Shavez Cheema, Position Founder

1StopBorneo Wildlife is my dream conservation organization, founded in 2012 in Brunei. We work with dolphins, elephants, frogs, insects, flora, and pangolins, and have since expanded our projects to Sarawak and Sabah.

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Inspired from a young age by wild animals near my home and naturalists like David Attenborough and Austin Stevens, I felt called to be a voice for the voiceless after witnessing the suffering of animals and the lack of awareness about Borneo’s wildlife.

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Through responsible tourism, we support wildlife rescue and conservation across Borneo. Help protect Borneo’s wildlife—support our projects, join us, and experience it firsthand while making a real difference.

​​Key Projects:

Plant4BorneoElephants | Borneo Dolphin Project |

The Pangolin Project | Marudi Longhouse Cycling Project |

Fauna & Flora Research 

Chun Xing Wong, President

Wildlife has always fascinated me, with endless wonders to discover. ​​In my hometown of Tawau, Sabah, I learned to appreciate nature’s wonders through quiet observation and nature has become my first teacher, inspiring me to start wildlife photography in 2009.

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Enrolled at Universiti Malaysia Sabah in 2014, I study Biogeography and actively participated in environmental programs.

I also joined a nature-loving student club that eventually became the founding team of 1StopBorneo Wildlife’s Sabah branch.

Since then, I have served as president of 1StopBorneo Wildlife, leading our team to launch numerous impactful conservation projects.

Yulinda Wahyuni Binti Eddyutowo, Senior Officer

As a Sabahan from Tawau, I’ve always valued nature and wildlife. Since joining 1StopBorneo Wildlife in 2020—starting as an intern and now a Senior Officer—I’ve grown through many opportunities to contribute to conservation.

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I hold a degree in Biodiversity & Conservation from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. My goal is to inspire locals, especially in Tawau, to cherish and protect our natural heritage because anyone can make a difference.

Lisa Thieme, WWF Grant Manager/Project Planner

Borneo is home to incredible biodiversity and communities living in harmony with nature. At 1StopBorneo, we support this balance through tourism, reforestation, and sharing knowledge about the natural world.

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With over 30 years as a geologist and a decade in Malaysia and Brunei, I’ve combined my love for the outdoors with conservation work. My experience as Chairman of the Panaga Natural History Society and a Yale certificate in Tropical Forest Restoration guide my efforts.

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Currently, my focus is the Plant4Tawau reforestation corridor, supported by a World Wildlife Fund grant, to restore critical habitats for Tawau’s wildlife.

Mala/Adi , Commitee Member

Though we grew up in different parts of the world, Adi and I have always shared a deep love for nature — from tiny insects in the garden to fish in the river. Growing up by the sea in Sabah and working as a marine biologist, the ocean has always been close to my heart. Our paths crossed on Sipadan, where our shared passion for the ocean led to marriage and a business focused on diving, underwater photography, and marine awareness.

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In 2020, an extended stay in Sabah gave us the chance to explore the jungles, where we met the passionate team at 1StopBorneo Wildlife. We were inspired by their sustainable tourism model and their work in rescue, release, and research of Borneo’s rich wildlife. It’s an honor to share this platform for action, and we hope our efforts in raising awareness will help make a difference.

Ledumin, Commitee Member

Hi, my name is Ledumin. I’m from Kg. Sayap, Kota Belud, Sabah. I was a hunter-gatherer, doing that for the living for the whole time in my life until I meet Shavez back in a few years ago. After accepting the offer to join the 1StopBorneo Wildlife, I feel lucky, able to learn new knowledge and see something in a new different perspective towards wildlife of Borneo.

1StopBorneo Wildlife gives me a new way of living too, by becoming a nature guide. I love to see all kind of wildlife species in Borneo and learned their name in English. We are never too late, never too old, to learn about our nature and wildlife in Borneo.

Koid Qian Qun, Head of Field Research

I was born in Kedah, a small place located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Currently, I am studying in University Malaysia Sabah, under the programme of Conservation Biology. I joined 1StopBorneo Wildlife since 2016. To me, this organization is very unique. Different types of nature-related activities such as Book Club, Movie Nights, River Clean Up, and Forest Outing have been carried out and always opened to students and public. 

