Chairman : Fauzan Azima (Born in Central Aceh)

Formerly a journalist, Fauzan joined the movement in Aceh for a fairer deal for the province. He quickly demonstrated his martial skills and the ability to inspire his followers in the field. By the end of the conflict he was one of the seventeen field generals (Panglima) in Aceh and covered an area including much of the Leuser Ecosystem. Even during the conflict Fauzan fought against illegal logging and still found time to write newspaper articles about the importance of saving Aceh’s forests.

Secretary General : Basri Emka (Born in South Aceh)

Basri is ending his term as a career bureaucrat. He began his service with the Government of the District of Aceh Selatan and distinguished himself by getting things done on time without upsetting people. His last posting was as the acting Bupati of Aceh Jaya in order to help with the reconstruction of the devastated district following the Tsunami. Prior to that he was head of the Economics Bureau for the Government of Aceh. For most of his career Basri has been an outspoken proponent of conservation. In his spare time Basri has written five books including an anthology of poems concerning the environment.

Legal and Policy Coordinator : Bambang Antariksa (Born in East Aceh)

Bambang completed his law degree in 1998 at the University of Syiah Kuala and has since been a staunch supporter of human and civil rights (especially the rights of women). He has been active in several leading NGOsand was a defender for several leading GAM members at the height of the conflict. Bambang has been involved in campaigns for protecting the environment for many years and sees his appointment to BPKEL as a way to be more influential in this important field.

Sustainable Utilisation Coordinator : Tedi Gunarwarman (Born in Banda Aceh )

Tedi began his professional life as a banker after first completing his education in Business Management (in Australia) and Management and Industrial Engineering (in Indonesia). The predictability of his banking career lacked the challenges that Tedi sought and he eventually left an excellent job in Standard Chartered Bank to join the Leuser Development Programme – (funded by the EU). He rapidly moved up through the system and eventually became a member of the Board of Directors of the Leuser International Foundation. Tedi brings to the BPKEL great strategic depth as well as his far-reaching networks with government and commercial and civil society organizations.

Conservation and Rehabilitation Coordinator : Mike Griffiths

Although the only person in BPKEL that was not born in the province, Mike has worked in Aceh for almost thirty years. Mike has been involved in the conservation of Leuser since 1985 with a variety of organizations. He is a founding member of the Leuser International Foundation and was the co-director of the EU financed Leuser Development Programme for seven years. He was a pioneer of developing camera trapping as a tool to study wildlife in forest environments – a technique that is now used all over the world.  Mike has written, or co-written, five books on conservation and has been a key architect of some of the innovative approaches to conservation in Aceh, many of which have been adopted elsewhere in Indonesia.

Financial Coordinator : Lukman Abba (Born in Aceh Pidie)

Lukman has spent most of his carrier in local banking but for many years has built up a strong network of contacts at the grass roots level in Aceh. During the conflict in Aceh he supported many groups and local NGOs in the field of social services. With his appointment to BPKEL Lukman will leave the banking world and dedicate his efforts to his new work.