Mr Theerawat Samphawamana is Director of Planning Division of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat.

He manages the Division’s work on updating the Preliminary Design Guidance, and supports implementation of a series of MRC’s Procedures including the Prior Consultation process. He oversights the MRC’s assistance in climate change, agriculture and irrigation, socio-economic and navigation as well as the implementation of joint transboundary projects. In addition, he drives the MRC’s effort in realizing a Mekong Fund, a dedicated financial mechanism or investment vehicle capable of attracting funding from multiple sources to finance identified (joint) social and environmental investment opportunities of transboundary significance, as well as water-related disaster recovery efforts.

Prior to joining the MRC Secretariat, Mr Samphawamana served as Director of Udon Thani Inland Aquaculture Research and Development Center, in Thailand. He also worked as a Programme Officer at the MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in his previous capacity. He has more than 20 years of experience with Thailand’s Department of Fisheries, particularly in aquatic resources management; aquaculture development; knowledge management; leadership development; and planning in cooperation with international organizations and multilateral frameworks.

Mr Samphawamana holds a Master’s degree in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management from the Asian Institute of Technology, in Thailand, and a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries from the Rajamongkala Institute of Technology, Thailand.