Lucia de Vries is a Phoenix Sr. Associate who is a journalist and communication consultant with a special interest in development issues, media training, human rights issues, oral history, children’s books and film making.
Writing & Editing
With thirty years of journalistic experience, Lucia works as a feature writer and reporter for English language papers such as Nepali Times & Kathmandu Post, as well as Dutch language dailies such as Trouw & Nederlands Dagblad.
Lucia is the founder of various publications, including the popular magazines Face to Face and Haka Haki, and has decades of experience as an editor. With a Master’s degree in Peace Studies, she is not only fluent in journalistic editing but also has experience with academic editing.
Lucia De Vries is co-founder of Sunbird Publishers, which has produced various children’s books translated in Nepali and English. Her own publications include:
Anthology of Writings from the Himalaya (not yet published)
In addition to her world-class authoring in print, Lucia De Vries is very active when producing videos. Both as a researcher and producer, her credits include:
Jigs Gaton is the CEO and founder of Phoenix Consulting and Training Worldwide, and for his entire career he has helped large organizations do better. His skill set includes large-scale Project Management, IT, Media Design & Production, and his trademark training & facilitating.
Project Management
Ever since landing his first real job with IBM back in 1979, Jigs has managed large teams of professionals and helped them accomplish some amazing things:
Known by some as the inventor of the F1 key, Jigs led his IBM team to develop one of the world’s first online help systems that included graphics, video and hypertext together.
Again at IBM, Jigs Gaton managed the Creative Lab (an incubator for new products) where Try & Buy was hatched – the precursor to Internet retailing. This was back when software was pressed and delivered on CDs, and customers would try the software before buying by calling in using a 1-800 number – how quaint!
While a Sr. Project Manager with the World Bank in Washington DC, Jigs led teams that developed the Image Bank and the renowned World Bank Knowledge Bank, an online archive of projects dating back to the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference.
Now as a consultant, Jigs has trained well over a thousand participants with his Power to Plan Workshop, which is a customizable programme (usually 3-5 days long) that gets project managers up to speed using the latest in PM techniques & technology.
Information Technology
Ever since high school (where Jigs had access to an IBM mainframe) he’s been enamored with IT, computers and anything to do with applications that make life easier for the human race. Here are just a few of the projects he has had the opportunity to work on:
Jigs helped incorporate a version of the IBM 7535 Robotic Arm system into the high-volume manufacture of floppy diskettes – yes, he’s that old!
Jigs worked with the IBM team that first mixed text & graphics for output on IBM laser printers using AFP and the Print Service Facility.
Jigs also worked worked on the IBM 4731, one of the world’s first ATM machines; there he wrote a bit of code and managed the testing department.
Jigs was also one of the many developers who brought forth the now defunct windows-like operating system: OS/2 Warp.
Jigs Gaton has kept up well with his IT skills over the years, and can be found at any moment tinkering with a Microsoft Project Server or otherwise researching tools that will make project management tasks just a little bit easier.
Media Design & Production
Related to his IT skills, Jigs has always been involved in designing information in multimedia formats, from his patent on Object-Oriented Writing (OOW), to his founding of Phoenix Studios Nepal, he has been incessant in designing better ways to deliver information to the masses. For example:
Jigs has helped organizations like UNICEF put reports and conference proceedings onto digital media (eDVDs).
He has edited countless documentaries, promotions and presentations that have helped both large & small organizations explain (in simple terms) what they are about, and what they are doing.
Jigs and the team of Phoenix Studios Nepal were the first to bring MTV-style video programming to Nepal.
Jigs has just developed a new workshop (The Power to Persuade) for graphic designers or anyone who wants to present both persuasively and visually.
Training & Facilitation
Jigs Gaton is well-known in Asia, Africa and the UK for his workshops on Project Management, Communication Skills and Professional Management – where he has trained well over a thousand professionals in the fine art of better managing large projects using technology, and in communicating better using professional writing & editing techniques. For example:
While working with the Empowerment Learning & Development Centre (ELD), Jigs brought MS Project software into their professional-management mix of courseware.
While working with Adam Smith International (ASI), Jigs Gaton has trained Project Managers & Analysts on how to mind-map out large-scale projects, and then schedule the projects using Microsoft Project software.
And just to do something completely different, Jigs can often be found holding talks in local primary schools regarding the plight of captive elephants, or how to better care for pets. (Jigs is also one of the original founders of this popular NGO in Nepal: www.animalnepal.org)
Jigs Military Service
Jigs is also a Vietnam-Era Veteran (oh so many years ago) and he served in the U.S. Army (4th Infantry Division) as a combat construction specialist – in other words, he blew things up! Now averse to loud noises and deaf in one ear, Jigs has many old war stories to tell to anyone who will listen.
While Jessy is not available for hire right now (she’s still doing her 20+ years at The World Bank), she is our backbone here at the agency. From interior design to smoothing out customer challenges, she decorates our world with cheerfulness and light.
Administrative Management
As an Uber-Office Manager at home and at work, Jessy has a long career in managing administrative staff and duties. Her discipline in this discipline stems from her early days at a Singaporean Watch factory, where her attention to detail and single-focused outlook first grew. Nowadays she jungles consultants needs as well as management’s demands without a blink.
Interior Design
As a self-taught artist, Jessy excels at all things interior: from home designs to modern office layouts. She has re-imagined the interior of the World Bank office in Nepal, as well as designing the interior of the Phoenix Studios Nepal recording studio and several local restaurants. From window dressing to the weave of a sofa, Jessy has an eye for it.
Visual Communication
Jessy is often found producing visual media in addition to her administrative duties at the WB; for example, she recently produced a video for HR (on Work-Life balance) and is often found producing room-size banners and logos for international workshops and meetings.
As our CAO & Treasurer, Jessy has a message to all…
Jessy Rai offers this to all of our clients and consultants alike: “If you have a concern, come talk to me.” She is also the PCATWW Treasurer, so if there is an issue with money, she’s your gal.
With over 3 million YouTube views to his credit, Sanzip Rai is our go-to Sr. Associate for all things related to video & audio production, as well as for professional photography. His innovative production approaches and filming ability make him very popular with development organizations, TV producers and performing artists. His camera and editing skills are put to best use while planning a multimedia production such as a documentary, TV commercial or music video. Sanzip is regularly found working with CREATO Pvt. Ltd, Shoot First Films, and Falls Studio – and here are just a few of his many credits:
In addition to his video talents, Sanzip is also well-known musician, and has composed original music for other artists, as well as for his own productions. Sanzip plays guitar and piano, and has worked with the following artists to arrange, record and mix & master their work: Shubu Thapa, Nepathya, Adrian Pradhan, Dibya Subba, Jeevan Gurung (The Edge Band), Axis, Albatross, Alt-F4, Nareen Limbu & Sudeep Gurung (Aastha Band), Visan N the Groovers, Stoned Amp, OST-Bhale Fight, Sudeep Giri, The Shadows, Anil Singh and more.
