DAN FITZPATRICK, President
Dan Fitzpatrick, born in Dublin, Ireland, has enjoyed careers in academia, business and consulting before turning to working in international development generally and the health sector specifically. For eight years, he led the implementation of the hospital-based newborn care program in a number of countries for the East Meets West Foundation, first as Country Director in Laos, then in the Philippines and later as Regional Director in West Africa and later again in East Africa. He holds primary degrees from Trinity College, Dublin (Economics) and the University of Kent (Philosophy), a masters degree from the University of Warwick and a PhD from the London School of Economics (University of London). He has published a number of academic papers in collected volumes and peer-reviewed journals and produced white papers while working on an advocacy project in Laos.
Narendra Kumar Shrestha, born in Pokhara, Nepal, has worked in Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in Nepal as Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst since February 1999. ACAP, established in 1986, is the first project to oversee the conservation of wildlife, nature, culture, and heritage of the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), the largest protected area in Nepal. The multifaceted problems of ACA have been addressed through an integrated, community-based conservation and development approach, an experimental model that has been in the vanguard of promoting the concepts of “Conservation Area” through an “Integrated Conservation and Development Program” approach in the country and abroad. After his graduation, he completed Advanced Diploma in Remote Sensing and GIS Applications Course from Tribhuwan University, Kritipur, Nepal (granted by WWF, Nepal and Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand) and a three-year Advanced Diploma in Computer Science. He is a member of the Lions Club of Pokhara Newroad Chautari. Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization serving the blind and those in need. He is the Coordinator of Nepal Journey (non-profit, 501 C) based in Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas. Nepal Journey makes life better for underprivileged individuals in Nepal by providing quality education and healthcare while facilitating their needs. He managed several local organizations involved in human and social development in Nepal, and since 2015, he has been the Program Coordinator of the newborn care program in Nepal supported by Day One.