How our foundation started
Sustainable Maikhao Foundation started in 2020 as a project engaging the local community to focus on cleaning the beaches in Maikhao, Phuket. We quickly recognized that not only did we need to find a responsible way to manage the variety of waste collected, but we also needed to begin educating the broader community about the impact of waste on the ocean ecosystem.
Today Sustainable Maikhao Foundation has evolved beyond beach cleaning. We undertake educational workshops across 20 schools in Phuket, coordinate awareness activities with the staff of many hotels, facilitate recycling, and deliver CSR programs for local and visiting corporate teams, as well as continuing to organize cleanups every week in Maikhao.
Please join us in our mission to drive action, awareness, and education, on the ground, in our own community – get involved or donate.
Meet our Team
Michelle Mouillé
Founder
Michelle moved to Mai Khao in 1999 and quickly developed a deep appreciation for its natural beauty, culture, and community. With a background in education and environmental stewardship, she has coordinated numerous conservation initiatives. As a former board member and the first coordinator of the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, she gained valuable insight into the urgent need for effective waste management to protect marine life.
Through the Sustainable Maikhao Foundation, Michelle focuses on raising awareness about the waste crisis and working with local communities to implement practical, sustainable solutions.
Thanaphong Narongkun (Perth)
Community Project Coordinator
Perth has a strong background and deep interest in development issues, with a particular passion for environmental conservation. Nature gives him positive energy, and he is committed to protecting it for future generations. In his role as Community Project Coordinator at the Sustainable Maikhao Foundation, he values the opportunity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and generations who share the same dedication to safeguarding the ecosystem. These interactions continually inspire his learning, personal growth, and commitment to creating meaningful impact.
Our Monsoon Beach Cleaning Team
Our dedicated team of hardworking local staff, employed by the Foundation and funded by the hotels along Mai Khao Beach, conducts daily cleanups throughout the monsoon season. During these months, large amounts of rubbish are washed onto our west coast beaches, and their continuous efforts help keep our shoreline clean, safe, and beautiful.
Khun Geh and Khun Rohd
Support Staff
Khun Geh and Khun Rohd assist us when needed with beach cleanups, serving refreshments at events, cleaning our Recycling & Learning Center as well as cleaning and delivering recyclables to special recycling projects around Phuket and Phang Nga.
They are efficient and are willing to help in every situation.
Meet our Advisors
“Poo Yai” Manoch Saithong
Government & Community Projects Advisor
“Poo Yai” Manoch is the former Village Headman of Moo 4, Ban Mai Khao. He brings decades of leadership experience and continuous dedication to community and environmental work to our foundation. He currently serves as the former President of the Ban Mai Khao Environmental Volunteer Group, President of the Phuket Provincial Health Assembly, and a member of the working committees of the Phuket Provincial Community Institute and the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (Phuket). In addition, he is a member of the Subcommittee on Social Development and Human Security.
With over 27 years of experience in community care and development, Poo Yai Manoch has played a vital role in sea turtle conservation, community-based waste management, and sustainable community development. He is highly respected by local residents as well as government agencies and private sector organizations, and provides valuable guidance and strategic advice to various projects of the Sustainable Maikhao Foundation, including collaboration among all sectors.
Dr Chantinee Boonchai
Sustainable Development and Education Advisor
Dr Chantinee is a Thai academic and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus. She is deeply passionate about sustainability, community wellbeing, and environmental stewardship. With international education and long-term engagement in Phuket, her work emphasizes cross-sectoral collaboration, community empowerment, and applied research that supports local communities, policy development, and sustainable tourism practices.
Her expertise spans environmental management, sustainable development, waste management, and environmental tourism, and she has held several senior leadership roles while working closely with government agencies, civil society organizations, and community partners.
Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong
Marine Conservation Expert/Advisor
Dr Kongkiat is a marine biologist with more than three decades of experience in marine and coastal conservation. He began his career at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) in 1992 and was recently promoted to Research Specialist in Marine and Coastal Resources and Environment at Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
Driven by a lifelong passion for the underwater world, his early research included scuba-based fieldwork to collect tissue samples from giant clams for population genetic studies. In 1993, he founded the Marine Endangered Species Group at PMBC, becoming one of the three pioneers of marine endangered species research in Thailand.
