Ratha Soy

Open to roles and consultancies | Remote worldwide

Ratha Soy

Communications and marketing consultant, climate and environment

I have 10 years of experience in climate and environment communications across 11 countries, for the United Nations, the European Union and national government. I now lead communications for a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) marine litter project in nine countries of the East Asian Seas.

British Columbia, Canada | Permanent resident of Canada

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Three forest rangers beside a large tree
Monks in orange robes planting trees by the Tonle Sap
UN Cambodia team with the UN Secretary-General
Participants of SEA of Solutions 2026 in the main conference room of the UN Conference Centre, Bangkok

Worked with

10 yearsof communications work with the UN, the EU and government
11 countriesfrom the East Asian Seas to Switzerland and Canada
2M+users reached each year by UN Cambodia's social media, up from 200,000
3,000+people at two EU Delegation events in 2023 and 2024

11 countries, three continents

Regional and global work

Bangkok, Thailand

UNEP COBSEA and UNDP

Marine litter communications for nine countries of the East Asian Seas, and a regional conference on business and human rights. Remote, with on-site support at Bangkok Ocean's Week.

Geneva, Switzerland

UNDP Climate and Forests

A five-part multimedia series for UNDP's global climate and forests platform. Remote.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

UN, EU, UNDP, Ministry of Environment

Campaigns, media relations and events, 2017 to 2024. Global UN and EU campaigns localized into Khmer.

British Columbia, Canada

CPAWS BC

Young Leaders in Conservation training programme, 2024 to 2025. Now based here, available for remote work worldwide.

East and Southeast Asia 9

  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Republic of Korea
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Viet Nam

Europe 1

  • Switzerland

North America 1

  • Canada

What I bring

Each backed by the work below
01

Strategy and campaigns

Wrote the communications strategy for a nine-country regional UNEP project. Led UN climate and social protection campaigns.

02

Media relations

Managed media for the UN Secretary-General's visit to Cambodia. Pitched stories to national and regional outlets.

03

Writing and UN clearance

Case studies, policy briefs, press releases and sectoral guidance, each taken through UN clearance.

04

Digital marketing and social media

Grew UN Cambodia's yearly social media reach from 200,000 to more than 2 million users, and its followers by 150 per cent.

05

Photo, video and design

Explainer videos, event banners and report layouts, made in-house in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and Figma.

06

Khmer and English

Native Khmer, fluent English. Translated and localized global UN and EU campaigns into Khmer.

Selected work

Open a project for the brief, my role and the numbers

Film

For UNEP COBSEA, UNDP and the UN in Cambodia
Koh Tao and Trang, ThailandUNEP COBSEA5:19Circular-economy pilots in Koh Tao and Trang
Derawan, East Kalimantan3:49Explainer on a waste-management pilot
Eco-design policy, ThailandUNEP COBSEA and GIZ6:45Animated explainer on redesigning plastic packaging
SEA of Solutions 2025Bangkok1:53Opening film for SEA of Solutions 2025SEA of Solutions 2025 event page
East Asian SeasUNEP COBSEA2:30East Asian Seas Regional Node
SEA of Solutions 20261:06Opening film for the seventh SEA of SolutionsSEA of Solutions 2026 event page

More film

Portrait of Tao Srey Mao from the video thumbnail UNDP Climate Tao Srey Mao, Voices from the Flooded Forest Filmed Title frame of the story of Chhoeun Saley UNDP Climate Chhoeun Saley, Voices from the Flooded Forest Filmed The UN Secretary-General speaking at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum United Nations The UN Secretary-General at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Filmed the visit for UN Cambodia

Published

My photos and stories, credited by name
Volunteers planting a flooded forest by Tonle Sap Lake UNDP on Medium Improving the health of Southeast Asia's largest lake Words and photos Title card of UNDP's What we did right in 2023 UNDP What we did right in 2023 Photo in UNDP's global year in review A muddy track to a minefield, used by demining platoon 137 UNDP Long journey to peace Photos of a demining platoon Aerial view of a flooded forest and river in Siem Reap province Asia Times Time to renew multilateral leadership on climate crisis Photos Hands planting a seedling in a pot, from Voices from the Flooded Forest UNDP Climate and Forests Voices from the Flooded Forest, three stories Photos and video Waste collectors working on a street in Cambodia UNDP Climate Promise Advancing circularity in Cambodia: focus on plastic pollution Photos

