About us
Resilience from the ground up
Our story, vision and mission
We believe that resilience grows from the ground up. Doh Eain was founded to bridge the gap between complex urban planning and the everyday realities of local residents. We envision liveable, inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities, built from the ground up.
Our journey began in 2017 during a period of rapid development in Myanmar. Recognising the need for community-led change, our founder, Emilie, started with just a single heritage property and one underutilised downtown back alley. What began as a localised effort quickly captured the imagination of residents, growing into a vibrant movement and evolving into the professional organisation we are today. As an organisation, we achieve this vision by providing technical design solutions, by inspiring and activating people to take part in shaping their towns and cities, and by nurturing long-term trusted networks.
Method
Our approach
We are a deeply participatory practice. Every project starts with empathy and research, flowing into co-design and co-creation with communities.
01
Discover
Context and opportunities identified through extensive local research.
02
Define
Needs clearly outlined through active stakeholder engagement.
03
Develop
Solutions crafted through rigorous co-design and architectural planning.
04
Deliver
High-quality implementation led by our technical workforces and local networks.
05
Deepen
Long-term stewardship secured through ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and community ownership.
Team, board and advisors
We are an interdisciplinary practice. Our leadership and staff comprise certified architects, urban planners, heritage conservationists, and climate adaptation specialists alongside storytelling, community management and digital capabilities. We are backed by an advisory board of global industry experts.
The Board
Emilie Roëll
Founder & Director
Emilie Röell is a social entrepreneur and social impact professional with an academic background in cultural anthropology, philosophy, and development studies. After spending 5 years in the institutional development sector in Brussels and Yangon with the European Union and United Nations, she transitioned to social entrepreneurship, founding heritage restoration & placemaking firm Doh Eain in Myanmar and later heritage travel platform Our Heritage Homes out of Singapore, active around Asia. Alongside this work, she consults for AVPN - Asia’s largest network of philanthropists and impact investors - on initiatives that grow and improve the flow of capital to social and environmental issues.
Casper de Nooijer
Board Member, Lecturer, Investor
Casper is a seasoned executive and strategic advisor with over 20 years of leadership experience in corporate transformation, team development, and sustainable business growth. He has led organizations through complex transitions while maintaining a sharp focus on environmental and social impact. As CEO of Bamboo Import Europe and Audax Group, he championed regenerative business models and CO₂ reduction strategies, fostering circular economy practices across operations. Casper is also an active investor in sustainability-driven ventures and contributes to academic and public sector innovation, including his work on skills-based organizations. His academic contributions span governance, family businesses, and leadership development, underpinned by teaching roles at leading universities in the Netherlands.
Hein Swinkels
Board Member, Investor
Hein is a member of the Board of Doh Eain since 2019. Hein spent 17 years at Unilever in various financial positions, most recently as VP Finance Unilever SEA. During a break in his Unilever career, Hein co-founded in 1999 and developed the business into the leading financial comparison site in the Netherlands.
Advisors
Dr Johannes WIDODO
Architectural Conservation Professor, Cultural Heritage Conservation Expert
LinkedIn profileTransparency & funding
Our hybrid model
As a social enterprise, transparency is built into our foundation. Our operations are sustained by a dual revenue stream.
Commercial revenue
Revenue from our architectural and design services provides us with an independent financial footing.
Grants & development funding
Philanthropic grants allow us to deploy our technical capabilities into vulnerable, lower-income neighbourhoods that traditional commercial models overlook.
Join our practice
Open roles, fellowships and community programs.