China

Dr. Gui Renyi

Department of Silviculture
Institute for Bamboo
Zhejiang Forestry University

Dr. Gui Renyi is Associate Professor at Zhejiang Forestry University in Lin'an, China. His work involves aspects of bamboo breeding and plantation management in one the most important bamboo regions of the world.

He also offers research and consulting work for the Bamboo Research Institute (BRI) of Zhejiang Forestry University, and Zhejiang Bamboo Industry Scientific Innovation & Service Center. Bamboo Research Institute was founded in 1990s and has contributed to bamboo industry development in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. Zhejiang Bamboo Industry Scientific Innovation & Service Center was founded by the Zhejiang Provincial government in 2006 and effectively coordinates and integrates bamboo research resources in Zhejiang and for benefit elsewhere.

He is a graduate of Nanjing Forestry University.

Dr. Hou Yong

Dr. Hou has studied renewable energy and social sustainable development for many years. His work includes technical and economic analysis of renewable energy, especially of biofuels and solar energy, with respect to its characteristics, dynamic processes and related opportunities for innovation. He has published many academic papers in journals and engaged IEEE international conferences regarding management science of energy and environment.

Yong graduated from University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. Before returning to university for his doctoral degree, Yong worked as an electronic engineer for 8+ years and successfully founded and managed a computer service company in Shanghai, China with an annual revenue of $13 million. From 2001, Yong chose to step beyond this business to pursue renewable energy systems and industry development and connect more deeply efforts to resolve issues of environment and global warming.

India
 

Mr. Arun Kumar

Mr. Arun Kumar has been working as an information manager and editor for the past three decades with various organizations in India, his native country, and other places. Mr. Kumar’s association with bamboo started in 1995, when he was hired as a consulting editor with the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), then the Bamboo and Rattan Research Network of the International Development Research Centre, Canada. He worked with INBAR for a number of years drafting INBAR’s first publication policy, and editing and supervising the production of most of INBAR’s publications till mid-2000.

Since 2000, Mr. Kumar has been working as a freelance editor and publications consultant, based in Bangalore, India. He is currently heading the INBAR-CIBART Documentation Centre, set up jointly by INBAR and the Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology (CIBART). He was one of the reviewers of the global assessment report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

Mr. Krishna Kumar
Senior Scientific Officer
National Mission on Bamboo Applications

Mr. Krishna Kumar serves within the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and is engaged with assessment, quantification and monitoring of vegetation areas (especially bamboo), using remote sensing and GIS/GPS techniques. This work involves experience with projects of Information Technology for Sustainable Agriculture, utilizing the modern tools of networking, programming, data capture (remote sensing and ground based), data analysis and modeling based on GIS.

Mr. Kumar is presently working on construction & structural applications of bamboo, particularly on advancement in structural engineering and the development of bamboo composites for lightweight, durable and aesthetic construction for many applications. This work promotes the use of bamboo and bamboo-based composite materials for different construction techniques and setting of benchmarks of quality of construction, functionality, strength, safety and aesthetics. 

His academic studies have included bachelor of science & computer applications and masters of computer applications & business administration.

Philippines

Mr. Rogelio N. Bibal

Mr. Bibal is a community leader of Baguio City, Philippines and Recipient of the 2004 National Farmers Award for Panay Integrated Model Farm of Western Visayas. A graduate of the Central Luzon State University majoring in Inland Fisheries Management and Aquaculture, he is a farm scientist whose studies pursue sustainable agriculture models and methods including bamboo cultivation and usage.

An accomplished visual artist, Mr. Bibal has served as Project Coordinator in the Technology Resource Center in Makati, Project Officer and artist in a mapping an planning project Benguet, and as art consultant for product design and development of handmade paper with Plan International, Baguio and the Philippine Ecological Network. His artistic creations frequently showcase innovation and expressive usage of bamboo materials.

USA

Ms. Kay Howe

Ms. Howe brings a wealth of experience as an organic farmer, migratory beekeeper, alternative builder, educator, community activist and artist.  Spanning communities and cultures from Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and northern California, and forests of Borneo and Indonesia, her teaching and expertise engages groups and communities on projects of environmental education, ecological restoration and sustainable community development. 

Read her biography here.