Chip Fay

Chip is a seasoned practitioner who has spent over three decades bridging the worlds of environmental advocacy, Indigenous rights, and strategic philanthropy across Southeast Asia. His journey began with three years of Peace Corps service in the northern Philippines, where he worked directly with Indigenous communities on sustainable development initiatives. This grassroots experience shaped his deep understanding of community-based approaches and the critical importance of local ownership in creating lasting change.

From this foundation, Chip transitioned into international human rights work as an Indigenous Rights Specialist with Survival International, developing expertise in Free, Prior, and Informed Consent protocols, legal and policy research and the intersection of human rights with environmental conservation. He then led the Southeast Asia operations for the Environmental Policy Institute, establishing policy frameworks across multiple countries and coordinating with government agencies, civil society organisations, and international bodies.

Chip’s work evolved into strategic philanthropy when he joined the Ford Foundation as a Program Officer in Indonesia, managing substantial grant portfolios focused on environmental justice and Indigenous rights. This role deepened his networks within Indonesian civil society and his understanding of the country’s complex political and ecological landscape. He later conducted cutting-edge research as a Lead Policy Researcher at the World Agroforestry Centre, publishing influential policy papers on land rights, sustainable land use, and forest conservation.

His expertise extended to his role as Indonesia Program Director for the Climate and Land Use Alliance, where a consortium of major US foundations recruited him to establish and lead multi-million-dollar grant strategies targeting deforestation and climate mitigation. After completing that work, he served as Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of AMAN, Indonesia’s largest Indigenous rights organisation, providing strategic counsel during critical periods of policy advocacy.

What distinguishes Chip is his rare integration of technical expertise with transformational capacity. As a practising Zen Buddhist in the Sanbō Kyōdan tradition and trained Present Moment Coach, he brings contemplative wisdom to his advisory work. This combination enables him to work with both the analytical and emotional dimensions of philanthropic decision-making, facilitating the inner transformation that often precedes breakthrough action.

Fluent in Indonesian and deeply embedded in regional networks, Chip serves as a cultural bridge between Western philanthropic institutions and Southeast Asian communities. His approach recognises that the most effective philanthropic action emerges when technical expertise is integrated with personal wisdom and values alignment, reflecting his belief that addressing the climate crisis requires not just more innovative strategies, but more profound insights.