Meet Our Team
Tim McCormack – Program Director
Born and raised in Yorkshire, England, Tim McCormack grew up more familiar with wildlife of the Dales than turtles, of which there are no native species in the United Kingdom. Passionate about conservation, he completed a BSc in Zoology at the University of Leeds in England before travelling out to Vietnam. While in Vietnam an interest in turtles developed after volunteering at the Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) in Cuc Phuong National Park back in 2002. A Research Master’s degree (MRes) in Conservation Biology from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in England followed; he focused on radio telemetry of the native Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii). One thing led to another and the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) evolved through early research and awareness activities focused on Vietnam’s most endangered tortoise and freshwater turtle species, before joining Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) where he was appointed as Program Director in 2015 and responsible for overseeing research and awareness activities and general program developments.
Bui Thi An – Office Manager
Before joining the ATP/IMC family in January 2013 as an Office Manager, she worked for The Atlantic Philanthropies, an international non-government organization specializing in Education and Health from 2003. After graduating from University of Foreign Languages and International Studies in 2001, An worked as an English Teacher for nearly two years teaching English as a foreign language in schools and universities in Ha Noi. She obtained her MBA degree in 2010 from LaTrobe University (Australia). An always strives to contribute to the conservation mission of ATP/IMC to protect nature and wild animals for future generations to see.
Nguyen Thu Thuy – Animal Manager
Thuy has been working for the Asian Turtle Program since 2009 after she participated in ATP/IMC’s annual Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Field Skill Training Course in March 2009. She graduated in Environmental Science at the Hanoi University of Science, writing her thesis about the conservation of the Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii) in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam. Today, she holds the position as Animal Manager and her responsibilities include managing staff and supervising activities at the TCC, coordinating the rescue of turtles from the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam and working with other rescue centres to increase capacity for turtle conservation.
Nguyen Tai Thang – Rafetus Project Manager
Thang graduated from the Vietnam Forestry University in June 2010. During his degree, he gained experience surveying nature reserves in Northern Vietnam for birds and other wildlife for 2 years. He also attended ATP/IMC’s annual Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Field Skill Training course Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam in April 2010, which led him to start volunteering with ATP/IMC on the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) project in northern Vietnam and on field surveys in Pu Mat National Park. In August 2010, he was employed as a field assistant for the Rafetus swinhoei conservation project. His main responsibilities include conducting surveys to attain information about additional Rafetus swinhoei individuals in the northern Vietnam, supporting local staff in monitoring priority sites to protect the remaining individuals and raising awareness in local communities and schools about the conservation of this rare turtle species. In 2020, Thang was promoted to Rafetus project manager after obtaining his M.Sc. in Forest Resources and Environment Management from Vietnam Forestry University.
Ta Thu Thuy – TCC Vet Nurse
Thuy graduated from the Veterinary Faculty of Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry in 2017. Shortly after, in September 2017, she joined the ATP/IMC team as a vet at the Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) of Cuc Phuong National Park. Her main responsibilities at the TCC include performing health assessments for sick individuals, doing veterinary treatment and surgeries and carrying out husbandry duties for captive turtles and tortoises. She works largely in the Quarantine Area, examining and treating sick animals, and those which have been rescued from illegal trade and require urgent care and isolation.
Tran Thi Ngoc Hang – TCC Project Officer
Hang graduated in Environmental Science from Hue University of Sciences in 2015. After graduating, she was involved in many community survey projects around Viet Nam. In 2018, Hang participated in a TRAFFIC survey about the attitude and behaviour of consumers regarding the use of bear products in Vietnam, and realised her passion for conservation work and protecting wild animals. She has been working for the ATP/IMC since January 2019 as a Project Assistant. Her work is focused on supporting ATP/IMC’s activities at the Turtle Conservation Centre of Cuc Phuong National Park. By doing so, she hopes to contribute to the conservation of endangered wildlife in Vietnam.
Tran Thi Ngoc Hang – TCC Project Assistant
Hang graduated in Environmental Science from Hue University of Sciences in 2015. After graduating, she was involved in many community survey projects around Viet Nam. In 2018, Hang participated in a TRAFFIC survey about the attitude and behaviour of consumers regarding the use of bear products in Vietnam, and realised her passion for conservation work and protecting wild animals. She has been working for the ATP/IMC since January 2019 as a Project Assistant. Her work is focused on supporting ATP/IMC’s activities at the Turtle Conservation Centre of Cuc Phuong National Park. By doing so, she hopes to contribute to the conservation of endangered wildlife in Vietnam.
TRAN THI TUYET DUNG – ATP/IMC Program Officer
Born in the South – Ho Chi Minh City, Dung graduated with a major in Ecology – Biological Resources from the Faculty of Biology – Biotechnology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City in 2021. During time as a student, Dung was a volunteer at the Institute of Southern Ecology and had the opportunity to take part in many field surveys in the southern provinces for three years. After participating in the “Tortoise and freshwater turtles field skills training course” in 2020, she started to have a passion for turtle conservation activities and that has made this Southern girl decided to challenge herself with a new job in the North. Currently, Dung is working as a Project Assistant at ATP/IMC. Dung’s main job is to participate in and support projects mainly in the central region of Vietnam and some northern provinces.