THEN + NOW: can you recognize?

Everyone was a kid once so see these interesting kiddie pics of the people who work closely with me….who can you recognize????

A few years back, when Kechara started to grow exponentially, I needed proper management from skilled and or dedicated individuals to get the organization to keep running smoothly. I decided to adopt the monastic organizational structure, as used in Gaden Monastery, to manage the expansion. In 2006, the Liaison Council was introduced into Kechara organization. 6 years later, Kechara now has 18 liaisons, all unique and capable individuals that carry out the necessary secular work for Kechara to continue benefiting others.

Kechara liaisons are very, very dedicated to their Dharma work… they work very hard to get things done, without any complaints or excuses. All 21 of them came into Kechara wanting to make a difference. They made the decision not to use their lives just to pursue a monthly pay cheque, but to instead benefit others… all through different means. I am very proud of Kechara’s 21 liaisons, and all the full-time staff and volunteers who support them.

I’ve blogged here the faces of the Liaisons then and now…everyone was a kid and they can grow up to be something beneficial to others…take a look..would you have recognized them as kids if I didn’t tell you who they were….Which one still looks similar to their kiddie pics and which ones really look different??? Let me know what you think? Who still resembles themselves as kids? Who do you think wins the cute kiddie pic??hehehe

Tsem Rinpoche

IRENE LIM

Portfolio

• Director of Kechara Oasis

Irene is an avid traveler and well-versed in Buddhist philosophy, health, nutrition, meditative equipoise and tantra. She has raised funds for numerous charitable organisations and has led several pilgrimages to some of the world’s most sacred Buddhist sites. The core of her life for the past 17 years has been and still is, the connection to her spiritual practice which has enriched her life experience, resonating deeply through her entire being. Her spirituality has given great meaning to her life, transforming her mind, and leading her to find inner peace and happiness.

When the thought of opening a vegetarian restaurant arose, Irene immediately embraced the idea with joy and made it happen. She believes people deserve to experience taste, fun, joy, beauty, sustainable happiness, wealth, health and harmony.

DATUK MAY PHNG

Portfolio

• Executive Director, Tsem Ladrang
• President, Kechara House Buddhist Association Malaysia
• Board of Directors, Kechara Organization
• Executive Committee Member, Kechara World Peace Center

Datuk May is vastly experienced in construction, automobile, manufacturing, property management, plantation and clean room technologies. Currently, she is the Chairman of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Shanghai, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council and a Committee Member of MRPMA (Malaysian Rubber Products Manufacturers’ Association).

Datuk May has lead a very privileged life. However, despite her material success, when she hit the age of 40 years old she felt a certain emptiness within. This lead her to read books and attended courses on adult experiential learning where she then realized her desire for spirituality in life. I first met Datuk May in 2007, when she followed a friend to attend a Dharma talk that was given one evening. From that moment forward, Datuk May dedicated her time, effort, and energy to Kechara for the benefit and happiness to all.

PASTOR KOK YEK YEE

Portfolio

• Senior Editor, Kechara Media & Publications and Kechara Care
• Head of Chinese Manjushri Class, Kechara Education Committee
• Head, Chinese Committee
• Kechara’s Pastor

Kok Yek Yee is a Liaison and Senior Editor of both Kechara Media & Publications and Kechara Care. She is also a committee member of Education Committee and core member of the Kechara Chinese Committee. Recently, Yek Yee was ordained as one of Kechara’s pioneer Pastors.

With a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology, Yek Yee started her career as a journalist, writing for Guang Ming Daily and Nanyang Siang Pau, an established national newspaper, as a features writer.

Yek Yee won an award for The Best Health Related Article in the Magazine Category, which was awarded by the Malaysian government in 2007, and has continued to write for major dailies and popular magazines such as Feminine and Buddha. She published her first book, Protector Setrap, in 2007.

PASTOR SUSAN LIM

Portfolio

• e-Communications Manager of Kechara Media & Publications
• Kechara Sunday Talk, Simplified Lamrim, Lamrim Speaker, Head of Educational Research, Program Development, Kechara Education Committee
• Kechara’s Pastor

Armed with a Masters in Instructional Design from the University of Alabama (USA), Susan Lim worked at various companies, including a dotcom and a consulting company and the US Coastguard base while in the US. On her return to Malaysia, she enjoyed a corporate career at Intel Malaysia, where she excelled for six years.

She joined KMP in early 2007, bringing her experience in strategic and tactical planning from the corporate world as well as her instructional design skills which naturally lend themselves to producing materials people can learn from to benefit themselves and others.

In 2009, she became the e-Communications Manager of KMP. In particular, she enjoys spearheading new products and market segments for KMP and developing KMP’s online sales channel.

Above all, she treasures the opportunity to learn Dharma and apply it on a daily basis. It was this quality that she was ordained to be one of Kechara’s pioneer pastors in 2011.

