Board Members

  • Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

    Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

    Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars and meditation masters of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche grew up in Rumtek Monastery, and is a poet, photographer, accomplished calligrapher, and visual artist.

  • Lok Chitrakar

    Lok Chitrakar was born into a lineage of traditional artists, and is one of Nepal's most respected painters. The rich art, culture and architecture of Nepal is his constant inspiration. He lectures at universities in Nepal and abroad, and teaches in his open studio. His work is found in museums and private collections internationally. Photo credit: MONA

  •  Tashi Chödrön

    Tashi Chödrön is a lay Buddhist practitioner, and Museum Educator at the Rubin Museum of Art. Tashi leads online and in-person meditation and cultural programs, and is a leader in the Buddhist community.

  • Alexander Halpern

    Alex Halpern is an attorney in private practice in Boulder, Colorado, specializing in nonprofit, corporate, and education law.

  • Ann Shaftel

    Since 1970, Ann has worked in conservation of Buddhist treasures for monasteries and their communities, museums, universities, dharma centers internationally. She founded Treasure Caretaker Training, and Digital Monastery Project.

Our Team

  • Aishwarya Mehta

    Hindi Translation and India TCT Team Leader

    Aishwarya works with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Ministry of Culture, on the New India Garden Project under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project of the Government of India. Academically, she is trained in Ancient Indian History, Art and Cultural Heritage of India. She participated in a Preservation of Monastery Treasures workshop and appears in Treasure Caretaker Training zooms. 

  • Azad Thapa

    Architectural Conservation Advisor

    Azad Thapa is an architect with a Master’s in World Heritage Studies. He has contributed to heritage interpretation and conservation through roles at the J. Paul Getty Museum and ICOMOS. With academic and professional engagements across Europe, North America, and Asia, he brings a global perspective and expertise in cultural heritage research, interpretation, and architectural conservation.

  • Birat Raj Bajracharya

    Nepal TCT Team Leader

    Birat Raj Bajracharya is a rising researcher who has expertise in various tangible and intangible heritage. Being gold medalist of Lumbini Buddhist University, he is equally active in non academic field and grounded to culture. He is a translator of Tibetan, Nepali, English and Nepal Bhasa, art promoter and Nepalese manuscript transcriber.

  • Bulgan Ochirsukh

    Mongolia TCT Team Leader

    Bulgan is a versatile professional with a rich background in event coordination and journalism. With experience spanning multiple industries, Bulgan excels in communication, project management, and organizing large-scale events.

  • Craig Deller

    Art Conservator


    Craig Deller is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC-FAIC). He was Lecturer of Conservation Practices at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1999-2021. Participant in the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) awarded to Silpakorn University for the conservation of ancient log coffins of Phi Man Long Long Rak Cave, Thailand, February 2023

    Worked with Treasure Caretaker Training on the conservation of artifacts in three projects in remote Tsum. Nepal.

  • Jess McNally

    Web Design

    Jess McNally is a web designer, science writer and entrepreneur. She is a long-time Buddhist practitioner and former Buddhist nun. She teaches meditation independently and through the Tergar Meditation Community. Her main teachers are Mingyur Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche.

  • Karma Deki

    Video Editor

    Karma Deki is a celebrated female director from Bhutan known for her powerful storytelling and focus on marginalized communities. She is also the CEO of Bhutan Reel Stories, an advocate for greater inclusivity in the film industry, and the President of Women in Film and Television, Bhutan.

  • Lama Ngodup Dorji

    Bhutan TCT Team Leader

    Lama Ngodrup Dorji is the XVth lineage lama of Shingkhar in Bumthang, Bhutan. Shingkhar Dechenling is one of the eight important places established by Omniscient Longchenpa in Bhutan in the 1350s. He also graduated in 1995 with a Master’s Degree in Buddhist Philosophy from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, established by H.H. Penor Rinpoche in India. He is the founder and chair of the Anti Foundation and Longchenpa Center. At present, he is also the National Nyingma Representative to the Commission for Religious Organizations of Bhutan (CROB).

  • Nguyen Thao Nguyen

    Vietnamese Translation

    Nguyen Thao Nguyễn was born in Vietnam and has an interest in Buddhist philosophy. She lives in Canada with her family, and works and a financial analyst.

  • Dr. Patricia Smithen

    Art Conservator

    Dr. Patricia Smithen is an Art Conservator, specialising in Paintings, Painted Surfaces and Contemporary Art.  She is an Associate Professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, teaching Paintings Conservation, and has been accredited with ICON since 2015.  Her current research interests include practical conservation treatments, advanced non-destructive imaging of art, and the materials and techniques of modern and contemporary painters.