Nguyen Dinh Thang, PhD, CEO & President of Boat People SOS, was a refugee from Vietnam. For the past four decades, he has been known for his tireless efforts to defend human rights, protect refugees, rescue victims of human trafficking, and promote religious freedom and civil society in Southeast Asia and particularly in Vietnam.  

As Director of BPSOS’ International Initiatives, he currently serves on the Steering Committees of Southeast Asia Freedom of Religion or Belief (SEAFORB) Network and International Religious Freedom Summit. He co-founded the Vietnam FORB Roundtable in 2016 and developed the Young Champions for FORB Network in 2021. 

In 2011 he was presented the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award by the President and the Chairman of Parliament of the Republic of China (Taiwan).