A network of professionals with different expertise and skills
from who SI seeks strategic advice as well as technical assistance either in terms of
training needs or research guidance

Presentations, Papers and
Training Modules

Dr. Thein Swe, Technical Assistance Coordinator, Asian Development Bank

Dr. Thein Swe taught economics, finance, and globalization studies at Payap University in the International MBA program and South East Asian Institute of Global Studies.  He has served as Alternate Executive Director of the World Bank (1977-1979)  Technical, representing member countries of Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Nepal and Fiji on the Board of Directors.

He joined Asian Development Bank in January 1990 as Project Specialist in Central Projects Services Office and later on as Program Office for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan up to 1997.Senior Programs Officer for Nepal and Bhutan up to 1999.  Dr. Thein Swe studied at Rangoon University; Central School of Planning and Statistics, Poland; Australian National University, where he earned BA with General Honors; M. Econ, DSc. Econ, Manpower and Economic Development; Transition Economics respectively.

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Naw May Oo,  Fellow
Mauer School of Law, Indiana University

Naw May Oo is a Fellow at Indiana University Maurer School of Law’s Center for Constitutional Democracy, and as President and co-founder of the Indianapolis-based Burmese Community Center for Education (“BCCE”).  In these capacities, she has led presentations on federalism, international law, and ethnic conflicts and democracy to international and non-governmental organizations all over the world, including the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Naw May Oo holds a Master of Law (LL.M) degree from Indiana University Bloomington Maurer School of Law and is currently a doctoral candidate in law, with a concentration in constitutional democracy, federalism, and post-conflict states at Maurer School of Law.  She received her B.A. in Speech Communications from San Francisco State University.   

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Dr. Mu Tha Lay Paw, Geologist
Independent Researcher, Yangon

Saw Mu Tha Lay Paw, Ph.D, is a geologist by training.  His area of interest is in sustainable and responsible extraction of mineral resources for an all inclusive national development.  He has worked as a consultant geologist in Papua, China and Iraq after serving as an assistant geologist and well site geologist for twelve years with Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. 

Mu Tha Lay Paw earned BSc.(1994), D.A.G (1998), M.Sc. (1999), M.Res. (2001), and a Ph.D. (2008) in Geology from Rangoon University.  Originally from Toungoo, Mu Tha Lay Paw speaks Karen fluently.  He also received a black belt in Karate.  He enjoys hiking, marathon and hunting in his free time.

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Saw Kholon, Academic Trainer
Burmese Community Center for Education

Saw Kholon serves a an Academic Trainer at the Burmese Community Center for Education in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He grew up in Pa-an, Karen State of Burma/Myanmar and finished his high school there.  Soon after his arrival in the U.S. in 2007, he immediately began working on continuing his education while maintaing constant contacts with Burma's affairs. 

He holds a B.S. degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), Indiana University Bloomington.  He speaks Pwo Karen, Sgaw Karen, Burmese and English fluently.

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Noel Jones, PhD, Visiting Professor
The National Economic University, Hanoi

Dr. Jones is currently a Visiting Professor at Stamford International University, and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok, Thailand; and  The National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam.  He was a professor at  Assumption University, Graduate Business School in Bangkok, Thailand, where he taught for six years.  He holds degrees in Biology, International Development, and a Ph.D in Management and Psychology, and has published books and articles in the fields of Management, Psychology, Education and ICT. 

Over a period of 14 years from 1987, Dr. Noel Jones worked as an International Monetary Fund staff member - responsible for Management and Organization Development, and at the World Bank where he specialized in Strategic Planning and Organizational Change. His consulting experience extends across the Private Sector, Infrastructure, Health, Education, and Environment.  He is a regular contributor to International Conferences on Remittances.

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Neineh Plo, Program Officer
Burmese Community Center for Education

Neineh Plo is a Program Officer for community empowerment at the Burmese Community Center for Education (BCCE) based in Indianapolis, Indiana.   While at Indiana University, he co-founded the Going Home Where We Belong Program, under which he taught the works of John Locke and John Mill on the fundamental concepts of liberty to Karenni refugee youths, and English reading and writing to students at the New Generation School in Mutraw District, Kawthoolei. 

Born in Karenni State, Eastern Burma and raised in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border, Neineh won the Burmese Refugee Scholarship Program offered by the United States Department of State in 2005.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Indiana University.   Neineh is fluent in multiple languages - Burmese, Karen, Kayah, Kayan and English.

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Kay Myat, Academic Advisor
Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC

Kay Myat works as a Senior Academic Advisor at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Business in Washington DC.  Through her earlier experiences, she had become passionate about human rights and education. As a volunteer, invited speaker, and human rights  activist, she traveled to different countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Australia, France, Uzbekistan and Russia.  She worked as a graduate affairs assistant for the chemistry department and as an education abroad program coordinator and international students advisor at UC Davis. 

Kay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from the University of California at Davis and a Master of  Arts in higher education and leadership studies from California State University, Sacramento.  Kay is fluent in Karen, Burmese and English.

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Jerry Htoo, Academic Trainer
Burmese Community Center for Education

Jerry Htoo is one of the founding members of  Burmese Community Center for Education based in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He also serves as a program officer at BCCE.  Born and raised in Karen State, eastern Burma, Jerry Htoo graduated from high school and continued post-secondary education at Further Studies Program in Mae La refugee camp.  He was one of the four recipients of Burmese Refugees scholarship Program, funded by the U.S State Department to study in U.S in 2006. 

Jerry graduated with high distinction from
Indiana University, Bloomington in 2010 with a major in International Studies and a minor in Economic Integration and Development.  He is fluent in Karen, Burmese and English.

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Paper: "Education Reform and National Reconciliation in Burma," Pon Nya Mon, Ph.D., Research Fellow, Salween Institute.

SI: A Short Guide to Photojournalism (PDF)
By Kyaw Aung Lwin, an experienced journalist and a former international broadcaster from the Voice of America.

SI: Networking and Strategic Communications (PDF), a power point presentation and training guide for community and organizational leaders.

SI: Media Relations Training Guide (PDF), designed for beginners who are aspired to become engaged citizen activists with media savvy.

Analysis: Burma Needs a Practical Long-term Policy on Rohingya Issue, an analytical essay by Greh Moo, originally appeared on DVB English website.

Analysis: Self-determination and Constitutional Reform in Burma, an analysis by Saw Kapi, originally posted on DVB English website.

Paper: Towards a Negotiated Solution to Burma's Ethnic Issues (in English PDF), a presentation by Saw Kapi at the Karen Affairs Meeting (March 29-30, 2013) in Pa-an, Karen State.

Opinion: Caught in a Two-front War in Post-ceasefire Karen State, an op-ed by Greh Moo, originally appeared in the Karennews.org.

Opinion: Education is Key to Burmese Reform, a commentary by Saw Kapi, originally appeared in the Irrawaddy.

Opinion: Education Reform Needed for Burma, a commentary by Saw Kapi originally appeared in The Irrawaddy.

Opinion: Drawing Lessons form the Sri-Lankan Experience, a brief analysis by Saw Kholon, originally appeared in Mizzima.

Opinion: Negotiating with the Burma Government: In Search of a National Consensus by Saw Kapi, originally appeared in the Karennews.org. 

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School children, Burma/Myanmar

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