Our team
Pianporn (Pai) deetes
Executive Director
Pianporn (Pai) Deetes is the Executive Director of Rivers and Rights. For more than two decades, Pai has been at the forefront of campaigns to defend transboundary rivers—particularly the Mekong and Salween—and the rights and livelihoods of riparian communities who depend on them. Before co-founding Rivers and Rights, Pai served as the Southeast Asia Campaigns Director for International Rivers, where she led cross-border advocacy on transboundary water governance, accountability, and community participation in natural resources. Her work bridges local voices with regional and global policy platforms, bringing community perspectives into spaces where decisions about rivers, rights, and natural resources are made.
Pai holds a Bachelor of Arts with First-Class Honors from Chiang Mai University. She is an Ashoka Fellow (since 2006) and a Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Institute and the Equity Initiative, recognizing her leadership in social innovation and environmental equity.
Her recent efforts focus on addressing cross-border riverine pollution from illegal gold and rare earth mining in Myanmar, a rapidly escalating crisis that threatens water security, ecosystems, and public health in the Mekong basin and beyond. Through her leadership, the Rivers and Rights Foundation works with local communities, civil society groups, and regional and national institutions to strengthen cross-border accountability and transboundary environmental governance.
Anake lekkoon
Finance and Operations Director
Anake serves as a Finance and Operation Director for the Rivers and Rights, where he oversees the organization’s overall accounting and financial operations. He provides strategic leadership in financial management, planning, and compliance, ensuring that organization maintains strong financial accountability and transparency.
His responsibilities include reviewing and approving project budgets and financial reports, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and overseeing project audits.
With more than 20 years of experience in international NGOs and the private sector, Anake brings extensive expertise in financial management and organizational systems.
Gary lee
Program Director
Gary has over twenty years experience working with national and global civil society organisations, most recently as the Southeast Asia Program Director for International Rivers. He has extensive experience in strategy, fundraising, advocacy and program management. He has lived and worked extensively in the Mekong region providing technical and advocacy support to – and strengthening collaborations between – civil society organizations and river networks in the Mekong region. Gary has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Economy with Honors in Geography from the University of Sydney.
Tanya lee roberts-davis
Policy Director
Tanya brings a critical analysis to Rivers and Rights advocacy grounded in concerns conveyed by community contacts, allied groups, networks and movements. For over twenty years, Tanya has been part of civil society groups advocating on labor, women’s, environmental, climate, energy, resource and water justice issues, including in Canada, USA, Philippines, Thailand, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal and Palestine. She holds a Masters of Laws in international economic, social and cultural rights from the University of Essex School of Law and an M.A. in human rights and international law from the UN Mandated University for Peace.
phairin (Rin) sohsai
Campaign Manager
Phairin “Rin” Sohsai is the Campaign Manager at Rivers and Rights, where she works alongside community and civil society networks across the Mekong Region to protect rivers and promote environmental justice. Her work focuses on strengthening community voices and ensuring accountability among investors and financial institutions involved in hydropower and other large-scale development projects that affect the Mekong and its tributaries.
With more than two decades of experience, Rin has been deeply engaged with people’s movements and regional partners since the early 2000s, supporting cross-border collaboration, advocacy, and capacity-building for river-dependent communities. Her commitment lies in ensuring that local perspectives and rights are at the center of decision-making in regional development.
Rin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development from Mahasarakham University, Thailand, and a Master’s degree in Development Management and Governance from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
sanita auttopakorn
Operation Manager
Sanita Auttopakorn brings over a decade of experience in financial management, operations, and program coordination for regional work along the Mekong and Salween Rivers. As Operations Manager at Rivers and Rights, she helps keep the organization running smoothly—overseeing internal systems, supporting team communication, and ensuring transparent and accountable operations.
Sanita plays a central role in connecting teams across borders and maintaining collaboration with state partners and community networks. Her calm leadership and attention to detail help strengthen the foundation that allows campaigns and projects to thrive.
Before joining the non-profit world, Sanita worked at a Research and Development Center at an international university in Bangkok, where she gained strong experience in institutional management and cross-cultural teamwork. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Thammasat University and a Master’s degree in Language and Communication from National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), which reflect her belief that clear communication and understanding are at the heart of meaningful collaboration.
Phanpaporn (Jib) Tameyasan
Finance Coordinator
Phanpaporn (Jib) coordinates and helps manage financial reporting and processes. With a passion for numbers and finance, Jib ventured into the investment sector at MSIG Service and Adjusting Company. Prior to her investment role, she worked for the International Commission of Jurists, honing her financial expertise and understanding of global dynamics. More recently, Jib has served as a senior finance assistant at the esteemed International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, further strengthening her commitment to blending financial proficiency with humanitarian endeavors. With her dedication to both financial excellence and making a positive impact in the world, she continues to forge a remarkable path in her professional journey. Jib holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kasetsart University.
