Din’s mornings start with a hearty serving of moo ping (strictly no substitutions), and he's been known to pull off impressive tricks for just a sliver of cheese. A lover of people, Din enjoys soaking up attention like a sponge—belly rubs, in particular, are the fastest way to win his respect and admiration.

While his love for cats is questionable (he assures us he couldn’t eat a whole one), Din is the life of any canine playgroup and always ready for fun with his fellow four-legged friends.
Special skills? Oh, just a few: expert manipulator of the PCF team (usually in pursuit of snacks or naps), fly-hunting ninja, and, of course, providing top-notch emotional support. Din's motto: "Why work when you can nap?"