Shortly after graduating from medical school in Yangon, Myanmar in 2008, Dr. Si Thura joined the relief efforts in the Ayeryarwady Delta devastated by Cyclone Nargis, the worst natural disaster in Myanmar’s recorded history. This experience convinced him that the key for the future was to strengthen fundamental resilience and resourcefulness - to support the development of community-led services to provide for essential needs such as health care and education. In 2009, Dr Si Thura joined CPI as the organization’s first Myanmar-based member of staff.

Starting from a small office in Yangon, he has played an instrumental role in bringing CPI from its roots on the Myanmar’s eastern border to the forefront of health systems strengthening in Myanmar, especially for health reform efforts. Under his stewardship, CPI expands and supports its network of community-based partners in Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh and South Asia countries to deliver lifesaving health care to hundreds of thousands of people in conflict-affected, remote rural and urban poor communities. He received 2013 the Australian Leadership Award, which enabled him to complete his Master's degree in Public Health at the Australian National University and 2016 InsideNGO’s Emerging Leader Award. He is also a co-founder and General Secretary of Myanmar Liver Foundation and a fellowship member of Asia 21 Young Leaders Network. He is currently studying PhD in Health and Sustainable Development program at Mahidol University, Thailand.