Thomas Samuel Moloppomannil

Senior Communications Officer
Resilient mountain economies and landscapes (SG2)

Samuel Thomas is Senior Communications Officer for ICIMOD’s work on Resilient Economies and Landscapes.

He brings to this position a wealth of experience gained over two decades in two biodiversity hotspots in South Asia – the Himalaya, and the Western Ghats in peninsular India.

Samuel has a master’s degree in English Language and Literature but chose the conservation sector because of his lifelong passion for biodiversity and community-led conservation, starting out with IUCN – The World Conservation Union in Nepal, and later with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment and WWF in India, before returning to Nepal to join ICIMOD.

Thomas Samuel Moloppomannil

Q:

How do you protect the pulse of the planet?

A:

Effective communication is crucial to raise general awareness and spur action to tackle the pressing issues of our time, from climate change to poverty reduction and the conservation of endangered species. My work involves crafting key messages based on the work of colleagues and partners and then to use different outreach techniques and communications products to communicate those messages to diverse audiences. Together, we amplify the voice of the HKH, the pulse of the planet.

Q:

What is your favorite part of the work you do at ICIMOD?

A:

I enjoy the multicultural environment and working with colleagues from various disciplines. For me, knowledge is the greatest reward. I work with content generated from the diverse contexts of the HKH. I could never dream of learning so much about this region on my own.

Q:

What are you passionate about?

A:

I am passionate about sustainable development, the rights of indigenous people and other marginalized groups, traditional knowledge, biodiversity, languages, cultures.

I enjoy trekking and bird watching in my spare time.

Q:

My qualifications

A:

I have over 20 years of experience in the conservation and development sector, mostly in the mountain environments of the Indian Eastern Himalaya and the Western Ghats in South India. I have held various positions, combining a major role in editing and communication, with secondary roles in project management, grants management, and research. I have a Master’s degree in English language and literature.