Who we are
Kenan Institute Asia is a knowledge and capacity building organization implementing results-oriented, social and economic development programming on a not-for-profit basis. With our headquarters in Bangkok, we conduct activities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as regional activities in Southeast Asia
Executive Committee
Khunying Jada Wattanasiritham, one of Thailand's leading bankers, was a founding trustee of the Kenan Institute Asia in 1996 and was appointed as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee in July 2014.
Piyabutr Cholvijarn, President and Vice Chairman of Kenan Institute Asia, has served with distinction in the finance and banking industry and in a variety of important government posts.
As the Executive Director of Kenan Institute Asia, Richard Bernhard has over twenty years of experience in managing multi-sector programs that bring together the private sector, government, NGOs and local communities to address key development needs in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Board of Trustees
Mr. Anand Panyarachun
Former Prime Minister of Thailand Kenan Founding and Honorary Chairman
Mr. Aidan ST. P. Walsh
Partner in Charge - International, KPMG LLP
Ms. Joan Gillings
Consultant to the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Khunying Jada Wattanasiritham
Chairperson, Kenan Institute Asia, Independent Director, Siam Commercial Bank
Mr. Piyabutr Cholvijarn
Kenan President, Former Deputy Minister of Industry, Thailand
Dr. Supavud Saicheua
Managing Director, Phatra Securities PCL
Mr. W. Charles Blocker
CEO, IC Partners (Thailand) Limited
Dr. Chadamas Thuvasethakul
Executive Vice President, National Science and Technology Development Agency
Mr. Owen Gwyn
Chairman, GEOCORP
Dr. Varakorn Samakoses
Former Deputy Minister of Education, Thailand
Dr. Woraphat Arthayukti
Chairman, Northern Gulf Petroleum Pte. Ltd.
Mr. M.L. Puntrik Smiti
Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour of Thailand
Dr. Peter Coclanis
Director, Global Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Khunying Kasama Varavarn
Member of the Council of State
Dr. John D. Kasarda
Director, Center for Air Commerce, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Mrs. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak (EX-OFFICIO)
Director-General, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)
Mr. Pradap Pibulsongkram
Adviser to National Coordinator on ASEAN Connectivity
Mr. Pala Sookawesh
Chairman, Council of Trustees
Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT)
Ambassador William H. Itoh
Former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand
Mr. Richard Bernhard (EX-OFFICIO)
Executive Director, Kenan Institute Asia