Kinley Gyeltshen is a PhD candidate at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) at the Australian National University. His research examines legal pluralism in Bhutan, using Gelephu Mindfulness City as a case study to explore how transnational commercial and financial legal regimes interact with Bhutan’s legal and governance system, shaped by Buddhist values, cultural traditions, and the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH).

Prior to commencing his doctoral studies, Kinley worked in Bhutan’s public institutions for over 13 years, including at the Office of the Attorney General and the National Service. His work involved prosecution and litigation, legislative drafting, legal advisory work, governance-related legal reform, and engagement in international legal cooperation initiatives.