Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee is Minister of Energy of Thailand and former Minister of Commerce and Senator of Thailand, with a long record of public services and extensive experiences in the private sector. In the past, Dr. Akrasanee acted as advisor to several Thai Prime Ministers and Governments. He retired as Chairman of Export-Import Bank of Thailand in 2010, and also served as a Director of Securities and Exchanges Commission, National Economic and Social Development Board, and an Advisor to the Board of Investment. He was a director (Independent, non-Executive) of AIA Group Ltd., and played role as a director for certain entities listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
Currently, Dr. Akrasanee is Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council, and a Member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Thailand. He serves as Chairman of the Thailand National Committee for the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, and of the Steering Committee of the Mekong Institute. Dr. Akrasanee is a founding member and Director of Thailand Development Research Institute. He received a Bachelor degree in Economics with honors from the University of Western Australia and M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the Johns Hopkins University.