I always learn new knowledge and skills from the activities that I have joined. Fun facts about wildlife, plants, and nature, experience of spotting animals in the forests, and having good communication skills are the things that I have learned from this organization. They are so valuable to me. This organization also gives me the opportunities to do the stuff that I interested in such as carry out research project and writing papers related to wildlife. I am really happy being part of this organization. I hope I could continue to learn new things from and contribute more to 1StopBorneo Wildlife. 

Bud Chapman, Committee Member

I am a mature student of the world, committed to environmental awareness, protecting the native animals of Brunei and helping people achieve their goals in life.

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I believe that with team we can all achieve our goals and I am really enjoying being part of this team.

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My background has been as a member of the emergency services and in education, currently I work in a support role for CfBT Education Services. It has been a privilege to be able to support 1stopBorneo Wildlife by looking after and releasing back into nature some of the native animals found here. As Head of Animal Rehabilitation and Release my role will be to prepare those animals we receive with the help of other volunteers.

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I look forward to lots more time and experiences that will benefit Brunei, its environment and natural heritage.

Richard Thomas, Committee Member

I am also a mature student of the world with a passion for wildlife, tropical jungles and the protection of the native wildlife of Brunei.

My background is British Royal Air Force for 12yrs and 28yrs in TelecommunicationsNetworks Engineering & Worldwide Network Synchronisation. I am currently happily retired from the ‘world of work’ and spend my time between UK and Brunei.

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1StopBorneo Wildlife is a wonderful NGO with a wonderful committed team of enthusiasts led by the most passionate advocate of wildlife and nature that I have ever known. I am proud to be part of the team. I work closely with Bud Chapman here in Brunei with Rescue and Rehabilitation and release of our native wildlife. It is such a satisfying feeling releasing an animal that can once again live wild and free in the jungle where it belongs.

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Aside from wildlife, my interests are motoring (built my own sportscar), and badminton (played tournaments in many parts of the world).

Martin Parry, Committee Member

I’m a healthy retiree dividing my time between the UK and Sabah, where I live part-time under the MM2H scheme. My career began with 10 years in diagnostic microbiology in the UK’s NHS, followed by lecturing in microbiology and parasitology in Hong Kong and London. My PhD at Kew Gardens focused on microbial metabolites for controlling insect pests.

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Annual visits to Sabah since 2013 opened my eyes to the gap between Europe’s romantic view of Borneo’s rainforests and the reality faced by conservationists battling deforestation. I also saw parallels between agriculture in the UK and Sabah — both shaped by large-scale monocultures, chemical use, and habitat loss, leading to steep declines in wildlife. The truth is, Western nations have no grounds to claim they manage things better.

Natalie Ben Arosh, Commitee Member

My name is Natalie Ben Arosh. Ever since I was a young girl, I loved spending time in nature. Growing up in The Netherlands I was always intrigued by wildlife documentaries about South-east-Asia. I dreamed off travelling there to see it with my own eyes. So as soon as I could afford tickets, I headed for that region.

Then one day an amazing opportunity gave me the chance to stay and work in Kota Kinabalu and I have been on this very special and  stunning Island since 2011.

About a year ago I was very privileged to meet the passionate and determined founder of 1StopBorneo. His love for making a difference within conservation has been very infectious and I realised we need to make changes in order to save what is left of the precious wildlife and rainforests on this island. And that change starts with ourselves.

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Even though I have only just started to be part of this amazing organisation, it's incredibly exciting to learn so many new things each time, especially about the unique flora and fauna that we have on Borneo.

Allister L. Commitee Member

My name is Allister, I’m from Sibu, Sarawak. Study Business in Tourism Management at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Loves traveling with a little adventure, and learning from the others. I joined 1StopBorneo Wildlife as an intern for 3 months (June-Sept 2019) and got involved in various projects and activities within that time. Thanks to Shavez, for the great exposure to conservation tourism, I’m grateful to be surrounded by people that value our nature and wildlife in Borneo. Nature Book Club, “No Plastic Straw” campaign, posters on awareness, Marudi Longhouses Cycling Adventure, Tawau Hills Park, #Plant4BorneoElephant documentary launch day are the name of few things I got involved with. I hope the efforts we made for the future on the nature and wildlife in Borneo will be an example and inspiration towards the society.

