Giovanni Totino was born in Rome, Italy, in 1958. He has worked since 1984 in the agricultural sector, as an Agronomist and manager, in Italy and abroad. Subsequently, since 2006, as an International Cooperation Expert: in Tibet (Qinghai) from 2006 to 2009 and in the period 2009-2014 as Director General of the Italian Institute for Cooperation, in various countries (Central and South America, Africa, Nepal, Swat (Pakistan). In 1982 he met Namkhai Norbu in Merigar and from that date followed his retreats in Italy and abroad, visiting most of the Gar and Ling of the Dzogchen Community in the world. Initially he learned and practiced Yantra Yoga in Rome with Andrea del'Angelo. Since 2005 he has studied Santi Maha Sangha. He is one of the founders (1988) of ASIA (Association for International Solidarity in Asia). In 1989 he was first at the Gakyil in Merigar West and then again from 2010 to 2016. In 2017 he was asked to reorganize Shang Shung publications and manage them to ensure their sustainability. In 2020, the new Shang Shung Publications (SSP) Social Enterprise Ltd., a non-profit organization that can operate in the book market, was established by ATIF, IDC and Merigar West. He is currently the chairman of the board of directors of SSP and is a member of the board of the Atiyoga International Foundation.

Oliver Leick was born in a small village in Austria in 1955 and lives with his family in East- Styria in Austria. Until his retirement he has worked as a schoolteacher for English and Sports for nearly 40 years in different schools in Austria. Since 1977 Oliver has continuously studied and followed his teacher Professor Namkhai Norbu. Under the guidance of his teacher he participated in many special trainings that Namkhai Norbu held in many different countries. Oliver studied and applied Yoga and meditation for more than 40 years and also became authorized by Prof. Namkhai Norbu to teach Yoga as well as Mindfulness and Awareness. In 2000 he founded the Shang Shung Institute Austria, whose main project and activity is the Ka-Ter Translation Project and has been its director ever since. In 2017 he followed the wish of Prof. Namkhai Norbu and became the director of International Shang Shung Foundation until 2018. In the next five years he served as an active member of the board of directors in the International Atiyoga Foundation, and since 2022 he has also been one of the member of the board of directors of the Shang Shung Publications. Oliver Leick has translated several texts and books into German and up to now has compiled two books: Yantra Yoga, the Yoga of Movements (Edition Tsaparang 1988, out of print), and The Story Book (Shang Shung Publications 2024).