By AIT Public Affairs
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Board of Trustees, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Anat Arbhabhirama, convened its meeting on 28 August 2025 at the Robert B. Banks Auditorium, AIT Conference Center. This was the Board’s second meeting of the year, following the first held on 6 February 2025, and was well attended by members representing governments, academia, industry, alumni, and international organizations.
In addition to its regular agenda, the Board held a special ceremony to induct the late Dr. Za-Chieh Moh into the AIT Hall of Fame, honoring one of the great figures in AIT’s history.
The proceedings opened with the Chair welcoming all members, especially General Dr. Boonsarang Niumpradit, former Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces, former President of the AIT Alumni Association, and Hall of Fame inductee, who joined as a new trustee. Ex-officio participants—Prof. Anil K. Anal (Chair of the Academic Senate), Dr. Kamonkanok Kiatisakchai (Kamille) (Staff Representative), and Mr. Milan Acharya (President of the Student Union) were also welcomed to their first Board meeting.
The Chair highlighted a period of transition as the terms of three Vice Chairmen—Dr. Suwit Khunkitti, Prof. David McLean, and Khun Somprasong Boonyachai—and two long-serving trustees—Khun Chawalit Chanthararat and Dr. Sutapa Amornvivat—will soon conclude. They were recognized with tokens of appreciation. Acting on the recommendation of its Nominating Committee, the Board appointed (effective 30 November 2025): Vice Chairmen -(all AIT Hall of Fame inductees): General Dr. Boonsarang Niumpradit (Former Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces, former President of the AIT Alumni Association); Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai (Former AIT President); and Dr. Bindu Lohani (Chancellor, University of Nepal; Former Vice-President, Asian Development Bank); New Trustees – Dr. Jiraporn Sirikum (President, Electricity Generating Public Company Limited); Dr. Siri Jirapongphan (Executive Director, Petroleum Institute of Thailand; Audit Committee Chair & Independent Director, Bangkok Bank PLC); and Mr. Chen-Fu Chien (President, Zhen Ding Technology Group, Taiwan); and Co-Chairs, Faculty and Staff Relations Committee – H.E. Mr. Faiyaz Murshid Kazi (Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand) and Dr. Roshan Shrestha (Deputy Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), respectivly.
The Board received updates from Mr. Chaiwat Kovavisarach, Chair of the AIT Executive Committee, on governance, growth, and sustainability initiatives; Prof. Pai-Chi Li, AIT President, on institutional developments including student recruitment, partnerships, and transformation; and Dr. Suwit Khunkitti, Chair of the Blueprint Implementation Task Force, on academic restructuring and governance reforms led by Prof. Manukid Parnichkun (Vice President, Academic & Research) and Prof. Siddharth Jabade(Vice President, Administration & Development). The Board was thankful to Dr. Suwit for agreeing to continue as Chair of the Task Force (after his term as trustee) and to also Chair the Advisory Committees for the Center for Global Challenges (CGC) and Center for Future Technologies (CFT).
A key agenda item was the proposed amendment of the AIT Charter and deliberations will continue in coordination with Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
The Board also reviewed and approved the FY2025 half-year financial results and change in authorized signatories; approved the promotions of Dr. Jai Govind Singh and Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong to full professor; and received reports from the Faculty and Student Relations Committees.
The next meeting of the AIT Board of Trustees will take place on 29 January 2026.