CHUAH SU MING

Portfolio

• Director of Marketing and PR, Tsem Ladrang
• Department Head, Kechara Care
• Operations Manager, Kechara Lounge, Nepal

A Business Administration graduate from the University of Sheffield, Su Ming’s early career revolved around a most glamorous lifestyle with many travel opportunities. Su Ming has worked for Bacardi Martini Malaysia and left a jet-setting job with L’Oreal Malaysia to join Tsem Ladrang, which she personally finds more fulfilling on a spiritual level.

She currently heads Kechara Care which serves to help newcomers in Kechara.

SHARON SAW

Portfolio

• Senior Writer of Kechara Media & Publications
• Kechara Sunday Talk Speaker, Kechara Education Committee

A mother to a 13 year old son, Sharon Saw is a woman of many talents. With a BA (Hons) in Land Economy and an honorary Masters of Arts from Cambridge University, Sharon has worked on projects ranging from layout planning for the British government, to running her own IT company, to script-writing. Sharon started volunteering in KMP in 2006 and since 2008, she has been working full time for Kechara. Sharon now brings her life experience and writing expertise to her position as Liaison of Kechara Media & Publications, a role which she feels has given her a permanent sense of fulfillment and a purpose in life that is real.

In addition to Sharon’s commitment in Kechara, she holds or has held the following positions:

• Former President of Soroptimist International Club of Petaling Jaya
• Editor, Soroptimist International Region of Malaysia newsletter
• Asst. Hon. Secretary of the Oxford & Cambridge Society, Malaysia
• Member of the Federation of Malaysian Unit Trust Managers
• Director, Gergaji Management Sdn Bhd

DATO’ RUBY KHONG

Portfolio

• President of Kechara Soup Kitchen
• Liaison of Personal Affairs for H.E. Tsem Rinpoche

Dato’ Ruby Khong is the President of Kechara Soup Kitchen, socialite, mother of three beautiful grown up children, director of an international petroleum company, and the director of a chain of Himalayan artifact retail shops. Despite the many hats she wears, she remains committed to the plight of the less fortunate.

Her dedication to the cause resulted in her naming as one of Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy. More recently, Dato’ Ruby won the Golden Heart category in the Tribute to Women Awards, presented by Malaysia’s First Lady, Yang Amat Berbahagia Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor.

It is not an uncommon sight to find Dato’ Ruby in the back streets of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday nights with her team of volunteers serving and talking to her friends on the streets.

Her ability to balance her responsibilities to her family and career, whilst maintaining a sincere commitment to philanthropy, is admired by many seeking to imitate her ease and natural grace. Dato’ Ruby is comfortable, unpretentious and undeniably feminine in whatever role she finds herself in. With her hands-on approach, this passionate, upbeat, very bubbly lady is a true leader in her own right.

PAUL YAP

Portfolio

• Department Head of Kechara Saraswati Arts
• Department Head of Kechara Discovery
• Department Head of Kechara Blooms

After graduating from the University of Otago, New Zealand, Paul Yap garnered eight years of experience in the finance industry as a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. Starting his career in an international public accounting firm, Paul then became the Senior Finance Manager in a manufacturing company.

Now the Liaison of the closely linked departments of Kechara Discovery, Kechara Blooms and Kechara Saraswati Arts, Paul arranges pilgrimages to holy Buddhist sites, and works to create and bring affordable, high-quality Buddha images to the world.

NICHOLAS YU

Portfolio

• Liaison of Kechara Care
• Manager of Kechara Care
• Committee Member of Kechara House

Nicholas has been a member of Kechara since 2008, beginning as a Kechara Soup Kitchen volunteer before becoming one of their Team Leaders. Since then, Nicholas has been elected into the Kechara House2010-2012 Committee.

Nicholas graduated with a Bachelor (Hons.) Degree in Electronic & Electrical Engineering from Lincolnshire & Humberside University. His working experience has been with telecommunications companies managing infrastructure implementation for 8 years. In May 2010, Nicholas Yu quit as project manager with one of Malaysia’s top mobile operators to become a full-time Kechara member of staff. He credits the ease of his entrance into full-time Dharma to his supportive wife Josephine and two loving daughters.

HAN SIEW FONG

Portfolio

• Head of Department, Kechara InMotion
• Member, Kechara Chinese Committee

Ms Han Graduated from Taiwan’s National Cheng Chi University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. With a Masters degree in Journalism and 15 years of industry experience under her belt, Han Siew Fong has dedicated her life to television productions. In her role as a producer, Ms. Han controls all aspects of production, ranging from idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking. Despite being highly in demand and always busy with projects, Ms. Han is deeply committed to promote the Dharma through hard media as part of Kechara InMotion.

PHNG LI KIM

Portfolio

• CEO, Kechara Media and Publications
• Board of Directors, Kechara Organization

A mother of 3 sons and daughter to Kechara House’s President, Datuk May Phng, Li Kim is as highly accomplished as her mother. Since graduating from Pepperdine University in California with a BSc in Business Administration, Li Kim has managed a wide variety of companies, ranging from the manufacture of latex surgical and examination gloves, to companies dealing in network marketing and IT digital signage. In short, Li Kim has ample experience in Management, Production, Strategic Planning, Human Resources, Finance, Administration, Product Research, and Sales and Marketing. Her professional expertise makes her well-suited to her current position as CEO of Kechara Media & Publications.

