Announcing ILGA Asia's New Executive Director, Henry Koh!

ILGA Asia is excited to announce our new Executive Director, Henry Koh. Through our formal recruitment process, Henry embodied the values of ILGA Asia and stood out as the ideal candidate to steer our efforts to achieve LGBTIQ rights and the empowerment of our member organisations in the region. 

“On behalf of the Executive Board, I’m extending a warm welcome to Henry, and bidding farewell to our previous Executive Director - Vu, who had been so dedicated to serving the Asian LGBTI community in the past 5 years,” said Candy Yun, Co-chair of ILGA Asia Executive Board. 

Lieu Anh Vu, who is leaving to further his education to pursue higher education at Columbia University under the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, left encouraging words.

“I have been truly honoured being a part of ILGA Asia and the ILGA family, working for the equal rights of LGBTIQ people all these years. It is indeed a great challenge, but the pride I take in the organization, the idea of a better future for us all, and the encouragement and invaluable advice from my colleagues, have been powering me on this journey,” said Vu.

Before they were appointed Executive Director, Henry was previously the Research Officer at ILGA Asia where they led the development of overarching research strategies and implemented the production of 16 country reports updating the SOGIESC situation, challenges and opportunities of LGBTIQ communities across the Asia Pacific. However, Henry’s journey with the ILGA network started in late 2016, during the inaugural launch of the ‘SOGIESC at the UPR’ Report. When ILGA Asia started the annual Training for Trainers on UN Mechanisms in 2017, Henry was also among the curriculum developers and trainers until 2019.               

“I am deeply honoured by this meaningful appointment at a pivotal moment for ILGA Asia, and for the wider struggle of queer communities across the Asia Pacific surviving through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Henry Koh. “I have always envisioned ILGA Asia as a leading regional LGBTIQ organisation, centring and amplifying the voices of community members we serve. Together with our impressive team, I take pride and look forward to exploring these aspirations to ensure members’ needs and solutions are at the very forefront of our work, guided by the dedicated and strong Regional and Thai boards, whose guidance is instrumental to achieving ILGA Asia’s mission.

Henry’s commitment to human rights is rooted in their life journey and vision to overcome the exclusion of marginalised persons. Since 2015, Henry has worked as a human rights specialist and researcher with U.N. agencies and non-profit organisations. They also co-founded Beyond Borders Malaysia, a community-led civil society organisation for refugees and marginalised groups. They currently serve as the Malaysian MSM Representative for the U.N. Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (2019 - 2022) and Assistant Secretary-General of PROHAM (Society for the Promotion of Human Rights).

Henry is also passionate about the performing arts, being both a pop pianist and classical violinist. At the age of 17, Henry began teaching the ABRSM violin course at a music academy in their hometown in Johor, Malaysia; before embarking on their tertiary education reading and obtaining a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at the University of London, and subsequently a Master of Laws (LL.M.) specialising in international human rights law with a focus on feminist legal theory. Henry’s current interests include the study of memetics science and decolonisation movements in Asia. 

A new chapter for ILGA Asia

We at ILGA Asia, are adopting our new strategic plan (2021-2025) which emphasises collective action with organisations on the ground through solidarity, capacity strengthening, and mobilising movements and strategic information, which will be spearheaded by Henry Koh.

“We believe that Henry is the right person to continue towards the realization of our vision - a world where fundamental rights of LGBTI people are respected. We are looking forward to working with them and supporting them through this momentous milestone,” said Shadi Amin, Co-chair of ILGA Asia Executive Board.

Henry will continue working together with our current team, Khine Su Whine (Program Officer), Ripley Wang (UN Advocacy Officer), Yarinda Srisutat (Finance and Admin Officer), Ryan Ong (Communications Officer) and Meghna Sharma (UN Advocacy Intern) to achieve our mission of securing LGBTIQ rights in Asia.

For additional information, do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@ilgaasia.org.