Joan Carling

Joan is an indigenous activist from the Cordillera with an education background in social sciences, specializing in sociology and economics. For over 20 years, she has worked on indigenous issues from the local to the international levels. Her fields of expertise include human rights, sustainable development, environment and climate change, as well as the application of free, prior and informed consent. 

Joan has been Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) on two occasions (2008-2016). She was appointed as indigenous expert of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2014-2016) by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In addition, she has represented the 47 member organizations of the AIPP, from 14 different countries, through various regional and global processes, including the United Nations System. 

She is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Alliance of Peoples of the Cordillera, of the steering committee of IFAD’s Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, of the steering committee of the Global Call to Action on the Right to Land, as well as of our General Assembly.