Gelephu Mindfulness City, Bhutan – September 24, 2025 – His Majesty The King has appointed three Bhutanese leaders to the Board of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). Dechen Dorji, Sonam Choden, and Jigdrel Singay will bring their experience and dedication to shaping a mindful, sustainable, and technologically advanced city that will play a key role for Bhutan’s future.
Dechen Dorji has spent two decades in conservation leadership, working across Asia as Vice President for Wildlife Conservation at WWF-US. From his earlier role as WWF Country Representative for Bhutan, he has developed experience in international conservation partnerships and large-scale project development. His work on the “Bhutan for Life” initiative secured $43 million for national conservation efforts, demonstrating his ability to mobilise global
resources for environmental protection. Recognised with the National Order of Merit, Gold, from His Majesty The King, Dorji brings to GMC international experience in translating sustainability goals into actionable programmes with global partners.
Sonam Choden contributes nearly two decades of strategic planning and sustainable housing development experience from her senior executive role at the National Housing and Development Corporation Ltd. (NHDCL). As one of the leading women executives in Bhutan’s infrastructure sector, she has successfully delivered nationally significant projects, including the Special Housing Project in Phuentsholing. Her work on the initial conceptualization of the Green and Resilient Affordable Housing Project, which will add over 1,000 affordable housing units,
demonstrates her experience in balancing large-scale development with sustainability goals. Her leadership experience in housing development will be valuable as GMC addresses urban planning and sustainable living solutions.
Jigdrel Singay brings a younger perspective to the board, with experience in digital innovation and finance. As Associate Director of Green Digital Private Limited and Board Member of the Royal Stock Exchange of Bhutan, he has been actively involved in Bhutan’s entry into the digital asset ecosystem, including work on foreign investment partnerships for high-performance computing data centres. He also worked at Druk Holding & Investments (DHI), Bhutan’s sovereign wealth fund, on innovation and emerging technology programs. A Chevening Scholar with degrees in Finance and Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, Singay has hands-on experience in blockchain technology and institutional innovation that will be valuable as GMC develops its technological infrastructure.
The three leaders join GMC’s existing board, adding their specialised experience to the project’s established leadership framework. With this diverse leadership in place, GMC is positioned to begin its next phase of development as a model for mindful development
