Pianporn is the director of Thailand and Myanmar campaigns for International Rivers, an NGO dedicated to campaigning against destructive dams and protecting rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them.

Born and raised in a Lisu village, an ethnic tribe located in the hills of northern Thailand, Pianporn was exposed at an early age to human rights issues through the work of her parents.

Her current work focuses on protecting the Mekong River from proposed dams, particularly on Thailand’s role as dam developer and the main intended market for the hydroelectricity.

A pioneer in her work with Thai and Burmese ethnic grassroots organizations, Pianporn organizes river communities to slow down dam projects that threaten the local ecosystem and the livelihoods of those who depend on the river and its resources.

She forms community action groups to push for long-term policy and legislation that includes their participation in risk analysis of development projects. Pianporn is a 2006 Ashoka Fellow and a volunteer at an NGO in Chiang Rai that provides community education and support to sustainable agriculture and environmental conversation. Her birthplace, childhood, and work experience, combined with her dedication, enable her to further social environmental justice in Thailand and in neighboring countries.