The OPCC Board of Directors is composed of volunteers nominated and then elected by the members of the association. Our last election was held in February 2025 for a one-year mandate.
2025-2026 OPCC Board of Directors
President | Nathan Paul Southern
Nathan Paul Southern has a background in investigative journalism specialising in global security, transnational crime, cyber slavery/scams, environmental trafficking, and human rights. His work has been featured in Al Jazeera, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, and other major publications. He serves as the Director of Operations at the EyeWitness Project, an investigative collective producing in-depth research reports on organised crime, conflict, and corruption worldwide.
Vice President | Mech Dara
Mech Dara is a former Cambodian journalist renowned for his investigative reporting on human rights, human trafficking, scams, and environmental issues. He previously worked for The Cambodia Daily and Voice of Democracy (VOD), with his work also appearing in Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, New York Times, The Guardian, The Economist, Sky News, Nikkei Asia and others. In 2023, then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken honoured him with the TIP Report Hero award for his work on trafficking and scam compounds.
Treasurer | François Camps
François Camps is a freelance reporter based in Phnom Penh and has been covering news across Southeast Asia for seven years. His work has been published in Le Figaro, Ouest-France, L’Express and other French speaking media outlets. He’s also worked as an editor with Cambodianess, a Cambodia-based media outlet.
Secretary | Vutha Srey
With over a decade of experience, Vutha Srey specialises in logistical support, translation, and local expertise, enabling international media teams to capture Cambodia’s most pressing stories. Vutha’s experience ranges from coordinating multi-day shoots with international documentary teams, like Mongabay, CBS News, Business Insider, The Guardian, National Geographic, France24, Yle Areena Fi, SRF ch, 60 Minutes and ABC, to working with journalists on investigative stories into environmental issues, social injustice, wild animal trades, illegal logging and human rights.
Regular Board Members
Leila Goldstein
Leila Goldstein is a freelance journalist based in Phnom Penh covering stories across Southeast Asia. Her reporting has been published by NPR, BBC, The Guardian, Marketplace and The World. She was an associate editor at CamboJA News in 2023 and 2024.
PAST PRESIDENTS
| Year | President | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| 1993/94 | Leo Dobbs | Reuters |
| 1994/95 | Mark Dodd | Reuters |
| 1996/97 | Matthew Lee | Agence-France Presse |
| 1997/98 | Matthew Lee | Agence-France Presse |
| 1998/99 | Matthew Lee | Agence-France Presse |
| 1999/00 | Christopher Fontaine | Associated Press |
| 2000/01 | Chris Decherd | Associated Press |
| 2001/02 | Chris Decherd | Associated Press |
| 2002/03 | Luke Hunt | Agence-France Presse |
| 2003/04 | Michelle Vachon | Freelance |
| 2003/04 | Michelle Vachon | Freelance |
| 2005/06 | Bronwyn Sloan | EFE |
| 2006/07 | Bronwyn Sloan | EFE |
| 2007/08 | Bronwyn Sloan | EFE |
| 2008/09 | Brian Calvert | Voice of America |
| 2009/10 | Patrick Falby | Agence-France Presse |
| 2010/11 | Robert Carmichael | Deutsche Presse-Agentur |
| 2011/12 | Robert Carmichael | Deutsche Presse-Agentur |
| 2012/13 | Rick Valenzuela | Freelance |
| 2013/14 | Rick Valenzuela | Freelance |
| 2014/15 | Rick Valenzeula | Freelance |
| 2015/16 | Lauren Crothers | Freelance |
| 2016/17 | Nathan Thompson | Freelance |
| 2017/18 | Nathan Thompson | Freelance |
| 2018/19 | David Hutt Ate Hoekstra | Freelance Freelance |
| 2019/20 | Ate Hoekstra | Freelance |
| 2020/21 | Ate Hoekstra | Freelance |
