Dr. Wijarn Simachaya is President of the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), Secretary-General of the Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development (TBCSD), President of PPP Plastics Association, and President of the Thai Sustainable Consumption and Production Network. He works with government agencies, businesses, civil society, and local communities to advance environmental management and sustainable development in Thailand.
He serves on several national committees, including those on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy, Circular Economy, Coastal and Marine Resources, and National Water Resources. He is Chairman of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (since 2020) and Chairman of the National Energy Technology Center. He also chaired the Bio-based Economy Development Office from 2020 to 2023.
During more than three decades in public service, Dr. Simachaya held key leadership positions, including Director-General of the Pollution Control Department, Secretary-General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment until his retirement in 2019. He also served as Director of the Environment Division of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat in Lao PDR.
He has played an important role in shaping Thailand’s environmental and climate policies and represented the country in United Nations, ASEAN, and regional environmental initiatives. Notable contributions include the ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap and the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Plastic Debris. In 2020, he was recognized as “Thailand Climate Leader 2019” by Climate Scorecard and has authored more than 50 technical publications on environmental management, sustainability, and pollution control.
Dr. Simachaya holds degrees in Chemical Education, Law, Environmental Science, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Guelph, Canada. He has also received honorary doctoral degrees from seven leading universities in Thailand.