Dr. Kongkiat earned his Ph.D. from Kyoto University, where his research focused on green sea turtles using molecular markers and satellite telemetry. Through decades of work with marine endangered species, he came to recognize that effective conservation cannot rely on biological science alone. Since then, he has worked closely with local communities, integrating biological research with social and economic perspectives to address the complex challenges facing marine endangered species, including sea turtles, dugongs, whales, and dolphins.
Ivan Gorgeon
Executive and IT/AI Advisor
Ivan brings over 40 years of experience in IT, cybersecurity, data privacy, and global operations. He has built secure networks for governments and major enterprises and previously served as BISO and DPO for North America’s largest non-food franchise, overseeing security and privacy across more than 5,500 stores.
An expert in AI and data privacy, Ivan is also a sailor, diver, and painter. Born on a long sandy beach in Normandy, France, he spent over 30 years in California before settling in Mai Khao, Phuket, where he now paints seascapes and advocates for a plastic-free ocean.
Alexandra Bergman
Strategic Advisor
Alex is a Strategic Advisor to SMF, supporting organizational strategy, growth priorities, and implementation planning. She is a Consultant at Bain & Company in Washington, DC, where she leads strategy and operating model engagements for Fortune 500 companies, including decarbonization initiatives for global food and beverage multinationals.
Alex has previously worked with clean energy and sanitation companies in East Africa and is currently pursuing an MBA at INSEAD. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Operations & Sustainability from the University of Maryland.
Ksenia Kiseleva
IT and Web Design Advisor
Ksenia is an IT and Web Design Advisor to the foundation, supporting website development, digital strategy, and user experience. She has a background in project and product management, helping structure digital processes, improve workflows, and deliver effective online solutions.
She has been supporting the foundation since July 2022. Ksenia holds a Master’s degree in Finance, bringing a strong analytical and structured approach to her work. She has lived in Phuket, where she developed a deep appreciation for local communities and environmental challenges. She is a strong advocate for sustainability and passionate about initiatives that protect natural ecosystems and drive positive social impact.
Eduard Palop
Plastic Recycling Advisor
Eduard has worked in plastic recycling and waste reduction since relocating to Phuket in 2018. Confronted by the scale of plastic pollution on local beaches, he began developing practical, small-scale recycling solutions suited to island environments.
He founded the SaveUsFromPlastics project, where single-use plastic waste is transformed into durable products shaped as endangered marine animals found in Thailand. Using Precious Plastic open-source recycling machinery, Eduard applies hands-on expertise in plastic sorting, shredding, extrusion, and molding to demonstrate circular, community-based recycling in action.
His work bridges technical recycling practice with marine conservation and public education, supporting sustainable waste management and awareness of plastic pollution’s impact on coastal ecosystems.
To find out more, visit: https://www.saveusfromplastics.com/
Claudine Nagiah
Regenerative Tourism Advisor
Claudine is a sustainable development and tourism specialist with over 25 years of experience working across Africa and Asia. Based in Thailand since 2009, she has supported communities, NGOs, social enterprises, government agencies, and private sector partners to design and implement tourism initiatives that are socially inclusive, environmentally responsible, and economically resilient.
Much of her work has focused on community-led and regenerative tourism approaches that strengthen local livelihoods while protecting natural ecosystems. She also has extensive experience working with hotels, tour operators and attractions to embed sustainable practices into day-to-day operations, aligning business practices with internationally recognized standards, including those of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
Claudine also works with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support social and environmental risk assessment-management and safeguards, ensuring UNDP projects deliver positive outcomes for people and nature across the Asia-Pacific region.
Michael Ayling
Executive and Hospitality Advisor
Michael is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of international leadership experience across finance, hospitality, tourism, and property development. He is currently CEO of NuoBello, a Phuket-based development, corporate advisory, and accounting services firm.
Previously, Michael served as Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels Plc (Banyan Tree Holdings), overseeing multi-property hospitality operations, golf courses, large-scale property development, and company-wide CSR and sustainability initiatives. He also held senior leadership roles with Laguna Vietnam, Royal Phuket Marina, and as CEO of Blue Tree Phuket.
Earlier in his career, Michael spent over a decade with KPMG across the UK, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. He holds a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance and is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW).
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