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#APCS2025
Speaker Biographies
Dr. Nittaya Phanuphak
Nittaya Phanuphak is Executive Director at the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI) in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr Phanuphak received her MD from the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and her PhD in Medicine from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
She has deep interest in the establishment and sustainability of the Key Population-Led Health Services (KPLHS) which empower key population lay providers who are members of key population communities to design and co-deliver sexual health, mental health, rights, and other harm reduction services to their peers.
She provides ongoing research support to various implementation science and clinical trial studies as principal investigator or site-principal investigator. She has served as Chair, Co-Chair and member of several WHO Guidelines Development Groups and Strategic and Technical Advisory Committees. She has published over 270 peer-reviewed articles. She is also the International AIDS Society (IAS) Governing Council Representative of Asia and the Pacific Islands, the Deputy Editor of the Journal of International AIDS Society (JIAS), and the Associate Editor of Sexual Health.
She has deep interest in the establishment and sustainability of the Key Population-Led Health Services (KPLHS) which empower key population lay providers who are members of key population communities to design and co-deliver sexual health, mental health, rights, and other harm reduction services to their peers.
She provides ongoing research support to various implementation science and clinical trial studies as principal investigator or site-principal investigator. She has served as Chair, Co-Chair and member of several WHO Guidelines Development Groups and Strategic and Technical Advisory Committees. She has published over 270 peer-reviewed articles. She is also the International AIDS Society (IAS) Governing Council Representative of Asia and the Pacific Islands, the Deputy Editor of the Journal of International AIDS Society (JIAS), and the Associate Editor of Sexual Health.
Dr. Stephane Wen Wei Ku
Dr. Stephane Wen-Wei Ku currently working as attending physician at Division of Infectious Diseases at Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch. His research interests
include HIV/STI, Chemsex, and sexual wellbeing of LGBTQ+ community and has been actively involved in promoting U=U, HIV self testing, PrEP implementation
and Mpox vaccine rollout in Taiwan. Dr. Ku serves as board member of Taiwan AIDS Society and HIV Education And Research Taiwan (HEART) currently and works extensively with other NPOs/CBOs.
include HIV/STI, Chemsex, and sexual wellbeing of LGBTQ+ community and has been actively involved in promoting U=U, HIV self testing, PrEP implementation
and Mpox vaccine rollout in Taiwan. Dr. Ku serves as board member of Taiwan AIDS Society and HIV Education And Research Taiwan (HEART) currently and works extensively with other NPOs/CBOs.
Gloria Lai
Gloria Lai is the Regional Director: Asia for the International Drug Policy Consortium, a global network of civil society organisations advocating for drug policies that promote human rights and social justice. She has worked for IDPC since 2011 and currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to this role, she worked as a lawyer then later as a senior policy advisor on law enforcement and drug control for the Australian Government.
Chokwan Kitty Chopaka
Independent Cannabis Advocate and Activist, Thailand.
Kitty is a passionate advocate for cannabis rights and policy reform. Prior to the descheduling of cannabis in Thailand, she dedicated her work to raising awareness, promoting decriminalization, and facilitating knowledge sharing about cannabis use and regulation.
Since the descheduling of the cannabis plant in 2022, Kitty has been actively involved in shaping the legal framework surrounding cannabis in Thailand. As a member of the "Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future" Network, she contributed to the drafting of the People's Cannabis Act, as well as being the advisor to the government's Cannabis Act drafting committee.
Despite the political challenges and uncertainties surrounding cannabis legalization, Kitty has remained steadfast in her advocacy. She has organized numerous protests and demonstrations to safeguard the rights of cannabis users and producers, including a high-profile encampment in front of the government house.
In February 2024, Kitty and the "Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future" Network successfully submitted the People's Cannabis Control Act to parliament, backed by over 10,000 signatures. This act, developed through extensive consultation with diverse stakeholders, aims to establish a comprehensive and equitable legal framework for cannabis in Thailand.
Kitty is a passionate advocate for cannabis rights and policy reform. Prior to the descheduling of cannabis in Thailand, she dedicated her work to raising awareness, promoting decriminalization, and facilitating knowledge sharing about cannabis use and regulation.
Since the descheduling of the cannabis plant in 2022, Kitty has been actively involved in shaping the legal framework surrounding cannabis in Thailand. As a member of the "Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future" Network, she contributed to the drafting of the People's Cannabis Act, as well as being the advisor to the government's Cannabis Act drafting committee.
Despite the political challenges and uncertainties surrounding cannabis legalization, Kitty has remained steadfast in her advocacy. She has organized numerous protests and demonstrations to safeguard the rights of cannabis users and producers, including a high-profile encampment in front of the government house.
In February 2024, Kitty and the "Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future" Network successfully submitted the People's Cannabis Control Act to parliament, backed by over 10,000 signatures. This act, developed through extensive consultation with diverse stakeholders, aims to establish a comprehensive and equitable legal framework for cannabis in Thailand.
Stephane
Rena
Adam
Carol
Rod
Doan
Sazali
Ashwin
Iskandar
Eleanor
Stephen Mills
Nittaya
Charlie
Isaac
Justin
Natalie
Kitty
Gloria
Surang
Ben
Poyao
Vichet
Simran
Nazik
Trang
Suniya
Tam
Do Van Dung
Hue
Ming Wei Lin
Thanh
Benjamin
Eshele
Brigtte
Akarin
Myo
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