Our Team
CBF Team
Kirk Gibson
Chair Board
Kirk is an international development Project Manager with specialist skills in education, scholarships, citizen participation and leadership development. He is currently working as a program design specialist with a Youth Leadership organization in Papua New Guinea and as a researcher for Latrobe University in Melbourne. Kirk has been working for the Happy School since 2004 and on the CBF Board since it began in 2009.
Eang Saroeun
Board member
Saroeun was previously the School Director at the Happy School. He holds a Master of Education degree from Royal University of Phnom Penh. Previously he was the Program Manager for Connected Schools Org. Saroeun coordinated and advocates MoLVT, encouraging PTC directors to use e-learning system for vocational training. He also worked as a Reading Room Program Officer with Room to Read Cambodia to setting up libraries, providing training and supporting literacy skills to State Schools.
Ajay Handa
Board Member
Ajay is a qualified accountant and works as a Chief Financial Officer. He has international experience and has worked for several blue-chip organizations and a number of Private Equity backed businesses. He now works for a Private Equity firm in the UK in the capacity of CFO and Operating Partner working with a number of international portfolio businesses. In 2017 Ajay volunteered with the Happy School in Phnom Penh and joined the Board in early 2018.
Charly Boerboom
Board Member
Charly began his teaching career in 2011 and currently teaches English in the healthcare department at a vocational school. In 2021, he completed a master’s degree in education focusing on innovation. Alongside teaching, Charly has also been working as a Teacher Researcher since 2021, focusing on improving educational practices and implementing new methodologies. He first volunteered with the Happy School in 2018 and joined the CBF board in 2019, where he continues to play an active role in supporting the organization’s goals.
Justin Nagorcka
Board Member
Justin’s relationship to The Happy School stretches back many years as he was formerly the President of ACE (Act, Change Educate), The Happy School’s Australia’s funding body and publicity arm. Justin joined the CBF board following the wind up of ACE that coincided with the end of the physical Happy School. He firmly believes in the life changing opportunities that an education can bring to disadvantaged children. And with a professional background in advertising, marketing and communications Justin skillset is a welcomed addition to the team.
Yourngchantreara Sao
Project Co-Ordinator
Focussing on International Studies and English at university Yourngchantreara Sao grew his innate interest in development work, particularly in and around his native Cambodia. He has actively been working in this sector since graduation with a particular focus on a shared and sustainable prosperity model for all, with goals to instigate novel approaches for small third-world developing countries in Southeast Asia and beyond. Ra, as he is known to the team, loves reading, writing and has a true passion for helping the youth of Phnom Penh to navigate the pathways of success via the opportunities of education.