KHONG JEAN AI

Portfolio

• Private Office of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche

Upon graduating from Warwick University, England with a Bachelors in Psychology, Jean Ai worked in London before quitting in 2009 to join Tsem Ladrang full-time. As the daughter of Liaison Ruby Khong, Jean Ai grew up under the Dharma umbrella and is proud to follow in her mother’s footsteps of dedicating her life to benefiting others.

Jean Ai’s main portfolio focuses on developing and maintaining Rinpoche and Kechara’s online presence via the Kechara website. She also writes and edits content for the Kechara weekly e-newsletter.

JP THONG

Portfolio

• Board of Directors, Kechara organization
• Executive Committee Member, Kechara World Peace Center

A former hotelier, JP Thong has many accomplishments to speak of – alongside his many entrepreneurial undertakings, JP was President of Asiaworks Foundation and also performed in The Wicked Pitches, an award-wining a cappella group. Now Head Liaison of Tsem Ladrang, JP uses his entrepreneurial skills to manage the Ladrang and promote the Dharma to the world.

JAMIE KHOO

Portfolio

• Senior Editor, Kechara Media & Publications
• Kechara Sunday Talk Speaker, Kechara Education Committee

Jamie Khoo has always been a girl with the world at her feet. Jamie graduated with an MA in English Literature from University of York, and came back to Malaysia to work as a journalist with The Star newspaper and freelance writer for magazines and publications around Malaysia. When she met Kechara, she was about to start a high-profile job and holidayed in exotic locations. Footloose and fancy-free, Jamie says that she was more concerned about her wardrobe than the pains of others. Things have changed dramatically since that first meeting. Now one of Kechara’s Liaisons and the Senior Editor for Kechara Media & Publications, Jamie works hard to bring Dharma to the world, showing through her work and practice that Dharma begins right where you are, whatever your lifestyle.

Siong Woan

Portfolio

• Project Director of Kechara Soup Kitchen

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Siong Woan has a vast working experience prior to joining Kechara. Siong Woan held many high positioned jobs when at 2006 she decided taking a Dharma career is the way she wants to live her life. She is a mother of two children and have a deep interest in Buddhism. Ever since she met Kechara in 2009, she have been volunteering and taking much responsibilities in Kechara. A year later, Siong Woan joined Kechara full time under KSK and has been serving the homeless since then.

OOI BENG KOOI

Portfolio

• Director of e-Division, Tsem Ladrang
• Personal Assistant to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
• Correspondence and Divination Secretary
• Nepal expansion (Tsem Ladrang Kathmandu and retreat center)

An engineer with a Bachelors Degree in Electronic Engineering from Imperial College, London, Beng Kooi first came to Kechara House in 2007 to attend a book talk. It was an illuminating experience and a radical change of perspective, inspiring her to leave her job in the UK to join Kechara and serve the Dharma.

HENRY OOI

Portfolio

• Director of Kechara Paradise Outlets
• Vice President of Kechara House
• Board of Directors of Kechara Organisation
• Executive Committee Member of Kechara World Peace Center

Henry Ooi first met Kechara in 1998 and since coming into Dharma, his life has had a complete makeover. After more than two decades in the skincare and cosmetics industry, Henry now brings his business sense to the role of Liaison and Director of Kechara Paradise Outlets. Henry shares Kechara’s vision for the outlets to function as satellite Dharma centers, positioned to bring Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings to the wider public..

DR LANSE CHIAH

Portfolio

• Translator and Editor for Kechara Media and Publications
• Chief Edit0r for Chinese Translation Team

Dr Lance graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Jinan University, China. Before joining Kechara Media & Publications as a full time translator, Dr Lance was a lecturer at a local traditional Chinese medicine college where she taught subjects from western medicine to future TCM to doctors so that they can combine both western and eastern diagnostic methods in order to meet modern society’s needs. Dr Lance started to work as a part-time translator in Kechara Media & Publications in 2009 then decided to become a full time Dharma worker the next year.

DAVID LAI

Portfolio

• Writer, Kechara Media and Publications
• Kechara Sunday Talk Speaker, Kechara Education Committee

David graduated with a Bachelor of Computing from Monash University, Australia. Upon returning to Malaysia, he worked in sales and marketing with various companies like Canon and Volvo before joining Kechara Media and Publications’ marketing team. David has since authored two books with KMP – There’s No Way But Up, and Vajrayogini and Other Sacred Power Places in Nepal.

LOH SENG PIOW

Portfolio

• Personal Attendant to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
• New Media and Research (China)

Loh graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Nanyang Technological University and earned his Master’s Degree in Engineering from Singapore-MIT Alliance. Since joining the Ladrang, Loh has dedicated his life completely to the Dharma, using the skills he obtained from his previous working experience in research and development to further the growth of Dharma.

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