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WHO WE ARE
Our Board
Our Dutch Board
Rob Rijnders
Secretary
For many years Rob has worked in Europe and Asia for Unilever in various management positions. After that he has spent his time in the Thai family business of OSOTSPA and in the Dutch company Signature Foods. He is currently partner of a boutique consultancy firm Business Markers and associate partner of Zero.by.Fifty, a venture that connects start-ups to big companies so that they can thrive in their sustainability agenda.
Paul Overdijk
Treasurer
Paul is a former Director of Corporate Strategy at TNT and PostNL, where he also led the parcel division and oversaw mergers and acquisitions. He studied mathematics and business administration at Leiden and Delft universities. A long-time advocate for LGBTIQ+ rights, Paul co-founded and chaired Workplace Pride Foundation and continues to chair its advisory board. He also co-founded and leads Pride At Work Thailand and chairs the Equal Asia Foundation. Now living part-time in Thailand, Paul remains active in human rights, art, and filmmaking.
Sallo Polak
Chairman
Passionate social services professional with a proven commitment to empowering vulnerable communities. My journey in the sector began by volunteering at a children's aid organisation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. During this formative experience, I gained experience across various roles, fostering a deep understanding of the inner workings and challenges within the aid sector. This hands-on exposure ignited a passion for creating sustainable solutions beyond basic assistance. I envision a future where vulnerable individuals and communities have the resources and knowledge to achieve self-sufficiency and realise their full potential.
Our Thai Board
Ben Svasti Thomson
Secretary
As a Member of the Order of the British Empire, the Executive Director of the Foundation of Child Understanding (FOCUS) and the Mother Child Concern Foundation (MCC), Ben has dedicated nearly 50 years to humanitarian aid and rural development in Thailand, as well as fighting human trafficking and child abuse. His extensive experience includes navigating the complexities of the Cambodian refugee crisis in the 1980s.
Ben has long admired PCF’s ability to deliver aid to those in need, regardless of how remote their locations are, while maintaining their dignity. Ben feels deeply aligned with PCF's mission and values.
Ying Charm Hom
Treasurer
Ying is a dedicated community leader with a strong focus on women’s empowerment, education, and youth development. Ying’s leadership was evident during her time with the SWAN Foundation, where she served as the Education Programme Coordinator and Acting Director, managing key programmes aimed at improving the well-being of women in the community.
She has made a significant impact in capacity building and income generation initiatives. Ying holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public Health Administration and her fluency in Shan, Thai, Burmese, and English enhances her ability to connect with diverse stakeholders and drive meaningful change.
Sallo Polak
Chairman
Previously a successful floor manager in the Dutch television industry, Sallo moved to Chiang Mai in 2006 to dedicate himself full-time to helping people in vulnerable situations. After working with NGOs in Thailand for a few years he developed the vision to support small, local organisations that are out of the mainstream, and thus to create PCF.