Also credited in

Reports and design

For UNEP COBSEA, the UN, UNDP and WHO

UNEP COBSEA, 2025 to now

Cover of Inspiring change through schools, a guideline to reduce plastic waste in the East Asian Seas region
Inspiring change through schools: a guideline to reduce plastic waste in the East Asian Seas regionUNEP COBSEA | Guideline, 2026Editing, design and layout
Cover of Marine litter prevention through sustainable design and recycling, circularity case studies from Thailand
Marine litter prevention through sustainable design and recycling: circularity case studies from ThailandUNEP COBSEA | Case studies, ThailandEditing, design and layout
Cover of the Trang case study
Linking communities through waste: gender integration and coordination in TrangUNEP COBSEA | Case study, ThailandEditing, design and layout
Cover of the traditional markets case study
Championing less plastic in traditional marketsUNEP COBSEA | Case study, IndonesiaEditing, design and layout
Cover of the refill, pre-fill and reuse case study
Refill, pre-fill and reuse systems: Kuha sa Tingi, replacing sachetsUNEP COBSEA | Case study, PhilippinesEditing, design and layout
First page of the Derawan case study
Making waste management work on a small island: early lessons from DerawanUNEP COBSEA | Case study, IndonesiaEditing, design and layout
Cover of the good practice guide on behaviour change
Good practices for promoting behaviour change in waste managementUNEP COBSEA | Good practice guideEditing, design and layout

Earlier work: UN, UNDP and WHO

Cover of the UN75 Cambodia report
UN75 Cambodia reportUN in CambodiaLed the design and layout of the national consultation report
Cover of the Cambodia Common Country Analysis
Cambodia Common Country AnalysisUN in CambodiaDesign, layout coordination and proofreading
Cover of Adaptation and adoption of Industry 4.0 in Cambodia
Adaptation and adoption of Industry 4.0 in CambodiaUNDP CambodiaDesign, editing and launch
Cover of the National Human Development Report 2019, Cambodia
National Human Development Report 2019UNDP CambodiaLaunch, landing page and social campaign
Group photo at the 3rd National Plastic Forum
3rd National Plastic ForumUNDP CambodiaOrganized the event, took the photos, and wrote the keynote speech and press release
Khmer COVID-19 public health poster
COVID-19 postersWHO and Ministry of HealthDesign
Home page of the Combatting Marine Plastic Litter project website
Combatting Marine Plastic Litter project websiteUNDP Cambodia, 2022 to 2023Web design and maintenance

Experience

Full CV (PDF)
  1. Apr 2025 to nowConsultancyUNEP, COBSEA SecretariatConsultant, Communications and Knowledge ProductsBangkok (remote)
  2. Aug 2024 to Feb 2025ProgrammeCPAWS British ColumbiaYoung Leaders in Conservation (training programme)British Columbia
  3. Aug 2023 to Feb 2024ConsultancyDelegation of the European Union to CambodiaCommunications and Outreach ExpertPhnom Penh
  4. Jul to Oct 2023ConsultancyUNDP Business and Human RightsCommunications ExpertBangkok (remote)
  5. May to Oct 2022ConsultancyUNDP Climate and ForestsCommunications ExpertGeneva (remote)
  6. Apr 2022 to Apr 2023ConsultancyMinistry of Environment, CambodiaCommunications ExpertPhnom Penh
  7. Sep 2020 to Nov 2023ConsultancyUnited Nations in CambodiaCommunications ConsultantPhnom Penh
  8. May 2018 to Sep 2020Full-timeUNDP CambodiaCommunications OfficerPhnom Penh
  9. Apr 2017 to Mar 2018Full-timeHabitat for Humanity CambodiaYouth Engagement OfficerPhnom Penh

Photography

Credited to me by the UN and UNDP
Monks in orange robes planting trees by the Tonle SapUnited Nations on Instagram
Ruon Sreyla of demining platoon 137 using a mine detectorUNDP
Sunset over the Tonle Sap lakeUNDP on Medium
Members of demining platoon 137 outside a minefield in Peam Ta villageUNDP
Aerial view of flooded forest restoration by the Tonle SapUNDP on Medium
Community meeting in the forest on Kulen MountainUNDP Cambodia on Flickr
Painted handprints on an I've had my say board at a UN75 dialogue, October 2020UN in Cambodia on Flickr
Worker carrying fresh bricks at a small factory, MSME Day 2023UN in Cambodia on Flickr
Worker at a brick-making machine, MSME Day 2023UN in Cambodia on Flickr
A participant speaks at a UN75 dialogue, October 2020UN in Cambodia on Flickr

Languages

Khmer (native) English (fluent)

Education

MA Media and Social Change, University of Sussex (in progress, online) BA International Relations, University of Law and Economics, Cambodia, 3.8 GPA

Based in

British Columbia, Canada Permanent resident of Canada

Tools

WordPress, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Google Analytics, Meta Business Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Lightroom, Canva, Figma

I am available for communications roles and consultancies, working remotely or in British Columbia.

ratha.soy@hotmail.com Download CV LinkedIn
Ratha Soy