Thailand Ministers

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Kingdom of Thailand/ Prathet Thai/Muny Thai (Female suffrage 1932)

1956 Regent Queen Sirikit of Thailand (22.10-07.12)
Took the oath as regent before the National Assembly, as her husband, King Bhumibol retired to buddist studies. She was born as H.H. Princess Mom Rajawong Sikrit Kitiyakara - a distant member of the royal family. (b.1932-)

1976-78 Minister of Communication Leosak Sombatsiri (Lurasak Sampatsri)

1976-78 Minister of State of Universities Prof. Wimonsiri Chamnawet (Wilmolsiri Jamnarnvej)

1979-80 Deputy Minister of Education Yupa Udomsakdi

1988 Minister in the Office of the Premier Minister Responsible for Public Relations Supatra Masdit
1988 Minister of National Education
1988-91 Minister in the Office of the Premier Minister
1997-2001 Minister in the Office of the Premier Minister in charge of National Heritage
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson of the Democratic Party 1983-86 and Secretary to Minister in Office of the Premier Minister 1986-88. (b. 1950-)

1991-92 Minister in the Office of the Premier Minister Dr. Saisuree Chutikul
1992 Minister in the Office of the Premier Minister
1992-95 Special Advisor of the Premier on Women and Social Affairs
Former Secretary General in the Office of the Prime Minister (b. 1935-)

1991-92 Government Spokesperson Ladawan Wongsriwong
2001-02 Deputy Minister of Labour
She was also Assistant Secretary to the Minister of Industry, MP 1992-96 and Deputy Secretary of Thai Rak Thai Party 2000-01. (b. 1956-)

1992 Deputy Minister of Commerce Puanglek Boonchiang

1993- Deputy Minister of Public Health Tuenjai Nu-upala

1994-95 Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister Pimpa Chandraprasong

1994-95 Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication Sudarat Keyuraphan
1996-97 Deputy Minister of Interior
2001-05 Minister of Public Health
2005-06 Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
MP 1993-2006, Deputy Government Spokesperson 1993-95, Secretary General of the Palang Dharma Party 1994-97. In 1997 she declined to become leader of the party but instead formed the Palang Thai Group which won a number of seats in the Bangkok City Assembly and the same year she was co-founder of Thai Rak Thai (Thais love Thais) and it’s Deputy Leader from 2000. The same year she was one of 3 female candidates for the post of Governor of Bangkok and finished second in the race. After the military coup in 2006, she went in exile in Paris. (b. 1961-)

1996 Deputy Minister of Commerce Sukhon Kanjanalai

1997 Minister of University Affairs Nongyao Chaiseri

1998-99 Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Paweena Hongsakula
1999-2000 Minister in the Office of the Premier Minister in charge of Tourism
In 2000 one of 3 female candidates for the post of Governor of Bangkok. In 2004 she ran as a pro-government candidate and came in second among the 20 candidates for Governor. MP until 2005.

1999-2001 Deputy Minister of Education Kanjana Silpa-archa

2001-04 Deputy Minister of Education Sirikron Manelin
2004 Deputy Minister of Health
Also known as Maneerin, she was one of the 24 Founders of Thai Rak Thai Party and from 1998 Treasurer of the Party. (b. 1951-).

2002-03 Minister of Culture Uraiwan Thienthong
2003-05 Minister of Labour
2005-06 Minister of Culture
2008- Minister of Labour
A former civil servant, she resigned in protest of the Prime Minister in 2006. (b. 1942-)-

2006-08 Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Tipawadee Meksawan
Until her appoinment, she was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture. (b. 1946-).

2006-08 Minister of Culture Khaisri Sri-aroon
Until her appoinment, she was Rector of the Silpakorn University and former Director of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre. (b. 1937-).

2008- Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Anongwan Thepsutin
MP for the Thai Rak Thai Party from 2001, resigned as Secretary-General of Pracharaj Party in 2007 and became Secretary General of the Matchima Thipataya party after her husband, Somsak Thepsutin, was barred from active politics in 2006. (b. 1958-).

2008- Minister of Energy Poonpirom Liptapanlop
Entered politics when her husband, Suwat Litapanlop, was banned from politics for five years. She holds a master degree in chemistry from Kasetsart University and has served with the Army as a lecturer with the rank of Lieutenant General. (b. 1956-).

2008- Deputy Minister of Finance Ranongrak Suwanchawee
Elected Senator in 2006, but the military coup ment that the parliament was dissolved. Her husband, Pairote Suwanchawee, is one of the 111 Thai Rak Thai leading politcians barred from politcs by the military government. An educated nurse, she holds the rank of Major. (b. 1957-)