Wilson has more than 20 years of experience in rural development. He is passionate about people-centered, locally-managed and transformative approaches to addressing issues of rural people. He is currently the Country Director of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Myanmar. He is Filipino but has been working in Myanmar since 2014.

He grew up in a southern city of Davao in the Philippines. After graduating with a Biology degree, he went on to work for a local non-profit in southern Philippines for 10 years working with farmers, fishers and rural women, organizing and building their capacities to engage government and businesses. He also worked with small-scale fishers in the islands of Bohol, central Philippines to develop and implement programs for sustainable fisheries and habitat protection. Wilson has more than 20 years of experience in rural development. He is passionate about people-centered, locally-managed and transformative approaches to addressing issues of rural people. He is currently the Country Director of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Myanmar. He is Filipino but has been working in Myanmar since 2014.

He grew up in a southern city of Davao in the Philippines. After graduating with a Biology degree, he went on to work for a local non-profit in southern Philippines for 10 years working with farmers, fishers and rural women, organizing and building their capacities to engage government and businesses. He also worked with small-scale fishers in the islands of Bohol, central Philippines to develop and implement programs for sustainable fisheries and habitat protection. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx