Lodi Gyari, Chairman
Lodi Gyari is the Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Mr. Gyari is the lead person designated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to commence negotiations with the Chinese Government. He is also the Executive Chairman of the Board of the International Campaign for Tibet, an independent Washington based human rights advocacy group. The full information about the work of this organization is available at essays-service.com.
Lodi Gyari was born in Nyarong, Eastern Tibet, in 1949, where he received a traditional monastic education. Mr. Gyari and his family fled from Tibet to India in 1959. Realizing that Tibetans need to publicize their struggle to the world he became an editor for the Tibetan Freedom Press and founded the Tibetan Review, the first English language journal published by Tibetans in-exile. Mr. Gyari was one of the founding members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, an organization of over 10,000 members. He served as President of the Congress in 1975. Mr. Gyari was elected to the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, the Tibetan Parliament in exile, and subsequently became its Chairman. He then served as Deputy Cabinet Minister with responsibilities for the Council for Religious Affairs and the Department of Health. In 1988 he became Senior Cabinet Minister for the Department of Information and International Relations [Foreign Ministry.]
Josh Elmore, President
Josh Elmore is a social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and organic farmer. Mr. Elmore’s family foundation—Arbolito Foundation—supports humanitarian, environmental and dharma related organizations as well as practitioners of various forms of yoga and Buddhism.
He has helped launch numerous small non-profit organizations, including Nekorpa, and continues to actively participate in their respective Boards. Mr. Elmore is also a founder and Board member of Lighthouse Solar, who will be partnering with Nekorpa to install and train in use of solar cookers and solar PV systems along pilgrimage routes.
Matteo Pistono, Executive Director
Matteo Pistono is a writer and photographer, and the founder and Executive Director of Nekorpa. Mr. Pistono’s images and writings about Himalayan cultural, political, and spiritual landscapes have appeared in BBC’s In-Pictures, Men’s Journal, Kyoto Journal, and HIMAL South Asia. He is the author of In the Shadow of the Buddha; Secret Journeys, Sacred Histories and Spiritual Discovery in Tibet [Dutton-, January 2011].
Mr. Pistono holds an M.A. in Indian Philosophy from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and currently sits on the Executive Council of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, and the Board of Directors of Rigpa USA, and the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture. He lives with his wife Monica in Colorado.