Thailand Ministers

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

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

1976-78 Minister of State of Universities 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

1993-95 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
2013- Minister of Labour and Social Welfare
Her name is also transcribed as Her name is also transcribed as Paveena Hongsakul. In 2000 she was 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 and 2008 Deputy Minister of Finance Ranongrak Suwanchawee
Elected Senator in 2006, but the military coup meant 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-)

2008 Government Spokesperson and Cabinet Member Nahathai Thewphaingarm
Deputy Government Spokesperson 2001-02 and MP 2002-06.

2008-11 Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Faction of the Democrats.

2010-11 Deputy Minister of Public Health Phansiri Kullanartsiri

2011-14 Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
2013-14 Minister of Defence
The Official Thai transcription of her name is Yinglak Chinnawat. She is a buisness woman and sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, she became leader of the Leader the Pheu Thai Party which won about 60% of the votes in the parliamentary elections. She is married to businessman Anusorn Amornchat and mother of a son. (b. 1967-).

2011-14 Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Kritsana Sihalak
Her name is also transcribed as Krissana Seehalak.

2011-12 Gvernment Spokesperseon and Cabinet Member Titima Chaisang
MP since 2005, from 2011 for the governing for the Peu Thai Party and Deputy Secretary General to the Prime Minister from 2012.

2012-13 Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Nalinee Thaveesin
Former Trade Representative and 'Red Shirt' leader who is accused by the USA for close business ties to Grace Mugabe, wife of the President of Zimbabwe

2014 Executive of the Ministry of Transport Soithip Trisuddhi
As Permanent Secretary she was appointed Acting Minister by the Military Government that removed the democratically elected government from power.

2014 Executive of the Ministry of Commerce Karun Kitisthaphorn
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry

2014 Executive of the Ministry of Education Dr Suthasri Wongsamarn
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry

2014 Executive of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Methini Thepmani
She is Permanent Secretary

2014 Deputy Executive of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Mrs.Songporn Komolsuradej
She is the Deputy Permanent Secretary

2014- Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul
Member of the government appointed by the Military Junta together with one other woman and more than 30 men.

2014-15 Deputy of Minister Commerce Apiradi Tantraporn
2015- Minister of Commerce

2015- Minister of Industry Atchaka Sibunruang
Former Secretary General of the Board of Investment