Thawilwadee BUREEKUL

 

Dr. Thawilwadee Bureekul is the director of the Research and Development Department at the King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI).  She is also currently an instructor at Mahasarakam University, Mahidol University, and the National Institute of Development Administration, and she previously taught research methodology at the Eastern Asia University (2000-2001).  She received a Graduate Diploma in public law and management from King Prajadhipok’s Institute in 2002 and her PhD in development administration from the School of Public Administration at the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) in 1998.  In addition, Dr. Bureekul completed her Master’s of Science (technology of environmental management) at Mahidol University in 1986 and her Bachelor’s Degree in commerce (honors) at Chulalongkorn University in 1982.  Dr. Bureekul received “The Outstanding Research Award” from Thailand’s Research Award Council in 2003 in the field of political science and public administration for her research on “The Development of Indicators for Measuring Good Governance.”

 

Nikorn CHAMNONG                                                         

 

Hon. Nikorn Chamnong is Deputy Minister of Transport and the director of the Chart Thai Party.  From 1995 to 1996, he served as an advisor to Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa, and from 1994 to 1995, he was an advisor to the leader of the opposition.  Hon. Chamnong was a member of parliament from Songkhla province from 1988 to 1993.  He has been a member of the Thaksin University Council since 1996 and on the Promotional Committee of the Prince of Songkhla University since 1996.  Hon. Chamnong received his Bachelor’s Degree in political science from Chiang Mai University and his Master’s Degree in education from Tarleton State University in Texas in the United States.

 

Kavi CHONGKITTAVORN

 

Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn is assistant group editor of National Multimedia Group.  He has been a journalist for the past 25 years covering regional affairs including human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression issues.  He served as a bureau chief of The Nation newspaper in Phnom Penh from 1988 to 1999 and in Hanoi from 1990 to 1992.  From 1994 to 1995, he served as a special assistant to the Secretary General of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta.  Mr. Chongkittavorn was awarded the Human Rights Journalist of 1998 by Amnesty International in Thailand to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

Likhit DHIRAVEGIN

 

Hon. Likhit Dhiravegin is a member of parliament representing the Thai Rak Thai Party.  He is an advisor to the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Deputy Minister of Industry.  Since 2001, he has also served as deputy chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Political Development and of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.  In 2002, he became a member of the Academic Council of the National Defense College and of the Academic Council of Huachiew Chalermprakiet University.  Previously, Hon. Dhiravegin was Deputy Minister of Interior, dean of the Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University, and deputy secretary-general of the former New Aspiration Party.  Hon. Dhiravegin received his Bachelor’s Degree in law (Honors) from Thailand’s Thammasat University in 1964 and his Master’s Degree in international relations (1968) and law and diplomacy (1969) from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University in the United States.  He also earned a Master’s Degree (1970) and PhD (1972) in political science from Brown University in the United States.  He received the "Nationally Acclaimed Most Distinguished Researcher" Award from the National Research Council in 1988 and the Kiratayajarn Award (Honorific Professor) from Thammasat University in 1997.  Hon. Dhiravegin is author of numerous publications in English and Thai.

 

James GOMEZ

 

Mr. James Gomez became involved in politics as a young student activist at the National University of Singapore.  Upon graduation and further study overseas in the United Kingdom, he returned home and released his book Self-Censorship: Singapore's Shame, a socio-political critique.  His latest book is Internet Politics: Surveillance & Intimidation in Singapore.  He is the research and project manager of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Regional Office for East and Southeast Asia in Bangkok. 

 

Virachai NAEWBOONNIEN                                             

(Workshop Presenter)

 

Commissioner Virachai Naewboonnien is one of the four commissioners of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT).  Previously, he served as the director-general of the Public Works Department, and held several posts at the Ministry of Interior, including deputy permanent secretary, inspector general, and director of information.  He was Governor of Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, and Mahasarakham provinces and Vice-Governor of Phuket province.  Commissioner Naewboonnien received his Bachelor’s Degree in economics from Drew University in the United States and completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in development and administration and a Master’s Degree in social sciences at Birmingham University in England.  He also studied at the National Defense College in Thailand and completed an Executive Course at the Ministry of Interior.

 

Anand PANYARACHUN                                                  

(Keynote Speaker)

 

H.E. Anand Panyarachun was appointed Prime Minister of Thailand in 1991, leaving office after the general elections in 1992.  He was then re-appointed Prime Minister in May 1992 following the May unrest, serving until the general elections in September.  H.E. Panyarachun has been very active in political reform and played a crucial role in the drafting of the Constitution in 1997.  He received the Magaysay Award and the “Man of the Year 1997” award for his devotional service to the state.

