26 July | by invitation only

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Thailand Office of National Water Resources will hold a one-day Thailand-Australia Water Dialogue on 26 July. The event is by invitation and will host approximately 50 participants from a number of Thai government agencies focusing on water issues along with the Australian Embassy Bangkok, the Australian Water Partnership and Australian experts.

The Dialogue event will be held back-to-back after the meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Thailand-Australia Water Resources Management Cooperation.

The dialogue will: (1) present the progress and outputs achieved with ongoing water cooperation projects and areas of mutual interests; and (2) present the draft work plans of the proposed future joint action projects. Thai and Australian experts engaged in each topic will lead the presentation, followed by open discussion to exchange views with the Steering Committee agencies and concerned stakeholders.

Speakers from Thailand include:

• Dr Surasri Kidtimonton, Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) Secretary-General
• Ms Julia Feeney, Deputy Ambassodor, Australian Embassy Thailand
• Mr Songkiat Khamthong Irrigation Engineer, Senior Professional Level, ONWR
• Mr Lerdphan Sukyirun, Director of River Basin Management Division, ONWR
• Mr Thanaroj Worratprasert, Director of the National Water Command Center, ONWR
• Dr Somchitthipong Amnatsan, Senior Expert on Irrigation and Engineering (Operation and Maintenance) Royal Irrigation Department (RID)
• Dr Varawoot Vudhivanich, Assoc. Prof Irrigation Engineering, Kasetsart University
• Dr Areerat Anuchon, Head of Sediment and Water Quality Division, RID
• Prof Penjai Sompongchaiyakul, Water Quality Specialist, Chulalongkorn University
• Mr Teerapong Laopongpith, Climate Change Management and Coordination Division, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning
• Mr Nakornpop Phromchat, Chief of Technical and Water Management Innovation Section, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

Speakers from Australia include:

• Dr John Dore, Lead Water Specialist, Australian Embassy (moderator)
• Ms Caroline Amy Turner, FAO Asia Pacific Water Scarcity Programme
• Hon Karlene Maywald, South Australian Water Ambassador
• Dr Dasarath Jayasuriya, Disaster Risk Management Consultant
• Mr Rob Rendell, Senior Fellow, RM Consulting Group (online)
• Dr Kelvin O’Halloran, Adjunct Associate Professor, Griffith University (online)
• Dr Kamonnat Meetaworn, Economist, Resilient Urban Centres and Surrounds (RUCaS) program Thailand
• Dr Rutmanee Ongsakul, Senior Program Manager, Australian Embassy (moderator)