Dr. Avnish Jolly:Interacting with Joe is always a source of inspiration and motivation. His understanding towards the issue is recommendable. When ever I met him personally or email gives me immense pleasure.
Dr Joe Thomas has served as the HIV-AIDS Advisor to the Ministry of Health in East Timor, served as a technical advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) and as the regional manager of the Northern
Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council in Darwin, Australia.Dr Thomas is acutely aware of the vulnerabilities of migrant and other marginalised population groups and its implications on their health and wellbeing. He is at the forefront of fighting stigma, discrimination, racial and other intolerances.
Dr Thomas is the founding co-convenor of the largest Asia regional multi sectoral alliance for HIV response. Asian People’s Alliance for Combating HIV-AIDS (APACHA). He is the author of the two books and has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is also the founder Director of the International Centre for Health Equity Inc. based in Melbourne. Australia.
Joe an Indian immigrant living and working in Australia and is one of the leading social commentators on HIV and AIDS in Asia Pacific region. He has contributed towards HIV-AIDS related program and policy developments in Australia, India, Indonesia, East Timor, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Mongolia and Rwanda.
For the last eight years he has actively edited and moderating two very informative and popular e-forums. AIDS INDIA and AIDS ASIA e FORUM; these are very effective instrument and tool for information sharing, knowledge management, and advocacy.