NMA Advisory Committee

Ang Tshering Sherpa is the Chairman of the ASTREK Group of Companies, which includes Asian Trekking, Asian Adventure Travel & Tours, the Terraces Resort - Hotel Mt. Monastery, Himalayan Chain Resorts in the Khumbu region, Astrek Climbing Walls and Park, Khangri International Hospital, Khangri Hotel, Club House Restaurants, and Asian International Trading. He is a respected figure in the tourism industry, particularly in the realm of mountaineering and has over 47 years of experience in the travel industry, and is an I. Sc. graduate. He has received training through various national and international conferences and events. Some of his notable roles include being the Honorary Consul of Belgium to Nepal, Honorary Member of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA), Chairman of the Climate Alliance of Himalayan Communities (CAHC), President of the Asian Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UAAA), Senior Vice President of the International Mountaineers Association (IMA), Convener of the CTEVT National Skill Test for the climbing sector, Chief Advisor of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Advisor to the Nepal Sherpa Association, Nepal Buddhist Federation, Sherpa Sewa Kendra, and Loktantrik Sherpa Association, and Vice President of the Nepal Tourism Infrastructure Development Council. He has also served as the President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Convener of the Mountaineering and Mountain Tourism Policy Review Sub-Committee for the government of Nepal, Member of the Tourism Product and Destination Development Sub-Committee for the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Founder Advisor of the National Tourism Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal, Convener of several peak celebration committees, and Advisory Board Member for the Adventure Travel World Summit and PATA. In addition, Sherpa has been a member of various organizations such as the Kathmandu Press Club, the Human Rights Organization of Nepal, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, the Nepal-German Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and the Nepal-Belgium Bikash Foundation. He has also led several expeditions, including Nepal-China Golden Jubilee Friendship Peak Expedition in 2005 and China Tibet Expedition to all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters to Mt. Lhotse. He has attended numerous international conferences and trade fairs as a delegation member, including the International Conference on Youth Tourism in 1991, the JATA Trade Fair in 1995 and 1997, and the International Conference of Helicopter Operators Conference in Russia on multiple occasions. Sherpa has also led several delegations to various countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Japan, and China. In addition, he has served as an organizer and speaker at numerous events, such as the Mountaineering & Tourism Conference in 2006 and the Adventure Travel Summit World Conference in 2006. Sherpa has also served on multiple committees and boards, including the Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee for the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. In recognition of his contributions to the tourism industry, Sherpa has served as an international jury member for the International Alpinism Festival in Prague on multiple occasions. Mr. Sherpa has received numerous awards throughout his career, including "The mark of honor of Crown" and "The mark of honor of knight in the Order of Leopold" from the Government of Belgium, "Suprabal Gorkhadakshin Bahu" from the Government of Nepal, the 17th and 18th International Award for Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industries, the 24th International award for Commercial Prestige, a medal from the President of the Northern Ossetia-Alania Republic of Russian Federation, a trophy for the Second Highest Collection of Foreign Currency in the Trekking Sector, and a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to the field of tourism. Sherpa has also received various tourism-related awards, certificates, and appreciation letters.

Dr. Ganesh Gurung is a former member of the National Planning Commission and recently retired from the Executive Chairman of Policy Research Institute ( Nepal government’s think tank) and he was also Vice Chairman of the Social Welfare Council (government’s apex body to regulate I/NGOs). He served as Visiting Fellow at Harvard University ( USA) and Yoneyama Visiting Fellow in Japan. He has a vast knowledge of government policy issues and has authored/co-authored several books. He has carried out several research on Nepal’s tourism policy. Dr Gurung has been a member of the Mountain Commission of UIAA.

Buddhi Narayan Shrestha is a border researcher and former Director General of the Survey Department in Nepal. He is a board member of the Institute of Foreign Affairs (2012-2016) and has published articles on the border mountains of Nepal, including Sagarmatha (Everest) and Kanchenjunga, in both daily and weekly newspapers. He has conducted research on the border issues between Nepal and both India and China, and has worked towards finding solutions to these issues. Shrestha served as the Technical Coordinator in the core team responsible for constructing the "Nepal Himal Peak Profile" initiative by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). He was also an advisor to the NMA (2014-2016) and has again been appointed as an advisor of NMA. In addition to his work on border issues, Shrestha has published 14 books, including "International Boundaries of Nepal" which was translated into eight languages (Russian, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish). His book "Nepalko Simana" received the prestigious Madan Puraskar prize in Nepal. He has made over 20 presentations on border issues abroad at international congresses and 40 presentations on the same topics within Nepal. Shrestha has received the Sukirtimaya Rastradip-III Medal and has visited 35 countries on six continents, as well as traveling to 68 districts within Nepal.