TEAM

Tulsi is a dreamer with entrepreneurial zeal for sustainable food systems and has been working in local, national and international arena for the same since more than a decade. Since, he has experiences in initiating a socio-economic enterprises for sustainable businesses (Development Voyage), collaborations between producers, entrepreneurs & consumers (THE BAZAAR Cooperative), founded an agritourism enterprise (Organic Living Nepal), an agri-food-tech platform connecting producers and consumers (KHETI.FARM). He is currently developing THE BAZAAR as a model food network under the sustainable regional food networks concept.

Suman Wagle is an aspiring entrepreneur in sustainable tourism and gastronomy. He had been co-initiator of THE BAZAAR (one of the initiatives of Development Voyage) in the beginning years. He initiated his own tourism company Goreto Holidays in 2014. His expertise includes tours and holidays planning, destination management and event organization. Recently, he has been involved in co-creating and establishing a startup venture named Sarvaguna kitchen that serves healthy diets including vocational education with the values of social gastronomy.

Christoph Schön is a founding member of Markthalle Basel, a 5000 square meters market hall with over 35 food stalls, bars, and shops with local products. Christoph is responsible for all public events and food related events at Markthalle Basel. He is also active in the Basel Food Network and in the Basel Nutrition Forum that promotes sustainable nutrition in Basel. He takes an active role in strengthening collaborations between farmers and gastronomy through various projects such as “Farm to Table”, “speed-dating” between farmers and restaurant owners, etc. In addition to his commitment to the market hall, he devotes himself to the production and organization of cultural projects (i.e. Social Muscle Club, The Several Ways, Textilpiazza Kultur).

Neda Schön works in creative industry since 2011 and is co-founder of KLARA, a food-hall with 9 mini-restaurants and a bar specializing on locally produced beverages and spirits. She is focused on promotion of innovative gastronomy in local context (Genusswoche Basel), communication, marketing and community building (Verein für Kultur & Gastronomie).

Bikram Giri, “Vicks” is an experienced chef. He obtained his Bachelor Degree on Kathmandu Multiple Campus, and his MA on Tribhuvan University. Since 2004 he has worked as chef in numerous restaurants and hotels in Nepal as well as overseas. He is a regular Judge on chef challenges and his recipes are regularly published in newspapers. Vicks also contributed to the first ever Nepalese Heritage Cook book. In 2018 he established “The Voice of Chef’s” a platform for experienced professionals.

Prashanta Khanal has deep interests on Nepali food culture, ethnic cuisines and its history, and has been exploring and writing about it for last eight years. His work can be followed on www.thegundruk.com. He is co-founder of Raithaane, a restaurant in Kathmandu with an aim to promote and celebrate Nepali ethnic cuisines and ingredients that are often neglected and underutilized. Professionally, he works on environment sustainability issues, more specifically on sustainable cities, urban transportation, air pollution and climate change.

Madan Poudel is an MBA Agribusiness graduate from King’s College. Combining mix of young entrepreneur and leader, he works with different young professionals’ network around the world for research, development and advocacy to make agriculture sustainable, youth friendly and smart with appropriate technologies. He is co-founder of Firfirey Organics Agriculture Farm Pvt., an organic farming and distribution company, which is a regenerative agriculture business enterprise which encompasses a diverse production of vegetables, poultry, and fishes. He advocates about local food system, regenerative agriculture, organic farming and technological innovation to solve the most pressing issues of today.

Aruna Upreti completed her MD in Kharvkov Medical Institute and postdoctoral studies on the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, Netherlands. She is a published author of several papers in national and international journals on women and health and nutrition Dr. Aruna Upreti has also worked as public health and maternal child health specialist in Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Tibet, Iran and most remote parts of Nepal. She writes regularly for national and internal papers on the issues of women and nutrition, women and mental health and role of midwife in women’s health.

Govinda Narsingh KC has started his career in 1978 as an apprentice in the Soaltee Oberoi Hotel. Since then he has become one of the most recognizable faces in the food industry in Nepal. Govinda is the first Nepali to have earned the title of Executive Chef and first chef to have been felicitated with Gorkha Dakshin Bahu. During his long career of 30 years he has had the opportunity of promoting Nepali culinary heritage all around the globe.  On the domestic front he has been an integral part of various cookery programmes such as Chefs Corner in Kathmandu Post and cookery show Chulo in Kantipur T.V. Govinda is the Food Production Director of LSG Skychefs, flight catering unit of Soaltee Crowne Plaza and a life-time member, previously the president of Chef Association of Nepal (CAN).

Patrick Honauer is a social entrepreneur, from Switzerland. Involved in this field since 1993, when he started his first company. He is the founder and co-founder of several groundbreaking projects: Neuhof Bachs (first organic restaurant in Switzerland), axisBildung (professional vocational training for differently able young people with 180 apprenticeships), Bachsermärt (SRFN model in border regions), and rundumkultur (start up for social entrepreneurs).

Rafa is a cosmopolitan born in Madrid and living in Santiago de Chile. He has been deeply interested in gastronomy since childhood and is a faithful advocate of gastronomy as a mediator of social change. Today he is the owner and commercial manager of an import and distribution company of fine natural food called “Foodies Chile“, partner and general manager of the Ñam-Festivals, one of the most important platforms in Latin America. As a founder and partner of Social Cycle, he is focused on the business of social gastronomy. Rafa is also an advisor to the Ministry of Culture, a columnist in Chef & Hotel magazine and a professor at the Sommelier School in Chile. He is currently building the Social Gastronomy Hub “La Recoleta” in Chile.

Yamuna Ghale holds Master’s Degree in Ecological Agriculture from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands. She has worked with many international organizations such as, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SNV Nepal, Action Aid International Nepal and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in the capacity of program manager and gender focal point. During her 22 years of professional engagement, she has gained professional experience in the field of natural resource management, food security and inclusive policies and practices. Yamuna Ghale has contributed many articles in the daily magazines and newsletters, edited books and made presentations in many national, regional and international conferences.