Silver Spring, Maryland—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) welcomes Brendon Irvine as the new country director for its Thailand office located in Bangkok. Irvine's appointment became effective March 7, 2007.

"Brendon began his career with ADRA in the Thailand office, so he is quite experienced in the work there," says outgoing country director Greg Young, who has transitioned to a position as director of recruitment for ADRA International. "In his nine years as country director for ADRA Laos, Brendon showed strong leadership, providing direction to his staff among difficult, and what at times seemed insurmountable, challenges. My experiences with Brendon leave me with no doubt regarding his capabilities."

"Brendon has a deep understanding of Thai culture," agrees Ronald Kuhn, regional director for the ADRA Asia office, also located in Bangkok. "He can speak the language and has extensive experience working within this area. In short, Brendon's background, his strong interpersonal skills, and his language skills are vital components that will benefit him in his role as director for ADRA Thailand."

Irvine's responsibilities include supervising and managing ADRA Thailand staff, monitoring and evaluating the progress and success of projects, securing project funding, and overseeing staff development and training. He represents ADRA Thailand within the ADRA network, to other non-governmental organizations, and to local governments, donors, media, and the general public.

Irvine earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural science from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. His career with ADRA Thailand began in 1988, when he worked as a volunteer agricultural trainer and science teacher at the Kler Ko Refugee School in the Tak Province. In 1994, he returned to the ADRA Thailand office to manage the Sop Moei Sustainable Agriculture project, which helped hill-tribe communities adopt sustainable agricultural methods.

Appointed country director for ADRA Laos in 1997, Irvine managed and supervised development assistance and emergency management projects. Most recently, Irvine served as regional director for programs and planning for ADRA Asia.

Australian by birth, Irvine is proficient in four Asian languages: Lao, Thai, Karen, and Hindi. He resides in Bangkok with his wife, Esther, and their two daughters, Vanessa and Laura.

Active since 1979, ADRA Thailand has gained recognition for its campaign against human trafficking, opium rehabilitation program, and tsunami relief and recovery projects. Main portfolios include Water and Sanitation, Food Security, Economic Development, Education, Primary Health, and Emergency Management.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact: Nadia McGill ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.5145 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org