Our Board and Senior Management team work together to set priorities and direction for the organization so that our work has impact and reaches underserved communities in Southeast Asia. See their profiles and areas of expertise.

Board of Directors
Senior Management
  • Melinda Griffith
    Chair

    Melinda Griffith is Chief Operating Officer and Chief Counsel at CZ Bio Hub. She has extensive experience leading the business development, licensing, legal and compliance activities of diagnostic, pharma and life sciences companies.

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  • Matt Kursh
    Treasurer

    Matt Kursh is CEO and Founder of Oji Life Lab, a technology startup that is building a suite of mobile learning programs for corporations that help employees gain Universal Skills including decision-making, emotional intelligence, goal-setting, creativity and more.

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  • Peter de Castro
    Board Member

    Peter de Castro is a Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at the Royal Bank of Canada Wealth Management in San Francisco. His first career was in the US diplomatic service for 8 years. He has been in the investment management business for over 30 years.

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  • Carrie Eglinton Manner
    Board Member

    Carrie Eglinton Manner is CEO of OraSure Technologies. Before joining OraSure, she held the position of Senior Vice President of Advanced Diagnostics at Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services. Prior to her time at Quest, Carrie spent 20 years at GE Healthcare, where she held various roles with increasing scope and responsibility.

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  • Joan Morse
    Board Member

    Joan Morse has been an active community volunteer for over 20 years. She has served on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations in healthcare, social services, and education, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Social Venture Partners, and Jewish Family Service. Prior to her focus on community, Joan was a marketing executive at Microsoft Corp.

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  • Gil Kemp
    Board Member

    Gil Kemp is the founder of Home Decorators Collection, one of the leading direct sellers of home furnishings and accessories in the US. He led the company as President and Chief Merchant until his retirement in 2009. Gil became a prominent figure in the not-for-profit education sector, establishing a philanthropic educational program in Vietnam and sitting on the boards of Swarthmore College, Occidental College and many others.

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  • Paul Rubens
    Board Member

    Paul Rubens, a native of San Francisco, spent some 20 years living throughout Asia, developing a career in investment management. In 2014, after his return to the US, Paul founded Tamarack Investment Partners to connect Asia-based hedge funds and institutional investors throughout North America.

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  • Peter A. Singer, M.D.
    Board Chair Emeritus

    Peter A. Singer, M.D., is Chief of Clinical Endocrinology Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He served as Board Chair for over 20 years and has been an active board member since 1990. Dr. Singer’s interest in Thrive Networks is an outgrowth of his experience as a battalion doctor with U.S. Armed Forces in Da Nang, Vietnam from 1966-1967.

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  • Lynn Foden
    Board Member

    Prior to joining Thrive Networks’ Board of Director, Lynn served as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Lynn brought more than 28 years of leadership experience with the Peace Corp, Room to Read, the World Bank and other top institutions and her deep technical knowledge and expertise in water and sanitation, public health, and education to drive Thrive’s innovation and delivery of life-changing programs during her tenure

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  • ‡ Jin Zidell

    Jin Zidell founded Blue Planet Network in 2002 and served as its Chairman of the Board. As an entrepreneur, philanthropist and environmentalist, Jin was deeply passionate about solving the global water crisis by improving the long-term sustainability and impact of water programs and empowering communities to take charge of their futures.

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  • Thuy Ngo
    Executive Director, USA

    Thuy plays a pivotal role at Thrive Networks, guiding the strategic vision for the organization across its core programs, which focus on climate resilient WASH, resilient communities and cities, and community development. She ensures the successful implementation of programs in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, maintaining a high standard of quality and impact.

    In addition to overseeing program delivery, Thuy takes the lead in sharing the organization’s achievements and results with the international development community. She works closely with funders to design innovative, sustainable programs that deliver outstanding outcomes.

    With over 11 years of dedicated service to the organization, Thuy previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping the organization's vision, strategy, and commitment to delivering exceptional programs that create lasting change.

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  • Lynn Foden
    Global Program Director, USA

    In addition to serving on Thrive Networks’ Board of Directors, Lynn is also the organization’s Global Program Director. With over 28 years of leadership experience at the Peace Corps, Room to Read, the World Bank, and other leading institutions, Lynn has brought deep technical expertise in water and sanitation, public health, and education. Her contributions have been instrumental in driving Thrive’s innovation and delivering transformative programs throughout her tenure.

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  • Amy Tien
    Controller, USA

    Amy is responsible for the effective management of the organization’s finance and accounting activities including audit, treasury, and reporting. Amy is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

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  • Kim Hor
    Country Director, Cambodia

    Under Kim Hor’s leadership, East Meets West Cambodia has significantly expanded its impact, reaching nearly 100,000 poor rural households with improved water access, sanitation coverage, and hygiene behavior change initiatives. He oversees the organization’s major programs in Cambodia, collaborating closely with government partners to implement and scale up climate-resilient WASH solutions.

    With 19 years of experience at UNICEF as the Program Head for Rural Clean Water and Sanitation, Kim Hor is widely recognized as a leading expert in Cambodia’s WASH sector. His extensive knowledge and dedication continue to drive transformative changes in rural communities, ensuring sustainable and inclusive access to essential water and sanitation services.

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  • Hiep Nguyen
    Chief Representative cum Deputy Country Director, Vietnam

    Hiep Nguyen is one of the longest serving employees of East Meets West. With over 30 years of experience in community development, Hiep Nguyen oversees all Thrive/EMW operations in Vietnam, ensuring sustainable development and effective collaboration. He is responsible for implementing and coordinating partnership efforts between national policy and local implementation levels, and subregional coordination. He also works to support the Country Directors and teams across EMW’s three countries to ensure that the organization’s mission and goals are fulfilled.

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  • Khouankeo Ardphasouk
    Country Director, Laos

    As the Country Director for Laos, Khouankeo Ardphasouk has spearheaded the expansion and adaptation of East Meets West’s signature Output-based Aid (OBA) and Public Private Partnership (PPP) approaches to rural water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs. With over 20 years of experience in community development across WASH, disaster risk reduction, education, and health, Khouankeo is also a pioneer in advancing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) approaches in Laos. He implemented an innovative poverty scorecard mechanism and prioritized gender-inclusive programming. His efforts include organizing gender training for staff and collaborating with gender experts to enhance program outcomes.

    Prior to joining East Meets West, he managed Oxfam Australia’s Laos Disaster Risk Reduction Program, focusing on water, sanitation, and food security in three provinces. His experience gives him a comprehensive understanding of cross-sectoral challenges and solutions. His proactive leadership continues to drive impactful and inclusive community development initiatives across Laos.

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