Board of Directors
It may not be our own hands that pass the shuttle through the loom, yet as Friends we are weavers in spirit, weaving an innovative and durable design that draws the eyes of the world to Bhutan as it seeks to honor its past while preparing for the future.
The Board of Directors establishes the policies and objectives and oversees the activities of FRTAB:
Krista Amason, President (Darien, Georgia, USA)
Krista’s expertise in banking and finance played a key role in locating and negotiating the purchase of the RTA’s core collection of textile artifacts. These precious textiles are now reunited for preservation and display in the sanctuary of the Royal Textile Academy Museum. Krista also serves as Trustee of the RTA and is a former member of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival Leadership Committee, Washington DC
Frederik Paulsen, Treasurer (Lausanne, Switzerland)
An industrialist and intrepid world explorer, Frederik also harbors an abiding commitment to preserving world cultures. This dedication inspired his quest to restore long-dispersed ancient textiles to Bhutan now housed in the Paulsen Collection of the RTA Museum. Among numerous other institutions, Frederick is a trustee of the Salk Institute of Biological Research in La Jolla, CA, and the South Georgia Heritage Trust in Dundee, Scotland. He is recipient of The Order of the Druk Gyalpo (Order of the Dragon), the highest award in recognition of a lifetime of service to the people and kingdom of Bhutan.
Lee Anne Geiger, Secretary (Arlington, Virginia, USA)
Lee Anne is Director and Vice President of the Geiger Family Foundation which supports RTA’s “Weaving into the Future” program, a groundbreaking and vital resource for the rural women weavers of Bhutan. Lee Anne and her daughters are themselves working artists, which instills in them a profound understanding of the necessity of art in society. Lee Anne is also President of Watery WaterColors.
Neeti Banerjee, Vice President (Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA)
Few photographers have been able to capture the vibrancy of Bhutanese textiles and the animating spirit of their weavers as Neeti, in collaboration with her husband Suparno Banerjee, whose photographs grace many pages of this website. Neeti and Suparno are co-authors of Weaving Rainbows: The Story of Bhutan, Its Textile Arts, Its Weavers, and the Royal Textile Academy. Neeti is also founder and CEO of a US-based not-for-profit organization focused on developing global women leaders for modern organizations. Previously, she served as Assistant Director, Research Department, at IMF in Washington DC.
Advisory Committee
Rinzin Dorji, Executive Director of the Royal Textile Academy (Thimphu, Bhutan)
In her role as RTA chief administrator, Rinzin has devoted herself to ensuring that RTA staff are exposed to best practices in conservation and pedagogy for RTA educational programs for participants of all ages. She has led RTA staff on training tours to Bangkok, Washington DC, and New York City.