Driven by a passion for storytelling and social impact, Vannaphone Sitthirath wears many hats. She co-founded Lao New Wave Cinema Productions, a film production company aiming to create compelling images and stories while supporting emerging young filmmakers and artists. Together with her Lao New Wave Cinema team, she is also a lead organizer of Lanxang Shorts, an annual short film competition that serves as a platform for building the skills of young Lao filmmakers and showcasing their work. She is also a member of the 2019 Cohort of EI Fellows. Her experience spans diverse projects and collaborations with various organizations, including GIZ, The Asia Foundation, and Katalyst Partners. She has leveraged media, campaigns, training, and advocacy to empower communities and raise awareness on critical issues such as illegal wildlife trade, human trafficking, and sexual harassment. Vannaphone holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Griffith University, Australia. Recently, she completed a Women’s Economic Empowerment leadership program with Flinders University in Australia. She is currently leading her own initiative, “Stop Sexual Harassment at School in Laos,” supported by the Australian Alumni Innovation Grant and implemented in partnership with the Lao Women’s Union.