Tshering Tobgay – Keynote Speaker

Dasho Tshering Tobgay is a Bhutanese politician, environmentalist, and cultural advocate having served as Bhutan’s first leader of the opposition party from 2008 to 2013, and as prime minister from 2013 to 2018.

Dasho Tshering was a civil servant before he joined active politics. He was the first official to resign from his work to take part in his country’s transition to a parliamentary democracy. He was responsible for establishing the People’s Democratic Party as the first registered political party in Bhutan and continues to serve as its president.

As an advocate of Gross National Happiness, he has spoken about conservation, climate change, poverty, democracy and happiness in various international conferences. He is currently writing a book on his personal experiences on happiness, leadership and Bhutan’s successful transition to democracy.