Isyaharah , Committee Member

An ordinary girl from semporna. Currently, I am a university student majoring in Tourism Management. I have always been so eager to learn about animals and forest. I started joining 1stopborneo in 2016 and this is when I was introduced to Nature Book Club that have triggered my passion to learn about wildlife more. I have also joined the Movie Night, Cleanup and outings. There's just so much ways of learning the wildlife. I hope to make people more aware about the importance of wildlife.

As an educator, I hope to be able to use that knowledge to influence myself as well as others and thereby to contribute wherever I can, in order to protect the incredible nature and wildlife that is left in Sabah. I'm looking forward to get closer to nature and be the voice of these voiceless animals as well.

Syaharah Hussin, Committee Member

I am an adventurer and wanderer's person. seeking for experiences in exploring the nature of Sabah. I was born and raised in a small town known as Semporna. Joining the 1Stopborneo Wildlife has changed my point of view about how important is to protect the endangered animals. 1Stopbornoe Wildlife has given me the opportunity to be part in protecting the animals and the nature. Currently, a student majoring in Tourism and for me, tourism is not always about providing a service for tourists experience a tourism product, but I strongly believe that tourism can be part of way or as a tool to conserve the animals and nature.

Bazilah, Commitee Member

Bazilah joined 1StopBorneo in 2014 while pursuing her passion for environmental balance, having earned an HND in Agriculture & Countryside Conservation from Aberystwyth University. Under Shavez’s guidance, she worked on education programs, river cleanups, and wildlife rescues, gaining hands-on experience with species like the slow loris and pangolin.

Through 1StopBorneo, she connected with specialists, veterinarians, teachers, and local communities united by a love for conservation. This inspired her to pursue a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, deepening her understanding of how humans, culture, and wildlife are all integral parts of the environment.

Chrislyn Mujan , Commitee Member

My name is Chrislyn Mujan, I am a graduate from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. I joined 1StopBorneo Wildlife since August 2023.

I have been passionate about conservation work since childhood. Joining 1StopBorneo Wildlife has not only fulfilled this dream but has also broadened my perspective on the many approaches we can take to contribute to nature conservation.

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At 1StopBorneo Wildlife, I have been exposed to many activities aiming to protect and nurture our environment. From tree planting initiatives to engaging school programs, informative talks, exhibitions, and social media campaigns. 

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I am grateful for the opportunities given to me, I have actively organized programs within the organization (Borneo Wildlife Ambassador Programme, Sabah Nature Gathering launching). These experiences have not only deepened my understanding but have also honed my skills, equipping me with practical knowledge and invaluable expertise in the field of conservation.

Elvinis Gunong, Commitee Member

Hey there, I'm Elvinis Gunong hailing from beautiful Sabah! Currently diving deep into the world of Animal Resources Science and Management at UNIMAS, Sarawak. From internship gigs to volunteering stints like plant4Tawau and the Borneo Wildlife Series Launch, I've been soaking up experiences like a sponge. Surrounded by passionate nature enthusiasts and fellow wildlife warriors, every moment is a lesson. Let's rally more folks to join the movement in safeguarding our planet and cherishing our precious wildlife!

Emmai Setia, Commitee Member

Born and raised in a village in Miri, Sarawak, I have spent my life surrounded by the beauty and wisdom of nature. My deep appreciation for wildlife was nurtured from a young age, inspired by my late father’s values and his love for the natural world. His influence instilled in me a lifelong commitment to protect and care for wildlife.

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I am passionate about exploring forests, rivers, and remote habitats, always eager to learn more about the biodiversity that makes Borneo so unique. To me, nature is not just a resource as it is a heritage that must be safeguarded for future generations. My journey with 1StopBorneo Wildlife reflects this dedication, blending my personal love for exploration with the mission of conservation, education, and sustainable tourism.

Abritus bin Jikim, Commitee Member

Passionate about nature and dedicated to protecting Borneo’s wildlife and forests. He spends his time working with local communities, learning about the environment, and finding ways to keep habitats safe

Chua Yan Ping, Commitee Member

My name is Chua Yan Ping, and I am from Kelantan. I love nature, especially the moments spent diving into the ocean and walking through the forest, which always bring me peace and joy. I hope the beauty of the sea and the forest can be protected, so that in the future the beauty of nature will always be there.