 

H.E. Panyarachun has held numerous public posts, including First Secretary of the Royal Thai Diplomatic Mission to the United Nations in New York and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  He has served as Ambassador to the United Nations, United States, Germany, and Canada.  He has been president of the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the ASEAN Task Force, ASEAN Committee in ASEAN-USA Council.  H.E. Panyarachun has held important posts in many academic institutions, including the National Institute of Development Administration, Thailand Development Research Institute, Science and Technology Development Council, Sasin Business Administration Institute, Chulalongkorn University Council, Asian Institute of Technology, and ASEAN-USA Technology Exchange Institute.  In October 1990, he was appointed member of the World Management Council and in January 1991, he was appointed Member of the Business Council for Sustainable Development.  He has been president of the Saha Union Group since 1991.

 

H.E. Panyarachun received his formal education at Bangkok Christian College in Thailand and Dullich College in the United Kingdom.  He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

 

Amara RAKSASATAYA                                        

 

Hon. Amara Raksasataya is a Justice of the Constitutional Court of Thailand, a “Distinguished Professor Emeritus” of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), and a Fellow of the Royal Institute at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.  Previously, Hon. Raksasataya served as president of National Institute for Development Administration (NIDA) from 1985 to 1987.  From 1983 to 1989, Hon. Raksasataya was a senator, and from 1983 to 1986 he served as chief advisor to the Prime Minister on Political, Administrative, Foreign, and Legal Affairs.  He has also served as chairman of the Public Opinion Committee from 1996 to 1997 and was president of the “Constitution for the People Society” from 1997 to 2000.  Hon. Amara received his Bachelor’s Honors Degree in political science from Chulalongkorn University, his PhD from Ramkhamhaeng University, and LLD from Indiana University in the United States.  He was recognized as a “Distinguished Political Scientist” by the Alumni Association of Chulalongkorn Political Science Department in 1988 and 2001.  Hon. Raksasataya has also been honored with the “Most Noble Order of White Elephant (Highest),” “Most Illustrious Order of the Crown of Thailand (Highest),” and the “Meritorious Order (Third Class)” awards.

 

Kudeb SAIKRACHANG                                                   

(Workshop Presenter)

 

Hon. Kudeb Saikrachang is a member of parliament from the Thai Rak Thai Party representing Si Sa Ket province.  He also currently serves as Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister.  From 1992 to 2001, he was a member of parliament representing the former New Aspiration Party (NAP), and served as spokesperson of the NAP in 2000 and deputy government spokesperson in 2001.  Previous positions include: spokesperson of the House Committee on Foreign Relations (1995); assistant secretary of the Ministry of Finance (1997); and chairperson of the Committee on Religion, Arts, and Culture (2001).  Prior to joining politics, he worked for television Channel 11 in Thailand and Radio Japan, NHK, in Tokyo.  He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Buddhism from Mahachulalongkorn University in Thailand, a Master’s Degree in English from Poona University in India, and a Bachelor’s Degree in law from Ramkhamhaeng University in Thailand.  Hon. Saikrachang also earned a Master’s Degree in public administration from Thammasat University and PhD in development administration from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) in Thailand. 

 

Buranaj SMUTHARAKS                                                  

(Workshop Presenter)

           

Dr. Buranaj Smutharaks is a member of the Democrat Party’s Restructuring Committee and Policy Committee and is the party’s deputy spokesperson.  Prior to joining the Democrat Party, Dr. Smutharaks worked as a research director at Chulalongkorn University’s College of Public Health, the Harvard University’s Center for Healthcare Financing, and the Harvard Center for Population and Developmental Studies, where he also earned two post graduate degrees in public health and health policy and management.  Dr. Smutharaks served as secretary and senior policy advisor to former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.  During the Leekpai administration, he was also the principal architect of Thailand’s Healthcare Reform Initiative and was responsible for establishing the Health Promotion Fund.  Dr. Buranaj graduated from Chulalongkorn University’s Medical School with the class’s highest score in Thoracic Surgery.  Dr. Buranaj was selected as one of the “100 outstanding Southeast Asians who are expected to play key leadership roles in business and government in the first decade of the 21st century” by Asia-Inc Forum on Leadership 2003, and profiled as one of the “up-and-coming young leaders” of Thailand in the 1998 Far Eastern Economic Review article titled, “Young Turks on the Move”(July 30th edition).