Biography
Mr. Manesh Lacoul is a professional with over twenty years of progressively responsible experience in managing programmes, projects, and initiatives designed to advocate innovation, sustainability and human well-being in Asia-Pacific region. Currently, he is working independently to facilitate demand-driven innovations, technological solutions and multi-stakeholder partnerships and address sustainability challenges at grassroots, national and regional levels. He is personally and professionally devoting time in advancing blockchain-based applications including the adoption of Metaverse.
Recently, he designed, built partnerships, and successfully implemented an FAO-EU-funded project on timber traceability in Thailand. He is leading the follow-up consultations with the Royal Forest Department to identify gaps and needs to enhance traceability of timber in Thailand. Similarly, in 2019, he helped formalize partnership between UNEP and AIT to implement a component under the Japan-funded CounterMEASURE project and led the team of experts responsible for development of the GIS-based platform to depict sources and pathways of plastic pollution in river systems in Asia, particularly the Mekong and the Ganges.
Prior to this, he led the establishment of the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) Initiative at the Asian Institute of Technology and managed its secretariat to catalyze Asia-Africa collaboration to holistically address illicit trade in wild fauna and flora and their products.
In his previous roles in the United Nations and other international institutions, Mr. Lacoul has contributed in managing programmes and operations, which extends from grassroots-level activities to national and regional policy interventions for environmental conservation and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific. He is also experienced in Results-Based Management (RBM), and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of projects/programmes and was a member of the United Nations Evaluation Development Group for Asia and the Pacific (UNEDAP) from 2013 to 2015. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on implementation of Environmental Management Systems.
Speaking at
Understanding biodiversity credits as a new tool for conservation: Limits and opportunities
Oct 11 2025 (11:00 - 12:30)
Room: CR A-B: Forum - Session Room 4