Keynote Presenter
Moderator
Mr. Arnaud Cauchois
Country Director Asian Development Bank
Mr. Arnaud Cauchois is a French national with over 27 years of experience in development in South Asia, Central Asia, South America and Africa. He joined ADB in 2005 and has since held numerous leadership positions. Prior to his appointment as Country Director Nepal on 1 July 2021, Mr. Cauchois served as Principal Water Resources Specialist in India and Nepal ADB resident missions. He was outposted to Nepal from 2013 until 2019 where he actively supported the government of Nepal with policy dialogue, project planning, processing, and administration in the water resource sector. Prior to joining ADB, Mr. Cauchois worked for international NGOs and for the European Commission as water resource and rural development experts in Ecuador, Afghanistan and Togo. Mr. Cauchois holds a master’s degree in Water Management from the Superior School of Tropical Agronomy in Montpellier France.
Mr. Raju Pandit Chhetri
Executive Director Prakriti Resources Centre, Nepal
Raju Pandit Chhetri is a professional with over fifteen years of work experience in climate change, environment, and development. He is the Executive Director of Prakriti Resources Centre (PRC), which promotes climate action and sustainable development. Raju closely follows international climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Green Climate Fund. He supports the Least Developed Countries Group in the climate finance negotiations and advises the LDC Board Members of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). He is also a member of the Climate Finance Technical Committee in the Ministry of Finance, Nepal. Raju has written and contributed to several publications on climate finance.
Speaker
Mr. A K M Sohel
Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh
Mr. AKM Sohel is the Additional Secretary & Wing Chief of the United Nations Wing, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh. He leads climate finance initiatives and serves as the focal person for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Previously, he was the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Director of the BCS Administration Academy. He also directed the Improved Coordination of International Climate Finance project. Mr. Sohel holds an M.A. in Governance and Development, and B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Economics. He has received training in Climate Financing from IMF and Frankfurt School, Germany. He is an esteemed speaker on Bangladesh’s economy and climate financing.
Mr. Shree Krishna Nepal
Joint Secretary Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal
Mr. Shreekrishna Nepal has been a member of the Board of Directors since February 2023. He is a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal and heads the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division. He oversees development cooperation, policy implementation, foreign aid mobilization and formulation of foreign aid strategies, in addition to his work in budget formulation. He leads aid and financing agreement negotiations on behalf of the Government of Nepal and represents it in various multilateral development bank and global fora. He also served as World Bank Advisor to the Office of the Executive Director for the South East Asia Group. He has a long history of public service, having served as Joint Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers; Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development in the Bagmati provincial government; Deputy Director General in the Department of Customs, overseeing customs policy, reforms and modernization; Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Population, heading the Financial Management and Human Resource Division; and Executive Director of the Health Insurance Board. He has extensive experience in public finance management, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, procurement, internal control and audit, and was involved in several public financial management reform initiatives of the Government of Nepal. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in economics from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
Mr. Chandra Prasad Dhakal
President Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mr. Chandra Prasad Dhakal is a pioneering serial entrepreneur in Nepal, co-founding the IME Group with his brother Hem Raj Dhakal and transforming it into a rapidly expanding conglomerate. Known for his commitment to professional financial ethics and governance, he has led successful mergers and acquisitions in Nepal’s banking and financial sectors. His leadership in various business chambers has improved Nepal’s business environment, encouraging domestic and foreign investments. Serving as the Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Nepal since 2010, he is also the Senior Vice President of the FNCCI and President of the Nepal Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Dhakal’s contributions have earned him prestigious awards, including the Prabal Janasewashree (Fourth) and Gorkha Dakshin Bahu IV from the Government of Nepal, and recognition from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his support during the 2015 earthquake evacuation mission.
Ms. Dawa Yangzum Sherpa
Mountaineer and Brand Ambassador Rolex
Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, the pioneering First Asian Female IFMGA/UIAGM Guide, boasts an impressive career spanning two decades in mountaineering. Scaling 13 8000-meter peaks, including Makalu in just 21 hours and Annapurna | without supplemental oxygen, she has led expeditions across the Himalayas and beyond. Notably, Dawa has contributed to scientific research expeditions on Everest, aiding in installing crucial weather stations at high altitudes. Beyond mountaineering, she excels as an athlete, representing brands like Rolex and North Face. Certified in 2017, she holds numerous qualifications including WFR/CPR and Avalanche Level 1. Dawa’s commitment extends to empowering others, evident in her training of aspiring female adventurers and community initiatives like all-female climbing courses. Her accolades include the Tenzing Hillary Award and recognition as Sherpa of the Year, while her story is celebrated in publications worldwide, solidifying her as a revered figure in the mountaineering community.