Nantaporn Thirapongphaiboon (Ploy) joined GFN in May 2024 as the APAC Food Systems Partnerships Associate Director and is based in Bangkok, Thailand.
She is a seasoned professional in partnership engagement and marketing communications with a strong background in the food industry and a passion for food system transformation.
Throughout her career, Ploy has worked with a diverse range of stakeholders, including farmers, chefs, businesspersons, and consumers, within the sustainable food supply chain. Her extensive experience has underscored her expertise in fostering collaboration along the food supply chain to create meaningful impacts.
Before joining The Global FoodBanking Network, Ploy served as the Senior Outreach Manager at Scholars of Sustenance, Thailand’s first-ever food rescue foundation, for nearly four years. Leading the Outreach department, she spearheaded impactful collaborations across public, private, and academic sectors. Notably, she brought the National Food Bank initiative to the government’s attention, influencing food donation policy recommendations and achieving fundraising goals to sustain food rescue operations.
Ploy’s interest in reducing food waste and improving food security began in 2017 while pursuing her master’s in Social Entrepreneurship at Goldsmiths, University of London. During this time, she volunteered with a local food charity, Food Cycle gaining firsthand experience in food rescue and cooking for the homeless. She continued her journey during a gap year in the Netherlands in 2019, working as a circular cook at Instock, the first restaurant to turn surplus food into casual fine dining meals.
Additionally, Ploy is a certified Natural Chef from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, where she gained knowledge about the health properties of good food and the environmental impact of human consumption. She is committed to ensuring That good food is accessible to everyone.
