Dr Pinida Leelapanang Kamphaengthong is the Chief Environment Management Officer at the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat.

 

In her capacity, Dr Pinida assumes the role of the lead technical authority within the Division, providing pivotal support to the Director in the supervision of technical endeavors and offering guidance to other specialists. Her principal responsibilities encompass the development and execution of a comprehensive basin-wide environmental management strategy and collaborative mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on advancing sustainable practices in the utilization of water and associated resources within the Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB). This collaborative effort involves close consultation with the lead technical personnel of the Planning Division.

 

Dr Pinida is instrumental in advocating for environmental policies conducive to the sustainable development of the LMB. Additionally, she plays a crucial role in facilitating the implementation of MRC's fundamental river basin management functions, specifically those related to environmental monitoring, analysis, assessment, and planning support. Key facets of her portfolio include spearheading the technical implementation of MRC’s core river monitoring network, overseeing transboundary environmental impact assessments (TbEIA) applications, and contributing to the preparation of the State of Basin Report, among other responsibilities.

 

Drawing upon a wealth of experience spanning two decades, Dr Pinida has focused her expertise on Water and Environmental Management for Sustainable Development in the LMB. Prior to her tenure at the MRC Secretariat, she dedicated 16 years to the role of Environmental Specialist at Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD). In this capacity, she applied her knowledge to translate technical and scientific insights into pragmatic policy formulations. Dr Pinida actively contributed to the formulation of national strategies, plans, and laws pertaining to water quality management, in addition to establishing operational systems for integrated watershed management. Her involvement extended to providing extensive support to civil society, the public, and various stakeholders, fostering engagement in citizen science, local governance, and research.

 

During her previous affiliation with the MRC, Dr Pinida served as the focal point for MRC cooperation at PCD. Moreover, she played a key role as a core technical team member of the Thai National Mekong Committee, integrating water quality assessment and riverine environmental ecosystem approaches into the hydrologic and hydrodynamic assessments of the intricate Mekong River environment.

 

Over the past four years, Dr Pinida has adeptly employed her technical acumen and diplomatic proficiency to facilitate the alignment of developmental partner assistance with MRC objectives. In her capacity as the Mekong Programs Manager at Pact Thailand, she effectively enhanced regional collaboration among government entities, academia, and civil society actors within the framework of the Mekong - US Partnership Programs.

 

Dr Pinida holds a Bachelor's Degree in Science (Chemistry) from Mahidol University, Thailand, a Master’s Degree with first-class honours in Environmental Science from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University - Bloomington, USA, and a Doctoral Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Tokyo, Japan.