Dr. Sangay Dema (PhD)

Sangay Dema (PhD) has been the Head and Principal Biodiversity Officer at the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) in Thimphu since 2000. She also worked as a Senior Lecturer and Officiating Director at Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation & Environment in Bumthang, Bhutan.  She has a Master of Science (Biology) and Graduate Certificate in Tropical Biology and Conservation from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA and holds a Doctorate Degree from the University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales in Australia. 

She is a recipient of numerous international scholarships, grants and awards, including the Australian government’s Endeavour Postgraduate Leadership Award; the National Geographic Society (NGS) Explorers grant awarded by NGS, USA; Joyce W. Vickery Scientific Research grant awarded by Linnean Society of New South Wales, and Hans Wissmann Scientific Research grant for Systematic Botany, awarded by the School of Environmental & Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

Dr.Sangay is a botanist/plant systematist by profession and is passionate about biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation. She has published over 18 research papers and academic articles on biological resources to promote sustainable and low-carbon footprint enterprises. She believes that the economic valuation of native biodiversity is one of the effective ways to its conservation, and also engages as a lifelong learning enthusiast.